Introduction
As we read John 10:30, where Jesus states, “I and the Father are one“, we may ask ourselves what the real meaning of this statement is. What does it mean when Jesus says, “I and the Father are one“? Some interpret these words as proof that Jesus and God are the same being, while others see them as confirmation of the doctrine of the Trinity. However, was this truly Christ’s intention in saying this? In this article, I will explore this passage in light of the biblical context, analyzing other statements of Jesus and comparing them with texts that explain the concept of unity in the Scriptures.
Golden Verse: I and the Father Are One
John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one“
The text above is understood by many as proof that Jesus is God or that God and Jesus are the same person. For Unicists, Jesus is the part of God made flesh. Within this line of thought, they understand Jesus’ words as a reference to the fact that He Himself is the God of the Bible, but in the form of a human being. On the other hand, Trinitarians believe that Jesus’ words are proof of the Trinity, since this passage presents a statement where He claims to be a single being with the Father. Were these really Jesus’ intentions when He uttered these words? What does “I and the Father are one” mean?
Analysis of Jesus’ Prayer
To arrive at a correct understanding of this text, we need to look for the meaning of this expression in other biblical texts. The main text where we can find this information is in Jesus’ priestly prayer, found in John 17:
John 17:9, 11 – “I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours… And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are one“.
This chapter records His prayer to the Father. In verse 9, Jesus specifies who He is referring to. He says that He is not praying for the people of the world, but only for His followers. Notice that, in verse 11, He prays to the Father, asking that these people be kept by God so that they would all be “one“, just as Jesus and the Father are one!
We Must Be One, Just Like God and Jesus
Jesus’ words are very clear. He asks that all His children be “one“, and He uses as a comparison the way that He and the Father are one when saying “just as we are“. Was He in fact praying to the Father that people would become one being, or something similar as understood by Oneness or Trinitarians? Clearly not! The words of Christ “just as we are” demonstrate that such interpretations are not correct and that, in reality, there is another way of understanding how He and the Father are one. But the text continues with the following words:
John 17:20-22 – “And I pray not for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one, just as we are one“
The verses above confirm once again that the way to understand the unity between Jesus and the Father is not the way that Unicists or Trinitarians claim. Because now Jesus says that His people must be “one” in the Father and the Son. To think that the meaning of being “one” means to compose a being becomes totally absurd when we read this passage, since now this being (God) would be composed of thousands or millions of other people! Of course, this interpretation is not correct since it has no coherence whatsoever. But then, what does “I and the Father are one” mean?
What Does It Mean to Be One?
The analysis of Jesus’ priestly prayer makes it clear to us how we should understand “being one“. It mentions that we should be just as Christ and God are one. Now, what does this mean? We can gain an understanding through other biblical passages presented below:
Romans 15:5-6 – “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ“
1 Corinthians 1:10 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment“
Ephesians 4:3 – “Seeking to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace“
Notice that in the passages above, the concept of unity presented by Paul is:
- Unity
- Same thought
- Absence of dissensions
- Unity of thought
- Have the same opinion (opinion)
- United in spirit
The Correct Interpretation
What is the correct interpretation of the question: What does “I and the Father are One“? The correct interpretation of being “one” in the Bible refers to unity, which is the bond between different people. This unity involves having the same ideals, thoughts, and purposes, and not being in conflict with one another. It is in this sense that Jesus and the Father are one. Knowing this, Jesus’ priestly prayer becomes clear, when He asked His Father that we also become one with them. Jesus was asking God to place His Spirit in our hearts and work in our minds so that we would be united with the same purposes and ideas as God. The separation that sin caused between us and God, Jesus now works to restore, making us more like Him again, just as Adam was when he was created. This transformation is made through the Spirit of God in us.
The Misinterpretation of I and the Father Are One
Now, how about we read the context of John 10:30, where Jesus said, “I and the Father are one“, to check what other information we can get from this text? Let’s see:
John 10:30-36 – “I and the Father are one. Then the Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone Me?’ The Jews answered Him, ‘We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, being a man, make Yourself God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, You are gods’? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came-and the Scripture cannot be broken-do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?“
Notice that after Jesus said, “I and the Father are one“, He asks the Jews a question, to which they respond with the following words: “We do not stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, being a man, make Yourself God“. The Jews understood Jesus’ words as if He were pretending to be God. But as we have seen, that was not the real meaning of His words.
Notice that they misunderstood, and this misinterpretation is also being made by Oneness and Trinitarians. But Christ answers them by saying, “Say ye of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God?“. What did Christ actually claim, according to His words? He claimed that He was the “Son of God” and not that He was God Himself! Such words make perfect sense, since the unity between God and Jesus makes Jesus truly the Son of God, for it is impossible to be in unity with God and still not be His son.
Final Considerations: What Does It Mean I and the Father Are One
We conclude, therefore, that Jesus’ words were referring to the unity of thought and purpose that He has with His Father. To conclude, I leave the following text for reflection:
“The personality of the Father and the Son, and the unity existing between Them, is set forth in the seventeenth chapter of John, in Christ’s prayer for His disciples: ‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me’ John 17:20, 21. The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not annul the personality of either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. Thus God and Christ are one” – Science of Healing, page 421-422.
May God bless the reader.
