John 21:17 - you know all things

John 21:17 (KJV) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Trinitarians will sometimes use this verse to show Jesus was omniscient, and therefore God almighty.

However, we know from other verses that Jesus was not all knowing in an omniscient sense.

Luke 8:45-46 (KJV) And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

John 11:34 (KJV) And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Hebrews 5:8 (KJV) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Matthew 24:36 (KJV) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

So how do we resolve John 21:17? Well, the theme of the verse is knowing people's thoughts, what they are feeling. We know Jesus had a gift for this.

Matthew 9:4 (KJV) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

So that's the context of this verse. Simon is using hyperbole to describe Jesus ability to know the hearts of men.

And let us not forget that it was the Father working in him. And the fathers words coming from his mouth.

John 14:10 (KJV) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

1 John 5:20 - This is he true God

1 John 5:20 (KJV)  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

In this verse, Jesus is identified as the son of God who reveals "him that is true".

So there is quite obviously two persons in this verse, Jesus and God. No one would argue with that.

Now, given that Jesus says quite explicitly that the Father is the only true God (John 17.3) Then there is no reason to think that "This is he true God" in this verse is not the same person, the Father.

If it wasn't the Father, then it would violate Jesus unitary monotheistic creed and be a total contradiction.

John 17:5 - Glory I had with you

John 17:5 (KJV)  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Let's not forget this verse comes right on the heels of Jesus declaring in totally unambiguous language that the Father is the ONLY true God.

How can Jesus have glory with the father before the world was? Simple really, it's the same as the lamb being slain from the foundations of the world (Rev 13:8). That was the sacrifice in prospect, and John 17:5 is glory in prospect.

Yahweh God the Father has decreed all things from the beginning. He has predestined the death of his son, his glorious resurrection and glorified body, the church etc. All a reality in God's mind.

Jesus also gives glory in prospect to future believers in John 17:20-22 and Paul says each Christian was given grace before the world began in 2 Tim 1:9. Of course, no one believes these people preexisted their own birth, which is absurd.

Trinity doctrine says Jesus has always been fully God. How can he then be asking God to give him back glory that he has lost? If he's always fully God, even when he walked the earth,  then he should never need to ask for any glory. It makes zero sense.

The glory, is a glory in prospect. Look at the below verses and it all makes sense...

Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see my glory which You have given me, for You loved me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24

He (the Lamb) was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter 1:0.

The Lamb who had been slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8.

John 8:58 - Before Abraham was I AM

John 8:58 (KJV)  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Here Jesus is simply saying before Abraham was, I am he. Who? Everything I ever claimed to be. He never claimed to be God. He claimed to be messiah, son of God.

It's not an I AM capital letters allusion to a verse in Exodus like trinitarians claim. Is the blind man also claiming to be God in John 9:9? Same Greek common personal identifier, ego eimi.

John 9:9 (KJV)  Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. (Ego eimi)

Here's other examples of Jesus saying ego eimi, I am he, I am the one, it's me etc.

Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am (ego eimi); and shall deceive many.
John 4:25-26 (KJV)  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (ego eimi)
John 10:36 (KJV)  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (ego eimi)
John 13:19 (KJV)  Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. (ego eimi)

No one claims those verses are Jesus claiming to be God.

God the Father is the original Light (Glory), and that Light existed long before Abraham. The flesh human named Jesus declared the Father. The Father dwelling in His son did the works, and in this way that body of flesh was the Light of the world, the Light from the Father shining,  similar to the rays from the sun, from God (the originator of the light) through a human being. Because the Father abiding in him did the works, and the body of flesh declared the Father to the world in terms of all the things Jesus was doing, this flesh was shining that Light of God the Father who is that Light. This flesh, Jesus, was that Light of the Father to the world, that Light which existed long before Abraham.

"I am the Light of the world."

Not the original light, but the radiance of that Light to the world, "the light of men" (John 1:4). The brightness of glory, not that original glory itself, which is God's. The image of God, not God himself (Heb 1:3). The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus (2Cor 4:6). It is the radiance of God seen in Jesus, because God made his dwelling in him (Col 2:9).

"Abraham was glad to see my Day; He saw it and was glad."

Galatians 3:8 (KJV) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Hebrews 11:10 (KJV) For he [Abraham] looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

"Before Abraham was, I am he."

I am the blessing.
I am the promised light to men.
I am the lamb slaughtered from the foundations of the world.
I am the messiah, the son of God, planned from the beginning.

Notice the clear and simple stated purpose of John's writings....

John 20:31 (KJV)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

As a side note, the claim Jesus was using a special codeword for Yahweh (I AM) to identify himself is incorrect.

If we look at the referenced verse in Exodus it reads...

Exodus 3:14 (KJV)  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

In the Greek translation of the OT, the septuagint, this gets translated to "I am (ego eimi) the being (ho on). Tell them the being (ho on) sent you." See below.

Brenton Septuagint Translation 

And God spoke to Moses, saying, I am THE BEING; and he said, Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, THE BEING has sent me to you.

So the new testament writer John, writing in Greek would surely have referenced the septuagint if Jesus really did mean to call himself Yahweh in this way, and would have wrote in John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, the being [ho on]".

Or "Before Abraham was, I am the being [ego eimi ho on]".

John 1 The word was God

 John 1:1 (KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 The word is not a person, when English bibles translate as "HE was in the beginnign with God" you can just as easily translate as "IT was in the begining with God" or "THIS was in the begining with God".

The actual word is...

3778. houtos
houtos, hauté, touto: this
Original Word: οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο
Part of Speech: Demonstrative Pronoun
Transliteration: houtos, hauté, touto
Phonetic Spelling: (hoo'-tos)
Definition: this
Usage: this; he, she, it

Note the following translations....

Douay-Rheims Bible
The same was in the beginning with God.

Contemporary English Version
From the very beginning the Word was with God.

English Revised Version
The same was in the beginning with God.

Good News Translation
From the very beginning the Word was with God.

Literal Standard Version
this one was in the beginning with God;

Webster's Bible Translation
The same was in the beginning with God

World English Bible
The same was in the beginning with God.

Young's Literal Translation
this one was in the beginning with God;

But even if you want to tranlate as HE, there are multiple times God's attributes are personified in the bible. Take the below for example.

Lady wisdom

Proverbs 8:27-30 (KJV)  When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Regarding "the Word was with God"

Hebrews 5:1 (KJV)  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Pertaining to God
πρὸς τὸν Θεόν
"Pros ton theon"
In relation to God
Relating to God
Pertaining to God

New International Version
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

New Living Translation
Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.

English Standard Version
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Berean Standard Bible
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Berean Literal Bible
For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed on behalf of men in things relating to God, that he should offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

John 1:1 (KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

..was with God
πρὸς τὸν Θεόν
Pros ton theon

The prologue of John 1 is incredibly poetic and is subject to many interpretations. There is a double entendre going on which alludes to Genesis but is more concerned with the inauguration of the kingdom with Jesus. The word is simply God's word. Verses 1 to 13 are primarily about God and his word, which represents his plans, promises and purposes which are expressed by the gospel, the good news . All these words of God were embodied by that flesh Jesus who spoke the words, taught the teachings, and did the works of his God and Father, who dwelt in him by his spirit without measure. In this way God's word became flesh.

Here is the whole of John's prologue with my comments in brackets. The Greek grammar allows for this interpretation, and it remains fully in accord with the unitary monotheistic faith of Jesus and the apostles.

John 1:1-14 In the beginning [of the kingdom, the new creation = the ministry of Jesus] was the word [the teaching, the gospel], and the word pertained to God, and the word was God! [Jesus declared the Father] The same [word] was in the beginning with God. All things happened through Him [God the Father], and without Him [God the Father] not even one thing happened that has happened. In him [God the Father] was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light [of God expressed by Jesus], that all men through him [Jesus expressing the word] might believe. He was not that Light [of God expressed by Jesus], but was sent to bear witness of that Light [of God expressed by Jesus]. That was the true Light [of God the Father], which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He [God the Father] was in the world, and the world was made by him [God the Father], and the world knew him [God the Father] not. [John 17:25, 1 John 3:1]. He [God the Father, in Jesus] came unto his own [Israel], and his own received him not. But as many as received him [God the Father, in Jesus], to them gave he [God the Father] power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name [Yahweh, through Jesus - John 12:44] which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the word [of God, the teachings, the good news, the light, the life] was made flesh [Jesus], and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 10:33 - thou, being a man, makest thyself God

John 10:33 (KJV)  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

The blind pharisees accused Jesus of claiming to be God. You don't want to take their side do you? If you read the rest of the passage you will see that Jesus flatly denies being God and clarifies that he is the son of God! And that's what he refers to when he says "I am he" in John 8 also.

John 10:34-36 (KJV)  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one

 John 10:30 (KJV)  I and my Father are one.

What did Jesus mean by this? If you read the following verses from the same author, we hear Jesus speak of believers being one in the Father, and in Jesus in the same way. Are Christian believes also the same essence/nature as God?

John 17:20-22 (KJV)  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

I think you would agree not.

Were Paul and Apollos one "being" or "nature"?

1 Corinthians 3:6, 8 (KJV) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

When he says we are all one.... the below verses tell you all you need to know. And notice the last verse here where Paul emphasises there is only one God, the Father. See also 1st Corinthians 8:6.

Ephesians 4:4-6 (KJV)  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

John 20:28 - My Lord and my God

 John 20:28 (KJV) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 

Thomas clearly exclaims "my Lord and my God" to Jesus. Understandable as seeing Jesus is seeing God the Father. He's the image of the invisible God.

Look back a few chapters where Thomas and Peter are asking Jesus about which way to go, and how to see the Father.

John 14:5-9 (KJV) Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Thomas didn't call Jesus God, he simply declared "seeing" both Jesus and God the Father when in Jesus' presence.

Trying to claim Thomas thought Jesus was Yahweh God almighty is untenable. Jews read the shema everyday. Hear O Israel Yahweh is ONE.