Romans 9:4,5, rightly translated by the RSV, undermines that article. The LORD and God of Israel is YHWH,
How, exactly, does Romans 9:4-5 undermine the article? All the article states is that Deut 6:4 is about monotheism, which is what I said. It also fully affirms that YHWH alone is the God of Israel, which, again, is monotheism.
As for "rightly translated," there is disagreement, since what punctuation is to be used and where it is placed is entriely up to translators. But, it does seem the better rendering is that found in most translations:
Rom 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (ESV)
Notice that Paul adds the clause "according to the flesh." You believe Jesus is only a man, which if he was, then saying that the Messiah is a descendant of the Israelites according to the flesh is meaningless; it would be to state the obvious and wouldn't tell us something we already didn't know. However, it does mean something
if Paul is stating that the Messiah is an Israelite as to his human nature, but also has a divine nature, being "God over all." That would be in full agreement with John 1:1-18.
Again, this is fallaciously begging the question.
Jesus is an ethic Jew, an Israelite, under the laws and covenants;
Of course he is. That has never been up for debate.
that isn't a description of God.
But it could very well be a description of God in human flesh, could it not? If God says the Messiah would come from the line of David, but God himself was to be the Messiah, why would he not hold to his word and be born in the flesh of the line of David?
As to his human nature, Jesus's God is the Father. However, Jesus is also YHWH, as he claims in John 8:58, which means he also has a divine nature.
Micah 5
4He will stand and shepherd His flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majestic name of the LORD His God.
And they will dwell securely,
for then His greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.
What do you think this verse supports? It doesn't preclude Jesus from also being God.
