Topic on the Trinity and deity of Christ in footnotes to Deuteronomy 33 commentary

Another interesting topic from the footnotes in

An Exposition of Deuteronomy 33.

In this day when the false religions of Mormonism, Islam, Orthodox Judaism, and the misnamed Jehovah’s Witnesses seem to abound, it is necessary to reassert the biblical teaching on the Trinity and the essential deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. In his footnote on pages 420-421, Parkinson does just that. Integrating the text of Philippians 2: 6-8 into his chapter on Benjamin, he reminds us that the Apostle Paul under divine inspiration wrote that Christ “ ‘took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men;’ that is, being, as Mediator, the Father’s servant elect, he became so in fact; and, his official service being to redeem men, as a prerequisite thereto, he ‘was made in the likeness of men,’ was made partaker of real human nature; yet not by ordinary, but by miraculous generation; and hence, even in this nature, is holy; and ‘being in fashion,’ in manner and condition (sin excepted), ‘as a man, he humbled himself’ accordingly; ‘and,’ as the Surety and Substitute of all chosen and represented in him, ‘became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.’ ” Parkinson then goes on to explain in his footnote, “If, in a word, his being in the form of God, does not mean that he was God—and, if his being found in fashion as a man, does not imply that he was man, the apostle must have authorized the conclusion, that he was neither God nor man; whereas, elsewhere, he affirms him to be both, even God manifest in the flesh. 1 Tim. 3:16. If Christ be not God by nature, he must be a mere creature; and, if so, how could he think it not robbery to be equal with God, meaning the Father? If Christ be a mere creature, whether human, angelic or super-angelic, all worship rendered to him must be idolatry. But we know it to be the divine will, ‘that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father.’ John 5:23. And ‘when he (God the Father) bringeth in the First-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.’ Hebrews 1:6. Accordingly, without ever receiving a divine rebuke for it, both saints and angels have honored him with such titles and such worship as are due to none but God. His disciples thus worshiped him ‘in the days of his flesh;’ Matt. 14:33. Thomas, by no means credulous, honored him with the title of My Lord and my God. John 20:28. And the angels that never sinned, and the spirits of just men made perfect, worship him in heaven, ‘saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the LAMB that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.’ Rev. 5:8-12. Unless, therefore, we can admit the absurdity, that God himself, contrary to his own express command (Exodus 20:2-5) has sanctioned idolatry both on earth and in heaven, Christ must possess that nature, which, in Him, as in the Father and the Spirit, is ‘over all, God blessed for ever.’ Rom. 9:5.”