Thank you. I chose this particular passage for three reasons. I’ll give you two of the reasons at this point and add the third below.
(1) The trinitarian commentary in NET.
”17
sn Note that here the angel of the LORD is clearly distinct from the LORD who rules over all himself.”
https://netbible.org/bible/Zechariah+1
(2) The angel whom Zechariah is speaking with (who is not the angel of the Lord) is addressed in 1:9 with the non-deity Hebrew title,
adoni. The title occurs 195 times in scripture, and in every instance is applied to a person who is not God.
Another occurrence of the non-deity title is found in David’s oracle, Psalm 110:1. God speaks prophetically to the Son in this verse: “Yahweh says to my lord (Heb. l’adoni)...“ Since you identify the Son as the angel of the Lord in Zechariah 1:12 (and elsewhere), the non-deity title would be applicable to the angel of the Lord.
It’s at this point that I will share the third reason I selected the passage in Zechariah.
(3) “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son...” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NASB)
God did not speak to the fathers in the Son in the days of the Old Testament. God spoke to us (not the fathers) in the Son “in these last days” - which began with the Son’s preaching and teaching in the days of the New Testament.
I believe there are additional ways to respond to your position but these three will suffice for now.
I thought that perhaps you might list the passages of scripture where you believe the Son spoke (as the angel of the Lord, and not as the angel of the Lord) for us to examine.
I want to know what you think and why you think it.
Come on Mattathias, your argument defies simple common sense and not to mention basic "logic." You said this: "2) The angel whom Zechariah is speaking with (who is not the angel of the Lord) is addressed in 1:9 with the non-deity Hebrew title,
adoni. The title occurs 195 times in scripture, and in every instance is applied to a person who is not God."
You then proceed to itemize 195 verses that use the word "lord" which means because that word is used the angel of the Lord can't be God? Really! If we were to use this line of reasoning how come (and this is just one example) you did not quote Genesis 18:3? Abraham said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by."
The greeting by Abraham at Genesis 18:3 would be the same as saying, "Sir, if now I have found favor etc. But what makes your argument even worse for you is that you are not considering the context. Genesis 18:1 clearly and without any excuses says, "Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre etc. Please identify at Genesis 18:13 who the Lord is that asked Abraham why did Sarah laugh?
And while you at it, please identify who the Lord is at Genesis 17:17:1,2 that said, "the Lord APPEARED to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will greatly multiply you exceedingly." Notice the word "Lord" is also identified as "God" in the verses.
You also ask me to give you examples that show the angel of the Lord is deity. Genesis 16:7-14, Genesis 22:11-18, Exodus 3:2-6, Judges 2:1-3, Judges 6:11-23 and a number of others. Now, at Genesis 16:7 which is the first appearance of the angel of the Lord as the angel of the Lord told Hagar that he would multiply her descendants (vs10). An angel cannot multiply someone descendants, only God can do it just like at Genesis 17:2 clearly states.
Since you provided 195 "thesis" statements like Martin Luther, why did Hagar say at Genesis 16:13 say, "Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, Thou are a God who sees; for she said, have I even remained alive here AFTER SEEING HIM?" How did Hagar know that it was the Lord God speaking to her?
The same can be said at Judges 13;21, "Now the angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah or his wife, "Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord." vs22, "So Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have SEEN GOD." Also, if you go back to Judges 13:17 Manoah said, "What is your name so that when your words come to pass we many honor you?" Vs18, But the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is "wonderful?"
Here's the bottom line as to why I know that the angel of the Lord is God Almighty. Not only (as I said an angel cannot swear an oath on behalf of God Himself which is proof enough) but "REALITY PROVES THAT WHAT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID CAME TO PASS, OR REALITY PROVES THAT GOD IS RIGHT.
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto