Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Examining a List of Scriptures Claimed to Prove that Jesus is Jehovah (Incomplete)

There is a list of scriptures that has been presented, that is evidently alleged to show that Jesus is Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I have examined most of these scriptures already elsewhere, and in every case what is actually presented as proof is either what has to be imagined, assumed, added to, and read into the scriptures, are else depends on the translation of scriptures in such a way that would make it appear that there is something in the scripture that would mean that Jesus is the Supreme Being.

Hebrews 1:5
For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? [Psalm 2:7] And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? -- New King James Version.
It is stated that Hebrews 1:5 is not speaking of Jesus' being created. I agree that Hebrews 1:5 isn't speaking directly of Jesus' creation. In Hebrews 1:5, however, "he" who is speaking his son is the unipersonal "God" of Hebrews 1:1. This the same one whom Jesus identified as the "only true God" in John 17:1,3. He who anointed and sent Jesus is identified in Isaiah 61:1 as "the Lord Jehovah". Thus, the only true is the Lord Jehovah, and Jesus excluded himself from being that "only true God" by saying that the only true God had sent him.

See my studies: 

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. -- New King James Version.
The word "begotten" never means "uncreated", and always means that one who is begotten was brought forth into being. It never means that which is being spoken of was never brought forth into being. No one actually disputes this except as it may be applied to Jesus. Jesus was indeed the firstborn creature, having been brought forth before the all that was made by means of him. (Colosians 1:15,16)
See my study: 

Hebrews 1:3
His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. -- World English translation.
"His" is the only true God of Hebrews 1:1; Isaiah 61:1 and John 17:1,3, the God and Father of Jesus. Jesus is here said to sit at the right hand of Jehovah (Psalm 110:1); he is not being spoken of as Jehovah. It was the only true God who exalted Jesus to this position of glory, far above the angels.
In the Bible, we find that Jehovah (Yahweh) is the only true God, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus. Jesus has One who is the Supreme Being over him; Jesus is not his Supreme Being whom he worships, prays to, and who sent him, and whose will he carried out in willful obedience. -- Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Matthew 4:4 (Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:4); Matthew 4:7 (Deuteronomy 6:16); Matthew 4:10 (Exodus 20:3-5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:13,14; 10:20; Luke 4:8); Matthew 22:29-40; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 27:46; Mark 10:6 (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7,20-23); Mark 14:36; 15:34; Luke 22:42; John 4:3; 5:30; 6:38; 17:1,3; 20:17; Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 11:31; Ephesians 1:3,17; Hebrews 1:9; 10:7; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 2:7; 3:2,12


====================Below needs to be edited -- links may not work.
Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Eph'rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. -- Revised Standard Version.
Many translations render the latter as from "everlasting" or from "eternity". However, the same translations no where else render the Hebrew phrase as "from everlasting" or "from eternity". Thus, an exception is made only in Micah 5:2, evidently for the very purpose of making it appear that Jesus is uncreated. Thus, to make an exception in Micah 5:2 so as render it as "from everlasting" or "from eternity" in Micah 5:2 is actually based on circular reasoning. Micah 5:2 does not prove that Jesus did not have a beginning.

Son of God

It is being claimed that if "Jesus can't be called God because he is also called "Son of God", then if I use this form of reasoning, he can't be called "Son of Man" either." This appears to be based on the trinitarian assumptions related to "Son of God" and "Son of Man", ignoring that the title, "Son of the Man" designates Jesus as the son of the man, David, the Messianic heir. In reality, there is nothing at all in the expression "Son of God" that means that Jesus is the Supreme Being of whom he is the son.
See what I have presented at: Son of Man and Son of God

John 20:28
apekrithee thwmas kai eipen autw ho kurios mou ANSWERED THOMAS AND HE SAID TO HIM THE LORD OF ME 061 2381 2532 1511_7 0846_5 3588 2962 1473_2 kai ho theos mou AND THE GOD OF ME! 2532 3588 2316 1473_2 Westcott & Hort Interlinear
Nothing in John 20:28 means that Thomas was referring to Jesus, who was standing before Thomas with body of flesh and bones, as being the Supreme Being. To reason thus would, in effect, by the context, tend make the Supreme Being to be the flesh and bones that was before Thomas. See my study: "My Lord and My God."

John 1:1
John 1:1 en archee een ho logos kai ho logos een pros IN BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS TOWARD 1722 0746 1511_3 3588 3056 2532 3588 3056 1511_3 4314 ton theon kai theos een ho logos THE GOD, AND GOD WAS THE WORD. 3588 2316 2532 2316 1511_3 3588 3056 Westcott & Hort Interlinear
Scripture no where depicts Jesus as being "God", the Supreme Being, although many translations would make it appear so. In the very, very few instances where it is claimed that forms of the Hebrew word often transliterated as EL, or the forms of the Greek word often transliterated as THEOS, are applied to Jesus, the default reasoning should not be to imagine and assume that such application means that Jesus is the Supreme Being, but, in harmony with the Scriptural Hebraic usage of such words, one should conclude that such usage as applied to Jesus is describing Jesus as being mighty, a mighty one, as it is often used in the Bible, not as meaning Supreme Being. In other words, Hebrew forms of the word EL, and therefore, its corresponding forms as found in the Greek transliterated as THEOS are applicable to anyone to whom God has given special power or might, whether man, angel, our Lord Jesus, or the Supreme Being Himself. In the KJV, for instance, the Hebrew word EL in Psalm 82:1 is rendered, not as "God" or "god", but as "mighty", referring collectively to the Sons of the Most High spoken of in Psalm 82:6. In John 1:1, since Jesus stated that the one whom he had been with is the only true God (John 17:1,3,5), it should be apparent that THEOS as applied to the Logos is not being used in the sense of Supreme Being, but rather in the sense of "mighty". Jesus, the Logos of God, "was" (past tense), mighty in his being before he became flesh.

Jesus was in indeed "mighty" (THEOS) -- a mighty being -- before he became flesh (John 1:1), but he was never the Almighty Jehovah. In studies, I have found at least four different ways that the Hebrews used forms of the word for "God":

(1) The MIGHTY ONE, the only one who is MIGHTY of himself (not receiving His might from anyone else), which corresponds to our common usage of “God” as meaning “the Supreme Being”, the “Almighty” Yahweh. Only He is the source of all (1 Corinthians 8:6)

(2) False gods — so-called gods who by nature have no might at all to do anything (Deuteronomy 4:28; Daniel 5:23; Isaiah 45:20; Galatians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 8:5).

(3) Mighty ones who are such because the only true Supreme Being has given them special power or authority, either directly or by allowance, such as Moses to Pharoah (Exodus 7:1), the sons of the Most High (Psalm 82:1,6; John 10:34-36), and the angels (Psalm 8:5; compare Hebrews 2:7), and others (1 Samuel 28:13; Ezekiel 32:21; 2 Corinthians 4:4), including Jesus (John 1:1, possibly also in Psalm 45:6; John 20:28 and Hebrews 1:8).

(4) General might, power, great, etc. — Genesis 31:29; Deuteronomy 28:32; Nehemiah 5:5; Psalm 36:6; Proverbs 3:27.

Anyone can verify that the KJV translates the words for god, at least in the Old Testament, with words such strength, might, mighty, etc. In Psalm 82:1 of the KJV, the Hebrew word for "God" is translated as "mighty". Applying this same principle to the one whom the only true Supreme Being sent (Isaiah 61:1; John 17:1,3), in John 1:1, we would have "the Word was mighty". http://beta.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/el.html http://beta.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/elohiym.html

John 1:18
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. -- John 1:18, New American Standard
The translators of New American Standard, believing Jesus to be the Supreme Being, capitalized the word "God" to make it appear that Jesus is the Supreme Being. The Supreme Being, however, was never begotten, are brought forth into being. Jesus was indeed the first one and only one to be brought forth as a mighty spirit being, having been brought forth before the angels, who are also referred to as "gods". -- Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7.
In John 1:18, Jesus is distinguished from the only true God who sent him (John 17:1,3), thus Jesus is not being depicted as being the only true God.

Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. — King James Version
As this reads in the KJV, it does not apply "God" to Jesus; many other translations, however, would have that Jesus is "the great God" here. If, in this verse, Paul did apply the Greek word transliterated as THEOS to Jesus (which is highly unlikely), it still would not mean that should imagine and assume that Paul was applying in the sense of Supreme Being.
See my study: The Great God

John 5:23
That all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him. -- Wold English
Evidently, it is being imagined and assumed that there is something in John 5:23 that means that Jesus is the Supreme Being. Actually, the context shows that this power and authority is being given to Jesus from the only true God who sent Jesus. This harmonizes with 1 Corinthians 8:6: the God and Father of Jesus is the source of all; Jesus is the agent used by the only true God. If the president of the company assigns one the authority and power to another to act on his behalf, and thus tells everyone to give him the same honor as would be given to himself, this does not mean that the one so assigned IS the president. See my related study: Jesus Received Worship

Below presents links to studies related; I may return later to add more comments. If no link is provided, it probably means I have written anything related to that scripture as yet, and will, God willing, have to return to it later.

(Honor) 
Hebrews 3:3,4 - There is definitely nothing in these verses that means that the honor that due to Jesus is that of being the Supreme Being. All is of the only true Supreme Being, through the one whom the only true Supreme has made both lord and Christ. — Psalm 2:26; 45:7; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 34:23,24; John 10:29; 17:1,3; Acts 2:23,36; 4:27; 10:38; Hebrews 1:9.

(Glory)
2 Timothy 4:18 - See the study: Who is Over All

Hebrews 13:20 - God in this verse is presented as only one person; Jesus is distinguished from God; probably meant to be Hebrews 13:21. Hebrews 13:21 refers to glory -- in the sense of praise -- being offered to Jesus; it does not say that Jesus' glory is the glory of the only true Supreme Being.

1 Peter 4:11 - God is presented as being one person and Jesus is distinguished from the Supreme Being. The glory that is given to Jesus is to the glory of the God and Father of Jesus, “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ”. – Matthew 9:8; 15:31; Luke 17:16; 13:13; 17:15; 23:47; John 5:23; 13:31,32; 21:19; Ephesians 1:17; Romans 15:6; Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 4:11.

2 Peter 3:18 - See the study: Who is Over All

Romans 16:27 - The Unipersonal God is glorified through Jesus. Nothing in this means that we need to imagine, assume, add to, and read into this that Jesus is the Supreme Being.

Jude 1:25 - Speaks of the God and Father of Jesus; it is not speaking of Jesus. See: To the Only Wise God

Revelation 5:12,13 - Nothing here says that Jesus is the Supreme Being. Both the Supreme Being and Jesus do receive glory; this does not mean that one needs to imagine and assume that Jesus is the Supreme Being. The Lamb proved himself obedient to death and thus is recognized as worthy of being exalted by the only true Supreme Being with power, so that at the name of Jesus all should bow to the glory of the only true God. .– Acts 2:33,36; 5:31; Philippians 2:8-10; Ephesians 1:3,17-23; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Hebrews 1:4; 1 Peter 3:22. See: Jesus Received Worship

(Worship) See the studies under "Worship of Jesus"

Matthew 2:2 -- See the study: Jesus Received Worship

Philippians 2:10 - See: Jesus Received Worship and The Unipersonal God Exalted Jesus


Revelation 5:12,13- See: Jesus Received Worship

(Prayer) - John 14:14; Acts 1:24; Acts 7:59; 1 Corinthians 1:2; - Evidently it is thought that prayer or spiritual conversation directed to Jesus is proof that Jesus is God. See my study: Jesus As an Object of Prayer

1 Corinthians 1:2, Acts 1:24, Acts 1:25, Acts 7:59, Acts 7:60, John 14:12, John 14:13, John 14:14,
Romans 10:11 - This is probably referring to Jehovah, the God and Father of Jesus, not to Jesus. 

Nevertheless, to call upon the name of Jesus is also to call upon the name of Him who sent Jesus. See: Whoever Will Call Upon the Name of Jehovah

1 Corinthians 16:22- Making an expression to Jesus to "come" does not mean that we need to imagine, assume and read into the scripture that Jesus is the Supreme Being.

2 Corinthians 12:8 - "The Lord" as it appears here in most translations is probably a replacement of God's Holy Name. Regardless, it offers no proof that Jesus is Jehovah.

Revelation 22:20,21 - John did address Jesus, saying, "Come, Lord Jesus". This does not mean that one needs to imagine and assume that Jesus is the Supreme Being.
(Song) Obviously, singing a song directed to Jesus, or about Jesus, does not mean that Jesus is the Supreme Being. Jehovah is glorified in all the the praise given to Jesus. All is "through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6) All the songs sung to Jesus are "to the glory of God, the Father." -- Philippians 2:11.

Ephesians 5:19 - "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to [Jehovah]." (World English, with the Holy Name restored as "Jehovah") More than likely, this is speaking of singing praise to the God and Father of Jesus.
Revelation 5:9 - "God" here is depicted as one person, not as three persons, as he is so depicted throughout the entire Bible. Jesus presented his blood in sacrifice to the only true God. -- Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 9:14.

Philippians 2:6-11 - "God" is depicted in these verses, not as three persons, but as only one person, and Jesus is distinguished from that one person throughout. It is the unipersonal God who made Jesus both Lord and Christ, who exalted Jesus, so that all should bow before Jesus, to the glory of the only true God, the God and Father of Jesus. Nothing in this means that we need to imagine and assume that Jesus is the Supreme Being, or that we need to imagine and assume that Jesus is a person of the Supreme Being, etc. See my studies: "The Humility of Mind", "The Unipersonal God Exalted Jesus", "Philippians 2:6,7 and the Greek Morphe", and "Was the Holy Name Changed to 'Jesus'?"

I will, God willing, come back to this later. Last update 1/23/2015
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