Unitarians often abuse John 17:3 to support their view of God as a single, indivisible person—specifically identifying God as the Father alone, and denying the full divinity of Jesus Christ. They mistakenly argue that because Jesus refers to the Father as "the only true God" in this verse, it supports the idea that Jesus is not God in the same sense as the Father. This interpretation, however, often leads to misunderstandings, particularly in the broader theological context, including in relation to polytheistic paganism.
The Polytheistic Context of John 17:3
In the polytheistic world of the first century, particularly in the Roman Empire, there were many gods, each with their own distinct roles, powers, and spheres of influence. The belief in multiple gods was a central feature of the religions of the time, such as the Roman and Greek pantheons, which deified emperors and had gods for almost every aspect of life. These gods were often seen as separate entities with distinct personalities, not unified in essence or purpose.
Monotheism vs. Polytheism: John 17:3, in the context of Jesus' prayer, is a strong assertion of monotheism. The reference to "the only true God" would have been a direct challenge to the surrounding polytheism, which included worship of multiple deities. Jesus is making a theological statement about the Father's unique position as the one true God, affirming that there is no other God but the Father.
This statement, however, does not negate the full divinity of Jesus. Rather, it affirms the role of the Father as the source of all authority and divine revelation. The Father, in Trinitarian belief, is indeed the "only true God" in the sense that God is one essence (not multiple gods), but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons within that one divine essence.
Unitarian Misinterpretation of John 17:3
Unitarians generally believe in the oneness of God, but they often interpret John 17:3 to mean that Jesus is not divine in the same sense as the Father. They argue that since Jesus calls the Father "the only true God," it must mean that the Father alone is God, and Jesus is not truly God. This line of reasoning typically goes as follows:
1. The Father as "the only true God": Jesus is referring to the Father as the "only true God," implying that the Father alone is God, and Jesus is distinct from that identity.
2. Jesus as subordinate: Because Jesus calls the Father "the only true God," it suggests that Jesus is a created being, subordinate to the Father and not co-equal or co-eternal with the Father.
This reasoning leads to Unitarianism, the belief that God is one person (the Father), and that Jesus, while a divinely appointed messenger or figure, is not divine in the same way as God.
The Misuse of John 17:3 to Promote Unitarianism
While John 17:3 might seem to suggest a distinction between the Father and the Son, interpreting it in isolation and without considering the larger biblical context can lead to a misapplication of the passage. There are several points to consider in responding to the Unitarian interpretation:
1. Contextualizing the Role of Jesus:
In the context of John 17, Jesus is praying to the Father about his mission of revealing the Father to the world. When he says, "this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent," he is not denying his own divinity, but emphasizing the unique role of the Father in the plan of salvation. Jesus is presenting the Father as the ultimate source of divine revelation and authority.
This statement is part of a broader theological framework where Jesus is asserting that he, as the Son, has been sent by the Father to reveal the Father to humanity. The fact that Jesus speaks of himself as the one sent by the Father does not diminish his divinity, but highlights the distinct roles each person of the Trinity plays in God's redemptive work.
2. The Unity of the Father and the Son:
Trinitarian theology holds that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons but share the same divine essence. In John 10:30, Jesus states, "I and the Father are one," which speaks to their unity in nature. The context of the New Testament as a whole affirms that the Son is fully divine (e.g., John 1:1, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3). To understand John 17:3 correctly, it must be seen in light of these passages, which assert that Jesus shares the same divine nature as the Father.
3. Jesus' Subordination within the Economic Trinity:
The doctrine of the economic Trinity explains the distinct roles the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit take in the work of salvation. While the Father is the source, the Son is the one sent to accomplish redemption, and the Holy Spirit is the one who applies that work to believers. This does not mean the Son is lesser in nature or essence, but that he has a distinct role in the plan of salvation.
In John 17:3, Jesus refers to the Father as "the only true God" to underscore the Father’s unique role in salvation and Jesus' mission as the one sent by the Father. The subordination of the Son in this passage refers to his mission (being sent) and role, not to his nature or divinity.
4. Misuse of Polytheism as a Comparison:
The Unitarian argument that John 17:3 supports a "one God" view that excludes Jesus' divinity often misses the point of the Christian rejection of polytheism. The distinction Jesus makes between the Father and the Son is not a denial of Jesus' divinity, but a statement about their roles within the unified divine essence. The ancient polytheistic religions worshipped many gods with different powers, but Christianity's monotheism asserts that there is only one true God in essence, and that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in that essence.
By contrast, the Unitarian interpretation that uses this verse to promote a non-divine Jesus effectively reintroduces a form of subordinationism that, in a sense, divides the Godhead into two distinct deities. This undermines the foundational Christian belief that God is one in essence, revealed in three persons.
Conclusion: Trinitarian Response
While John 17:3 might appear, at first glance, to support Unitarianism by distinguishing the Father as the "only true God," it must be understood in its full biblical and theological context. The surrounding context of John 17 and the broader witness of Scripture affirm that:
Jesus’ distinction between the Father and himself highlights their distinct roles in the plan of salvation, not a difference in divinity.
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons but share the same divine essence, meaning that the Son is fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father.
The rejection of polytheism in the first-century context is not in conflict with the belief in the Trinitarian nature of God but underscores that God is one in essence, revealed in three persons.
The misuse of John 17:3 to promote Unitarianism relies on an isolated reading of the verse, ignoring the full biblical revelation of who Jesus is and the nature of God as revealed in Scripture.
The Polytheistic Context of John 17:3
In the polytheistic world of the first century, particularly in the Roman Empire, there were many gods, each with their own distinct roles, powers, and spheres of influence. The belief in multiple gods was a central feature of the religions of the time, such as the Roman and Greek pantheons, which deified emperors and had gods for almost every aspect of life. These gods were often seen as separate entities with distinct personalities, not unified in essence or purpose.
Monotheism vs. Polytheism: John 17:3, in the context of Jesus' prayer, is a strong assertion of monotheism. The reference to "the only true God" would have been a direct challenge to the surrounding polytheism, which included worship of multiple deities. Jesus is making a theological statement about the Father's unique position as the one true God, affirming that there is no other God but the Father.
This statement, however, does not negate the full divinity of Jesus. Rather, it affirms the role of the Father as the source of all authority and divine revelation. The Father, in Trinitarian belief, is indeed the "only true God" in the sense that God is one essence (not multiple gods), but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons within that one divine essence.
Unitarian Misinterpretation of John 17:3
Unitarians generally believe in the oneness of God, but they often interpret John 17:3 to mean that Jesus is not divine in the same sense as the Father. They argue that since Jesus calls the Father "the only true God," it must mean that the Father alone is God, and Jesus is not truly God. This line of reasoning typically goes as follows:
1. The Father as "the only true God": Jesus is referring to the Father as the "only true God," implying that the Father alone is God, and Jesus is distinct from that identity.
2. Jesus as subordinate: Because Jesus calls the Father "the only true God," it suggests that Jesus is a created being, subordinate to the Father and not co-equal or co-eternal with the Father.
This reasoning leads to Unitarianism, the belief that God is one person (the Father), and that Jesus, while a divinely appointed messenger or figure, is not divine in the same way as God.
The Misuse of John 17:3 to Promote Unitarianism
While John 17:3 might seem to suggest a distinction between the Father and the Son, interpreting it in isolation and without considering the larger biblical context can lead to a misapplication of the passage. There are several points to consider in responding to the Unitarian interpretation:
1. Contextualizing the Role of Jesus:
In the context of John 17, Jesus is praying to the Father about his mission of revealing the Father to the world. When he says, "this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent," he is not denying his own divinity, but emphasizing the unique role of the Father in the plan of salvation. Jesus is presenting the Father as the ultimate source of divine revelation and authority.
This statement is part of a broader theological framework where Jesus is asserting that he, as the Son, has been sent by the Father to reveal the Father to humanity. The fact that Jesus speaks of himself as the one sent by the Father does not diminish his divinity, but highlights the distinct roles each person of the Trinity plays in God's redemptive work.
2. The Unity of the Father and the Son:
Trinitarian theology holds that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons but share the same divine essence. In John 10:30, Jesus states, "I and the Father are one," which speaks to their unity in nature. The context of the New Testament as a whole affirms that the Son is fully divine (e.g., John 1:1, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3). To understand John 17:3 correctly, it must be seen in light of these passages, which assert that Jesus shares the same divine nature as the Father.
3. Jesus' Subordination within the Economic Trinity:
The doctrine of the economic Trinity explains the distinct roles the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit take in the work of salvation. While the Father is the source, the Son is the one sent to accomplish redemption, and the Holy Spirit is the one who applies that work to believers. This does not mean the Son is lesser in nature or essence, but that he has a distinct role in the plan of salvation.
In John 17:3, Jesus refers to the Father as "the only true God" to underscore the Father’s unique role in salvation and Jesus' mission as the one sent by the Father. The subordination of the Son in this passage refers to his mission (being sent) and role, not to his nature or divinity.
4. Misuse of Polytheism as a Comparison:
The Unitarian argument that John 17:3 supports a "one God" view that excludes Jesus' divinity often misses the point of the Christian rejection of polytheism. The distinction Jesus makes between the Father and the Son is not a denial of Jesus' divinity, but a statement about their roles within the unified divine essence. The ancient polytheistic religions worshipped many gods with different powers, but Christianity's monotheism asserts that there is only one true God in essence, and that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in that essence.
By contrast, the Unitarian interpretation that uses this verse to promote a non-divine Jesus effectively reintroduces a form of subordinationism that, in a sense, divides the Godhead into two distinct deities. This undermines the foundational Christian belief that God is one in essence, revealed in three persons.
Conclusion: Trinitarian Response
While John 17:3 might appear, at first glance, to support Unitarianism by distinguishing the Father as the "only true God," it must be understood in its full biblical and theological context. The surrounding context of John 17 and the broader witness of Scripture affirm that:
Jesus’ distinction between the Father and himself highlights their distinct roles in the plan of salvation, not a difference in divinity.
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons but share the same divine essence, meaning that the Son is fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father.
The rejection of polytheism in the first-century context is not in conflict with the belief in the Trinitarian nature of God but underscores that God is one in essence, revealed in three persons.
The misuse of John 17:3 to promote Unitarianism relies on an isolated reading of the verse, ignoring the full biblical revelation of who Jesus is and the nature of God as revealed in Scripture.
