Do I have to side with my Jehovah's Witness friends now?

[placebofactor]

I'm going to share a verse that puzzled me for many years. Why? Because I believe that Jesus is God. One of the Jehovah's attributes is that he is "All knowing," and if Jesus is God, then he should have known the answer to the question asked by his disciples. The question was,

Mark 13:32, "What is the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

His response in Mark 13:32 was, "But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."

Well, it appears the Jehovah's Witnesses have one up on us who believe Jesus is God, because he lacked the knowledge of what the sign of his coming was, and of the end of the world.

One of you who believes, like me, that Jesus is God, not that he's the Father, but the Son, had better come up with the answer, or we will have to admit, because of this one verse, that he is only "a god."
Your thoughts:

[Difflugia]

Well, it appears the Jehovah's Witnesses have one up on us who believe Jesus is God, because he lacked the knowledge of what the sign of his coming was, and of the end of the world.

Kenosis Christology

The idea is that the "kenosis hymn" in Philippians 2 means that Jesus "emptied himself" (?????? ????????) of certain divine attributes, including universal knowledge, in order to be "fully human." Whether or not you find this satisfying is up to you, but it is one orthodox solution to your dilemma.

[placebofactor]

Well, it appears the Jehovah's Witnesses have one up on us who believe Jesus is God, because he lacked the knowledge of what the sign of his coming was, and of the end of the world.

Kenosis Christology

The idea is that the "kenosis hymn" in Philippians 2 means that Jesus "emptied himself" (?????? ????????) of certain divine attributes, including universal knowledge, in order to be "fully human." Whether or not you find this satisfying is up to you, but it is one orthodox solution to your dilemma.

Good observation Difflugia, it's the beginning of a good discussion, but let's add more details to your comment.

To my Jehovah's Witness friend, what's your reply to difflugia's observation concerning Philippians?

[1213]

Well, it appears the Jehovah's Witnesses have one up on us who believe Jesus is God, because he lacked the knowledge of what the sign of his coming was, and of the end of the world.

Kenosis Christology

The idea is that the "kenosis hymn" in Philippians 2 means that Jesus "emptied himself" (?????? ????????) of certain divine attributes, including universal knowledge, in order to be "fully human." Whether or not you find this satisfying is up to you, but it is one orthodox solution to your dilemma.

Jesus had all other information, except that one. Would "emptied himself" mean that he just forgot the one information?

[placebofactor]

Well, it appears the Jehovah's Witnesses have one up on us who believe Jesus is God, because he lacked the knowledge of what the sign of his coming was, and of the end of the world.

Kenosis Christology

The idea is that the "kenosis hymn" in Philippians 2 means that Jesus "emptied himself" (?????? ????????) of certain divine attributes, including universal knowledge, in order to be "fully human." Whether or not you find this satisfying is up to you, but it is one orthodox solution to your dilemma.

Jesus had all other information, except that one. Would "emptied himself" mean that he just forgot the one information?

We have to consider Christ's dual Nature.
As fully divine, Jesus possesses omniscience.
As fully human, He operated within the limitations of human experience, including not knowing certain things unless revealed by the Father.

The phrase "neither the Son" does not deny His divinity; it affirms His submission and humility in the incarnation. So yes, "knows no man" includes Jesus in His human form, and "neither the Son" reinforces that inclusion. It's a profound moment where Jesus models trust in the Father's timing and invites us to do the same.

Fully divine, Jesus possesses omniscience, omnipotence, and eternal existence.
Fully human, he experiences limitations, growth, and submission.

So, in Mark 13:32, Jesus is speaking from His human nature. Therefore, in this context, He voluntarily limited His divine attributes (Philippians 2:6-7), including knowledge of his coming.

[Difflugia]

Jesus had all other information

Can you justify that or are you just asserting it?

[1213]

Jesus had all other information

Can you justify that or are you just asserting it?

Maybe he didn't have all possible other information. But, according to the Bible, he had information about what is coming, just not the exact time. So, if he emptied himself, did it mean he just forgot the date, or what else he forgot? The story indicates he didn't forget other stuff.

[1213]

We have to consider Christ's dual Nature.
... ...So, in Mark 13:32, Jesus is speaking from His human nature. Therefore, in this context, He voluntarily limited His divine attributes (Philippians 2:6-7), including knowledge of his coming.

Why do you think Bible is not saying Jesus had dual nature? Instead Bible tells God lives in Jesus and that Jesus is God's image.

Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John 14:10-11
... He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ...
Col. 1:14-16
I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
John 5:30
Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does like-wise.
John 5:19

[placebofactor]

[Difflugia]

Jesus had all other information

Can you justify that or are you just asserting it?

Maybe he didn't have all possible other information. But, according to the Bible, he had information about what is coming, just not the exact time. So, if he emptied himself, did it mean he just forgot the date, or what else he forgot? The story indicates he didn't forget other stuff.

OK, so you've changed what you're asserting, but you still haven't justified your assertion. If you think that what you're saying is true "according to the Bible," you should be able to give us chapter and verse.