Truth About the Split — Page 43
43 Mark how far thou hast drifted; From where to where thy path has led! To speak next of the testimony of the Christian Scriptures, it may be noticed that according to those writings the first mistake which the disciples of Jesus as committed after the disappearance of their Master, was not on the question of 'Godhood' or 'sonship' of Jesus as. As a matter of fact, the Scriptures are quite innocent of that controversy. The idea of the 'God-hood' of Jesus as arose about three centuries later as a result of the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. History bears out that the doctrines of the 'Godhood' of Jesus as and of the triunal personality of the Deity were gradually introduced into Christianity through the influence of the religions then prevalent in Europe. The first departure which the followers of Jesus as made from his teachings was in the matter of softening the strictness of the Law and adapting it to the views of other communities with a view to inducing them to accept the new religion. As may be seen from the New Testament. Paul and Branabas had in Antioch granted certain relaxations of the Mosaic Law to the gentile converts. But certain men who came down from Judea taught the brethren and said,