Shift Logical Right (published 5-24-2026; article #558)

Photograph by M. Fearghail on Saturday, 5/16/2026, at 7:12 AM. I cleaned up Molly's “whiz pad” the previous morning.

Introduction

Molly is our 11-year-young “puppy.” With her choice of two dog beds, she sleeps comfortably in our basement at night. On a folded tarp, we keep nine pee pads squared together along a basement corner wall. The above image, taken the next morning, shows the pattern.

Early on Friday morning, 5/15/2026, I was in Molly's overnight “condominium” (our basement) replacing a “whiz pad.” During the night, she took a leak on the pad closest to the corner. It was the one, replaced, the farthest back and to the right in the above image.

Immediately, I thought, “I need to shift logical right!” That meant moving two pads in the back row to the right and closer to the corner. The new pad in that row would become the farthest from the corner.

Welcome, dear reader, to the 41st article in the Topic Section Logic — Theology — Deep Stuff. What does it mean to “shift logical right”? Did you know that it refers to computer programming? To me, shifting logical right has a deeper meaning in logic and theology. Let me preach on!

Shift Logical Right: Computer Programming

After high school graduation in 1978, I attended Walters State Community College (WSCC) in Morristown, Tennessee, and, later, East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in Johnson City. Majoring in computer science, I took courses in several programming languages. Have you ever heard of Assembly, FORTRAN, RPG, COBOL, Basic, Pascal, PL/I, or SQL? I learned and programmed in those languages during my studies.

In between graduation from WSCC and attending ETSU, I worked for almost two years as a computer programmer-operator for the Dodge-Reliance Electric Company in my hometown. The programming language was COBOL II. As an aside, I was the last office employee to be laid off due to the 1982 recession.

In computer programming, the “shift logical right,” or “logical right shift,” function moves each bit to the right by one. The least significant bit is removed, and the empty most significant bit becomes a zero. For “computer geeks” out there, I found a good explanation at “Shift Micro-Operations,” GeeksforGeeks, updated 4/3/2026. It includes an illustration of a logical right shift.

Shift Logical Right: Logic and Theology

To me, “shift logical right” has a more profound meaning in logic and theology. This section is me preaching on!

To shift right logically in logic means to be rational. It involves valid reasoning with verified evidence to arrive at a sound position or conclusion. It does not “fly off half cocked” into irrationality or absurdity. For example, politics (or “poly-ticks,” as I call it) is frequently irrational and not logical. Further, reactions and decisions based solely on emotion are not logical.

To shift logically right in theology means to be a theist and a Christian. Logically, I am able to affirm and prove that Christianity is the one-true religion of the one-true God. Christianity is inclusive in that anyone can become a Christian. It is also exclusive in that it is the one true religion of the one true God. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NIV). The definite articles—“the,” which indicate exclusivity—are in the original Koine Greek manuscripts. Jesus, God the Son, is the one way, the one truth, and the one life. He is the one and only, exclusive, way to come to God, the Father.

My unfinished Topic Section on Christian Evidences, which includes six entries so far, is setting out the case. Further, the heading on the lower right side of this website's main page is Apologetics - Christian Evidences. Therein, six websites are listed that contain a wealth of reasoning to prove the exclusive case for Christianity and the one true God.

Conclusion

As stated previously, the inspiration for this brief article came to me early on Friday morning, 5/15/2026, while I was involved in the mundane task of replacing Molly's pee pad. Thanks, Molly, for selecting the “whiz pad” that you did.

The article from 5/19/2026, about my 210th hike on House Mountain, ends with the following paragraph:

Remember, dear reader, to “shift logical right” in life. What do I mean? Lord willing, a forthcoming article will explain. Please wait for it.

If you had been awaiting that article, this is it! What will be the focus of the next article? Yesterday, my wife and I visited family members in Kingsport, Tennessee. We were gone almost seven hours. Why was the highway patrol officer right behind us with lights flashing and siren blasting but did not pull us over? Why did we wind up at my first cousin's house when we were trying to get to our niece's house? The forthcoming article, Lord willing, will answer those questions.

Remember, dear reader, to “shift logical right” in life. If so, you will be on the right track logically and theologically.

Ted Turner's Legacy in the Context of the Gospel of Mark 8:34-9:1 (published 5-21-2026; article #557)

6/7/2021 photograph by Brett Jordan on Unsplash. Free to use under the Unsplash License. “Prioritise” is the British spelling of “prioritize.”

Introduction

What, dear reader, is your most valuable possession? The conclusion answers the question for us all. Welcome to the 40th entry in the Topic Section, which I have dubbed Logic — Theology — Deep Stuff.

Wednesday, May 6, celebrated the 26th wedding anniversary of my youngest brother and his wife. The day also observed the 35th birthday of the daughter of our dear friends Jay and Dorothy. I called my brother to wish his wife and him a happy anniversary. (I was honored to conduct their wedding ceremony.) Additionally, I texted birthday wishes to Jay and Dorothy's daughter.

Further, on May 6, I heard a news segment about Ted Turner's passing that day. A few days later, I found his online obituary at Bevis Funeral Home & Crematory: Obituary: Robert Edward “Ted” Turner, III. The funeral home is in Tallahassee, Florida. Born on 11/19/1938, Ted Turner was 87 when he died.

Ted Turner's Legacy

What is the legacy of Ted Turner? Online, I discovered Turner Enterprises, Inc., which “...manages the business interests, land holdings, and investments of the late Ted Turner, including the oversight of two million acres in the U.S. and more than 45,000 bison.”

From the same source, I read Turner Enterprises, Inc.: Ted Turner Legacy. The extensive column includes eight sections starting with his early life. It continues with the start of the Turner Broadcasting System and CNN. The third and fourth sections focus on Turner's acquisition of the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks and on his sailing accomplishments. The next two sections emphasize Turner's philanthropic and conservationist efforts. The final two sections are about Turner's later years and his enduring legacy.

Ted Turner certainly left a global mark. His focus on benevolence and environmental preservation was commendable. What, however, is Ted Turner's spiritual legacy?

I gleaned additional information from Beliefnet: Celebrity Faith Database: Ted Turner: Agnostic and from “Ted Turner Religion: From Fiery Atheist to Reflective Agnostic,” US News 24, by itsvikbro@gmail.com, 5/7/2026. From those sources, I learned that Ted Turner was raised by strict parents under Episcopalian and Presbyterian Church influences. In his youth, Turner claimed to be a Christian, attended church, and even wanted to become a missionary.

In 1958, however, Ted Turner, at 19 or 20, abandoned his faith after his younger sister died from lupus at the age of 17. Her death shattered Turner's faith. Three years later, in 1963, Ted Turner’s father committed suicide when Ted was 24 years old. Through the years, however, Turner softened his antagonism against Christianity. Turning from atheist to agnostic, he admitted the existence of a higher power. He prayed “to whoever is listening.”

In the Context of the Gospel of Mark 8:34-9:1

The parallel passages to the Gospel of Mark, 8:34-9:1, are Matthew, 16:24-28, and Luke, 9:22-27. The pericope is after Peter's affirmation that Jesus is the Messiah and before Jesus' transfiguration. In the passage, Jesus emphasized the cost of Christian discipleship, which requires self-denial, taking up your cross, and following him (verses 34-35).

Jesus stated in verses 36-37, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Three remote contexts come to mind. First, in Luke 12:13-21, Jesus spoke the parable of the rich farmer, whose abundant harvest yielded plans to expand his farm and enjoy life. God, however, told him that he would die that night. Who would inherit his earthly wealth? The lesson is that life does not consist of abundant possessions. Instead, it stores up godly wealth.

Further, Mark 10:17-31 records the young rich man's conversation with Jesus. (Parallels are in Matthew 19:16-30 and Luke 18:18-30.) With kneeling sincerity, he asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. The young man was faithfully following the Mosaic Ten Commandments. In love, Jesus told the young rich man to store up heavenly treasure by selling his possessions, giving the proceeds to the poor, and following him. In sadness, the man left, valuing his temporary earthly wealth more than heavenly treasure. He could not see beyond the temporal.

Finally, Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. The rich man lived in daily luxury, wanting nothing. Lazarus, in contrast, was a diseased and hungry beggar who lay at the rich man's gate. Both men died. Angels carried Lazarus to Abraham's side, where he was comforted. The rich man, in contrast, was in the agonizing and fiery torment of Hades, where he could not even cool his parched tongue with a dip of water. What was the difference? During his life on earth, Lazarus had followed Moses and the Prophets. The rich man had not. Earthly wealth means precious little in the afterlife. In life, the rich man failed to see beyond the temporal.

Conclusion

Your most valuable possession, dear reader, is your soul. Worth far more than temporal treasure, it is everlasting. You see, death separates the soul from the temporal body. The soul transitions spiritually to everlasting life or death. At physical death, our souls exist everlastingly in heavenly bliss or in Hadean torment.

Until I researched for this article, I did not know that Ted Turner, at an early age, claimed to be a Christian and wanted to become a missionary. The tragic and untimely death of his younger sister, however, turned him against Christianity. In life, he could not see beyond the temporal.

I understand how unexpected tragedy could turn a Christian away from God. My maternal grandparents, both born in 1901, lost their second child. Robert Allen Wood (5/14/1939–1/18/1941) left this world at only a year, eight months, and four days old. My mother was eight years old at the time. I know they grieved the loss of my Uncle Bobby, whom I look forward to meeting in heaven. My grandparents and my mother, however, never turned against God or gave up their Christian faith. In fact, they were the greatest examples of Christians, whom I have ever known, and I have known many great Christian examples.

More personally, I almost died, over ten years ago, on Tuesday, 3/29/2016, when an uninsured driver failed to yield to my right of way. God's providence allowed me to live and recover to the extent that I have. Yes, I was angry with God at times during the painful and early stages of my recovery. With repentance and a deeper study of the problem of evil, however, I buttressed my resolve to ask God to continue to use me in his service as he sees fit. I still live for Christ, who died for me (Galatians 2:20).

Later in life, Ted Turner's views softened, and he at least acknowledged the likely existence of an ultimate being. I wish a Christian had been able to bring Ted Turner back to the saving truth in Christ. It would have saved him from everlasting death (cf. James 5:19-20).

Ted Turner did not “gain the whole world.” Did he forfeit his soul? God will judge at the last judgment (Rev. 20:11-21:8). With his wealth and stature, what could have Ted Turner accomplished for Christ as a Christian missionary and evangelist? The world will never know.

Dear reader, if you walk with Christ, may God's grace sustain you on your journey heavenward! Dear reader, if you are not walking the heavenward journey with Christ, please reach out to me if you wish by emailing me using the Contact Form on the right side of this website. I am merely a former hungry beggar who found the Bread of Life. I greatly desire to share that Bread with you!

The AD 70 Doctrine Debunked (published 5-7-2025; article #524)

Photograph by Dmitriy Rundaev on Unsplash. Free to use under the Unsplash License.

Addendum on Resurrection Sunday, 4/5/2026: The original article below did not reference my previous article, The Coming of Christ: A Debate Easily Won (published 10-5-2019). In that brief essay, I “intruded” into a scheduled debate between H. N. and another brother in Christ on the past or future coming of Christ.

Introduction

Did we miss Jesus' second coming? Is Jesus not coming again in the future?

Have you heard the notion that the Lord’s second coming occurred in AD 70, 1,955 years ago? Did you know that some believers think that the resurrection of all the dead has already happened? Who knew that some Christians affirm that the end of the world and the final judgment were in the first century?

Welcome, dear reader, to the 39th entry in the Logic-Theology-Deep Stuff topic section. This article summarizes the AD 70 doctrine and debunks it. The doctrine is also called preterism or realized eschatology.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “preter” means “past: by: preterist” from the Latin “praeter past, by, beyond, from Latin prae before.” A preterist thinks that Jesus' second coming has already happened and that it occurred 1,955 years ago in AD 70. Additionally, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, eschatology is the study of last things or the end of time (i.e., the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the transformation of the living, the destruction of the earth by fire, the final judgment, and everlasting life or death). Realized eschatology, in essence, affirms that these last things have already taken place.

Background

On Saturday evening, 4/26/2025, why did I check out my Facebook profile page to see what friends had posted recently? I hadn't done so in a few days. I happened to notice that a brother in Christ—with whom I became acquainted while attending Tennessee Bible College in the fall of 1983 and spring of 1984—had reposted earlier that evening his original 2,520-word entry from 5/11/2021 on another Facebook profile page.

The lengthy Facebook treatise by this fellow Christian—H. N., three years older than me—attempted to explain the meaning of the number 666 in Revelation 13:18. In so doing, he seemed to indicate that the second and final coming of Christ was in AD 70, not a future event, when Jerusalem fell to the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire conquered Judea and destroyed the Second Temple in AD 70. Source: “Siege of Jerusalem: Jewish-Roman war [70 CE],” Encyclopedia Britannica, by Kate Lohnes, 8/29/2018.

The AD 70 (Preterism) Doctrine

Say what? Do some Christians think that Jesus already returned for the second and final time? Yes, a minority of believers think that the Roman conquest of Judea in AD 70 marked the second coming of Christ 1,955 years ago. Aside from my brother in Christ, who lives in Michigan, I do not know any other Christians who think this way. Do you?

I first heard about the AD 70 (preterist) doctrine in the mid-1980s, forty years ago. It was only a minor footnote in my theological studies. Recently, I came across three online sources, two of which may no longer be active, that advocate the preterist notion. I will allow these sources to present their case. First, I found the International Preterist Association (IPA): About: What is the Preterist View? The website by Ed Stevens was current to 2019, six years ago. Further, I also came across PreteristCentral.com: Affirming Christ’s Second Coming Fulfilled by Kurt M. Simmons. The website does not seem to be active. Finally, I discovered the following source that seems to be current: Bible Prophecy: Preterist Research Institute (PRI): About. Don K. Preston, who has an honorary, not earned, doctorate degree, is the founder and president.

Those sources include several entries that attempt to establish the preterist notion. The purpose of this article is not to explain how they present their case. You, however, may visit those websites and read some of their essays, as I have done. I found none that proved their theory.

In brief, preterists twist scripture. Plucking texts out of their immediate and remote contexts, they set up a pretext for their false doctrine. In 2 Peter 3:16, the apostle Peter warned that twisting and distorting scripture leads to destruction. In the first century AD, the apostle Paul warned against false teachers who taught that the resurrection had already taken place (2 Timothy 2:15-18).

Debunking the AD 70 Doctrine

This section begins with my exchange with H. N. on Facebook on 4/26/2025. Afterward, a brief study of selected scriptures in their proper context will debunk the AD 70 doctrine.

Facebook Exchange with H. N. on 4/26/2025

On Saturday evening, 4/26/2025, I commented on H. N.'s Facebook repost as follows: “Why is this relevant for what? The second coming of Christ, the end of the temporal realm, and final judgment are in the future.”

H. N.'s Facebook reply later that evening was (with my emboldening added for emphasis and grammatical correction bracketed in red font), “Sorry, the Second Coming of the Lord took place at the fall of the temple; check Hebrews 10:37 and its relation to Hebrews 9:28. There are no miracles in your future[,] and a future Second Coming requires the greatest miracle the world has ever seen. Miracles were for forty years (Micah 4:1-7:15).”

I decided to consider H. N.'s scripture references in their immediate and remote contexts. First, Hebrews 9:28 (NIV) states, “... so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews chapter 9 contrasts the Old and New Covenants. The point in verse 28 is that Christ was sacrificed once for our sins. His second appearance (coming) will bring everlasting salvation to believers.

Nothing in the context, immediate or remote, suggests that Christ's second coming occurred in AD 70 when the Roman Empire conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. In fact, the verse indicates a future second coming of Christ!

You see. I am waiting for Christ to come again to bring salvation in its everlasting and heavenly completion! If you are a Christian, dear reader, then are you not also awaiting this second coming?

Next, Hebrews 10:37 (NIV) states, “For, 'In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.'” This verse references Isaiah 26:20 and Habakkuk 2:3. In the pericope, Hebrews 10:19-39, the inspired author encourages Christians to hold onto their faith despite persecution. Patiently doing God's will receives the promised reward of everlasting salvation (verses 35-39). Nothing in the context, immediate or remote, alludes to a second coming of Christ in AD 70.

Finally, in seven chapters, the Book of Micah predicts that Israel would be conquered and restored. The book includes the Messianic prophecy that Christ would be born in Bethlehem (5:2; cf. Matt. 2:6). Nothing in this prophetic book, especially in chapters 4-7, indicates a 40-year period of miracles connected to Christ's second coming. As an aside, it is beyond the scope of this article to prove that the age of miracles ceased when the New Testament canon of scripture was completed, but I can prove this.

Scripture That Debunks the AD 70 Doctrine

This subsection is a brief review of certain scriptures, understood in their immediate and remote contexts, that debunks the AD 70 doctrine. Again, please remember that scripture taken out of context is a pretext for false doctrine.

John 5:27-29

The complete context is John, chapter 5. Jesus was in Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. He miraculously healed a man on the Sabbath (verses 1-9). Verses 10-16 explain how the Jewish leaders began persecuting Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus answered them in verses 17-47.

In verses 27-29, Jesus presented his authority to judge (verse 27). In verses 28-29 (NIV), Jesus stated, “... a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his [Jesus'] voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”

In AD 70, no historical record indicates that all the buried dead at that time heard the voice of Jesus, came out of their graves, and were judged. Further, since graves now hold the remains of the deceased, the time that Jesus mentioned has not yet come. It is coming. Are you ready?

Matthew, chapters 24-25

Preterists and premillennialists misinterpret Matthew chapter 24 (cf. Mark chapter 13 and Luke 21:5-36). In verses 1-2, Jesus predicted the destruction of the Jewish temple. On the Mount of Olives, in verse 3 (NIV), the disciples asked Jesus the following two-part question: “[W]hen will this [temple destruction] happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Part one of the question inquired about the destruction of the temple. The second part asked about Jesus' coming and the end of the age.

In verses 4-35, Jesus answered the first part of the question about the destruction of the temple, which occurred in AD 70. In verse 34 (NIV), he stated, “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” The Jewish temple would be destroyed, as it was in AD 70, within that first-century generation.

Jesus answered the second part of the question about his coming and the end of the age in verses 36-51. Jesus' final coming, known only to God the Father, will not be predicted by signs. It will be as in the days of Noah before the worldwide flood (Genesis 6:5-9:17).

Please notice that Jesus further explained his future coming and the end of the age in Matthew chapter 25. The parable of the ten virgins (verses 1-13) and the parable of the bags of gold (verses 14-30) emphasize watchfulness and stewardship.

The sheep and the goats (verses 31-46) focus on benevolence. Notice verses 31-33. Jesus, the Son of Man, will come in glory with all the angels. In verse 32 (NIV), Jesus stated, “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” In AD 70, “all the nations” were not gathered before Jesus to be separated.

Jesus concluded in verse 46 (NIV), “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” From “all the nations,” the goats on Jesus' left will be sent to “eternal punishment,” and the sheep on his right will have everlasting life. In AD 70, “all the nations” did not receive everlasting punishment or reward. Jesus' future coming will judge “all the nations.” Will you be a sheep or a goat?

Acts 1:11

The complete context is Acts 1:1-11. For forty days after his resurrection, Jesus was with and instructed his apostles. They literally saw with their eyes Jesus ascend toward heaven.

While still gazing upward, two angels (men dressed in white; cf. John 20:12) appeared to the apostles and said, “[W]hy do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (verse 11, NIV).

In AD 70, Jesus did not physically return to the earth, nor did any human eyes literally see him return. I hope that I am still alive to see Jesus coming back from heaven!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

To comfort and encourage the church of the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul explains that, at the future coming of Christ the Lord from heaven, believers who have passed away will rise first. Then, believers still living will join the risen dead to meet the Lord in the air.

Verses 16-17 (NIV) state, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

In AD 70, history does not record “the voice of the archangel,” “the trumpet call of God,” or Christians, deceased or still living, rising to meet Jesus in the air and going to be with him forever. That future event is my certain hope!

1 Corinthians, chapter 15

The apostle Paul's inspired eloquence to the church of God at Corinth in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 is a full statement about Jesus' resurrection (verses 1-11), the future resurrection of deceased believers (verses 12-34), the spiritual nature of the resurrected body (verses 35-57), and encouragement that serving the Lord is everlastingly beneficial (verse 58).

Key points found in verses 22-26 refute the AD 70 doctrine. After Christ comes, the end will come. Christ, however, will reign (from heaven) “... until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (verses 25-26, NIV). People, both saved and unsaved, are still dying physically every day. Physical death will end when Christ returns in the future. Obviously, physical death was not destroyed in AD 70.

Further, verses 51-52 (NIV) state, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

In AD 70, the last trumpet did not sound. Dead believers were not raised imperishable. Living Christians were not transformed into spiritual bodies. Looking forward to that future event inspires me to live my life for Christ!

2 Peter, chapter 3

The apostle Peter warned that in the last days scoffers would question the coming of Christ, since life was continuing as usual (verses 1-4). In verses 5-7, similar to the Genesis flood that destroyed the world (Genesis 7:21-22), the coming “day of judgment” will destroy the world by fire as well as the ungodly. Verses 8-9 explain that the Lord's patience before the coming judgment day is because he does not want “... anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (verse 9, NIV).

Peter warned in verse 10 (NIV), “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” Again, in verse 12 (NIV), he states that the “day of God” “... will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”

The final verses (13-18) conclude the epistle by encouraging Christians to avoid false doctrines and to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (verse 18, NIV).

The coming “day of the Lord” will destroy the temporal realm by fire. The ungodly will suffer everlasting destruction, but the saved will enjoy everlastingly “... a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (verse 13, NIV).

This “day of judgment” certainly did not happen in AD 70. The earth still stands. Judgment Day is coming. Are you ready?

Revelation 1:7-8

Concluding his greetings to the seven churches in the province of Asia, the apostle John wrote in Revelation 1:7-8 (NIV) the following:

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;”
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

An in-depth review of these profound verses is outside the scope of this brief article. In opposition to the theory that Christ returned in AD 70, however, is the fact that Christ has not yet come with the clouds for every eye to see him, even the Roman soldier who pierced him (John 19:34,37), and “all peoples on earth” have not mourned due to his coming. The Lord God is the one “who is to come.”

Conclusion

This article has summarized the AD 70 doctrine and debunked it. The second coming of Christ did not occur 1,955 years ago in AD 70. I know only one Christian who advocates this false notion. Online, I happened to come across a few others who hold the unproven theory.

Is H. N.—mentioned above, the brother in Christ three years older than me who prompted the writing of this article—as zealous in seeking and saving the lost as he is in promoting the debunked AD 70 theory? I hope so. Otherwise, he needs to shift gears and focus on the reason why Jesus came the first time.

In Luke chapter 19:1-9, we read about Jesus' interaction with Zacchaeus, the tax collector. In verse 10 (NIV), Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Ultimately, the purpose of this article is not only to debunk the AD 70 doctrine. It is also to encourage any unsaved reader to be ready for Christ's second coming and the final judgment.

Are you a sheep or a goat, dear reader? If you would like to converse privately by email, please use the Contact Form on this website to email me. I am one former poor and hungry beggar who found the Bread of Life. I want to share that Bread.

Debunking Binitarian Doctrine: The Trinity is True (published 4-18-2023; article #404)

Trinity symbol from “What is Binitarianism?” Got Questions, updated 1/13/2023. Free to use under Got Questions' Copyright Policy. Note: The use of the symbol does not imply that this author accepts every point in Got Questions' Statement of Faith—especially on eternal security, the “rapture,” and millennialism. (I just like the symbol, y'all!)

Introduction

The article from 4/14/2023 mentions the wrong path that I'd taken during my hike the day before. Papaw Ferrell would have laughed! That article with an embedded podcast explains my “hiking theology” about taking the right path up.

A day later, I didn't know that I would take an online sidetrack. Well, I did. On Saturday, I came across Medium, a platform to read and publish articles. I decided to experiment. So, I created M. Fearghail on Medium. I republished my 4/14/2023 article there that day. Depending on various factors, I may delete that account or continue to republish articles there. I am already republishing some articles on my Substack platform. Mainly, I am looking for other authors who write on topics of interest to me.

That wasn't really the online sidetrack. My sidetrack, while searching for other authors who write on religious topics, happened to find an anonymous writer, whose 3/24/2023 article raised my righteous and indignant Irish dander!

This thirty-eighth article in the Logic—Theology—Deep Stuff topic section will debunk the doctrine of Binitarianism and prove that the doctrine of the Trinity is true. I hope that you, dear reader, find this little sidetrack both interesting and helpful in your spiritual hike up on the right path.

The Binitarian Doctrine—Debunked

The 3/24/2023 article, which raised my indignant dander, was "Debunking the TRINITY doctrine," Forbidden Doctrines, by an anonymous author, 3/24/2023. This is his second article. The “About” section of his website does not introduce the author by name. The website's stated purpose is “to expose the many lies and false teachings of the Church.” The stated goal for his readers is “to search their Bibles to see what is true.” The website is titled correctly, since it promotes forbidden and unscriptural doctrines, as the correct study of the Bible indicates. (See 2 Timothy 2:15.)

As a brief aside, I will not become the eighth person to “follow” this anonymous author who has published only four articles as of this entry. By a quick glance, his first article (10/10/2022) seems to be biblical. However, his third article (4/6/2023) denies free will, which is obviously unbiblical. His most recent article (4/14/2023) affirms the unbiblical notion that Adam and Eve were created as sinners by a perfect and sinless God, before they sinned. The illogic of that notion is laughable.

This article focuses only on the anonymous author's second article, in which the false doctrine of Binitarianism is alleged. Interestingly, the article was written in critique of an article, published over seventeen years ago, which is "What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity?" Desiring God, by guest contributor Matt Perman, 1/23/2006. Amazingly, the author concludes his remarks by stating that the 1/23/2006 article “... accurately explains the TRINITY doctrine.”

The author's Binitarian doctrine falsely affirms two, God the Father and God the Son, not three divine beings who compose the one divine nature (or Godhead). The author thinks that the Holy Spirit is an “it”—the spirit of both the Father and the Son—not a separate or third divine person (as in the Trinity). The author states, “... the Word of God teaches ... that the Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of both Jesus Christ AND His Father.”

Binitarianism falsely rejects the full deity and personhood of the Holy Spirit. I will cite the author's three Binitarian arguments and then debunk each one.

First Binitarian Argument Debunked

Argument: First, by misusing Matthew 1:20, the author claims that, if the doctrine of the Trinity is correct, then the Holy Spirit is the Father of Jesus. The verse, which the author mishandles, is the angel of the Lord's statement to Joseph regarding Mary's conception, which states in part “... what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 1:20, NIV). The author's erroneous conclusion is as follows: “... if the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit is his father. That would be the logical conclusion if the TRINITY were true.”

Debunked: The author is guilty of eisegesis (reading his ideas into the verse) and of taking the verse out of context. His leap of logic is a non sequitur (from Latin, “it doesn’t follow”). Please read and consider the full context in Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-7; and John 1:1-3,14,18. The correct exegesis (understanding) of the complete context is as follows.

God (the Father) sent the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph. Gabriel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35, NKJV). The verse confirms the Trinity—the Holy Spirit (or “power of the Highest”), the Holy One (or the Son of God), and, by necessary inference, God the Father.

The apostle John's inspired eloquence states:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3, NKJV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, NKJV)

Obviously, God, the eternal Word, who “became flesh,” is “the only begotten of the Father”—not the only begotten of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the means by which God the eternal Word became flesh as the Son of God—born of the virgin Mary, by immaculate conception. The full context confirms the Trinity.

Second Binitarian Argument Debunked

Argument: Building on his first and debunked claim, the author's faulty reasoning continues to 2 John 1:3 (not to 1 John 1:3, which is an apparent typographical error in his article). The author cites the World English Bible translation:

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (2 John 1:3, WEB)

The author attempts to build his second argument upon his first and concludes, “The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus, but Jesus is the Son of God the Father. The only logical explanation is the Holy Spirit is not some third distinct person.”

Debunked: The author's first claim has already been debunked; therefore, his second argument, built on that debunked argument, is also debunked. Obviously, scripture teaches that God, the eternal Word, became the incarnate Son of God by the immaculate conception of Mary. Again, the immaculate conception was by means of God the Holy Spirit.

Third Binitarian Argument Debunked

Argument: Finally, as well as I can understand the faulty logic of the author, he reasons somehow that John 14:26 and 1 John 2:1 prove that the “Counselor” (Greek, παράκλητος, translated Counselor, Helper, or Advocate) is Jesus or the spirit of Christ, not the Holy Spirit.

Debunked: The writer is correct only in that παράκλητος is found five times in the Greek New Testament, each in the apostle John's inspired writings. See the Gospel of John (14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) and the First Epistle of John (1 John 2:1).

The full context in the Gospel of John is the last supper before Jesus' arrest (John chapters 13-17). The four times that παράκλητος is used in that context clearly indicate the Holy Spirit. The context also affirms the Trinity. In John 14:16,26, Jesus comforts his disciples by telling them that he will ask the Father to give them another Advocate, the Spirit of truth, or the Holy Spirit. In John 15:26 and 16:7, Jesus continues to assure his disciples that he will send to them the Advocate, or the Spirit of truth, from the Father, after he has returned to the Father.

In his First Epistle, John wrote, “... we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1, NIV). Here, John uses παράκλητος to indicate Jesus.

As has been said often, “a text taken out of context is a pretext.” The inspired apostle John uses παράκλητος to identify the Holy Spirit (in his Gospel) and also Christ (in his Epistle)—as separate divine persons—not as the same divine person. Otherwise, Jesus returned to the Father to be sent back as the Holy Spirit.

The Johannine use of παράκλητος is a title attributed to God the Holy Spirit (in his Gospel) and to the Son of God (in his Epistle). A title in this sense describes the function of two divine persons and does not imply only one divine being. For example, my wife and I have a niece who is an advocate (or lawyer). We, however, know other advocates. If we call our niece “the advocate,” we do not imply that she is the only advocate.

In his same First Epistle, John also states:

And this is his [God's] command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: we know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:23-24, NIV)

This is how we know that we live in him [God] and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4:13-14, NIV)

As in his Gospel, the apostle John also affirms the Trinity in his First Epistle. God (the Father) commands us to believe in his Son, Jesus. By keeping God's commands, we live in God, and God lives in us. We know this by the Spirit of God that God has given us. (This is “the gift of the Holy Spirit,” which the apostle Peter mentions in Acts 2:38.)

The author has “taken texts out of context and made a pretext.” This article intends no malice toward the anonymous author. My purpose is to enlighten him in his error and to guide him toward the correct path.

For further study on the error of Binitarianism, I suggest “Binitarianism: Is It Biblical? How erasing the Holy Spirit also denies the true nature of the Father and the Son,” Answers in Genesis, by Simon Turpin, 10/29/2022.

God in Three Persons: The Trinity

The previous section, which debunked the Binitarian doctrine, has also affirmed the Trinity. On Saturday, 4/15/2023, I commented on the anonymous author's 3/24/2023 article. He replied. I replied to his response. He then left his reply.

The draft of the still unpublished seventh article in this website's Christian Evidences series includes a section, “Important Note on the Trinity.” On Saturday, in my first comment to the author's article, I included that section on the Trinity. It is as follows:

At this juncture, an important note on the Trinity is necessary. The Trinity is God the Father, God the Word (who became God the Son), and God the Holy Spirit. Three distinct and divine beings, united perfectly, are one divine nature—God. This is also called the Godhead.

Genesis 1:1 (NIV) states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In Hebrew, “God” is plural (Elohim, אֱלֹהִ֑ים), but “created” (bā·rā, רָ֣א) is singular. The next verse (NIV) states that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Verse 26 (NIV) states, “Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness ....'” The plural forms are used.

John 1:1-3 (NIV) states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Then verse 14 (NIV) states, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In Genesis 1:1,2,26 and John 1:1-3,14, the Bible states that God the Father created through God the Word (who became God the Son) by means of God the Holy Spirit. The triune action of the Godhead created all that exists. God the Word became God the Son to redeem us by his grace and truth.

The Trinity was present at Jesus' immersion, when God the Father spoke and God the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove. See Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:31-34.

After his resurrection and before his ascension, Jesus gave the Great Commission.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)

Christians continue to answer the call of the Great Commission by immersing penitent believers in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The concept of the Trinity—three distinct and divine beings, united perfectly, in one divine nature, God—is profound but not a mystery. Consider that millions of distinct human beings are one human nature. We are united in one human nature. We, however and unfortunately, are not united perfectly in character, will, or purpose—as God is.

That excerpt from my still unpublished article proves the Trinity. The following other scriptures also verify the Trinity. For example, in the context of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostle Peter affirms that the Holy Spirit is God.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4, NIV)

They lied to the Holy Spirit, whom the inspired Peter calls God. Even though the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is biblical. Consider also the following texts.

Jesus' Great Commission states in part:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit .... (Matt. 28:19, NIV)

I am aware that some claim that the verse is an uninspired addition to the Gospel of Matthew. I also know that the art and science of textual criticism has confirmed that the text is the original words of the inspired Matthew. The fact can be unpacked and verified in a future article as needed.

The apostle Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians as follows:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14, NIV)

The apostle Paul's encouragement to the Christians at Ephesus to live worthy and united in their calling states in part:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (Eph. 4:4-7, NIV)

One God, in three persons—one God and Father, one Lord (Christ), and one Spirit—is the apostle Paul's inspired truth.

The apostle Peter greets the Christians of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia by stating that they:

... have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood ... (1 Peter 1:2, NIV)

Clearly, each divine person in the Trinity is present in salvation by the foreknowledge of God the Father, the sanctifying of the Spirit, and obedience to Jesus Christ.

See also, among other texts, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, and Jude 1:20-21.

For further study on the Trinity, I suggest “The Biblical Doctrine of the Godhead,” Christian Courier, by Wayne Jackson, undated.

Conclusion

At least this sidetrack was not like the one that I took during my hike on Papaw Ferrell's birthday! The anonymous author of the 3/24/2023 article, which this article has debunked, is welcome to continue our discussion by his comments on this article. After publishing this article, I plan in the Lord to reference this article as my final comment to his article.

Binitarianism is clearly a false doctrine. The author's error is not correctly handling (dividing or understanding) the true words of the Bible. (See the apostle Paul's guidance to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15.) Instead, his eisegesis (reading his ideas into certain texts, which he takes out of context) twists and distorts the Bible. (See the apostle Peter's warning in 2 Peter 3:16.)

I hope that this article guides the author back to the right trail up. Further, I hope this article helps keep you, dear reader, from going down the wrong Binitarian trail. Dear God, in Christ's name, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I pray that this article will guide every reader along the right path up.