would be abhorrent to a Jew, who had even a superstitious rever- ence for the name of God, especially for the name Jehovah, and o Ku/Dios 6 Oeoi is equivalent to DTivS nin\ (^3.) The repetition of the pronoun /xoS also requires the passage to be considered as an address to Christ.
The Epistles of St. John. In his epistles the Apostle John presents the divinity of Christ with equal prominence. The great design of those epistles was to establish the faith of believers in the midst of the errors which had begun to prevail. The chief of those errors was denial, in some form, of the incarnation of the Son of God. Hence the Apostle not only insists so strenuously on the acknoMdedgment that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh, but makes that the one great funda- mental doctrine of the gospel. " Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." He begins his epistles by reminding his readers that the Apostles had enjoyed the clearest possible evidence that the Aoyos -nys C^^s (He who has life and gives life) was manifest in the flesh. They had seen, looked upon, and handled Him. John gave believers this assurance in order tliat they might have fellowship with God and with his Son Jesus Christ. Man}^ had already apostatized and denied the doctrine of the incarnation. To deny that doctrine, however, was to deny God ; for whosoever denies the Son, rejects the Father also. He exhorts them, therefore, to abide in the Son as the only means of abiding in God and attaining eternal life. The tests by which they were to try those who professed to be inspired teachers, were, (1.) Whether they acknowledged the doc- trine of the incarnation, i. e., of the true divinity and humanity of Christ, (iv. 2, 3, 15.) (2.) Conformity of doctrine with the teachings of the Apostles. (3.) Love to God, founded on his redeeming love to us, and love to the brethren, springing from this love to God. In chapter v. he tells his readers that- the great truth to be believed is that Jesus is the Son of God. Tliis is the faith which overcomes the world. This great truth is established by the testimony of God, both external and internal, for he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not this testimony makes God a liar, because he believeth not the record whicli God has given of his Son. In Him is eternal life, so that he that hath the Son, hath life. He closes his epistle by say- ing: "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us dn understanding, that we may know Him that is true (i. e., that
510 PAKT I. — THEOLOGY. [Ch. Vn. — Divinity of Christ.
we may know the true God) ; and we are in Him that is true (i. «., the true God), even in his Son Jesus Christ. This (i. e., this person Jesus Christ) is the true God and eternal hfe." That this passage is to be referred to Christ, is plain. (1.) Because He is the subject of discourse in the context, and throughout the epistle. The great design of the Apostle is to tell us who and what Christ is. (2.) In the immediately preceding clauses he had called Him the true, " we are in Him that is true," even in Jesus Christ. " The true " and " the true God," are used as convertible expressions. (3.) Christ is repeatedly called " eternal life," by this Apostle, and "eternal life" is said to be in Him, which language is not used of God as. such, nor of the Father. (4.) Xpto-rds is the natural antecedent of ovto';, not only because the nearest, but because it is the prominent subject. (5.) This has been the received interpre- tation in the Church, at least since the Arian controversy ; and the objections urged against it are mainly theological, rather than ex- egetical. It is to be remarked that Christ is here called not merely ^eo's but 6 6eos, as in John xx. 28.
The Apocalypse. The Book of Revelation is one continued hymn of praise to Christ, setting forth the glory of his person and the triumph of his kingdom ; representing Him as the ground of confidence to his people, and the object of worship to all the inhabitants of heaven. He is declared to be the ruler of the kings of the earth. He has made us kings and priests unto God. He is the First and the Last, language never used but of God, and true of Him alone. Compare Is. xliv. 6. In the epistles to the seven churches, Christ assumes the titles and prerogatives of God. He calls Himself, He who holds the seven stars in his right hand ; the First and the Last ; He who has the shai'p sword and eyes of fire, from which nothing can be hid. He has the seven spirits. He is the Holy and the True. He has the keys of David ; He opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens ; his decision on the destiny of men admits of no appeal. He is the supi'eme arbiter ; the faithful and true "witness ; the apxT ""^^ ktictcws rov 6eov, the principle, ^'. e., both the head and source, of the whole creation. He reproves the churches for their sins, or praises them for their fidelity, as their moral ruler against whom sin is committed and to whom obedience is rendered. He threatens punishments and promises blessings which God alone can inflict or bestow. In chapter v. the Apostle represents all the inhabitants of heaven as prostrate at the feet of Christ, ascribing