Acts 10:36–38 (NRSV) “You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.“
Q: How is the Trinity explained when in this verse the three are clearly not one, i.e. not of the same essence.
…there seem to be several passages in Christian scripture that suggest Jesus had to…grow into…his divinity. For example:
- Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.”
- And Hebrews 5:8–9: “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
- Even his comments about “no man knows the hour [not even the Son]” (Mark 13:32) and
- “remove this cup from me” (Luke 22:42–43) implies a gap between Jesus and God.
So we could argue that Jesus was not divine (however we define that) but became so, not because of some holistic goodness, but because he met some set of criteria that God apparently set out for that transformation to happen. He had the seed all along, but the plant didn’t sprout until the conditions were right. From Charles Bledsoe at SBA here.
Expanded scriptures cited above.
Luke 2:50-52 where 12-year-old Jesus was left behind then found.
But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.
Hebrews 5:7-10
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered, 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
