How John 1, Philippians 2, and Hebrews 1
Reinforce Jesus’ Declaration of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19)
“Baptizing them in the NAME (singular) of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
—Matthew 28:19
Jesus places Father, Son, and Spirit inside the one divine Name.
The question is: Does the rest of the New Testament support this claim?
The answer is yes—decisively.
1. John 1 — The Son Shares God’s Eternal Identity
A. The Word is eternal and divine
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.”
(John 1:1)
Three truths at once:
Distinction: “with God” (not the same person as the Father)
Deity: “was God” (same divine essence)
Eternity: “in the beginning”
This is not created language.
This is God-language.
B. The Word becomes flesh
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
(John 1:14)
The Son is not a prophet receiving God’s Word.
He IS the Word who became human.
That explains why Jesus can place Himself inside the divine Name in Matthew 28:19.
C. The Son uniquely reveals the Father
“No one has ever seen God;
the only-begotten God, who is at the Father’s side,
He has made Him known.”
(John 1:18)
John explicitly calls the Son:
“the only-begotten God”
Not a messenger.
Not an angel.
God from God.
2. Philippians 2 — The Son Shares God’s Name and Glory
Paul now explains why Jesus can be named with the Father.
A. Jesus existed in God’s form
“Who, though He was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.”
(Philippians 2:6)
“Form of God” means:
Possessing God’s nature
Sharing God’s status
Sharing God’s glory
Equality with God is assumed—not stolen.
B. Voluntary humiliation, not loss of deity
“He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant…”
(Philippians 2:7)
He did not stop being God.
He added humanity.
C. God gives Him the divine Name
“Therefore God has highly exalted Him
and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name.”
(Philippians 2:9)
In Jewish Scripture, the Name above every name belongs to YHWH alone.
Paul then quotes Isaiah 45:23—where YHWH says:
“To Me every knee shall bow.”
Paul applies this directly to Jesus:
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”
(Philippians 2:10)
This is not metaphor.
This is divine identity transferred to the Son.
3. Hebrews 1 — The Son Is Not an Angel, but God
Hebrews was written to eliminate confusion.
Its message is blunt.
A. The Son is superior to prophets and angels
“In these last days God has spoken to us by His Son…”
(Hebrews 1:2)
Muhammad receives a message.
Jesus IS the final speech of God.
B. The Son shares God’s essence
“He is the radiance of the glory of God
and the exact imprint of His nature.”
(Hebrews 1:3)
Not similar.
Not representative.
Exact imprint.
C. The Father calls the Son “God”
This is decisive.
“But of the Son He says,
‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.’”
(Hebrews 1:8)
The Father addresses the Son as God.
No prophet.
No angel.
No creature has ever received this address.
D. The Son is identified as the Creator
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning…”
(Hebrews 1:10)
This is a quotation from Psalm 102, spoken to YHWH—applied to Jesus.
4. The unified declaration
Now connect the dots:
John 1: The Son is eternal God made flesh
Philippians 2: The Son shares God’s Name and receives worship
Hebrews 1: The Father Himself calls the Son “God” and “Lord”
Therefore, when Jesus says:
“Baptize in the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
He is not introducing a new idea.
He is summarizing a divine reality.
Final conclusion
Islam is correct on one principle:
No creature may share God’s Name.
Christianity agrees.
That is precisely why:
Muhammad is excluded
Gabriel is excluded
Jesus is included
Because Jesus is not a creature.
The Trinity is not invented by councils.
It is declared by Jesus and explained by Scripture.
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