SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS PAGE

THE DOCTRINE

The New World Translation, is the Bible used by Jehovah's Witnesses.  This faulty version was perverted to remove references to Christ's Deity.  But, it can often still be used to prove His Deity.  The proofs marked NWT below are still useful if the New World Translation is being used.  The rest of the quotes of Scripture are from the New American Standard Version (NASV).

Passages marked ! are the strongest passages indicating Christ's Deity.

Most of the teachings of Christ's Deity are found in the New Testament.  However, Isaiah 9:6 provides this doctrine from the Old Testament.  The passage is interpreted in the New Testament to have been fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 2:11; John 3:16).

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)."

Now here is the doctrine developed in the New Testament:

  1. Explicit Claims
  1. Matthew 1:23 -- NWT -- "The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Immanuel, which means when translated, 'With Us Is God."
  2. John 1:1 -- ". . . the Word was God . . ." -- Verse 14 makes it clear that the Word is Christ.  The NWT translates this phrase, ". . . the Word was a god . . ."  The Greek grammar can be translated either way in accordance with Colwell's rule.  However, if John teaches in another place that Christ is God, then the common translation is correct and the NWT is wrong.  John does teach in other places that Christ is God.   See below.
  3. John 5:18 -- NWT  ! -- "On this account, indeed, the Jews began seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his Father, making himself equal to God."
  4. John 8:58-59 -- ! -- "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.'  Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple." -- See Exodus 3:14 for the expression "I am" where it is used of God and Leviticus 24:16 where it indicates that stoning was the penalty for blasphemy.
  5. John 10:30 -- NWT  ! -- "I and the Father are one."
  6. John 10:33 -- "The Jews answered Him, 'For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.'"  NWT translates the last phrase ". . . make yourself a god."  Again the Greek grammar allows either translation but the NASV reflects John's view in other passages that Christ is God.
  7. John 20:28 -- NWT  !  -- "In answer Thomas said to him:  'My Lord and my God!"  Note that in the next verse Jesus does not accuse Thomas of blasphemy.  Rather Jesus confirms Thomas' identity of Jesus.

B.  Jesus is Given the Titles of Deity

  1. Jehovah -- !  -- Isaiah 40:3, which speaks of the LORD (Jehovah), is quoted in Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:1-3; Luke 3:4; and John 1:23 speaking of Jesus.
  2. Immanuel -- See Matthew 1:23, above.
  3. Lord of Lords -- ! --  In Deuteronomy 10:17, the Lord of Lords is Jehovah and in Revelation 17:14 the Lord of Lords is Christ.

C.  Christ is Given Attributes That Only God Has

  1. Immutability -- NWT -- God is unchangeable (James 1:17) which is also attributed to Christ (Hebrews 1:10-12).  See also Hebrews 13:8.
  2. Eternalness -- NWT  -- God is eternal (Isaiah 44:6; 48:12) which is also attributed to Christ (Revelation 22:13).  Note that Jesus is speaking, verse 16.  He begins to speak in verse 12.
  3. Omnipresence -- NWT  -- God is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12) which is attributed to Christ (Matthew 18:20).
  4. Omniscience -- NWT -- God is all-knowing (Psalm 147:5) which is attributed to Christ (John 21:17).
  5. Omnipotence -- NWT  -- God is all-powerful (Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26) which is attributed to Christ (Philippians 3:20-21).

D.  Christ Does Work That Only God Does -- NWT  !  -- The Jews interpreted Isaiah 43:25 to teach that only God could forgive sins.  This is a work accomplished by Christ in Mark 2:5-10.   Christ does not criticize the Jew's interpretation of Isaiah.

E.  Christ Willingly Received Divine Honor -- Christ believed that only Jehovah should be worshipped (Deuteronomy 6:13 in Matthew 4:10) and yet willingly received worship (Matthew 14:33; 28:9, 17; John 9:38;NWT Revelation 5:8-14) even through apostles (Acts 10:25-26) and angels (Revelation 19:10) refused worship.  In fact the Father commands God's angels to worship Christ (NWT Hebrews 1:6).   In the passages which indicate worship of Christ but are not marked by NWT, NWT translates "obedience" instead of "worship."   NWT's intent is to show that the obeisance Christ received is like the obeisance a king would receive from His subjects.  The student who already believes that Christ is God from other passages would understand that Christ is receiving Divine honor in these passages.  With a Jehovah's Witness who does not believe in Christ's Deity, it would probably be best to stick with NWT Hebrews 1:6 and NWT Revelation 5:8-14.

F.  What a Theologian Thinks

  1. "There is but one person in the Mediator, and that person is the unchangeable Son of God.  In the incarnation He did not change into a human person, nor did He adopt a human person; He simply assumed a human nature, which did not develop into an independent personality, but became personal in the person of the Son of God.  The one divine person, who possessed a divine nature from eternity, assumed a human nature and now has both.  After this assumption of a human nature the person of the Mediator is not divine only but divine-human; He is now the God-man.  He is a single individual, but possesses all the essential qualities of both the human and the divine nature . . . (L. Berkhof, "Manual of Christian Doctrine," p. 184)."
  2. It was necessary that he be human because: 1) Since man sinned, it was necessary that the penalty be born by man (Heb. 2:14-18; 9:22).   2) Only a human could be sympathetic to the situation of man (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:15-5:2).  3) Only a human could be a perfect human example to His followers (Mt. 11:29; Mk. 10:39; Jn. 13:13-15; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 12:2-4; 1 Pet. 2:21).  It was necessary that He be divine because:  1) Only God could provide a perfect sacrifice (Lk. 1:35; Jn. 8:46; 14:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 9:14; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 Jn. 3:5).   2) Only God could bear wrath redemptively.  Only God could apply the fruits of His accomplished work to those who accepted Him by faith (Ps. 49:7-10; 130:3) (L. Berkhof, "Theology," modified, p. 319).

 HOME To return to the previous page, click here.

© 2001-2002, Ken Bowles -- June 08, 2002 Edition

Advertising appearing in conjunction with this page is not endorsed by the Spiritual Insights Page.