Original title: Jesus Standing *as* the Right Hand of the One God

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the twenty-ninth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (July 10-16) is titled "What Wilt Thou Have Me Do?" and covers Acts 6-9.

We invite you to worship with us on any Sunday - either at First Baptist Church of Provo or Christ Presbyterian Church in Magna. We welcome visitors!

• Salt Lake School of Theology
• For a concise summary of what Christians would mean when we say "the real Jesus" - see, e.g., The Person of Jesus: Radio Addresses on the Deity of the Savior by J. Gresham Machen
• If the kai is epexegetical, it would read: '[Stephen] saw the glory of God, that is, Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

Seminary Manual: here, here, and here

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges

Guide to the Scriptures (also here); Topical Guide (also here)

Gospel Principles: here and here

"The Light of Christ" (Boyd Packer)

The Words of Joseph Smith; e.g.: "[Stephen] says that Jesus Christ sat on the right hand of God. Any person that has seen the heavens opened knows that there are three personages in the heavens holding the keys of power." (pp.214); also here, and here

"The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent" (Jeffrey Holland) - wherein he states: "We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings, noting such unequivocal illustrations as the Savior’s great Intercessory Prayer just mentioned, His baptism at the hands of John, the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the martyrdom of Stephen—to name just four."

A Rational Theology by John A. Widtsoe

"His Grace Is Sufficient" (Brad Wilcox); also here

Joseph Smith told Alexander Neibaur that he saw Jesus with a light complexion (white skin) and blue eyes (A.N. Journal, May 24,1844) - thus, looking a lot like...Joseph Smith. This is related to some racial issues in LDS history and has clearly impacted LDS art to this day, as should be obvious throughout any official sources, including the painting of the martyrdom included in the manual for this week. Whiteness is also true of Mary in 1 Nephi 11.13-15, who is even claimed by some LDS to actually be from England, based on legend. (Also see Mormonism - Shadow or Reality by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, ch. 21.)

An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer; specifically, he outlines ten points that, when considered, make it clear that Paul is the "model" by which Joseph Smith wrote the story about Alma the Younger. (see An Insider's View of Mormon Origins, pp. 50-55f) The evidence is striking, especially if the verses cited are gone through point-by-point.

None Greater; Simply Trinity; God's Word Alone; and The Reformation as Renewal by Matthew Barrett

We Become What We Worship; The Temple and the Church's Mission; God Dwells Among Us by G.K. Beale

• on pp. 216-232 of The Temple and the Church's Mission, Beale has an excellent analysis of Stephen's sermon. Even the headings alone are helpful: Stephen's defence of Christ as the true temple in contrast to the old temple, Stephen's appeal to Isaiah 66 in defence of Christ as the true temple, Stephen's contention that God's eternal end-time temple cannot be 'handmade', Early Christian evidence confirming the above interpretation of Isaiah 66 in Stephen's speech, Paul's contention that a permanent temple for God's presence cannot be 'handmade'.

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til by Lane Tipton

All That Is In God by James Dolezal

The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt

Who Is God? by Richard Bauckham

The Hope of Israel by Brandon Crowe

Temple of Presence by Andrea Robinson

The Angel of the Lord by Douglas van Dorn and Matthew Foreman

The Ascension of Christ by Patrick Schreiner

Uncovering the Theme of Revelation in Romans 1.16-3.26: Discovering A New Approach to Paul's Argument by Marcus Mininger

Scholar Murray Harris makes a fascinating point when discussing "at the right hand of God": "To be or sit at someone's right hand is to be in the position of unparalleled honor and privilege (1 Ki 2.19). In the case of Christ this meant sharing God's throne (Rev. 3. 21; 22.1, 3) or occupying the second throne alluded to in Da 7.9 and Mk 14.62 (cf. Heb 1.8). When Paul speaks of Christians' spiritual identification with Christ, he can say, 'God has enthroned us with him [Jesus] in the heavenly realms' (Eph. 2.6), but significantly he does not add 'at his right hand [and greek equivalent]' a phrase that is applied to Christ in a comparable statement in Eph 1.20. Christ's exalted status cannot be shared. Angels stand or fall down in worship in God's presence (1 Ki. 22.19; Rev. 4.10); the enthroned Son sits." (Prepositions and Theology by Murray Harris, pp. 106-107)