The gospels seem to attribute the conception of Jesus to holy breath (το γαρ εν αυτη γεννηθεν εκ πνευματος εστιν αγιου):
Yet Jesus’ father is not “the power of the most high” but rather the most high himself AND David:
Why isn’t the breath/spirit considered Jesus’ father? In these gospel passages is the breath/spirit a person? Or God’s “power” and creative “organ”?
This is the BDAG entry for the verb which appears in Matthew 1:20 as “conceived”:
γεννάω fut. γεννήσω; 1 aor. ἐγέννησα; pf. γεγέννηκα. Pass.: fut. pl.
γεννηθήσεσθε Sir 41:9; 1 aor. ἐγεννήθην; pf. γεγέννημαι (Pind.,
Hdt.+).—See ARahlfs, Genesis 1926, 39. Gener., to cause someth. to
come into existence, primarily through procreation or parturition. ①
become the parent of, beget ⓐ by procreation (oft. LXX, fr. Gen 4:18
on) Mt 1:2–20 (cp. Diod S 4, 67, 2–68, 6, the genealogy of the
Aeolians: 67, 4 Ἄρνη ἐγέννησεν Αἰόλον κ. Βοιωτόν; 67, 7 Ἱππάλκιμος
ἐγέννησε Πηνέλεων; 68:1 Σαλμωνεὺς ἐγέννησε θυγατέρα … Τυρώ; 68, 3
Ποσειδῶν ἐγέννησε Πελίαν κ. Νηλέα; 68, 6 Νηλεὺς παῖδας ἐγέννησε
δώδεκα. Interchanged with ἐγέννησε are ἐτέκνωσε, ἦν υἱός, παῖδες
ἐγένοντο, etc.; cp. PMich 155, 7. The continuity is not formalized to
the degree in Mt, but in Diod S 4, 69, 1–3 ἐγέννησε is repeated six
times in a short space, and 4, 75, 4f ἐγέννησε occurs four times with
the names of fathers and sons; Did., Gen. 144, 27); Ac 7:8, 29. ἐκ w.
gen. of the mother (Hdt. 1, 108, 2; Diod S 4, 2, 1; 4, 62, 1; Palaeph.
44; PLond V, 1730, 10 οἱ ἐξ αὐτῆς γεννηθέντες υἱοί; Tob 1:9; 2 Esdr
10:44; Demetr.: 722 Fgm. 2, 2 Jac.; TestJob 1:6; Jos, Ant. 12, 189) Mt
1:3, 5f.—Pass. be fathered (Orig., C. Cels. 8, 66, 23) ἐκ τῆς
παιδίσκης κατὰ σάρκα w. the slave-woman, according to the flesh (i.e.
in line with human devising; opp. διʼ ἐπαγγελίας) Gal 4:23. ὁ κατὰ
σάρκα γεννηθείς he that was fathered by human design, opp. ὁ κατὰ
πνεῦμα he that was fathered by the Spirit’s design, i.e. in keeping
with the divine promise, vs. 23) vs. 29. τὸ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ
πνεύματός ἐστιν that which is conceived in her is of the Spirit Mt
1:20 (τὸ γεννηθέν of that which is yet unborn: Diod S 17, 77, 3). Here
the male principle is introduced by ἐκ (Lucian, Dial. Deor. 20, 14 ἐκ
κύκνου γεγεννημένη; Phlegon: 257 Fgm. 36, 2, 4 Jac.; Ps-Callisth. 1,
30, 3 ἐξ Ἄμμωνος ἐγεννήθη; TestSim 2:2) as J 1:13 (ἐγενήθ. P75et al.);
but in 3:6 the imagery is complex, involving a maternal aspect in vs.
4. W. ἀπό (En 15:8 οἱ γίγαντες οἱ γεννηθέντες ἀπὸ τ. πνευμάτων κ. σαρκός) ἀφʼ ἑνὸς ἐγεννήθησαν they were fathered by one man Hb 11:12
(numerous edd. ἐγενήθησαν). ἐκ πορνείας οὐ γεγεννήμεθα (v.l.
ἐγεννήθημεν) J 8:41 (cp. StudPal XX, 4, 30 ἐξ ἀγράφων γάμων
γεγεννῆσθαι). ἐν ἁμαρτίαις σὺ ἐγεννήθης ὅλος you’re a born sinner,
totally! 9:34.—Lk 1:35 (where mng. 2 is also prob. [as in τὸ
γεννώμενον Philo, Plant. 15]. S. AFridrichsen, SymbOsl 6, 1928, 33–36;
HAlmqvist, Plut. u. d. NT ’46, 60f). ⓑ by exercising the role of a
parental figure, ext. of 1a (Philo, Leg. ad Gai. 58 μᾶλλον αὐτὸν τῶν
γονέων γεγέννηκα), of a teacher on pupils ἐν Χ. Ἰ. διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα I became your father as Christians through the gospel 1
Cor 4:15; Phlm 10 (s. Ltzm. and JWeiss on 1 Cor 4:15; ADieterich,
Mithraslit. 1903, 146ff).—Pass. ἐκ (τοῦ) θεοῦ γεννᾶσθαι J 1:13 (on the
rdg. of the Lat. ms. b, s. JPryor, NovT 27, ’85, 296–318); 1J 2:29;
3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18. On γεννᾶσθαι ἐξ ὕδατος κ. πνεύματος J 3:5 cp.
1QS 4:20–22 and s. YYadin, JBL 74, ’55, 40–43. Also ἄνωθεν γ. J 3:3,
7. πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν γεννήσαντα ἀγαπᾷ τὸν γεγεννημένον ἐξ αὐτοῦ everyone who loves the father (=God) loves the child (=Christ or one’s
fellow Christian) 1J 5:1 (on γεννᾶσθαι ἐκ θεοῦ s. Hdb. on J 3:3 and 1J
3:9 and the sources and lit. listed there; s. also παλιγγενεσία). Cp.
σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε (Ps 2:7) 1 Cl 36:4; GEb 18, 37; Ac 13:33 (held by
some to have been the orig. rdg. Lk 3:22 v.l.; s. JHillmann, Die
Kindheitsgesch. Jesu nach Lucas: Jahrbücher f. Protestantische
Theologie 17/2, 1891, 192–261; HUsener, D. Weihnachtsfest2 1911,
38ff); Hb 1:5; 5:5. p 194 ② to give birth to, bear (Aeschyl.,
Suppl. 48; X., De Rep. Lac. 1, 3; Lucian, Sacrif. 6; Plut., Mor., 3c;
Ps.-Callisth. 1, 9, 2 ἐκ θεοῦ γεννήσασα παῖδα=a woman who has borne a
child to a god; BGU 132 II, 5; Judg 11:1 B; Is 66:9; 4 Macc 10:2) Lk
1:13, 57; 23:29; J 16:21 w. τίκτειν; AcPl Ha 8, 28 εἰς δουλείαν
γεννῶσα who bears children for slavery Gal 4:24. Pass. be born (ἐκ
παρθένου Did., Gen. 96, 13) ἐγεννήθη Μωϋσῆς Ac 7:20; cp. Hb 11:23.
γεγεννημένος ἐν Ταρσῷ Ac 22:3; μήπω … γεννηθέντων Ro 9:11; πρὶν ἡμᾶς
γεννηθῆναι before we were born 1 Cl 38:3. εἰς τὸν κόσμον come into the
world J 16:21; Mt 2:1, 4; 19:12; 26:24 (=1 Cl 46:8); Mk 14:21 (cp. En
38:2); Lk 1:35 (1a is also prob.; a v.l. adds ἐκ σοῦ, which can be
rendered ‘the child to whom you give birth’). ἐκ Μαρίας ἐγεννήθη
AcPlCor 1:14; 2:5 (cp. Mt 1:16); J 3:4; 9:2, 19f, 32; IEph 18:2; ITr
11:2; ἀληθῶς γ. be in fact born (in opp. to Docetism) 9:1. γεγεννημένα
(v.l. γεγενημένα) εἰς ἅλωσιν 2 Pt 2:12. εἰς τοῦτο for this purpose J
18:37. διάλεκτος ἐν ᾑ ἐγεννήθημεν the language in which we were born
i.e., which we have spoken fr. infancy Ac 2:8. ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ γεγέννημαι
but I was actually born a Roman citizen 22:28. οὗτος ἐγεννήθη βασιλεύς
born a king GJs 20:4 codd. γεννῶνται και γεννῶσιν Lk 20:34 v.l. ③ to
cause someth. to happen, bring forth, produce, cause, fig. of various
kinds of production (Pla. et al.; Polyb. 1, 67, 2 στάσις ἐγεννᾶτο;
Philo, De Jos. 254; Jos., Ant. 6, 144) 2 Ti 2:23.—γ. καρπόν produce
fruit (Philo, Op. M. 113) ITr 11:1. Forged writing γεγεννημένον for
γεγενημένον GJs 24:3.—B. 280. DELG s.v. γίγνομαι p. 222. M-M. TW.
Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon
of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed.,
pp. 193–194). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
David Griffin
Why would anyone preach the cross. The cross was used as an implement of death. Why not preach life instead?
Alex Wick
If it wasn’t for the cross there would be no newness of life. The cross is where the blood was poured out. The resurrection is just confirmation that Jesus death on the cross broke the power of sin & death. The preaching of the cross is to them that parish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the Power of God. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18 bless you sir.
Alex Wick
1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness
David Griffin
Alex Wick Pentecostal organizations have paid preachers to preach what their congregations want to hear or they get fired.
Can’t fire the Savior.
Jesus Christ and his Apostles were never paid. The Priesthood of God is not for sale not can it be bought. It is free to anyone.
Alex Wick
David Griffin the preaching/power of the Cross is bible.
David Griffin
Alex Wick That is correct. Accept the cross is an implement of death, not if life. And the words of the Lord are not for sale at any price of money, gold, silver, land, jewels. They are free.
Alex Wick
Can’t sale the word of God – salvation is free. The ministers who charge people to attend there church Like Joel osteen will stand at judgement day to give an account for it.
Alex Wick
The cross presents us with life. Hence is the source of life. I will be praying for you sir…. Christ is the source of all things given , the cross is the means by which things are given … 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Varnel Watson
The cross is where it’s at
Everything comes off the Cross
No it’s alright. God will help
It had to much in it. Have to take it step by step. But first the false Saviour?
David Griffin
The cross is an implement of death. The Savior overcame death. Why would someone put an implement of death on a sanctuary that is suppose to be a place of life?
Varnel Watson
without the cross you aint got jack
Varnel Watson
you aint got the cross you aint got jack David Griffin
David Griffin
Jesus carried it so you would not have to. So, why are you carrying it?
David Griffin
If Jesus carried the cross for you do you would not have to, why do you still carry the cross? SAD.
Alex Wick
You don’t properly understand the Message of the Cross.
David Griffin
Alex Wick The messsge of the cross is death. It was and is an implement of death. Why does one worship an implement of death of which the Savior died on instead of the living Christ, Did not Jesus ask Mary,”Why do he look for the living among the dead?(paraphrasing)
Alex Wick
You don’t have the discernment to understand it sir. It’s the means by which we have eternal life .
Alex Wick
It’s not a implement of death. To the human mind one would speak that. But to a spiritual aspect one would say without the Cross we would all be dead in our sins.
David Griffin
Alex Wick What is the proper wat to worship an implement of death?
Eternal life is the living God and the Savior, not an implement of death.
The cross is dead wood. It hear no life.
Alex Wick
Christs death on the cross gave us eternal life. Paul even said. We preach Chrust crucified…. For the preaching of the cross is to them that parish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is “The Power Of God”
David Griffin
Alex Wick yes this is correct, to preach Christ crucified, the crucifixion of Christ, not to worship a dead lifeless piece of wood that was used as an implement of death and has no life in it.
All life in in the living Light, the Savior, and, “no one comes to the father but by me”said the Savior, not by way of a dead piece of wood.
And, by the way, you are the first person to use the scriptures in any of these post in this thread. Thank you. Everyone else just spouts off what they believe or what someone has told them to believe. Thank you.
You must be a very old and wise person?
Are you of the Penicostal faith?
Alex Wick
David Griffin you’re welcome. I am of the pentecostal faith. I just have a different interpretation of the Cross.
Varnel Watson
David Griffin I have to disagree with you again. Like told Joe Absher you aint got the cross you aint got jack Plain and simple
David Griffin
Hey! You’re not disagreeing with me, you are disagreeing with the words of the Savior. Joe And her is just a plain ordinary man of flesh and blood, who in not called of God to preach anything. He is just another are of flesh that the Lord has taught we should not trust. Only trust in Him.
Varnel Watson
David Griffin the words of the Savior are
Take up your cross
#noughsaid
David Griffin
Not! The words of the Savior are “Come follow me, do the things he have seen me do, greater works ye shall do, for I go to my Father “
Varnel Watson
JESUS Literally SAID this
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me
IF you have not taken up your cross
you cannot be following Him truly
David Griffin
Troy Day The cross is the burden that Jesus already bore for everyone. No one needs to pick up a cross. It is death. This verse is mistranslated. Is should read, ” And now for a man to take up his cross, IS TO DENY HIMSELF ALL UNGODLINESS,(EMPHASIS MINE) and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments.”
The cross is an implement of death. The cross is made of dead wood and has no life in it. Death is of the world brought into the world by Satan in the garden of Eden. Only Jesus Christ has the power, authority and keys of life eternal. Life is found in the Lord’s comnandments, of which there are about 613 in the Bible.
Joe Absher
The objections to the preaching of the Cross in this thread is a straw man argument. No one in know worships a wooden cross. The preaching of the cross is the preaching of what Jesus did there in redeeming the souls of men from sin and hell. It’s really is that simple. The fact that some churches have wooden crosses has nothing to do with the preaching of the gospel. Some have effectively used it as prop. I’m sure in some circles there is idolatry. But none that I know of.
The fact is Paul wrote, “1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV — For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
He also wrote God commands men everywhere to repent. The cross, repentance and shedding of blood without which there is no remission of sin, faith and trust in Jesus Christ, belief in the resurrection and the judgment to come are the plain tenents of the Christian faith.
If you have a problem with a church having a wooden cross you might want to go down to the temple and start chopping the heads of the idols. Jesus has words for those that say and but don’t do. And they’re not nice.
David Griffin
And yet a cross is on many chapels.
And yet men follow other men instead of Jesus Christ
The power of God is in life not death. The Savior took upon him all the sins of everyone who ever lived on or are now living. Or who will ever live out this earth. Yes, we are bought (redeemed)with a price.
All that God has done is done with life. Even from the very first words in Genesis. None of his words have to do with death, NONE. Death only came into being by and through Satan.
Jesus overcame death. Man does not have to taste death, but must do through a death. There is the “twinkling of an eye” , the spirits of just men made perfect” The she city of Enoch and Peleg, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elias, and others.
Repentance means to change, make a 180° turn., to turn from the darkness, to the Light of Christ, from evil, to good, the Good of God. Men do not have to taste death. That is what the Savior overcame, not only on the cross for a second time, but, also in the garden of Gethsemene.
That is correct. One must first make a change in ones life. Repentance is not optional.(Matt 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:4,15; 2:27; Luke 3:8; Acts 2: 38; 3:19; 8:22; Rom 13: 11-14; James 5: 1-5; ect,ect ect. Second, have Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is a principle of action and of power as recorded in Hebrews.
Third, Baptism for the remission of sin. Being baptized by one having the authority as Jesus Christ was bsptized by John the Baptist, by immersion. Jesus Christ walked a distance of about 60 miles to be baptized by the right authority.(Matt 3:13-16)
And fourth, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.( Gen 48: 14,27;Acts 6:6; 8:14-17; 1Tim 4:24; ect,ect,ect)
I don’t know of any idols in a mormon temple. I’ve never seen a cross on a mormon chapel either. However, I’ve seen on some mormon temples a representation of an angel of the Lord blowing a trumpet to sound the alarm,( Zeph 1:16) to gather to Zion (Joel 2:1) to raise the dead (1Cor 15:22) ect.
And yes, you are right
The Savior, when He returns, the cleansing will begin with the so-called leaders of the church.
Varnel Watson
Why don’t Mormons Wear Crosses? https://mormonfaq.com/mormon-culture/why-dont-mormons-wear-crosses
Varnel Watson
David Griffin you never answered me
David Griffin
Troy Day Sorry, what was the question? I am not an expert or a master. You can get answers for yourself by personal studying the scripture, and sincere personal prayer. Don’t take my words for truth. Study it(Your questions) out in your own mind and go directly to God instead of any man, who is no respect of men. I sincere man’s prayer will yield witnesses and testimonies of and through the Holy Ghost, who is the teststor of all truth.
Joe Absher
When you say Jesus tasted death for every man you do know that is preaching the cross don’t you? So how can you argue against preaching the cross. I’m afraid for you.
If you do not taste the death and bitterness of your sin, the sword of God’s word and conviction in your bosom you have only grasped in the dark. There must be a death, a dead reckoning, a just condemnation and a guilty plea before there is ever a justification a aew life and resurrection.
2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV — For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
This is the very reason Jesus said you must be born again. The spirit of a man is dead. His soul is dead. His eternity is dead. His relationship with God is dead. A man comes alive by faith in Jesus Christ. His cross his redemption his promise to receive and forgive and pardon
Varnel Watson
Didnt know a simple confession of the cross would cause such a big discussion
Joe Absher
The cross has always been and ever shall be an an offense and a stumbling block. To the poor sinner it is a haven a refuge and and miracle of God’s grace mercy and love.
The cross is a place where a man with no merit may make his peace with God
Joe Absher
1 Peter 2:24 KJV — Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Lest we forget those that are sick or under a curse may find healing and deliverance at the Cross.
The preaching if the cross is Gethsemane , the breaking and surrender and consecration of ” not my will but thy will be done” the preaching of the cross is the betrayel the reject and the empathy of Christ in his role as Mediator between God and men. His courage in the face of adversity his love in forgiving his opposers. The preaching of the cross is the moment in time and eternity where the bread of life was broken for all men. The wine poured out. The judgment was met. Justice and mercy hung on his every breath breath. Until at last he said it is finished. I can’t speak for anybody else but you won’t convince me the preaching of the cross isn’t life and liberty and rejoicing. He died that we may live. Holy and pleasing to God by faith in him. Jesus did it all. He did it on that cross. He paid a debt he did not owe I owed a debt I could not pay.
Joe Absher
Paul preached the cross. Peter preached the cross. Matthew Mark Luke and John preached the cross. All the Apostles preached the cross. There is no improvement on the cross. Apart from the blood of the spotless Lamb of God there is no covenant and certainly no keeping of it.
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
We take it on our outreaches…to get peoples attention!!!
Varnel Watson
you take the cross or you take Jesus? Jerome
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
We preach Jesus lived, crucified and resurrected.
Varnel Watson
Jerome would you agree without the message of the cross there is no message of the Bible ?
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
How do you explain the substitutional death without it?
Varnel Watson
I dont know of a way for Atonement without a cross? – naah
Robert Erwine
no cross , no crown !
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
True He died and it was called “the extreme penality” under the Roman Empire. Yep that extreme penalty was for everyone and He willing did it for everybody!!!
Joe Absher
When I look at that cross and the one who died there. And why he died there…
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
My wife and I on outreach, lifting up the cross