1 Corinthians 8:6—Does this Verse really say that Jesus is Lord, God? Note: For Better Greek Texts (I don't know why but the software I use is translating the Greek, poorly) see below.
Christian apologist such as our friend, James White constantly say that the Greek word, κύριος (Kyrios) is only used in the Old Testament for God (Jehovah). Therefore they say that when Paul uses this word to describe Jesus in 1 Corinthians 8:6, this word states that Jesus is lord, God. However this is not true. The Greek word Kyrios is used in the Septuigant Old Testament for figures such as Abraham, Esau, etc.
What does The Greek word, κύριος (kýrios) mean? This word is a noun. It means the following:
1). Lord 2.) master 3.) Sir 4.) Gurdian We find this very same Greek word in places such as Genesis 18:12 and 32:4—and does not only apply to God in the Old Testament. To prove my point I will post Greek texts of the Old Testament and put the Greek word Kyrios in bold.
Septuagint Greek O.T: ἐγέλασεν δὲ Σαρρα ἐν ἑαυτῇ λέγουσα Οὔπω μέν μοι γέγονεν ἕως τοῦ νῦν, ὁ δὲ κύριός μου πρεσβύτερος (Genesis 18:12)
Correct English Translation: So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" (Genesis 18:12 Today New International Version)
Septuagint Greek O.T: καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς λέγων Οὕτως ἐρεῖτε τῷ κυρίῳ μου Ησαυ Οὕτως λέγει ὁ παῖς σου Ιακωβ Μετὰ Λαβαν παρῴκησα καὶ ἐχρόνισα ἕως τοῦ νῦν, (Genesis 32:4)
English Translation: And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye say to my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob; I have sojourned with Laban and tarried until now. (Genesis 32:4—Translated from the Greek).
Original N.T. Greek: ἀλλ’ ἡμῖν εἷς θεὸς ὁ πατήρ, ἐξ οὗ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς αὐτόν, καὶ εἷς κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, δι’ οὗ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἡμεῖς δι’ αὐτοῦ. (1 Corinthians 8:6)
English Translation: yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:6 Today New International Version)
So this Greek word, kýrios does not say that Jesus is lord. All this word means is that Jesus was merely addressed as master, sir or guardian. Just like Abraham and Esau were the lords/masters/sirs to their people, Jesus was the lord/master/sir to his people.
The New Testament Clearly shows Jesus being presented to the Lord. Below I will present the Greek Text of Luke 2:22, and the English Translation with the Greek word Kyrios in bold.
Original N.T. Greek: Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως, ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα παραστῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ (Luke 2:22)
English Translation: When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (Luke 2:22).
Here Jesus is clearly being presented to the Lord. So this is the lord of Jesus. How can Jesus be Lord and be presented to the Lord at the same time? If we were to keep the Bible in context, we clearly see that Jesus is not God.
So according to the Old and New Testament the Greek word Kyrios is not only used for God. This is completely false as seen in Genesis 18:12, 32:4. The Word Kyrios is not only applied to Jesus and the God of the Old Testament but to other humans (such as Abraham and Esau as well). In any case this verse of the New Testament doesn’t prove Jesus to be God.
Better Greek Texts see:
Genesis 18:12: http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/physis/septuagint-genesis/18.asp?pg=2
Genesis 32:4: http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/physis/septuagint-genesis/32.asp
1 Corinthians 8:6: http://www.greekbible.com/index.php
Luke 2:22: http://www.greekbible.com/index.php
