The verses used by the Arians – You alone are the true God

The lecturer spoke about Jesus’ verse: “This is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”, and clarified the meaning of the phrase “the only true God” and how it should be read in theological balance with other texts about the Son’s relation to the Father.

Core points

• The Lord Christ meant by the phrase “the only true God” the affirmation of God’s unity and the distinction from pagan gods and false titles, not the negation of the Son’s relation to the Father.

• The word “only” should not be understood to mean the Father is separate from the Son; rather it indicates a true deity that includes the whole Divine Being (the Father, the Son, and the Spirit).

• Christ presents Himself as the image of the invisible Father and as teacher and revealer of God’s name; true knowledge of the Father comes through the Son.

• Explaining that “knowing God through Christ” is the essence of eternal life, because Christ is the sent one and the giver of knowledge and redemption.

• The lecturer pointed out that biblical terms (such as “body” or “only”) have theological connotations and require contextual reading, not only lexical reading.

• He cited the Fathers (especially St. Ambrose) to affirm that what is said about the Father pertains to the whole theology, because the Father works by the Son and the Word is God’s mind and speech.

• Gospel episodes (like with the Samaritan woman) were discussed to show that Jesus sometimes speaks from a human perspective and this does not contradict His deity.

• He concluded by affirming that redemption and eternal life are linked to knowing God as the Son revealed Him.

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