John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:8

Greg

Trinitarian assertions: 

1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).

This verse identifies Jesus as the Word, who was with God in the beginning and is also identified as God.

2. "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9).

This verse affirms that Jesus embodies the fullness of the divine nature.

3. Philippians 2:5-11: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be grasped to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This passage describes Jesus' humility and exaltation, stating that Jesus, who existed in the form of God, took on human form, became obedient to death on a cross, and was highly exalted by God.

4. Hebrews 1:8: "But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom."

This verse quotes from Psalm 45:6 and identifies the Son (Jesus) as God.
 
Response:

1. In the beginning was the logos (not Jesus), and the logos (not Jesus) was with God, and God was the logos (actual Greek word order; not God was Jesus).  The logos, God's word/wisdom/self-expression, was embodied in Jesus (John 1:14), therefore Jesus was God’s logos in that he perfectly represented God.
 
2. Yes, all the fullness of God indwelled Jesus.  Prior to that, the scriptures say in Colossians 1:19: "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son" (NET and some other versions).  That doesn't make Jesus God.  God was not Christ, God was in Christ. Furthermore, Paul prayed that Christians would be filled with all of God's fullness too.  Ephesians 3:19 – “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (NRSV).
 
3. The text doesn't say Jesus was God, but that he was in the form of God. Big difference. Jesus set aside his prerogatives of functional equality with God as the promised Messiah to act as a servant.  He did not grasp at equality with God. 
 
4. The referent in Psalm 45:6 is the Davidic king in its context.  He was God's representative on earth.  Jesus is the ultimate Davidic king. The term God/god (elohim in Hebrew and theos in Greek) is used of Moses [Ex. 7:1]; rulers [Psalm 82:6, John 10:34-35], the Davidic king (Psalm 45 and Psalm 2:7], and even Satan [2 Cor. 4:4].  It is not a term that denotes "deity." If one were to keep reading in Hebrews 1, it will be revealed that the one being called god here, has a God over him. Yahweh, the Father has no god over him - Jesus does.
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