Much confusion surrounds the question of how Jesus is related to YHWH, the God of Israel, according to the Bible. Questions erupt constantly within Sunday school classes concerning how one God can exist not only in but as three distinct co-eternal, co-equal persons. More specifically, how can the Father of Jesus be God, Jesus be God, and the Holy Spirit be God yet there not be three God’s but only one? Appeal is usually either made to early church councils in which these issues were hashed out and ultimately decided upon, or the question is said to be shrouded in mystery and should be accepted by faith. Both of these answers seem to avoid explanation and neither of them ultimately satisfies our rationality. Dan Mages argues that according to the Hebrew Bible and the Second Testament, Jesus is not YHWH, the one God of Israel, but the son of YHWH. Evangelical and other biblical scholars have made sweeping strides in recent years, frankly acknowledging the lack of NT evidence for the Trinity, recognizing some of Trinitarianism’s pitfalls, and have begun to conceive of Jesus as the human Messiah, the son of the one God of Israel and the world.

Ed Enochs, founder of the Evangelical Debate Society hosts Dan Mages at his home church, Calvary Chapel Saving Grace in Yorba Linda, California. Ed argues the traditional Trinitarian position, that Jesus is YWHW, the one God of Israel. Which position is more convincing? You decide!