The true God whom Christians are avoiding.

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. [1John 5:20]

 

Christians are putting their own twist on the above verse assuming its states Jesus is the true God. The problem is, the gospel according to john has already clarified who the true God is through the lips of Jesus.

 

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [John 17:3]

 

Note that the phrase “only true God” refers to the one who is God, and not to Jesus, as He clearly distances Himself from being identified as that one true God.

 

That is one way of showing Jesus is not the only true God. The other way is, using basic rules of English grammar.

 

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. [1 John 5:20]

 

In this context, both “him” and “He” represent different grammatical cases accusative and nominative, respectively. “Him” is the accusative pronoun, functioning as the direct object of the verb, while “He” is in the nominative case, identifying the subject of the clause. Therefore, the phrase “the only true God” appears in the genitive case, indicating possession or close association.

 

In 1 John 5:20, the pronouns “He” and “Him” grammatically refer to the same subject the one described as “true” and this subject is distinct from Jesus, who is referred to separately as “His Son, Jesus Christ.” Therefore, Jesus is not the antecedent of the final statement, “He is the true God and eternal life.”

 

This grammatical rule follows the same pattern as in John 17:3. In both passages, the one referred to as “the true God” is grammatically and contextually distinguished from Jesus Christ, who is mentioned separately. Therefore, in each case, “the true God” refers specifically to God the Father, not to Jesus.

 

 "That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent"

 

Grammatically in Koine Greek, the structure is more precise. The phrase "the only true God" is in the accusative case (τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν Θεόν), because it’s the object of the verb “to know” (γινώσκωσιν). Jesus is naming the Father* as the one true God, and placing Himself (Jesus) in a separate category.

 

It’s a shame Christians distort their own text for the sake of winning a theological argument. Such dishonestly only reveals the true nature of their deceptive agenda and motive on where they stand.