In this podcast I focus on a few additional interpretive issues of specific words in John 1:14 that mainstream Christians interpret as evidence that God became man.The verb σκηνόω (dwell, tabernacle) is not used of God elsewhere in the Septuagint, while its New Testament occurrences do not naturally support the idea of God incarnating himself in a human body. The traditional translation "dwelt among us" is possible, but it is not the only way to interpret and translate John 1:14. The Greek preposition ἐν ordinarily means "in," and John's Gospel repeatedly uses “in” to describe relationship rather than spatial proximity. John's own usage of "in us," "in me," and "in you" consistently points toward personal relationship, not spatial proximity. John 1:14 can be understood as the Word dwelt “in us”, describing the human person Jesus, the Word, becoming life giving provision and sustenance for others. Such an interpretation fits naturally within John's broader theology of indwelling as a relationship with the Messiah that brings about life.The evidence from John's Gospel, the Septuagint, and the wider New Testament suggests that "the Word dwelt in us" deserves serious consideration as an alternative to the traditional rendering "the Word dwelt among us."An essential doctrinal teaching, something like the incarnation of God into man, should not hang on the interpretation of a single preposition in one verse. Big doctrinal claims require big, consistent, repeated, clear textual evidence. John simply does not say that God, or one person who is God, became man. Resources:

Full Text: https://landandbible.blogspot.com/2026/06/dwelt-in-us-or-dwelt-among-us-john-114.html

The Word BECAME Flesh? Why John 1:14 does NOT say "God became man"https://youtu.be/z4HepHkyujkThe Word Became Flesh (Sustenance): A Metaphorical Interpretation of “Flesh”https://youtu.be/A87VcXKCWBM"The Word became flesh and dwelt IN us"? Dialog with Sam Tideman on John 1:14https://youtu.be/P4b9xZ0gX6g#gospelofjohn #biblicalunitarian

No one in the Bible teaches that God is a Trinity.

Husbandand Dad Seeks our God and Father: Interview with Luke Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCh_RCxVRWg

If the Bible is Right, Godis NOT a Trinity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1-qBYVrkdU

Bill Schlegel (One God Report)

https://www.youtube.com/@billschlegel1

Land and Bible (Schlegel blog)

https://landandbible.blogspot.com/

This episode argues for anon-Trinitarian, “new beginning” interpretation of John 1:1–4. John’s“beginning” does not refer to Genesis creation or a preexistent divine Christ,but to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the gospel message. “the Word” isthe human Jesus functioning as God’s ultimate spokesman and agent, with phraseslike “the Word was with God” and “the Word was God” describing Jesus’ intimaterelationship with and representation of the Father rather than shared divineessence. John 1:3 is better understood and translated as “all happened throughhim,” referring to the events and life-giving work of Jesus’ ministry ratherthan the creation of the universe. John’s introduction is about the new lifeand light which came to be through the historical man Jesus in the firstcentury, not about a pre-incarnate 2nd creator figure, or a personifiedwisdom/plan.

Blog Text:

https://landandbible.blogspot.com/2026/05/what-about-john-1-what-john-11-4-means.html

The Sons of God and Nephilim are Human Beings in Genesis6:1-4 (and Numbers 13:33).

Resources:

Commentaryon Genesis 6:1-13 by Todd Morrel

https://landandbible.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-sons-of-god-and-nephilim-are-human.html

MeridithCline: “Divine Kingship and Genesis 6:1-4”
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://meredithkline.com/files/articles/Divine-Kingship-and-Genesis-6_1-4.pdf

BillSchlegel One God Report

https://www.youtube.com/@billschlegel1

This podcast gives a few examplesof how the Messenger Malach מַלְאַ֧ךְ in the Hebrew Bible represented or “was” the One who Sent him

See also, podcast #130 “Agency in the Bible: The Human Person Jesus “was” the Father”

https://youtu.be/s8FqSysuUGY

Theprinciple or practice of the מַלְאַ֧ךְ malach messenger, the one sent.

Understanding the Messenger principle is crucial to understanding how many “persons” God is. TheMessenger principle, both as a concept and a reality, means that a person’s messenger—theone sent—is regarded as the sender himself.

The proverbialHebrew statement about the Messenger Principle is “השליח שווה לשולחו”the one sent (a messenger) is equal to his sender.” The equality of the onesent to his sender is neither an equality of essence nor of individual one-to-oneidentity. Everyone understood that the messenger was not literally the sameperson nor the same being as the sender. Rather, the messenger was given thesender's full authority to speak and act on his behalf. The messenger carried authorityfrom the sender and was therefore to be regarded as the sender himself.

Old Testament scholar John Walton highlights aspects of messenger/agency in the ZondervanIllustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary when discussing the firstappearance of the angel (messenger) of Yahweh in Genesis 16 (to Hagar in thewilderness). Walton explains:

In the ancient world direct communication between important parties was ararity. Diplomatic and political exchange usually required the use of anintermediary, a function that our ambassadors exercise today. The messenger whoserved as the intermediary was a fully vested representative of the partyhe represented. He spoke for that party and with the authority of thatparty. He was accorded the same treatment as that party wouldenjoy were he there in person. While this was standard protocol,there was no confusion about the person’s identity (emphasis mine).[1]

Judges11:12

Jephthahsent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying,"What is between you and me, that you have come to me tofight against my land?"

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יִפְתָּח֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־מֶ֥לֶךְ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן לֵאמֹ֑רמַה־לִּ֣י וָלָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־בָ֥אתָ אֵלַ֖י לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּאַרְצִֽי׃

2 Kings3:7 (King Jehoram son of Ahaz after Ahabdied and Moab revolted)

Then he(Jehoram) went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, "Theking of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me tofight against Moab?" And he said, "I will go up; I am as youare, my people as your people, my horses as yourhorses."

וַיֵּ֡לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַח֩אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֙ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר מֶ֤לֶךְ מוֹאָב֙ פָּשַׁ֣ע בִּ֔יהֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ אִתִּ֛י אֶל־מוֹאָ֖ב לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶעֱלֶ֔הכָּמ֧וֹנִי כָמ֛וֹךָ כְּעַמִּ֥י כְעַמֶּ֖ךָ כְּסוּסַ֥י כְּסוּסֶֽיךָ׃

1 Samuel 16:19

Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and he said, "Send to meyour son David who is with the flock."

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח שָׁא֛וּל מַלְאָכִ֖יםאֶל־יִשָׁ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁלְחָ֥ה אֵלַ֛י אֶת־דָּוִ֥ד בִּנְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥רבַּצֹּֽאן׃

Isa7:10

AndYHVH continued speaking to Ahaz, saying,

וַיּ֣וֹסֶף יְהוָ֔ה דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־אָחָ֖זלֵאמֹֽר׃

John’s Gospel declares that the Man Jesus has authority to giveeternal life to others. It is not the God Jesus, and it is not the God-Man Jesuswho has power and authority to raise the dead. See how exalted man is in theeyes of God? God gave such authority toa human being. To deny that God has given this authority and power to a humanbeing and instead claim the power is in the hands of a god-man, is to dishonor boththe God who gave the authority and the exalted human being Jesus who has theauthority.

If the Trinity is a G/god that Israel had not known, then according to Deuteronomy 13 it is an idol. It is an idol that did not bring Israel out of Egypt, and can be considered a test to see if people truly love the LORD God of the Bible.Resources:Is the Trinity in the Bible and If So, Where?How and When was the Trinity Revealed?https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUqWXumvcp5oS-1KphxpNL8tIml3tfqk_If the Bible is Right, God is NOT a Trinity (Part 1)https://youtu.be/S1-qBYVrkdUIf the Bible is Right, God is NOT a Trinity (Part 2)https://youtu.be/2x81JF9sKqcThe Apostle Peter was NOT a Trinitarianhttps://youtu.be/1nncuh6jpaM#biblicalunitarian, #billschlegel, #trinity, #dietyofchrist

Join John Schoenheit (President and Senior Researcher at Spirit & Truth Fellowship International) and Bill Schlegel (author of the Satellite Bible Atlas and host of the One God Report podcast) on a 15 day trip to Israel, April 1-15, 2027..

Youtube version of this announcement with aerial video of biblical locations mentioned.

https://youtu.be/dEBBByvuB4Y

Resource links:Light of Messiah Facebook group (itineraries, announcements, updates)https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586730625381Light of Messiah Group Registration (via Pilgrim Tours)https://www.pilgrimtours.com/groups/lightofmessiah2027.htm?fbclid=IwY2xjawQgTVRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeIP2cFxjAkmGqb12Uegc0HQGgp03YyLDIrILa1A3AVEVgWDgM503U3Az8chY_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw#JohnSchoenheit, #Billschlegel, #israel, #jersualem