The Rose of Sharon is Jesus: Jesus is God

Jesus is God

The following is from an E-mail message to a Jehovah Witness friend in an effort to bring him to understand Jesus is God. All references to his notes or his pamphlet are referring to a Jehovah’s Witness pamphlet he gave me to prove Jesus is a created being.

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With my understanding of the Word of God, I believe we are not expected to understand God (Heb 11:1). The mystery of the Godhead, or Trinity, is one of these mysteries; as is why God allows satan to rule the earth. How can we, the created, understand Him, the creator (Job 11:7-9 & Rom 11:33)?

I like to let the God’s Word explain itself. Here are just a few verses out, of many more, which point me to believing in the triune Godhead.

I have included the translation from the Rotherham bible as you said it was based on pre-Sopherim text and used it to prove your understanding of Hab1:12, even though I don’t like his Gen 1:2 translation. I have also included the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) translation by Dr. David H. Stern, who translated the bible into English from a Jewish point of view using the Masoretic text for the Old Testament and ancient Greek text for the New Testament.

I believe adding to God’s word is wrong. Your pamphlet notes refer to John 20:28 as Jesus being “like a god”, not so in the Word; as it says “My God” (see below).

Ken

A name above “every” name

Your pamphlet notes state:

(Philippians 2:9) If Jesus had been God, how could Jesus have been exalted, that is, raised to a higher position than he had previously enjoyed? He would already have been an exalted part of the Trinity. If, before his exaltation, Jesus had been equal to God, exalting him any further would have made him superior to God.

Yet God’s word says:

Phil 2:9 (AVRLE) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

9 (CJB) Therefore God raised him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name;

9 (Rotherham) Wherefore also, God, uplifted him far on high, and favoured him with the name which is above every name, —

10 (AVRLE) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

10 (CJB) that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow in heaven, on earth and under the earth -

10 (Rotherham) In order that, in the name of Jesus, every knee might bow—of beings in heaven, and on earth, and underground, —

11 (AVRLE) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

11 (CJB) and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is ADONAI—to the glory of God the Father.

11 (Rotherham) And, every tongue, might openly confess—that Jesus Christ is, Lord, unto the glory of God the Father.

It’s His “name”, Jesus/Yeshua, that is not equal to, but is above “every” name; without exclusion. We know no God, no being and name is above הוהי (Jehovah). Yeshua can’t be equal to and can’t be above Jehovah; then all that remains is Yeshua must be the same as Jehovah or they refer to the same individual/GOD. Also look at the context (vs 5-11).

Should anyone worship anything or anyone but God almighty? God forbid.

Worship no man

Acts 10:25 (AVRLE) And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

25 (CJB) As Kefa entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell prostrate at his feet.

25 (Rotherham) And, when it came about that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and, falling at his feet, did homage.

26 (AVRLE) But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

26 (CJB) But Kefa pulled him to his feet and said, “Stand up! I myself am just a man.”

26 (Rotherham) But, Peter, raised him up, saying—Arise! I also myself, am, a man.

Worship no Angel

Rev 22:8 (AVRLE) And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

8 (CJB) Then I, Yochanan, the one hearing and seeing these things, when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel showing them to me.

8 (Rotherham) And, I, John, am he that was hearing and seeing these things; and, when I had heard and seen, I fell down to do homage at the feet of the messenger who had been pointing out unto me these things, —

9 (AVRLE) Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

9 (CJB) But he said to me, "Don’t do that! I am only a fellow-servant with you and your brothers, the prophets and the people who obey the words in this book. Worship God!

9 (Rotherham) and he saith unto me—See thou do it not! A fellow-servant, am I, of thee, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them who keep the words of this scroll: unto God, do homage.

Worship no creature or created being

Rom 1:25 (AVRLE) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

25 (CJB) They have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, by worshipping and serving created things, rather than the Creator - praised be he for ever. Amen.

25 (Rotherham) Who, indeed, exchanged away the truth of God for the falsehood, and rendered worship and service unto the creature rather than unto the Creator, -who is blessed unto the ages. Amen!

26 (AVRLE) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

26 (CJB) This is why God has given them up to degrading passions; so that their women exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural;

26 (Rotherham) For this cause, God gave them up unto dishonourable passions; for, even their females, exchanged away the natural use into that which is against nature, —

Then who should we worship then?

Ex 34:14 (AV) For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

14 (CJB) because you are not to bow down to any other god; since ADONAI— whose very name is Jealous— is a jealous God.

14 (Rotherham) For thou shalt not bow thyself down to another GOD, -For as for Yahweh, Jealous, is his name, A jealous GOD, he is:

Mat 4:10 (AVRLE) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

10 (CJB) “Away with you, Satan!” Yeshua told him, “For the Tanakh says, ‘Worship ADONAI your God, and serve only him.”’

10 (Rotherham) Then saith Jesus unto him, Withdraw, Satan! for it is written, -The Lord thy God, shalt thou worship, and, to him alone, render divine service.

Then why did these worship Jesus without rebuke?

Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem??

Mat 14: 33 (AVRLE) Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

33 (CJB) The men in the boat fell down before him and exclaimed, “You really are God’s son!”

33 (Rotherham) And, they in the boat, bowed down to him, saying—Truly, God’s Son, thou art!

John 9: 38 (AVRLE) And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

38 (CJB) “Lord, I trust!” he said, and he kneeled down in front of him.

38 (Rotherham) And, he, said—I believe, Sir! and worshipped him.

Mat 28: 9 (AVRLE) And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

9 (CJB) Suddenly Yeshua met them and said, “Shalom!” They came up and took hold of his feet as they fell down in front of him.

9 (Rotherham) And lo! Jesus, met them, saying—Joy to you! And, they, going forward, held his feet, and worshipped him.

Heb 1: 6 (AVRLE) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

6 (CJB) And again, when God brings his Firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

6 (Rotherham) But, whensoever he again introduceth the first-begotten into the habitable earth, he saith—And let all God’s messengers worship him!

Luke 24: 52 (AVRLE) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

52 (CJB) They bowed in worship to him, then returned to Yerushalayim, overflowing with joy.

52 (Rotherham) And, they, [[having bowed down unto him]] returned unto Jerusalem, with great joy;

John 1: The Word is God

1 (AVRLE) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1 (CJB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1 (Rotherham) Originally, was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God.

2 (AVRLE) The same was in the beginning with God.

2 (CJB) He was with God in the beginning.

2 (Rotherham) The same, was originally, with God.

Your pamphlet notes say:

At John 1:1 there are two occurrences of the Greek noun the·os′ (god). The first occurrence refers to Almighty God, with whom the Word was (“and the Word [lo′gos] was with God [a form of the·os′]”). This first the·os′ is preceded by the word ton (the), a form of the Greek definite article that points to a distinct identity, in this case Almighty God (“and the Word was with [the] God”).

On the other hand, there is no article before the second the·os′ at John 1:1. So a literal translation would read, “and god was the Word.” Yet we have seen that many translations render this second the·os′ (a predicate noun) as “divine,” “godlike,” or “a god.” On what authority do they do this?

I would caution when using this reasoning as there are over 60 verses where θεος is translated GOD and τον is not present before θεος. Here are a few - John 4:4, John 5:9, Mat 11:22, Mat 15:4, Luke 1:78, Luke 2:14, Luke 2:52

John 20: Thomas declares Jesus is God (Not like a god) and Jesus affirms it.

28 (AVRLE) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

28 (CJB) T’oma answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

28 (Rotherham) Thomas answered, and said unto him—My Lord, and my God!

29 (AVRLE) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

29 (CJB) Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!”

29 (Rotherham) Jesus saith unto him—Because thou hast seen me, hast thou believed? Happy, they who have not seen, and yet have believed!

Wouldn’t it be rather odd if Thomas said, My Lord and someone like a god in this situation? Isn’t satan a god (little g) to those who do not follow Jesus Christ? Isn’t a frog a god to the Egyptians? Would Thomas bring Jesus down to that level? God forbid.

Isa 6: God is one = I ---- yet more than one = us

8 (AVRLE) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

8 (CJB) Then I heard the voice of ADONAI saying, “Whom should I send? Who will go for us?” I answered, “I’m here, send me!”

8 (Rotherham) Then heard I the voice of My Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said—Here am I—send me.

Creation

John 1: Jesus made all things

3 (AVRLE) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

3 (CJB) All things came to be through him, and without him nothing made had being.

3 (Rotherham) All things, through him, came into existence, and, without him, came into existence, not even one thing: that which hath come into existence,

4 (AVRLE) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

4 (CJB) In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.

4 (Rotherham) in him, was, life, and, the life, was, the light of men.—

Gen 1: God created the heavens and earth

1 (AVRLE) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

1 (CJB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

1 (Rotherham) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

God didn’t say He used anyone, He just said He did the creating.

Gen 1: Who said?

11 (AVRLE) And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

11 (CJB) God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, seed-producing plants, and fruit trees, each yielding its own kind of seed-bearing fruit, on the earth”; and that is how it was.

11 (Rotherham) And God said—Let the land put-forth vegetation—herb yielding seed, fruit-tree, bearing fruit, after its kind, whose seed is within it on the land. And it was so.

Acts 5: The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is God (lie to the Holy Spirit = lie to God)

2 (AVRLE) And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

2 (CJB) and, with his wife’s knowledge, withheld some of the proceeds for himself; although he did bring the rest to the emissaries.

2 (Rotherham) And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it; and, bringing a certain part, at the feet of the Apostles, he laid it.

3 (AVRLE) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

3 (CJB) Then Kefa said, “Why has the Adversary so filled your heart that you lie to the Ruach HaKodesh and keep back some of the money you received for the land?

3 (Rotherham) But Peter said—Ananias! wherefore did Satan fill thy heart, that thou shouldst deal falsely with the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the field?

4 (AVRLE) Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

4 (CJB) Before you sold it, the property was yours; and after you sold it, the money was yours to use as you pleased. So what made you decide to do such a thing? You have lied not to human beings but to God!”

4 (Rotherham) While it remained, was it not, as thine own, it remained? and, when sold, was it not, in thine own authority, that it still continued? Why was it that thou didst contrive in thy heart this deed? Thou hast not dealt falsely with men but, with God.

Col 2: Christ is the fullness of the Godhead or Christ is God

8 (AVRLE) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

8 (CJB) Watch out, so that no one will take you captive by means of philosophy and empty deceit, following human tradition which accords with the elemental spirits of the world but does not accord with the Messiah.

8 (Rotherham) Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, -according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, -and not according to Christ:

9 (AVRLE) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

9 (CJB) For in him, bodily, lives the fullness of all that God is.

9 (Rotherham) Because, in him, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily,

Mat 28: Teach or disciple in the name of (God) Father, Son and Holy Ghost

19 (AVRLE) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

19 (CJB) Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh,

19 (Rotherham) Go ye, therefore, and disciple all the nations, Immersing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, —

20 (AVRLE) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

20 (CJB) and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”

20 (Rotherham) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I myself have commanded you, And lo! I, am, with you, all the days, until the conclusion of the age.

Phil 2: If Jesus is equal with God, He is God for God has no equal except Himself

5 (AVRLE) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

5 (CJB) Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua:

5 (Rotherham) The same thing, esteem, in yourselves, which also, in Christ Jesus, ye esteem, —

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

6 (CJB) Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be possessed by force.

6 (Rotherham) Who, in form of God, subsisting, not, a thing to be seized, accounted the being equal with God,

7 (AVRLE) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

7 (CJB) On the contrary, he emptied himself, in that he took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when he appeared as a human being,

7 (Rotherham) But, himself, emptied, taking, a servant’s form, coming to be, in men’s likeness;

8 (AVRLE) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

8 (CJB) he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death - death on a stake as a criminal!

8 (Rotherham) And, in fashion, being found, as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient as far as death, yea, death upon a cross.

9 (AVRLE) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: