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'MEMRA':
- 'how GOD works through His Spirit'-

The risky translation of the word 'Memra' ('Logos') in John 1:1-18 has been causing many wrong assumptions and misrepresentations; for Example: Jesus -the Word of GOD- has been incorrectly declared 'one-and-the-same as (person) as GOD, the Holy Spirit has been incorrectly declared 'a person' and Jesus has been incorrectly declared 'GOD in the flesh'. Let's try to rediscover the only true biblical interpretation!

Where the word 'Memra' comes from ?!

Memra - an Arameaen word- was introduced by Jewish Priests áfter the Babylonian Exile; this word is used when in the Scriptures someone comes or talks in the Name of GOD; they are 'representatives of GOD' (messengers or angels). In this way the Priests were trying to give meaning to 'GOD as a permanent representative' on Earth in a tangible way.

For example: with Josef in prison, with Moses during Passover and afterward during the Exodus in the desert it is evident that 'Memra' is about the Spirit of GOD and not about the Word of GOD or Gods Angels.

The meaning behind the Hebrew word for angels and the word 'Kurios' (what also points to angels!) make it very clear that not the person or appearance, but the connection to GOD and in that way GOD alone is the starting-point. Besides that: 'in the name of GOD' or 'the Angel of the LORD' doesnot have to be Jesus or another Angel of GOD; it can also be the Spirit of GOD... It is not about 'the person' at all, but about GOD who sends or sent that person!

Exactly like the word 'Angel' is more then 'Jesus' alone (because it means 'Messenger of GOD') also the word 'Memra' is more then 'those who are working in connection to GOD'; Memra is the Name in which GOD works through heavenly creatures or through humans(!) that HE appointed HIS Messengers by means of His Spirit.

John: a translator with background knowledge...
John -being a Jew- writes with this profound background knowledge using the Greek word 'Logos' as a translation for the word 'Memra'. However: the word 'logos'had already been used for a 600 years for philosophical- and gnostic purposes; not really the material one would use for the translation of Memra... Still: John had to make the best of it.

The occult- and supervisual vision behind the Greek word 'logos' didnot represent the real meaning of the word 'Memra' at all and because of that the word 'Elohim' -which means 'Devine Family' to which GOD, Gods Son and the Angels belong- also was misinterpreted; as a result churches in the present time invented and applied their 'trinity godheid'- teachings.

In this way the name 'Memra' suddenly became the name of someone else; the name churches use for Jesus; the Son of GOD!

Finally the churches made their final misstep in line with the other misinterpretations and gathered GOD, Gods Spirit and Gods Son and moulded them into one person; the 'trinity godhead'. This final misstep on the other missteps is easily made when you are aware of the fact that who makes the way in the name in which GOD works equal to the name of the Son of GOD (by means of a used word without the needed background knowledge) will of course end with 'one-and-the-same-person'; the trinity-church-godhead was born!


Combining and creating persons into a 'trinitarian godhead' actually shows polytheism instead of mono-theism... It also witnesses of a lack of knowledge and insight of how GOD works through His Own Spirit; read 1Cor2:11. And GOD can also work through His Son and other Heavenly- and human beings. GOD is One by means of His Spirit through which HE works and through which HE connect both Heavenly- and Human-beings to HIM [Hebr 6:1-6].

Memra: GOD works- and speaks through His Children
 Through the entire Gospel of John Jesus tells us, that he didnot come in his authority, but that GOD had sent him. Of course this is also the heart of the Gospel: GOD send us His Only Son... GOD didnot go himself! Jesus also tells us, that he doesnot speak on his own authority nor on his own behalf; GOD teaches- and tells Jesus what to do and what to say.

  • John 8:28 - GOD taught Jesus what to sayspreken
    'John 8:28 So Jesus said, When the Son of man has been lifted up by you, then it will be clear to you who I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but say as the Father gave me teaching'.

  • John 8:42 - GOD sent Jesus
    'John 8:42 Jesus said to them, If God was your Father you would have love for me, because it was from God I came and am here. I did not come of myself, but he sent me'.

  • John 12:49 - GOD commanded Jesus what to say
    'John 12:49 For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak'.

  • John 14:10 - Gods Own Spirit works in Jesus
    'Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works'.

  • John 16:13 - Even the Holy Spirit speaks on Gods Authority leiden
    ' When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.'.

Clearly GOD worked through His Spirit through Jesus when Jesus was on Earth; Jesus was given the Spirit after he was baptized. As the Bible tells us 'the Spirit descended on him as a dove' (John 1:32). In his connection with GOD Jesus could heal people and even awake the from death!

  • Joh 11:39-42 - GOD waked Lazarus from the death by His Spirit
     'Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me'.

  • 1 Petrus 3:18 - GOD waked Jesus from the death by His Spirit
     'For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit'.

  • 1 John 3:24 - One with GOD; united by the Spirit of GOD (just like Jesus is!)
    'All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us'.

GOD: the only true GOD that works through His Spirit

  • GOD is the only true GOD (John 17:3). And GOD is also Spirit (John 4:24).
  • GOD also has 7 Spirits standing seperately standing before His Thrown (Rev. 4:5)
  • GOD also works through the Spirit HE sent to Earth (John 14:16-17).

From the above you may be under the impression that -because of all those seperate Spirits- there may be 'multiple gods'; certainly not, because it is GOD that works through them all. GOD is the only GOD and HE works through His Spirit and -in that way- HE unites everything with HIM; His Spirits, His Angels, His Son and... His Children in Christ. In that way GOD is One.

  • 1 John 3:24 - One with GOD; united by the Spirit of GOD (just like Jesus is!)
    'All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us'.

  • Eph. 4:6 - One GOD over all and working through all
    'One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.'.

    Col. 1:16 - GOD created all things through- and for Jesus (by Gods Spirit)
    'for in him [Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him'.

    1 Cor. 15:24 - Jesus gives up the Kingdom to GOD
    'Then comes the end, when he will give up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have put an end to all rule and to all authority and power'.

    1 Cor.15:28 - Jesus will be subjected to GOD
    'And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all'.

Memra: GOD -the only true GOD- works through His Spirit; in that way to His Blessing and to His Unity!


More to read on this subject:

  • The Holy Spirit... person or not?!?
  • Not on own authority !
  • Extension of... GOD?!?
  • Connected to GOD by the laying on of hands after baptism

    Written by: Hein Kuipers-Van der Marel dd. 19 May 2006
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