Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
This text is perhaps the most favorite of all those cults who are against the deity of Christ. Especially on verse 3 they would assert that since Christ himself acknowledged the Father as the only true God therefore Jesus cannot be God. The word “only” excludes anyone from being God. The logic therefore is:
Premise: There is only one true God.
Premise: Jesus himself said the Father is the only true God.
Conclusion: Jesus cannot therefore be God.
Although John 17:3 affirms the Father is the only true God, it does not say only the Father is God nor Jesus is not God. The cults have misinterpreted this by concluding Jesus is not God.
If the cult quoting the passage is the Jehovah’s Witnesses, you can dismiss their misinterpretation by asking if Jesus is a false god. To the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus Christ is only a lesser god. However, they will not deny Jesus is false. But for them to quote John 17:3 to refute the deity of Christ is self-defeating; since to them the only the Father is the one true God, they would have to admit that any other god is a false god. Would they admit Christ is a false god? I don’t think so.
However, there are cults who absolutely do not believe that Jesus is God, nor even a god. The Iglesia ni Cristo 1914 (INC) believe Jesus is only a man. They often quote John 17:3 to prove only the Father is the one true God and thus, Christ is not God.
Let’s test the consistency of their interpretation by taking a look at Mark 10:18:
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.
Jesus Christ himself that no one is good except God alone. Do we conclude Jesus is not good either? Would they accept that Jesus is not good just as they concluded that Jesus is not God in John 17:3? Just as Mark 10:18 does not say Jesus Christ is not good, John 17:3 also does not say Jesus Christ is not God. Amen! Therefore, the INC has the wrong interpretation for John 17:3.
John 17:3 is merely affirming the Father is the only true God. It does not say Jesus Christ is not God. Likewise, Mark 10:18 is merely telling only God is good. It does not say Jesus Christ is not good.
Were not done yet
In an internet discussion forum I have presented Mark 10:18 to some INC members to contradict their understanding of John 17:3. All of these INC I have discussed of course have some responses, but none of them are satisfactory. Below are the INC responses which are italicized and underlined I encountered so far (please note these are responses from the internet discussion forums, not necessarily the official answers of the INC administration) and my responses to them:
1. Jesus is good but not as good as the Father. Response: It’s possible the one who is giving this answer is not reading the verse well or maybe has forgotten their comparative adjectives (good-better-best). Mark 10:18 does not say “Yes I am good but God is better”.
2. Jesus is neither good nor evil. Response: So what is he, a gray area? If Christ is not good how come he said he is the Good Shepherd (John 10:14)?
3. The context is about being a good teacher. Jesus is not a good teacher because everything he knows comes from the Father. Response: I challenge every INC member to shout, with all sincerity: Jesus is not a good teacher! The Bible makes it clear that the Son is the exact representation of God’s being (Hebrews 1:3). Thus, if the Father is good, then Jesus is also good.
4. The goodness that God has is not the same goodness that Christ has. Response: I doubt if the INC can tell the difference between the goodness of God and the goodness of Christ. They won’t be able to tell the difference because Christ is the exact representation of God’s being (Hebrews 1:3).
5. All those who are called “good” by the Bible are gods too. Response: The INC member giving this response is only changing the topic. It is not even your argument that because Jesus is good he must therefore be God. But this easily refuted by relating it to an erroneous argument like: all dogs are walking, Pedro is walking, therefore Pedro is a dog. This INC rebuttal has the same error committed. Just because Pedro is walking doesn’t mean he is a dog. So even if other people are good, goodness is not the only characteristic God has.
6. Mark 10:18 refutes your deity of Christ and Trinitarian beliefs because Jesus already declared God alone is good. Response: this one made me laugh as the INC member didn’t see the implication of Mark 10:18 (Jesus is not good) are similar to the conclusion they want their listeners to arrive for John 17:3 (Jesus is not God).
7. The meaning of the word “only” is absolute if referring to a nature, but not so when referring to a characteristic; thus, even if only God is good, anyone can also be good because goodness is a characteristic. Response: I call this too prejudicial. If you say that only Maria is beautiful then it should follow that Jane is not beautiful. Some INC members go to the extent to argue that in a given place only Maria is beautiful but there is another girl in a different place who is beautiful. However, when Christ was speaking in Mark 10:18 he was in a place talking about the Father.
Some INC members will offer you complicated explanation for Mark 10:18. In order to prevent any deviation due to this complicated explanation, simplify your argument by asking, “Is Jesus good?” and require only a yes or no answer. After all, they will immediately give you a “no” answer if you ask them, “Is Jesus God?” In my experience, the INC has difficulty explaining Mark 10:18 because they are one-sided with their interpretation of John 17:3.
Here is another verse that is similarly structured with Mark 10:18 and John 17:3:
Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. Revelations 15:3-4
Ask any INC member, is Jesus Christ not holy? I doubt they will answer yes.
Conclusion:
John 17:3 does not refute the deity of Christ. This passage is often misinterpreted by those who are against the deity of Christ. Although this verse says that the Father is the only true God, it is not saying Jesus is not God. Jesus is indeed affirming monotheism (the belief that there is only one God). But he is not denying his deity.
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