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God’s Namesake in Action (Endnotes)
1. Trinitarians and unitarians alike will advance this argument. Trinitarians assert that if Jesus is a “creature” (i.e., a created being), then it would be idolatry to worship him. Since he is a legitimate object of worship scripturally, then he must be God (i.e., uncreated). Some unitarian Christians (especially strong subordinationists) argue that because he is a man, he is obviously a created being and therefore not worthy of worship. The argument presupposes that it is always “idolatry” to worship a created being, and that God will always be “jealous” of any other one being worshiped beside Him. However, when God highly exalts a created being to functional equality with Himself, He is obviously not concerned about the competition, and in fact solicits worship and acclamation for His Son who is worthy of exaltation. Close
2. NIV Study Bible, p. 2348. Close
3. Ryrie Study Bible, note on Genesis 2:4. Close
4. See Appendix L for more on the name Yahweh Close
5. Genesis 2:4 starts with the words “This is the account of…,” marking it as an important break in the flow of the context. The corresponding Hebrew word is tholedoth, which occurs eleven times in Genesis, each time at the beginning of a major literary section. The English reader is not helped to see them because, in most versions, the word tholedoth is translated differently. The eleven sections are (1) 2:4-4:26; (2) 5:1-6:8; (3) 6:9-9:29; (4) 10:1-11:9; (5) 11:10-11:26; (6) 11:27-25:11; (7) 25:12-18; (8) 25:19-35:29; (9) 36:1-8; (10) 36:9-37:1 (11) 37:2-50:26. If the commentators who had first added chapters to the Bible had started Genesis 2 with what is now verse 4, the flow of early Genesis would be easier to see. Close
6. When understood properly, the Bible does not say that God brings sickness upon His people. The true origin of sickness is sin, not God. See Don’t Blame God!, published by Christian Educational Services. Close
7. The “Gadarene demoniac,” for example, was incapable of personal faith because of the way the demons were continually tormenting him, yet Jesus healed him (Luke 8:26-39). In certain circumstances, Jesus accepted the faith of others on behalf of the sick and tormented. Demonized children were healed without personal faith, but the parents were required to have faith in Jesus (Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43). The centurion’s servant did not have faith in Jesus, as far as the Bible records, but Jesus healed him because of the faith of the centurion (Matt. 8:5-13). Close
8. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” has traditionally been understood as some kind of ailment or physical handicap. Such erroneous speculation could be avoided if the biblical usage of “thorn” were consulted first. Numbers 33:55 and Joshua 23:13 reveal a biblical usage of “thorns” figuratively meaning people who are actively opposing the will of God. Even a cursory reading of the book of Acts will reveal Paul’s continual battles with the Judaizers who opposed his ministry, frequently following him wherever he went and undermining his teaching. See Acts 13:45-50; 14:2; 17:5; 18:12; 20:3, etc. For more information, see F. F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer. Close
9. As we pointed out in Chapter 5 (re: Gen. 49:10), Shiloh was the first proper name prophetically given to the Messiah, and means “rest-bringer” or “peaceful one.” Close
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