Monday, January 16, 2023

Was it possible to expect a Messiah as the Second Person of Trinity based on the Tanakh?

It is very rare to find texts that point to a future king as the Second Person of Trinity in the Tanakh, Old Testament. Well, in some sense, the whole Bible points to Jesus, I know... but I don't find many prophetic texts that point to a king that should be praised as the Lord, as the Second Person of Trinity. 

Let me illustrate it. Moses says in Deuteronomy 18:15-22 about a future prophet like Moses. 

15 One day, the Lord your God will send to you a prophet like me. He will come from among your own people. You must listen to him. 

We, Christians, understand that Moses was referring  to Jesus, but we see Jesus as much more than a prophet like Moses. By this text, a Jew would not think of this prophet as the Second Person of Trinity.
In 2 Samuel 7 we read the prophet Nathan saying to David:

“‘The Lord declares(AD) to you that the Lord himself will establish(AE) a house(AF) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest(AG) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,(AH) and I will establish his kingdom.(AI) 13 He is the one who will build a house(AJ) for my Name,(AK) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.(AL) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(AM) When he does wrong, I will punish him(AN) with a rod(AO) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him,(AP) as I took it away from Saul,(AQ) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[b]; your throne(AR) will be established(AS) forever.(AT)’”

At first glance, Nathan was talking about Solomon. The problem with him is that his throne was not established forever. Christians believe that Jesus kingdom was established forever fulfilling this prophecy despite it is written "when he does wrong". All Christianity believes that Jesus was perfect, with no sin. So, again, it is difficult through this text to see the future Messiah as the Second Person of Trinity.

There are other passages in the Old Testament that points to Jesus but I am just stating that it is difficult for a Jew to see Jesus, as God himself, through these passages. It is clear that the pharisees and even the disciples of Jesus were not expecting a Messiah like Him. 

Today I read Psalm 45 which talks about a king. I don't know how the Jews read this Psalm, but I find it is impossible to read without Jesus.

We read:

5 Let your sharp arrows(K) pierce the hearts(L) of the king’s enemies;(M)

    let the nations fall beneath your feet.

6 Your throne, O God,[c] will last for ever and ever;(N)

    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

7 You love righteousness(O) and hate wickedness;(P)

    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

    by anointing(Q) you with the oil of joy.(R)

The Psalmist is addressing the king as Elohim (God) in verse 6. 

Here, I (and I think that all Christianity) see verse 6 referring to Jesus as the Second Person of Trinity.

10 Listen, daughter,(AC) and pay careful attention:(AD)

    Forget your people(AE) and your father’s house.

11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(AF)

    honor(AG) him, for he is your lord.(AH)


Here the Psalmist is talking about a wedding. The bride is said to honor him, but is some translations we see "adore". The bride should bow down to him. Christians identify the bride as the church.

There are other Psalms that refers to a Messiah as the Lord as in Psalm 2 and 110, but I didn't remember about this Psalm that I read today. 

Therefore, I believe that it is not very easy for a Jew to expect a Messiah as the Second Person of Trinity. There some passages, as Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53 that are impossible to understand without Jesus, but still, these passages don't point to a Messiah as the Second Person of Trinity. 

Psalm 45 is a rare passage that points to a Messiah as Elohim in verse 6.


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