Is Jesus God?

By Tom Smith, Last updated September 15, 2006

 

Introduction

Jehovah’s Witnesses consider that the doctrine of the Trinity and the belief that Jesus is God are false and unbiblical doctrines. The Watchtower Society teaches them that this is the meaning of the numerous verses which state that there is one God by also teaching them that Christians believe in three gods when they refer to the doctrine of the trinity. As a result of this, they teach that Jesus cannot be God, but rather they claim that Jesus is "a god". The Watchtower Society differentiates Jesus (a god) from God the Father by claiming that God the father is "Almighty God", whereas Jesus is called "Mighty God" in Isaiah 9:6.

 

Though the trinity will be dealt with in a different article, in more detail, it is important to note that the doctrine that states that Jesus is God and the document of the trinity are closely intertwined. Regardless, the test of truth of any doctrine is to use scripture to see if it is true. The basis for all our beliefs and doctrine must be scripture alone. So let’s move on and be as the Bereans (acts 17:10-11) and let’s test to see if scripture actually says that Jesus is God.

 

Old Testament

In the book of Isaiah, we read:

Isa 44:6-7
6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. 7 And who can proclaim as I do?
NKJV

Let's take this one part at a time, because there is so much in this verse:

6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel,

Let’s see what scripture has to say about the identities of the King of Israel and the Lord:


King of Israel: The King of Israel? Scripture does not record this as a reference to God other than here. King of Israel refers only to the historical kings of Israel and to Jesus Christ himself.

 

The Lord: The Lord refers to God, as shown at the end of the line. So this says that God is the King of Israel. None of the ordinary human kings of Israel are God, so this can only have one of two meanings - either Jesus is God, or that God the Father is proclaiming himself as King of Israel, even though it would not be consistent with the rest of scripture.

The next line goes on to say “And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts”. Clearly, this is speaking of a different person or second person because of the phrase "and His Redeemer".

Who is the Redeemer? That is Jesus. I think that we all can agree that the Redeemer is Jesus.

Who is the Lord of Hosts, according to scripture?

1 Sam 17:45-46
But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
NKJV

This is only one example, but scripture only records the Lord of Hosts to be God. Thus the Redeemer is the Lord of Hosts (God), or in fact since the Redeemer is Jesus, this verse says that Jesus (Redeemer) is God (Lord of Hosts).

 

Let’s read on further:

'I am the First and I am the Last;

First thing to note in this phrase is that we have two persons speaking with one voice, and as a single person. God and Jesus say together, in the singular, "I am the First and the Last.". Now we have God saying that he is the first and the last. This phrase “The First and the Last” is found four other places in scripture, all in the book of Revelation, for example:

Rev 1:10-11
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,"
NKJV

In all 4 times in the book of Revelation, this phrase is spoken by Jesus. This confirms the fact that Jehovah and Jesus are one and the same. Now, we are near the end. The last line is:

Besides Me there is no God.
7 And who can proclaim as I do?
NKJV

Now, remember above where it said "and" and appeared to be speaking of two persons? Now these two persons again speak as one and say, "...besides me there is no God". We see Jesus and God represented in this verse, and in three different ways these verses tell us that Jesus is God, and then at the end, the two speak with one voice and proclaim themselves to be the one true God. Earlier in Isaiah, we have another indication of the identity of the Messiah:


Isa 9:6
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
NKJV

Jehovah’s Witnesses try to get around this one by showing that unlike many other parts of scripture, this verse says that Jesus is “Mighty God” not “Almighty God”. There are two problems with this approach:

1)       If you have Almighty God, you have 2 gods, thus the Jehovah’s Witnesses defeat their own argument when they claim to

      be fighting in favour of monotheism. This same problem arises when they try to claim that John 1:1 says that the Word

      was “a god”, rather than the proper translation of “The Word was God”. Again, they make Jesus a second god. Scripture

      tells us that God has no other gods before him; therefore any other “gods” are either false gods, or demons. This shows

      the contradictory nature of the Jehovah’s Witness position on this topic.

 

2)       The second problem is that the term “Mighty God” is indeed used in scripture to refer to Jehovah:


Jer 32:17-18
18 You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them--the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
NKJV

Isa 10:21-23
21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob,
To the Mighty God.
22 For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea,
A remnant of them will return;
The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
23 For the Lord GOD of hosts
Will make a determined end
In the midst of all the land.
NKJV

Gen 49:24
24 But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
NKJV

It is interesting to note that the term “Mighty God” is used in scripture 4 times, 3 times clearly referring to Jehovah, and the fourth is prophetic of Jesus. This Therefore this is a clear reference equating Jesus with God. Isaiah continues to present the Messiah as God, and indeed presented in the trinity in chapter 48. In Isaiah 48:16,we read:

Isa 48:16
16 "Come near to Me, hear this:
I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me."
NKJV

Note that it is a third person who is speaking, since the Lord God, and His spirit, identified as two separate persons, sent the third person. Going on to the next verse, we see more about this third person:

Isa 48:17
17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
"I am the LORD your God,
Who teaches you to profit,
NKJV

He is the Redeemer (Jesus), and he the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and is God. It is interesting to note that in verse 17, when he says "I am the Lord", the word Lord is “Jehovah” in the original language, therefore this third person is Jehovah, our Redeemer. Here you have Jesus claiming to be Jehovah God and explaining the trinity in two short verses.  I should add that in the NWT(1), the problem does not go away. It reads:

"Come near to me, YOU people. Hear this. From the start I have spoken in no place of concealment at all. From the time of its occurring I have been there." And now the Lord Jehovah himself has sent me, even his spirit. This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: "I, Jehovah, am your God,........."

Here we have God, the Spirit, and the Repurchaser (another term for Redeemer) who is Jehovah. Even in the NWT, the Repurchaser is Jehovah and is sent by God. This agrees with this additional verse from Isaiah,

Isa 49:26
All flesh shall know
That I, the LORD, am your Savior,
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
NKJV

where the Saviour, The Redeemer and Lord are all shown as one and the same. And here again, the word “Lord” is “Jehovah” in the original language, so the Saviour and Redeemer are one and the same God, Jehovah. The NWT reads essentially the same. This is repeated yet again in Is 60:

Isa 60:16
You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
NKJV

Let’s move on to a couple of other passages in the Old Testament, which show Jesus to be God.

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

Zech 12:10

10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

NKJV

Note that the speaker in this case as identified in Zech 12:1 is the God:

Zech 12:1

12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:

NKJV

Note that the word “Lord” here in Hebrew is the word “Jehovah” who says that He was pierced. When was Jehovah pierced? When Jesus was crucified.

 

New Testament

There are also a number of references in the NT, which clearly speak of Jesus being God, for instance scripture says that the Messiah would be born of a Virgin, and He would be called Immanuel, which means God with us. (see Matthew 1:23)

John 1:1
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
NKJV

As I pointed out previously, the Jehovah’s Witness translation in the New World Translation (NWT (1)) which sys that the Word was “a god” raises a number of issues, and questions. Including, if Jesus was “a god” and there is only one true god, then he would be a false god, or you would have to adopt polytheism. This is a serious inconsistency in the Jehovah’s Witnesses belief system. Another example is when Thomas identified Jesus as God:

John 20:27-29
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
NKJV

To go through the Bible and provide all references which show that Jesus is God would take several pages. This is one of the most clearly taught doctrines in scripture, along with the trinity.

Who do the Watchtower Say that He is?

The Watchtower Society currently teaches that the archangel Michael is actually Jesus. They state that Michael was created by God, and then God worked through Michael to create everything else. Michael left heaven, became Jesus in the flesh, then Jesus died and Michael was resurrected, which left Jesus (the flesh) dead forever. (3) Their belief that Michael is Jesus is based upon their interpretation of a few verses in the Bible, such as:

1 Thess 4:16-17

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

NKJV

In this verse we see that he will have the “voice” of an archangel, which suggests that he will be leading the angels with him. This does not mean that he is an angel nor does it even imply that he is Michael. Further, he has the trumpet of God. If the Jehovah Witnesses are to make the reference to the voice of an archangel of major significance surely we cannot disregard the fact that he has the trumpet of God. Regardless, this verse cannot be used as a standalone to definitively resolve the question either way, but it clearly does not say that Jesus is Michael or that Jesus is an angel. They also base this belief on Daniel 10:13:

Dan 10:13-14

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

NKJV

There first is no reference here to Jesus or to the Messiah. Therefore use of this term “chief prince” as meaning “Messiah” is not supported by scripture. Further, it says that Michael is “one of the chief princes”, indicating that there are more. If indeed it meant Messiah, then that would suggest more than one Messiah, which contradicts scripture, as well as being a contradiction to the Watch Tower Society teachings. Their views on creation are also disputed by scripture:

Col 1:16

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

NKJV

The NWT translation changes this verse to read “all other things” in order to support their doctrines. Further, Jesus is referred to in scripture as everlasting or eternal, and it states that he has existed from everlasting or from eternity.

Mic 5:2

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting."

NKJV

Note that the word “everlasting” comes from the Hebrew word `owlam’ which means eternity. This is the same word used to describe God, and his righteousness.

Isa 9:6

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

NKJV

 

1 Tim 6:12-16

 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

NKJV

There is much more, but a book could be written on the scriptural evidence for Jesus being God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have another problem. That is that the Watchtower Society has changed their view on this topic over the years. Here is a quote from an 1879 issue of the Watchtower:

His position is contrasted with that of men and angels, as he is Lord of both, having `all power in heaven and earth”. Hence it is said. “Let all the angels of God worship him’; [that must include Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God] and the reason is, because he has `by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.’ (4)

The quote that they give comes from Hebrews 1, which says in larger context:

Heb 1:1-8

1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:

"You are My Son,Today I have begotten You"?

And again:

"I will be to Him a Father,And He shall be to Me a Son"? 

6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

"Let all the angels of God worship Him." 

7 And of the angels He says:

"Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." 

8 But to the Son He says:

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

NKJV

 There are several things of interest in this passage:

- God is speaking
- Jesus is the brightness of his glory and the express image of God
- His son is not an angel
- Jesus is the Son of God
- God the Father refers to Jesus as God in verse 8.
- All the angels are to worship Jesus

Today, the Watch Tower Society says the following:

- Jesus is the “reflection” of his glory and the “exact representation” of His image (1)
- They altered verse 8 to sate that “God is your throne forever and ever….” (1)

Regardless, even the NWT still says that God has God denying that he said that any of the angels are his son, and verse 6 still says that all the angels are to worship him. On that last point, the Watchtower did command its members to worship Jesus (4) (5) (6) in the past, however they currently state that to do so is forbidden. (7) Instead, they try to say that the references to worshipping in scripture refer not to true worship but to “obeisance” which they say is simply “honour”(8). The 1961 version of the NWT translation used the word “worship” in Heb 1:6, but the 1971 version changed the word worship to “obeisance”.

 

This leaves a few problems for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, for instance if we look at the words which is used in Greek, it is proskuneo. If we look for other references to this word in scripture, we see that this is the same word used in conjunction with commands to worship God, and men and angels reject this same form of worship. For example:

Rev 22:8-9

8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

NKJV

Twice in this passage this word is used, first to describe the worship that John gave to the angel, which was rejected by the angel, and second in the command that the angel makes to John to worship God. If it were simply “honour” then it would be no problem for the angel to accept honour, if indeed Jesus is an angel as the Jehovah’s Witness claim. It is also used twice in the verse where Jesus is tempted by Satan to worship him:

Matt 4:9-10

9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

NKJV

Jesus tells us that we are to worship (proskuneo) God only. Yet scripture tells us to worship (proskuneo) Jesus in Hebrews 1:6. There is much more which could be added here, time permitting, but as said before, an entire book could be written solely on the evidence in scripture that Jesus is God.

 

Conclusion

Scripture is abundantly clear that Jesus is God. The position that the WTBTS has taken is inconsistent, varies over time and connate be reconciled with scripture, especially when one looks at the original languages. Further, though the Jehovah’s Witness state that they are monotheistic, they actually practice a form of polytheism with one supreme God and at least one lesser god.

 

Additional Resources

A good document which provides addition information on this topic has been written by Larry Mitchell and is available on inter at this URL:

 

http://www.geocities.com/smithtj.geo/bt/tc2/jesus.html

 

He also wrote a couple of related documents, one on the trinity available here:

http://www.geocities.com/smithtj.geo/bt/trinity.html

 

And a third on the “Angel of the Lord” which can be found here:

 

http://www.geocities.com/smithtj.geo/bt/tc3/angel.html

 

In addition, here are other good sites specifically addressing the Jehovah’s Witnesses doctrine of Jesus:

 

http://www.carm.org/doctrine/trujesus.htm

 

http://www.jude3.net/JWDOC.HTM

 

 

References

 

1)        New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Copy right 1961, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

2)       Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.

3)       Watchtower, May 15, 1969, Page 307, Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

4)       Watchtower, November 1879, Page 4, Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

5)       Watchtower, July 15, 1898, P.216, Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

6)       Watchtower, October 15, 1945, P.313, Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

7)       Make Sure of All Things—Hold Fast to what is Fine, 1965, P.249, Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

8)       Watchtower, February 15, 1983, P.18, right hand column, Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

 

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permission. All rights reserved.

 


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