The inspired Scriptures exhort believers to emulate the mindset of Christ who did not take advantage of the fact of his being equal to God in essence, glory, majesty and honor, but voluntarily set aside his status and privileges to become a human being in order to take on the position of a slave for the express purpose of dying on the cross:   

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality (isa) with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7 New international Version (NIV)

The Authorized King James Version (KJV) renders the key text somewhat differently:

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” Philippians 2:6

Even here Jesus is depicted as being God’s equal.

The translators of the New World Translation (NWT) of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, on the other hand, see things differently:  

“who, although he was existing in God’s form, did not even consider the idea of trying to be equal to God.”

Instead of the prehuman Jesus being equal to God, the NWT portrays the preincarnate Christ as never having equality with the Father, and as never striving to obtain it.  

In this post I will employ the JW’s own Bible to show that, contrary to their rendering of the Philippians passage, Jesus always possessed equality with the Father but never exploited this equality for his personal, self-interests.  

This comes from the Lord’s own words to his Jewish interlocutors who sought to kill him for making himself equal to God the Father:

“Jesus said to him: ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ And the man immediately got well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk. That day was the Sabbath.So the Jews began to say to the cured man: “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry the mat.’ But he answered them: ‘The same one who made me well said to me, “Pick up your mat and walk.”’ They asked him: ‘Who is the man who told you, “Pick it up and walk”?’ But the healed man did not know who he was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. After this Jesus found him in the temple and said to him: ‘See, you have become well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse does not happen to you.’ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things during the Sabbath. But he answered them: ‘My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.’ This is why 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 own Father, making himself equal to God (ison heaton poion to Theo). Therefore, in response Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to you, the Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son does also in like manner. For the Father has affection for the Son and shows him all the things he himself does, and he will show him works greater than these, so that you may marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, so the Son also makes alive whomever he wants to. For the Father judges no one at all, but he has entrusted all the judging to the Son, so that all may honor the Son JUST AS they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.’” John 5:8-23

After healing a paralytic on the Sabbath day to the ire of the Jews, Jesus explains the reason why he did so is because the Father never stops working, not even on the Sabbath. If God did stop working on the Sabbath, then this would be disastrous for creation seeing that it constantly needs him to continually sustain it in order to prevent it from perishing.

Jesus’ point was that, as God’s Son, he too needed to continue working even on the Sabbath, thereby implying his equality with the Father.  After all, only God is exempt from Sabbath restrictions, which means that for Christ to also be exempt from such regulations he must also be God in essence.

This is why the Jews correctly inferred that Jesus had made himself equal with the Father, which to them was blasphemy.

Christ goes on to reinforce this point by asserting that he only does whatever the Father does, and he is able to do everything the Father does in the same manner that the Father does it, such as raising the dead and giving life to whomever he, the Son, chooses. No mere creature could ever dare say such things without this being a blasphemy against the true God.

As if Jesus’ statements couldn’t be any more remarkable, he even claims that the Father himself demands that everyone must give the Son the exact same honor that the Father himself receives!   

This explains why in Revelation, John the Apostle depicts Jesus as receiving the exact same worship that is given to the Father.

Note, for example, the follow passages from the Apocalypse:

“Whenever the living creatures give glory and HONOR and thanksgiving to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever,the elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship the One who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the HONOR and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.’” Revelation 4:9-11

“All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, saying: ‘Amen! Let the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the HONOR and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’” Revelation 7:11-12

Now contrast this with the worship that Jesus receives:

“When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, and each one had a harp and golden bowls that were full of incense. (The incense means the prayers of the holy ones.) And they sing a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.’ And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, and they were saying with a loud voice: ‘The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and HONOR and glory and blessing.’” Revelation 5:8-12

What follows next is truly astonishing:

“And I heard EVERY CREATURE in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and ALL THE THINGS IN THEM, saying: ‘To the One sitting on the throne AND TO THE LAMB be the blessing and the HONOR and the glory and the might forever and ever.’ The four living creatures were saying: ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshipped.” Revelation 5:13-14

John hears all creation worshiping God and the Lamb together and forever!  

The fact that every created being throughout the entire creation worships the Son in the exact same manner that the Father is worshiped, and for the same exact duration, proves that Christ is not a created being. Rather, the Son is an uncreated divine Person who is distinct from every creature in existence, and is therefore on the Creator side of the Creator/creation divide.

There’s more!

The first believers in Christ worshiped the risen Jesus in the same way that the OT saints worshiped Jehovah God.

For example, Christians entrusted their spirits to the exalted Christ at their deaths,

“As they were stoning Stephen, he made this appeal: ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” Acts 7:59

Something that OT believers did in respect to Jehovah:

“Into your hand I entrust my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Jehovah, the God of truth.” Psalm 31:5

In fact, the first generation of Christ’s followers were characterized by, and known for, their habitual practice of gathering together for the purpose of calling on the name of the Lord Jesus:

“to the congregation of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in union with Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones, together with all those everywhere who are calling on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2

And yet this is a worship pattern that we see the OT saints rendering to Jehovah alone:

“After that he planted a tamarisk tree at Beʹer-sheʹba, and there he called on the name of Jehovah, the everlasting God.” Genesis 21:33

“I love Jehovah Because he hears my voice, my pleas for help. For he inclines his ear to me, And I will call on him as long as I live.  The ropes of death encircled me; The Grave had me in its grip. I was overcome by distress and grief. But I called on the name of Jehovah: ‘O Jehovah, rescue me!’… I will take up the cup of salvation, And I will call on the name of Jehovah… I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving; I will call on the name of Jehovah.” Psalm 116:1-4, 13-14

The NT further teaches that both God and Christ have priests serving them:

“To the angel of the congregation in Philadelphia write: These are the things he says who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens so that no one will shut and shuts so that no one opens: ‘I know your deeds—look! I have set before you an opened door, which no one can shut. And I know that you have a little power, and you kept my word and did not prove false to my name.’” Revelation 3:7-8

“Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God AND OF the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.” Revelation 20:6

The OT, on the other hand, depicts Jehovah alone as having priests who minister to him:  

“Exalt Jehovah our God and bow down at his footstool; He is holy. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, And Samuel was among those calling on his name. They would call to Jehovah, And he would answer them.” Psalm 99:5-6

“As for you, you will be called the priests of Jehovah; They will call you the ministers of our God. You will eat the resources of the nations, And about their glory you will boast.” Isaiah 61:6

Moreover, the NT is replete with examples where the inspired writers supplicate both God the Father and the Lord Jesus to bestow their spiritual blessings upon the recipients of their letters:

“May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:3

“May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave himself for our sins so that he might rescue us from the present wicked system of things according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5

“May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2

“Paul, Sil·vaʹnus, and Timothy, to the congregation of the Thes·sa·loʹni·ans in union with God our Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ: May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God the Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ… This is so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in union with him, according to the undeserved kindness of our God AND OF the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2, 12

“There will be with us undeserved kindness, mercy, and peace from God the Father AND FROM Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, with truth and love.” 2 John 1:3

We even find places where only Jesus is invoked!

“If anyone has no affection for the Lord, let him be accursed. O our Lord, come! May the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus be with you. May my love be with all of you in union with Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 16:22-23

“From now on let no one make trouble for me, for I am bearing on my body the brand marks of a slave of Jesus. The undeserved kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit you show, brothers. Amen.” Galatians 6:17-18

“The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit you show.” Philippians 4:23

“The undeserved kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:28

“The one who bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.’ May the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus be with the holy ones.” Revelation 22:20-21

These examples from the inspired Scriptures conclusively prove that Jesus Christ is indeed equal to God the Father in glory, majesty, honor and power.

Therefore, the rendering of Philippians 2:6 in the NWT is simply wrong and is nothing more than a gross mistranslation aimed to deceive the members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses from discovering the real truth of who Jesus Christ truly is.

Unless stated otherwise, scriptural references taken from New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition).

FURTHER READING

PHILIPPIANS 2: AN ADAM CHRISTOLOGY?

“The Form of a god”? The Translation of Morphē Theou in Philippians 2:6

Philippians 2:6 In Various English Translations

Carmen Christi: Worshiping Christ as God

Revisiting the Deity of Christ in Light of the Carmen Christi Pt. 1, Pt. 2

PLINY & CHRIST’S DEITY

LET EVERY THING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE JAH JESUS!

Does Jesus Receive Latreuo?

CHRIST WORSHIPED AS GOD ALMIGHTY

In this article I will show readers how to employ the Jehovah’s Witnesses very own (per)version of the Holy Bible to prove that Peter in his inspired epistles identified Jesus Christ as Jehovah God in the flesh. I will demonstrate that the blessed Apostle ascribes to the risen Lord specific functions, titles, glory and/or characteristics which the Hebrew Bible attributes to Jehovah alone.

I will be referencing the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (2013 Revision).

REVERENCING JEHOVAH JESUS

Peter writes to spiritual babes that have tasted the kindness of the Lord, and who have come to believe that he is the living Stone whom men have rejected

“As newborn infants, form a longing for the unadulterated milk of the word, so that by means of it you may grow to salvation, provided you have tasted that the Lord is kind. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen, precious to God… and ‘a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They are stumbling because they are disobedient to the word. To this very end they were appointed.” 1 Peter 2:2-4, 8

The Apostle further exhorts Christians not to fear what unbelievers are frightened by, but rather to set apart Christ as the Lord whom they have to trust and hope in:

“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are happy. However, do not fear what they fear, nor be disturbed. But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect.” 1 Peter 3:14-15

Remarkably, Peter has described Christ in the same way that the Psalmist refers to Jehovah:

“ט [Teth] Taste and see that Jehovah is good; Happy is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

He has also applied to the risen Lord the very language, which the prophet Isaiah employs for Jehovah!

“You should not call a conspiracy what this people calls a conspiracy! Do not fear what they fear; Do not tremble at it. Jehovah of armies—he is the One you should regard as holy, He is the One you should fear, And he is the One who should cause you to tremble. He will become as a sanctuary, But as a stone to strike against And as a rock to stumble over To both houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare To the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Isaiah 8:12-14

What this means is that, for Peter, Jesus is the very Jehovah whose goodness believers have come to taste, and who is to be regarded as holy. It also shows that it is God’s Son who is that very Jehovah that Isaiah states is a Stone and Rock which causes unbelievers to stumble over!

To say that this is astonishing would be to put it mildly.

MAGNIFYING JEHOVAH JESUS

Just as astonishing is the fact that Peter concludes his 2^nd letter with a doxology, an ascription of eternal praise to the risen Christ:  

“that you should remember the sayings previously spoken by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior (tou kyriou kai soteros) through your apostles… No, but go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (tou kyriou hemon kai soteros ‘Iesou Christou). To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:2, 18

In the Hebrew Bible, doxologies are never offered to any other heavenly being besides Jehovah. And yet both here in 2 Peter, and elsewhere,

“I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his manifestation and his Kingdom… From this time on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day, yet not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his manifestation… The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work and will save me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:1, 8, 18

“and from Jesus Christ, ‘the Faithful Witness,’ ‘the firstborn from the dead,’ and ‘the Ruler of the kings of the earth.’ To him who loves us and who set us free from our sins by means of his own blood—and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—yes, to him be the glory and the might forever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6

“When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, and each one had a harp and golden bowls that were full of incense. (The incense means the prayers of the holy ones.)  And they sing a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.’ And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, and they were saying with a loud voice: ‘The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.’” Revelation 5:8-12

Ascriptions of praise are offered to the Son in the same exact way that they are offered to the Father, whether by Peter or others:

“If anyone speaks, let him do so as speaking pronouncements from God; if anyone ministers, let him do so as depending on the strength that God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. The glory and the might are his forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

“But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. To him be the might forever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

“After this I saw, and look! an opened door in heaven, and the first voice that I heard speaking with me was like a trumpet, saying: ‘Come up here, and I will show you the things that must take place.’ After this I immediately came to be in the power of the spirit, and look! a throne was in its position in heaven, and someone was seated on the throne. And the One seated had the appearance of a jasper stone and a sardius stone, and all around the throne was a rainbow like an emerald in appearance. All around the throne were 24 thrones, and on these thrones I saw seated 24 elders dressed in white garments, and on their heads golden crowns. From the throne were coming lightning and voices and thunders; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, and these mean the seven spirits of God. 

“Before the throne was something resembling a glassy sea, like crystal. In the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures that were full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a young bull, and the third living creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. As for the four living creatures, each one of them had six wings; they were full of eyes all around and underneath. And continuously, day and night, they say: ‘Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming.’

“Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship the One who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.’” Revelation 4:1-11

“All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, saying: ‘Amen! Let the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’” Revelation 7:11-12

There’s even a scene in Revelation where John sees every created being in the whole entire creation offering to the risen Lamb the exact same worship that the Father receives, and for the exact same duration!

“And I heard EVERY CREATURE in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and ALL THE THINGS IN THEM, saying: ‘To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.’ The four living creatures were saying: ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshipped.” Revelation 5:13-14

These examples prove beyond any reasonable doubt that, as far as the inspired writers of the Scriptures are concerned, Jesus is not a created being. Rather, Christ is the uncreated Son of God who became Man for the redemption of creation, being equal to the Father (and the Holy Spirit) in essence, glory, power, honor and majesty.

SLAVING FOR JEHOVAH JESUS

Peter is not through just yet.

The Apostle starts off his 2^nd epistle by referring to himself as the slave of the heavenly Jesus, who eternally reigns as the Lord and Savior of all believers. He also writes that favor and peace are granted to all those who continue to grow in their intimate knowledge of God and Christ:

“Simon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ. May undeserved kindness and peace be increased to you by an accurate knowledge of God and OF Jesus our Lord…  In fact, in this way you will be richly granted entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (tou kyriou hemon kai soteros ‘Iesou Christou).” 2 Peter 1:1a-2, 11

“Certainly if after escaping from the defilements of the world by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (tou kyriou kai soteros ‘Iesou Christou), they get involved again with these very things and are overcome, their final state has become worse for them than the first.” 2 Peter 2:20

“No, but go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge OF our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” 2 Peter 3:18a

However, the Hebrew Bible states that the heavenly Lord whom believers are to look to for favor is Jehovah:

“To you I raise my eyes, You who are enthroned in the heavens. As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, And the eyes of a servant girl to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to Jehovah our God Until he shows us favor.  Show us favor, O Jehovah, show us favor, For we have had our full share of contempt.” Psalm 123:1-3

Jesus himself warned against serving/slaving over two lords/masters, since it is not possible for one to love both equally:

“No one can slave for two masters (dysi kyriois); for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches.” Matthew 6:24

And yet both Peter and the other Apostles/NT writers unashamedly speak of themselves as being the slaves of both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They also have no qualms stating that spiritually blessings such as unmerited favor come from both of them equally!

“Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus and called to be an apostle, set apart for God’s good news, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who came to be from the offspring of David according to the flesh, but who with power was declared God’s Son according to the spirit of holiness by means of resurrection from the dead—yes, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received undeserved kindness and an apostleship with a view to obedience by faith among all the nations respecting his name, among which nations you also have been called to belong to Jesus Christ—to all those who are in Rome as God’s beloved ones, called to be holy ones: May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:1-7

“James, a slave of God AND OF the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes that are scattered about: Greetings!” James 1:1

“Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James, to the called ones who are loved by God the Father and preserved for Jesus Christ:” Jude 1:1

Once again, the only way that these monotheistic Jews could ever identify themselves as the slaves of two heavenly figures, namely of God and of Christ, and address Jesus as the Lord that reigns in/from heaven, while also stating that favor comes from both of them equally, is if they truly believed that God and his Son are equal in essence, power, glory and divinity.

THE JUSTICE OF JEHOVAH ALONE

Another way in which the inspired Apostle affirms Christ’s Deity is by claiming that the faith which believers were/are enabled to have for salvation came/comes through the justice or righteousness of God and Jesus Christ our Savior. I.e., it is because God and Christ are perfectly just and impartial that they do not discriminate when it comes to issue of who can be saved through faith:

“Simon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have acquired a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God AND the Savior Jesus Christ:” 2 Peter 1:1

I will not make a case here that this is another gross mistranslation of the Greek, which explicitly refers to Christ as both God and Savior. Rather, I will simply assume that Peter is distinguishing God from the Savior Jesus Christ, since this would still prove the divinity of the risen Lord.

The Hebrew Bible expressly teaches that Jehovah is the only righteous God and Savior, and that he alone justifies or makes a person righteous. This is why Jehovah commands all the ends of earth to turn to him in order to be saved:   

“Make your report, present your case. Let them consult together in unity. Who foretold this long ago And declared it from times past? Is it not I, Jehovah? There is no other God but me; A righteous God and a Savior, there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, For I am God, and there is no one else. By myself I have sworn; The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, And it will not return: To me every knee will bend, Every tongue will swear loyalty And say, ‘Surely IN Jehovah are true righteousness and strength. All those enraged against him will come before him in shame. IN Jehovah all the offspring of Israel will prove to be right, And in him they will make their boast.’” Isaiah 45:21-25

Therefore, the only way that saving faith could come about through the righteousness or impartiality of both God and Jesus Christ is if the inspired Apostle is operating under the belief that the Father and his beloved Son are essentially coequal, which is why they together form a single Source of salvation and all spiritual blessings.

This point comes out even more clearly when Acts records Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, declaring to the religious authorities that there is no other Person or name by which a person can ever be saved besides that of the risen Christ:

“While the two were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came up to them. These were annoyed because the apostles were teaching the people and were openly declaring the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who had listened to the speech believed, and the number of the men became about 5,000. The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, along with Anʹnas the chief priest, Caʹia·phas, John, Alexander, and all who were relatives of the chief priest. They stood Peter and John in their midst and began to question them: “By what power or in whose name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with holy spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today about a good deed to a crippled man, and you want to know who made this man well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Naz·a·reneʹ, whom you executed on a stake but whom God raised up from the dead, by means of him this man stands here healthy in front of you. This is “the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the chief cornerstone.” Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.’ Now when they saw the outspokenness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were astonished. And they began to realize that they had been with Jesus. As they were looking at the man who had been cured standing with them, they had nothing to say in answer to this.” Acts 4:1-14

Peter and the Jews knew that it is Jehovah’s name alone that brings about the salvation of the world, which means that the Jewish council would have no doubt understood that the holy Apostle was deliberately proclaiming Christ as that very Jehovah God who had become flesh for the salvation of the world.

There’s simply no way of getting around these inspired truths of the God-breathed Scriptures.

FURTHER READING

PETER & THE DEITY OF CHRIST

NWT: A PERVERTED TRANSLATION

Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Deity of Christ

THE NEW WORLD TRANSLATION PROVES JESUS IS UNCREATED!

The New World Translation Proves Jesus Reigns as Jehovah in Heaven!

New World Translation On Jehovah Becoming Flesh

In this post I will be citing some of the many verses from the Douay-Rheims + Latin Vulgate version, which identify Christ as the uniquely begotten Son who is truly God in nature.

ISAIAH

6- For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace

Parvulus enim natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis, et factus est principatus super humerum ejus : et vocabitur nomen ejus, Admirabilis, Consiliarius, Deus, Fortis, Pater futuri saeculi, Princeps pacis. [Isaias (Isaiah) 9:6]

MICAH

 2- AND THOU, BETHLEHEM Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda: out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity

Et tu, Bethlehem Ephrata, parvulus es in millibus Juda; ex te mihi egredietur qui sit dominator in Israel, et egressus ejus ab initio, a diebus aeternitatis. [Micheas (Micah) 5:2]

BARUCH

36 This is our God, and there shall no other be accounted of in comparison of him.

Hic est Deus noster, et non aestimabitur alius adversus eum.

37 He found out all the way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.

Hic adinvenit omnem viam disciplinae, et tradidit illam Jacob puero suo, et Israel dilecto suo.

38 Afterwards HE was seen upon earth, and conversed with men.

Post haec in terris visus est, et cum hominibus conversatus est. [Baruch 3:36-39]

JOHN

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Hoc erat in principio apud Deum.

3 All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made.

Omnia per ipsum facta sunt: et sine ipso factum est nihil, quod factum est.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

In ipso vita erat, et vita erat lux hominum:

9 That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.

Erat lux vera, quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

In mundo erat, et mundus per ipsum factus est, et mundus eum non cognovit.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Et Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis: et vidimus gloriam ejus, gloriam quasi unigeniti a Patre plenum gratiae et veritatis.

18 No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Deum nemo vidit umquam: unigenitus Filius, qui est in sinu Patris, ipse enarravit. [John 1:1-4, 9-10, 14, 18]

12 Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Iterum ergo locutus est eis Jesus, dicens: Ego sum lux mundi: qui sequitur me, non ambulat in tenebris, sed habebit lumen vitae.

23 And he said to them: You are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.

Et dicebat eis: Vos de deorsum estis, ego de supernis sum. Vos de mundo hoc estis, ego non sum de hoc mundo.

24 Therefore I said to you, that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sin.

Dixi ergo vobis quia moriemini in peccatis vestris: si enim non credideritis quia ego sum, moriemini in peccato vestro.

28 Jesus therefore said to them: When you shall have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know, that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father hath taught me, these things I speak:

Dixit ergo eis Jesus: Cum exaltaveris Filium hominis, tunc cognoscetis quia ego sum, et a meipso facio nihil, sed sicut docuit me Pater, haec loquor:

29 And he that sent me, is with me, and he hath not left me alone: for I do always the things that please him.

et qui me misit, mecum est, et non reliquit me solum: quia ego quae placita sunt ei, facio semper.

39 They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham.

Responderunt, et dixerunt ei: Pater noster Abraham est. Dicit eis Jesus: Si filii Abrahae estis, opera Abrahae facite.

40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who have spoken the truth to you, which I have heard of God. This Abraham did not.

Nunc autem quaeritis me interficere, hominem, qui veritatem vobis locutus sum, quam audivi a Deo: hoc Abraham non fecit.

42 Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he sent me:

Dixit ergo eis Jesus: Si Deus pater vester esset, diligeretis utique et me; ego enim ex Deo processi, et veni: neque enim a meipso veni, sed ille me misit.

49 Jesus answered: I have not a devil: but I honour my Father, and you have dishonoured me.

Respondit Jesus: Ego daemonium non habeo: sed honorifico Patrem meum, et vos inhonorastis me.

50 But I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Ego autem non quaero gloriam meam: est qui quaerat, et judicet.

51 Amen, amen I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever.

Amen, amen dico vobis: si quis sermonem meum servaverit, mortem non videbit in aeternum.

52 The Jews therefore said: Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall not taste death for ever.

Dixerunt ergo Judaei: Nunc cognovimus quia daemonium habes. Abraham mortuus est, et prophetae; et tu dicis: Si quis sermonem meum servaverit, non gustabit mortem in aeternum.

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead. Whom dost thou make thyself?

Numquid tu major es patre nostro Abraham, qui mortuus est? et prophetae mortui sunt. Quem teipsum facis?

54 Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifieth me, of whom you say that he is your God.

Respondit Jesus: Si ego glorifico meipsum, gloria mea nihil est: est Pater meus, qui glorificat me, quem vos dicitis quia Deus vester est,

55 And you have not known him, but I know him. And if I shall say that I know him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do know him, and do keep his word.

et non cognovistis eum: ego autem novi eum. Et si dixero quia non scio eum, ero similis vobis, mendax. Sed scio eum, et sermonem ejus servo.

56 Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it, and was glad.

Abraham pater vester exsultavit ut videret diem meum: vidit, et gavisus est.

57 The Jews therefore said to him: Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

Dixerunt ergo Judaei ad eum: Quinquaginta annos nondum habes, et Abraham vidisti?

58 Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am.

Dixit eis Jesus: Amen, amen dico vobis, antequam Abraham fieret, ego sum.

59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

Tulerunt ergo lapides, ut jacerent in eum : Jesus autem abscondit se, et exivit de templo. [John 8:12, 22-23, 28-29, 39-42, 49-59]

28- Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God

Respondit Thomas, et dixit ei: Dominus meus et Deus meus. [John 20:28]

9- By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him

In hoc apparuit caritas Dei in nobis, quoniam Filium suum unigenitum misit Deus in mundum, ut vivamus per eum. [1 John 4:9]

7- And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one

Quoniam tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in caelo: Pater, Verbum, et Spiritus Sanctus: et hi tres unum sunt. [1 John 5:7]

ACTS

13- The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released

Deus Abraham, et Deus Isaac, et Deus Jacob, Deus patrum nostrorum glorificavit filium suum Jesum, quem vos quidem tradidistis, et negastis ante faciem Pilati, judicante illo dimitti. [Acts Of Apostles 3:13]

26- To you first God, raising up his Son, hath sent him to bless you; that every one may convert himself from his wickedness

Vobis primum Deus suscitans filium suum, misit eum benedicentem vobis: ut convertat se unusquisque a nequitia sua. [Acts Of Apostles 3:26]

27- For of a truth there assembled together in this city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel

Convenerunt enim vere in civitate ista adversus sanctum puerum tuum Jesum, quem unxisti, Herodes, et Pontius Pilatus, cum gentibus, et populis Israel, [Acts Of Apostles 4:27]

30- By stretching forth thy hand to cures, and signs, and wonders to be done by the name of thy holy Son Jesus

in eo quod manum tuam extendas ad sanitates, et signa, et prodigia fieri per nomen sancti filii tui Jesu. [Acts Of Apostles 4:30]

28- Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood

Attendite vobis, et universo gregi, in quo vos Spiritus Sanctus posuit episcopos regere ecclesiam Dei, quam acquisivit sanguine suo. [Acts Of Apostles 20:28]

HEBREWS

1 God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,

Multifariam, multisque modis olim Deus loquens patribus in prophetis:

2 In these days hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world.

novissime, diebus istis locutus est nobis in Filio, quem constituit haeredem universorum, per quem fecit et saecula:

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high.

qui cum sit splendor gloriae, et figura substantiae ejus, portansque omnia verbo virtutis suae, purgationem peccatorum faciens, sedet ad dexteram majestatis in excelsis:

6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him.

Et cum iterum introducit primogenitum in orbem terrae, dicit: Et adorent eum omnes angeli Dei.

8 But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Ad Filium autem: Thronus tuus Deus in saeculum saeculi: virga aequitatis, virga regni tui.

9 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem: propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo exultationis prae participibus tuis.

10 And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of thy hands are the heavens.

Et: Tu in principio Domine terram fundasti: et opera manuum tuarum sunt caeli.

11 They shall perish, but thou shalt continue: and they shall all grow old as a garment.

Ipsi peribunt, tu autem permanebis, et omnes ut vestimentum veterascent:

 12 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.

et velut amictum mutabis eos, et mutabuntur: tu autem idem ipse es, et anni tui non deficient. [Hebrews 1:2-3, 6, 8-12]

PAUL

5- Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen

quorum patres, et ex quibus est Christus secundum carnem, qui est super omnia Deus benedictus in saecula. Amen. [Romans 9:5]

6- Yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him

nobis tamen unus est Deus, Pater, ex quo omnia, et nos in illum: et unus Dominus Jesus Christus, per quem omnia, et nos per ipsum. [1 Corinthians 8:6]

5 For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Hoc enim sentite in vobis, quod et in Christo Jesu:

6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

qui cum in forma Dei esset, non rapinam arbitratus est esse se aequalem Deo:

7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.

sed semetipsum exinanivit, formam servi accipiens, in similitudinem hominum factus, et habitu inventus ut homo.

8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.

Humiliavit semetipsum factus obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.

9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:

Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, et donavit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen:

10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:

ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur caelestium, terrestrium et infernorum,

11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

et omnis lingua confiteatur, quia Dominus Jesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris. [Philippians 2:5-11]

PETER

15- But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you

Dominum autem Christum sanctificate in cordibus vestris, parati semper ad satisfactionem omni poscenti vos rationem de ea, quae in vobis est, spe. [1 Peter 3:15]

1- Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained equal faith with us in the justice of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ

Simon Petrus, servus et apostolus Jesu Christi, iis qui coaequalem nobiscum sortiti sunt fidem in justitia Dei nostri, et Salvatoris Jesu Christi. [2 Peter 1:1]

11- For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Sic enim abundanter ministrabitur vobis introitus in aeternum regnum Domini nostri et Salvatoris Jesu Christi. [2 Peter 1:11]

JUDE

4- For certain men are secretly entered in, (who were written of long ago unto this judgment,) ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord God into riotousness, and denying the only sovereign Ruler, and our Lord Jesus Christ

Subintroierunt enim quidam homines (qui olim praescripti sunt in hoc judicium) impii, Dei nostri gratiam transferentes in luxuriam, et solum Dominatorem, et Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum negantes. [Jude 1:4]

5- I will therefore admonish you, though ye once knew all things, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, did afterwards destroy them that believed not

Commonere autem vos volo, scientes semel omnia, quoniam Jesus populum de terra Aegypti salvans, secundo eos, qui non crediderunt, perdidit: [Jude 1:5]

 20 But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Vos autem carissimi superaedificantes vosmetipsos sanctissimae vestrae fidei, in Spiritu Sancto orantes, [Jude 1:20]

 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting.

vosmetipsos in dilectione Dei servate, exspectantes misericordiam Domini nostri Jesu Christi in vitam aeternam. [Jude 1:21]

24- Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin, and to present you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Ei autem qui potens est vos conservare sine peccato et constituere ante conspectum gloriae suae immaculatos in exsultatione in adventu Domini nostri Jesu Christi, [Jude 1:24]

 25- To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen

soli Deo Salvatori nostro, per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum, gloria et magnificentia, imperium et potestas ante omne saeculum, et nunc, et in omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen. [Jude 1:25]

FURTHER READING

NT Critic Bart Ehrman’s Favorite Bible Translation Proves That Jesus is God Almighty in the Flesh!

BIBLE COMPARISON LISTS PT. 1, PT. 2, PT. 3, PT. 4

The World English Bible

Christ’s Deity and the ISV Bible

THE ARAMAIC BIBLE PROVES THAT THE TRINITY IS THE TRUE GOD!

Philippians 2:6 In Various English Translations

THE NWT BIBLE: A DIABOLICAL PERVERSION OF SCRIPTURE