Comments on: Revisiting the Issue of Worshiping Christ https://islamunmasked.com/2016/09/29/revisiting-the-issue-of-worshiping-christ/ Wed, 23 Nov 2016 21:24:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Sam Shamoun https://islamunmasked.com/2016/09/29/revisiting-the-issue-of-worshiping-christ/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Fri, 07 Oct 2016 02:16:53 +0000 http://islamunmasked.com/?p=445#comment-35 In reply to Bernard Maina..

Bernard, I do not appreciate your ignoring my entire refutation to your points and you deciding to undermine the Deity of Christ by your misapplication of biblical texts such as 1 Chronicles 29:20. You do it again, and I will ban you from this page.
In the meantime, here is my two part refutation to your feeble appeal to 1 Chronicles 29:20, since this verse backfires against you and proves that Jesus is Jehovah, your great God and Judge.
https://islamunmasked.com/2016/10/07/worshiping-jesus-as-god-the-issue-of-david-pt-1/
https://islamunmasked.com/2016/10/07/worshiping-jesus-as-god-the-issue-of-david-pt-2/

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By: Bernard Maina. https://islamunmasked.com/2016/09/29/revisiting-the-issue-of-worshiping-christ/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Mon, 03 Oct 2016 12:19:27 +0000 http://islamunmasked.com/?p=445#comment-32 Thank you Sam for your presentation. It was quite detailed and hope the readers will benefit.

But first a small observation. I did not in my contribution identify myself as a Jehovah’s Witness. I did so deliberately because I do not hold any brief for Jehovah’s Witnesses generally and the Watchtower Bible Society in particular. I would prefer that my opinions remain personal and not representative of the official position. So talk about MY opinions to avoid creating unintended perceptions. Now to the question:

Does the Fact that Worship is Given to Jesus Prove He is God?

With all humility, my answer is NO! Here is why.

The “worship” given to Jesus means no more than the “worship” given to king David. We read:

1 Chronicles 29:20, King James Version
“And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and WORSHIPPED the LORD, AND the king.”

The above verse in the KJV shows “worship” being directed to king David. That does not prove that David is GOD!!!. But there is a similarity between Jesus and king David. Like David, Jesus is given deference and respect, “worship” in that form as God’s resurrected Son and heavenly King, BUT not as God.

Now lets look at an episode in the Testament where the word “worship” was used. We read:

John 9:35-38 American Standard Version
“Doest thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe him? Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speeketh thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he WORSHIPED him.”

The Scripture in the above version has an interesting footnote:
“The Greek word [proskuneo] denotes an act of reverence, as here [Jesus] or to the Creator.”

Sam, did you see that? The word proskuneo denotes an act of REVERENCE when referring to Jesus. Those are the words of the translators of the ASV.

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Its of interest how some versions have rendered proskuneo in English:

Matthew 2:11,Weymouth New Testament
“He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding,’ Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that i too may come and DO HIM HOMAGE[proskuneo].’ ”

Matthew 2:11 Young’s Literal Translation
“and having sent them to Beth-Lehem, he said, Having gone– inquire ye exactly for the child, and wherever ye have found, bring me back word, that I also having come may BOW [ proskuneo] to him.”

One version says “do him homage” and the other one says “bow to him.” Certainly Herod did not wish to “worship” God Himself in the person of Jesus. He understood the child to be a king not God!!

In conclusion and in the interest of brevity, I will not delve into the lexicon meanings of “prokuneo.” The Greek Septuagint uses “proskuneo” referring to king David in 1 Chronicle 29:20. The Greek word did not make David to be God. The same word is used in NT referring to Jesus. Just like David, Jesus did not become God because “proskuneo” referred to him.

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