Quote from Parallel Sayings…
“We know somewhat more about the words of the historical Jesus, but not nearly as much as most Christians think. Jesus and his original followers spoke Aramaic, (the New Testament was written entirely in Greek by Greek–speaking Christians) and they left no writings at all. Many of the words attributed to Jesus were actually the words of the anonymous authors who, unlike Jesus, were Christians. Neither were any of these men eye-witnesses to the life and teachings of Jesus.”
Lots of assumptions are presented in the opening pages of The Parallel Sayings, which I don’t mind if they are presented as theory, but they are presented as settled facts.
It is not known for certain that there were never any Aramaic writings. Their are widespread disagreements among eminent scholars about the statements rendered as definite facts in this introduction, I assume because it furthers the case of the writer. The archeological evidence does not go back that far, but certainly Peter was an eye witness of Jesus’ life and teaching, and John’s gospel is cnsidered by many eminent scholars to have been written by John.
Since the book presents Krisha as an avatar(incarnation of a deity) almost right off and uses the hypothesis of the four major religions as four pathways to the same point- it is clear to me that Jesus as the Only Begotten Son and His virgin birth are considered mythical developements by the devotees of later generations. So this is clealry a universalist presentation, which is not offensive to me… I just think it is easier when people come right out and say where they are coming from, regardless what reactions they anticipate, because it just furthers communication so effectively.
Avatarism is, in my opinion, a teaching that undercuts the unique position of Jesus as having the name above every name. I was a student of metaphysics when I became a Christian through a sovereign revelation of Jesus much like Pauls. For me, Jesus is the only avatar, by virgin birth. I believe in the virgin birth, perfect life, death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ, ascended Messiah of earth and Lord of the Universe.
As to avatarism, Jesus said, “I come in my Father’s name and you do not receive me. Another will come in His own name and Him you will receive.”
I believe that the teaching of avatarism will prepare the way for one who will come as an avatar, but will not be an avatar of YHWH. I know, sounds kind of alarmist- but I’d rather just come right up front and say what I believe.
Because teaching that all four major religions are slightly different pathways to the same destination is not the benign simple interpretational presentation it can seem to be at first.
It begins forthwith describing the scriptures as degenerations from the truths of the original teacher, who was one of many such teachers all of whom were mystics who had a claim to experiencing ultimate reality as their mystical pedigree.
The acceptance of the suppositions that are required to go there( I am not condemning them, let every man be convinced in his own heart- it will all come out in the wash) create a substantially(to say the least) different faith, which in my opinion is a mutation not a shoot off the root- but then I see Jesus in that archaic way, as Paul presented Him in these four points as the unique son exalted above all heavens in Colossians 1 and Heb 1, concluding at Phil 2 and Rev5:13
Col 1
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Jesus is before all, over all, and will be in all. He was in the Father before creation and all creation came through Him. He alone is the reconciler of all by His atoning sacrifice- AS WELL AS BEING THE TEACHER AND THE MASTER.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in* these last days has spoken to us in His Son, *whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”?
And again,
“I will be a Father to Him
And He shall be a Son to Me”?
6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
“And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And of the angels He says,
“Who makes His angels winds,
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son He says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
And the righteous scepter is the scepter of [h]His kingdom.
9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
11 They will perish, but You remain;
And they all will become old like a garment,
12 And like a mantle You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.”
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Your enemies
A footstool for Your feet
Jesus is THE radiance of the Father’s glory. He alone possesses that unique triumph over sin. Yes, the cross is a WAY. But it is also the means by which Jesus as the only begotten accomplished a victory no other in history could, and as the result He has been EXALTED AND ENTHRONED OVER ALL, having received a better name and a higher seat- in the bosom of the Father/Creator YHWH.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 **For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
**
These statements about Jesus in the scriptures are either myth and hyperbole surrounding the secret message of the way that all four religions espouse(supposedly) in the same way, or else,they are true statements about the exact nature of who Jesus is in character(upon which we agree) but also in His estate within the cosmos of God’s creation(upon which we probably disagree). Right hand of God. Word(expressed thought) of God. Name above every name. Ruler of all until all rule and power and authority are done away. The name of the person unto whom every knee shall bow and which every tongue will confess as the adversaries are rendered advocates is the name of Jesus Christ Lord of lords, King of kings.
Only then will God become all in all. This is an extremely important foundation. Without it what you have left is not the faith of Jesus and the apostles.
Rev 5
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
In this vision- the fulfillment of Phil 2 above, we see the prophetic alpha of Christ’s preeminence displayed before the entire universe.