Acts 20:28 (Interlinear)
This is a popular verse that is used to prove that there is a New Testament statement that says word for word that Yeshua is God, but it faces a critical issue.
At Acts 20 it appears to say in most translations that “God” purchases us with “his own blood”. If we stopped there and didn’t investigate further or give it some thought, we might conclude “well there we have it, Yeshua is God”.
One, however, might try to give an alternate explanation of the meaning of this passage. We could argue “own blood”, could mean “the blood of his son”, as to mean “his blood relative”, like we sometimes say today. “This is my blood” (my child).
However… it is interesting to note that there are several manuscripts which write “Lord” instead of God, including the writings of early Christian writer, Irenaeus, which reads; “the lord” purchases us with his blood, as opposed to “God”. This is also reflected in several translations:
- “…the congregation of the Lord which he has acquired for himself through his own blood“. – Irenaeus‘ Translation, Against Heresies Book III, 160-180 A.D
- “…the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood”. – American Standard Version
- “…the church of God which he bought with the blood of his own Son“. – Jerusalem Bible
- “…the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son“. – Revised Standard Version
- “…the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son“. – New English Translation
- “…the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood”. – Lamsa Bible
The term “lord” as aforementioned, whilst at times can refer to God, has also been used to refer to several individuals and beings in the Bible of whom are not God Almighty.
Furthermore, if it ‘did’ say “God and saviour”, that need not mean the “Almighty God”, seeing that Yeshua can certainly be called “a god”. However, the evidence at hand would appear that he isn’t being called such here at all.
Proselyte of Yah 