I don't think that you really know yourself what you are on about? Jesus Christ IS Almighty God, The Great I AM, YHWH. He also has other Names by which He is known, like "The Word", and in these passages in Revealtion, "The Lamb", as of His Sacrifice for the sins of the human race. The texts that I have shown from Revelation, show that both Jesus Christ, here as "The Lamb", and "God" as in the Father, are JOINT RULERS, as they share the one Throne and have the same power and authority, which makes them BOTH COEQUAL. Therefore there can be NO "subordination" between the Father and Jesus Christ.
to "become flesh", is when the Eternal Logos took upon Himself the "nature" of humans (sin excepted), while He remained to be Almighty God. This was an "emptying of Himself" of the Glory and Equality that He had from eternity with the Father (John 17:5). I think that it is better worded, not, "did He set aside His glory primarily to become flesh", but, "did He set aside His glory primarily when He became flesh", which is yes.
you said, "did He set aside His glory primarily to become flesh, or was the greater purpose to become the Suffering Servant?". I answered, # 23, which is very simple to understand. read it again.
This thread is to give and discuss the explanation of the inteerpretation for the eternal subordination of the eternal uncaused Word of God.
Now your opinion is not the inerrant word of God here.
Your assertion is without Biblical evidence which would disallow the interpretation of "an eternal" subordination of the Word.
@JonC,
Do you not understand my reasoning for thinking that the Eternal Word of God did not cease being the Glory of God in changing how He was "with the God" in leaving the glory as He said He shared with His Father per John 17:5. "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
Note I referenced John 1:9, Hebrews 1:3 and John 3:13 KJV.
Compare
also John 1:9 with John 17:3.
So you think.
Can you give a simple proof as to why you this this?
John 1:1-2 teaches two things about the Word. Twice that the Word is someone other than God. And that the Word was also God too, John 1:1, with John 1:3, and John 1:10.
I do.
And you may be correct.
I just disagree.
We may be looking at this "glory" differently (I do not have a good definition).
I think we may agree with one another in our disagreement.
I see Christ as setting aside this glory to become man - the Incarnation.
But I do not have a good definition of this (of Christ "emptying" Himself). Add to this tge fact Christ never became "less God" and I certainly see your point
It is a statement of equality. Being “with” God was to be “face to face” with God. That is a statement of equality.
Saying He “was God” is saying He possessed all the attributes of Deity, another statement of equality.
This is not a statement of subordination, even though I tend to believe the concept of eternal subordination.
There is perfect unity within the Godhead. There is no “power struggle” as to which person of the Trinity will “be in charge”.
Each person has specific roles in the application of God’s perfect will and plan.
He did in my view as how he was eternaly "with the God."
But as to how He "was God" in my view cannot have changed,
John 1:9, Hebrews 1:3 and John 3:13 KJV.
Jesus is the Great I AM (John 8:58) which is what He tells Moses in Exodus 3:14-15, where He says, "I am Who I am", and then says that His Name is YHWH. The Hebrew root for the Name YHWH, is literally, "eternal, unchanging, uncreated". This is absolute proof that Jesus Christ is, "THE SAME, yesterday, and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)!
The point of my agument is that the Word was also always someone other than God as well as being
the very God prior to His incarnation.
That is
the Son of God.
Another uncaused Person.
John 5:19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
That seems to suggest subordination. So does this one...
John 5:30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.