Question: 1 John 1 states the one who has existed from eternity became flesh. Does this mean since God is One, the one and only God became flesh, therefore, the Father manifested Himself in the flesh to become Jesus?

Since he was fully God and fully man, was he also fully the Father and fully his son, Jesus? Still being one God? Our one God certainly could be both Father and Son at the same time because he is God. He can do anything. Even be his own son.

Alan

Answer: Dear Alan,

Your first question – "…since God is one (true, constantly affirmed in the Bible, Deut. 6:4 for example), the one and only God became flesh (true, the incarnation of Jesus – Matthew 1:23, for example), there the Father manifested himself in the flesh to become Jesus?

The "therefore step" is flawed – and it’s a common mistake – in English we can use the word God to mean the Godhead – that is, the triune Godhead of God the Father, God the Son or God the Holy Spirit – OR – we can use the word God to speak of the Father only – and instead of saying God, the Father, we can simply say "God." But you are mixing the two usages in your question – God became flesh, but there was one "person" of the triune Godhead who did so – the eternal Son of God.

The divine person who became incarnate, adding flesh to his divinity without ceasing to be God, was the Eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead.

God is one (the Godhead). He exists eternally as one in essence and three in person. His unity is expressed in his one-ness, while his diversity is expressed in terms of three persons (not persons in the sense of humanity, but distinct personalities).

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht