Assuming the Bible is correct that Jesus was man and God, and that he was one of three parts of a triune God, was it really possible for him to die? It has been established that most Gods (with the exception of Norse off the top of my head, there are probably more) are immortal. I am assuming it is also this way with this God, since he is often referred to as an eternal King, or living God.
So if that is true, then how was it possible for Jesus to truly have died on the cross? Here's the verse I have issue with:
[quote=The Gospel of Luke]44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.[/quote]
Other gospels simply say that he cried out in a loud voice and then gave up his spirit, but this one is the one that specifies to who. He gave it to himself.
Since Jesus is part of a Trinity that makes up one God, then that would mean that only one third of a God gave up his life and soul which went immediately back to himself. Where else would it go? The Bible goes on to specify later that he was fighting Satan after that, assuming that God the Father (another part of one God) condemned a third of himself to hell where he decided to kill Satan (by crushing his head, no less, which is odd because after that there are mentions to Satan that imply he is still alive, kicking, and not even in hell at all, but rather "prowling the earth like a lion looking for souls to devour"). He was also resurrected (by himself).
Of course, one can argue that he did die...the human part of him died, and that was enough. But as the Gospel points out numerous times, Jesus is not fully man. He is both God and man. Is it possible to just kill that part? And is it possible that that part was enough to atone for the sins of all beings?
But all counterarguments I've thought of all lead back to this basic question: is it really death if only part of you died? I don't think so, but I'm interested in hearing a possible explanation for this paradox.
