If Jesus is God, why did He say that the Father is the only true God in John 17:3?
For opponents of the Bible, claiming there are contradictions or inconsistencies in the text has been one of the most common arguments against its reliability. One such claim is based on John 17:3, where Jesus states, “Now this is eternal life; that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Those antagonistic toward the Bible argue that this verse directly contradicts the claim that Jesus is God. They say that this passage proves that Jesus Himself agrees that there is only one true God, which is not Himself, since He refers to Himself as separate and distinct from the “true God.”
Context Is Key
A bit of context here is helpful. John chapter 17 is a prayer from Jesus to the Holy Father. Since this is a prayer, it is only natural for Jesus to refer to God the Father separately. In that prayer Jesus initially prays that both the Father and the Son be glorified (John 17:1–5). Next, He prays for His disciples (John 17:6–19). Finally, He prays for all believers, both current and future (John 17:20–26). These requests come at the time just prior to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ultimately betrayed by Judas Iscariot and taken prisoner by the Romans (John 18:1–14). The fact that Jesus (the Son) and God (the Father) are presented as separate Beings is nothing new. In fact, the first time we hear from God the Father in the New Testament is at the baptism of Jesus. There, God says, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Distinction of person does not equate to a lack of oneness.
Jesus and the Father Are One
Jesus claimed to be one with God, and that made His enemies furious. In John 10:30, Jesus states unequivocally, “I and the Father are one.” The next verse says, “His Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him” (John 10:31). Jesus’ claim to be God amounted to blasphemy in the eyes of the Jewish leaders. Jesus goes on to question them: “Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’ Do not believe Me unless I do the works of My Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father” (John 10:36–38). Here, Jesus is challenging these skeptics to look at the miracles He had performed and come up with an explanation other than that Jesus and God the Father are one.
Even contrary spiritual forces agreed with the fact that Jesus and the Father are one. In explaining saving faith to believers, James, the brother of Jesus says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19). Theologian Wayne Grudem explains the idea of oneness, saying that Jesus and God the Father “are distinct persons, and the being of each person is equal to the whole being of God” (Grudem, W., Systematic Theology, Zondervan Academic, 1994).
Jesus Claimed to Be (and Is) Fully God
Though Jesus never actually said the words, “I am God” in the pages of the Bible, that doesn’t mean that He didn’t claim to be God. Right after speaking of the “only true God” in John 17: 3, Jesus spoke of the glory that He had with God “before the world began” (verse 5; cf. John 1:1). Earlier, Jesus had made the following statement to the religious leaders who were resisting Him: “Very truly I tell you . . . before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). Jesus’ reference was to Exodus 3:14 when God revealed Himself as the “I AM.” In this statement, Jesus told them point blank that He is God. The response of His enemies proved His statement was heard loud and clear. As they held stones to throw at Him, they said, “We are not stoning You for any good work but for blasphemy, because You, a mere Man, claim to be God” (John 10:33).
The Only True God — Conclusion
John 17:3 needs to be read in context to fully appreciate what Jesus was saying in that prayer. The contrast is not between the Father and the Son but between the Father and the world’s false gods and idols. Jesus is conversing with the Father who is in heaven while Jesus is on earth. Jesus’ statement that the Father is the only true God should not be seen as contradictory or inconsistent with the whole of the Bible, which supports the fact Jesus Christ is God.
What does it mean that the Trinity is God in three Persons?
When we talk about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as being “Persons,” we do not mean they are human beings or that they are like mankind in any way. In our everyday language, though, that is how the word person is often used, so it is understandable that some confusion surrounds references to the three “Persons” of the Trinity.
When we talk about God, we are using the word Person to show that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have personhood or personality. That is, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have intellect, emotion, and volition. Any being with rationality, emotion, and a will can be considered a person; thus, human beings are persons, but so are angelic beings and the Divine Being. The definition of person cannot include physicality for the simple reason that human beings do not cease to be persons after death. A dead person’s body is left behind to decay, but his true self—his personhood—lives on in either heaven or hell.
When we speak of God existing in three Persons, we mean that God’s existence is comprised of three distinct centers of intellect, emotion, and will. Each Person of the Trinity had a unique role in creation and in the salvation of mankind. The Holy Spirit is unique and is not the Father or the Son (He proceeds from the Father and the Son, John 15:26). The Father and the Son are also unique (when Jesus prayed to the Father, He was not praying to Himself, Luke 23:34). Each is God, but each is a separate “Person.” Using the word person is one of the only ways our language has to describe this concept.
All three Persons of the Trinity comprise the one, perfectly unified God. They share the same nature and essence, and they are all the same God, but each individual Person of the Trinity is distinct and unique. The fact that God exists in three Persons is important for several reasons. For instance, God is love (1 John 4:8). But, in eternity past, before God created any other being, could He have truly been love? That is, can love exist where there is no one to be loved? Because God exists in three co-equal, co-eternal Persons, love exists, too. Eternal love has been expressed eternally among the Persons of the Godhead. The Father, Son, and Spirit have always loved each other, and so love is eternal.
Once we lay aside the notion that a “person” can only be a “human person,” we can more readily understand how God can correctly be said to exist in three “Persons.”
If you have a husband and a child, you are living together in the same house.
By married, you became one isn't it! So you and your husband are one. Does it means that you are your husband, and your husband are you, or it means that you are one in mind just like the first Christians in Acts.
Stop pretending to be a teacher by copy pasting false doctrine. All trinitarians,and Unitarians, and all Sunday worship teachers are false, because they are not Biblical.
Did the apostles worship God in their synagogue on all other days?
You say that there is only one true God, how can you put 2 more with the one true God?
Where in the Bible we can read three god in one?
Do the apostles worship 3 gods? Do they give greetings to three gods, or three names?
I wish that you read through my pages, to wake up of your hypnosis mind. I see that you are zealous for preaching the gospel. But think! I am your student, I want to believe in your teachings. But answered my questions from where in the Bible, I can read three gods in one, or triune god, or trinity, or god holy spirit?
First of all GREAT LAST POST Pipiripi about NOW 4 'gods' they claim, they keep multiplying! LOL! But your not to think for yourself don't you know, your suppose to be brainwashed by the CULTISH article copied and pasted (AS USUAL) in hypnosis, like faithful and conditioned mooncakes is by those articles!
For instance here is a HUGE LAUGH!
Quote of article - 'the first time we hear from God the Father in the New Testament is at the baptism of Jesus. There, God says, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).' end quote....... Yet when you read the previous verse 16 before 17 you get a different picture and are there TWO 'gods' speaking!? Its the Spirit OF OF OF Father YHWH (not another 'god'!), that is speaking FROM Him (the Father) by His own personal Holy Spirit and says 'this is my beloved Son' because neither verse says NOTHING of the Father speaking mentioning Him by name!!! Correct? Obviously its the Father that has a SON and is speaking how, thru what? Unless all you 'trinity/triad - three person' loving CLOWNS are going to tell us now your 'god the spirit' as you call it (what is actually The Father's set apart Holy Spirit) is now all of a sudden as having a son???? LMBO! They are BUSTED Pipiripi! Hilarious, right Pipiripi!
At least the title of the article gets it right (Only >>>ONE<<< True YHWH!) even if the article is CLUELESS to understanding Scripture as a WHOLE in actually THINKING it thru! LOL!
The CULT article goes on to say - 'All three Persons of the Trinity comprise the one, perfectly unified God. They share the same nature and essence, and they are all the same God, but each individual Person is distinct and unique."
Just read that slowly and let the ABSURDITY sink in, in what these DEMON POSSESSED authors are actually saying!
First there are 'THREE PERSONS' by their own words! Got it!
BUUUT then THREE PERSONS are really ONE PERSON' HUH??? Then it goes on to say 'perfectly unified God' singular but didn't they just say at the beginning they were three PERSONS??? LOL! So to correct their ERROR it should be - perfectly unified trio of Gods' PLURAL, right??? LOL!
THEN the CULTIST say - 'they are all the same God (singular), but each individual Person (now there is more than ONE again!?) is distinct and unique."'
Back and forth they go! One, then Three, then one, then three!!!
Hey brother! Don't laugh!! We must cry for this people, and pray to God to open their mind.
They are walking straight to hell paradise!!
I can not understand that what they read in the Bible, there is a true story behind the scene.
We know what God did to them, 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12!!
Our duty is to exposed their weaknesses by plucking verses here and there.
I will continue to destroy Satan traps. Thanks to understand my beliefs. Pray for me, I know that God hear your prayer. Because you don't have a god holy spirit in you. But the Holy Spirit OF God!!
LOL! 
But your not to think for yourself don't you know, your suppose to be brainwashed by the CULTISH article copied and pasted (AS USUAL) in hypnosis, like faithful and conditioned mooncakes is by those articles! 
Correct? 
Obviously its the Father that has a SON and is speaking how, thru what? Unless all you 'trinity/triad - three person' loving CLOWNS are going to tell us now your 'god the spirit' as you call it (what is actually The Father's set apart Holy Spirit) is now all of a sudden as having a son???? 
LMBO! 
They are BUSTED Pipiripi! Hilarious, right Pipiripi!
Then it goes on to say 'perfectly unified God' singular but didn't they just say at the beginning they were three PERSONS??? LOL! So to correct their ERROR it should be - perfectly unified trio of Gods' PLURAL, right??? LOL! 
