In this last article in this series about Jesus, our effort will be to show the “man,” Jesus Christ. Like many others, I have taken a text too far in its real conclusion. Take the text of First Timothy chapter two, verse five: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” The Greek word used by Paul for “men” is “anthropos” and it means: “1) a human being, whether male or female 1a) generically, to include all human individuals” (Thayer). This is also the word used the second time as Paul writes: “the man Christ Jesus.” This requires a study and so we begin!
In Paul’s “the man Christ Jesus,” he is addressing a certain person out of all human beings and it is “Christ Jesus!” This also reaches back to John’s words, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …” There was a point in time when Jesus was not, but there was a point in time when he begins to be. This is the meaning of the Greek word which is translated “was made.” The Greek word is “ginomai” and Thayer says: “to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being.” The man, flesh and blood, Jesus came into existence! This is the “man Christ Jesus” of Paul words in 1 Timothy two and verse five: “the man Christ Jesus!”
As we study, it is understood that thinking about Deity and conceiving of the idea of Deity is beyond our human abilities! It might surprise some to realize that Deity is some how able to be seen! John wrote: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). The word “see” is the Greek “optanomai” and means: “1) to look at, behold 2) to allow one’s self to be seen, to appear” (Thayer). Now, how can Deity be seen? The question becomes more difficult as we understand what this John wrote: “God is a Spirit: …” (John 4:24). We generally think a spirit is invisible and this is true, but Heaven holds something different when it comes to one spirit looking up another spirit. But Paul in 2 Timothy 2:4, as he wrote, “the man Christ Jesus.” We fully understand that we flesh, and blood beings are very observable.
Jesus was very visible, as he was flesh and blood just as we are. In fact, it was necessary that he be so; otherwise he would not have been able to give himself as a ransom for our sins! Keep in mind, Deity does not have flesh and blood but the “man Christ Jesus” did. Just here, notice these words: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). “The man Christ Jesus” became, begin to be, what Deity is not! He did, so “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” This was done, the destroying of the devil, by means of the “man Christ Jesus!” I am sure the reader is asking, how did Jesus “destroy him that had he power of death?” The Greek word used here is “ katargeo” and means: “1) to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative 1a) to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency 1b) to deprive of force, influence, power” (Thayer). When sins are forgiven through “the man Christ Jesus” he is serving as our “mediator between God and men.” The devil, Satan, has no power to undo the forgiven received by men through “the man Christ Jesus.” Satan is totally “inoperative,” he is “deprived of force” to undo the forgiveness of our sins!
Look now at “the man Christ Jesus” as he prayed, with the cross only hours before him: first, he speaks to Peter, James, and John: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matt. 26:38). Then, “the man Christ Jesus” “… went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14: 35-36). Was this Deity praying, or was it “the man Christ Jesus?” It was “the man Christ Jesus” who was to taste death for every man!
To write that it is hard to understand Deity, as this is one thing, but it was also hard for those who walked with Jesus upon this earth, to understand Deity in a flesh and blood body. So, it is with us, but we must not give up but keep on studying!
Frank R. Williams