What is the biblical basis for the belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are separate entities?
score:10
I think the Jehovahs Witnesses make the matter pretty clear on their website.
TL;DR - Jehovah used to appear to the ancient prophets as "God Almighty", Jesus Christ never identified as "God Almighty".
Does God Have a Name?
The Bible’s answer
Humans all have personal names. Wouldn’t it be reasonable for God to have a name? Having and using personal names is a vital part of human friendships. Should it be different when it comes to our friendship with God?
In the Bible, God says: “I am Jehovah. That is my name.” (Isaiah 42:8) Although he also has many titles, such as “God Almighty,” “Sovereign Lord,” and “Creator,” he honors his worshippers by inviting them to address him by his personal name.—Genesis 17:1; Acts 4:24; 1 Peter 4:19.
Many translations of the Bible contain God’s personal name at Exodus 6:3. That passage says: “I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them.”
Jehovah is a rendering of God’s name in English that has been used for centuries. While many scholars prefer the spelling “Yahweh,” Jehovah is the form of the name that is most widely recognized. The first part of the Bible was written not in English but in Hebrew, a language that is read from right to left. In that language, the divine name appears as four consonants, יהוה. Those four Hebrew characters—transliterated YHWH—are known as the Tetragrammaton.
Is God’s Name Jesus?
The Bible’s answer
Jesus referred to himself as “God’s Son” or “the Son of God.” (John 10:36; 11:4) Jesus never identified himself as Almighty God.
Moreover, Jesus prayed to God. (Matthew 26:39) And while teaching his followers how to pray, Jesus said: “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.”—Matthew 6:9.
Jesus revealed God’s name when he quoted an ancient passage of Scripture and said: “Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.”—Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4.
Is Jesus Almighty God?
The Bible’s answer
Jesus’ opposers accused him of making himself equal to God. (John 5:18; 10:30-33) However, Jesus never claimed to be on the same level as Almighty God. He said: “The Father is greater than I am.”—John 14:28.
Jesus’ early followers did not view him as being equal to Almighty God. For example, the apostle Paul wrote that after Jesus was resurrected, God “exalted him [Jesus] to a superior position.” Obviously, Paul did not believe that Jesus was Almighty God. Otherwise, how could God exalt Jesus to a superior position? —Philippians 2:9.
www.JW.org, Jehovah's Witnesses Bible Questions Answered - God, Jesus.
Upvote:-2
As an ex-JW:
- I do not recall a single lecture of the form "Today, we're going to prove that Jesus != God"
Instead, it was things like:
Jesus = Michael the ArchAngel ( http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/who-is-michael-the-archangel/ ) [ Mainstream Christianity views this as heretical, since mainstream Christianity views Jesus as God. ]
Angels are below God
Therefore, Jesus != God [ Thus, a heretical conclusion ]
========================
As an aside, this creates all sorts of problems:
Satan was initially thrown down for wanting to be above God.
If Jesus = Arch Angel
If JW believers are to be above Angels (in particular, to judge Angels)
Then, JW believers have the authority to judge Jesus / be above Jesus -- which is heretical from a mainstream Christianity view.
This is basically similar to Satan's original sin -- to be above God.
More post
- 📝 According to Catholicism, can an entire nation be possessed by a demon?
- 📝 What is the original source of summary of the 10 Commandments, which Jesus quotes in Mtt 22: 35-40?
- 📝 Are there evil acts which are not sins?
- 📝 Does God have a form as seen by John the Apostle?
- 📝 If the Catholic Church teaches "babies and bonding", is having sex at an old age a sin?
- 📝 How is it possible that the angels were on hand to witness the earth being created?
- 📝 What is the Catholic practice to find God's will for lay Catholics?
- 📝 Didn't Jesus return to Earth after the resurrection when he appeared to Paul?
- 📝 Are there any Trinitarian Protestant denominations that deny the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son from the Father?
- 📝 Do ghosts exist or not?
- 📝 Is Satan's name Lucifer, Satanail, or Samuel?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for Open Theism?
- 📝 Who are the missionaries and godly men who were helped by Keswick Theology for a fuller Christ like life and ministry?
- 📝 Please clarify Phil 2:8-9 with reference to the Trinity
- 📝 What's the first ancient document composed by a non-Christian denying the resurrection?
- 📝 Is there a standard term for all "saved" people?
- 📝 Prior to Exodus 3:5, was it customary to take off one's shoes on sacred ground?
- 📝 What did Jesus quote Psalm 22: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
- 📝 Why did the high priests try Jesus on charges of Blasphemy if He fulfilled their prophecy?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, why did God create men as men rather than as angels?
- 📝 How could Jesus get through locked doors?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church have an official position on domestic 'health passes' or 'vaccine passes' that could be used to control citizens' activities?
- 📝 Profanity in entertainment?
- 📝 Catholic remembrance services for a death elsewhere?
- 📝 According to Biblical Unitarians, what is the essential belief about Jesus in order to be saved?
- 📝 Who first said, "We are all born Pelagians?"
- 📝 In John 1:45–51, did Jesus prophesy that Nathanael was one of the 144,000 Jews in Revelation 7 and 14?
- 📝 What are the divisions between Vatican I and Vatican II Catholics?
- 📝 What was the Jewish understanding of baptism?
- 📝 How have mainstream Christian denominations interpreted the Acts command to abstain from blood?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are separate entities?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Jesus is Michael?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that a living person may visit heaven or hell?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that Satan was the serpent in the Garden of Eden?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that Jesus' death made satisfaction for individual sins?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that God likes or feels affection toward us?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that God loves individuals?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Michael is not Jesus?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that there are humans in heaven now?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that people do not go to heaven or hell immediately when they die?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that some people will live eternally on earth?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that good works are the fruits of faith?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis in the Old Testament for the belief that the Messiah must be God?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that Mary is the mother of God?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the JW belief that only 144,000 go to heaven?
- 📝 What is the biblical & patristic basis for the belief that the saints go to Heaven instead of Sheol after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ does NOT presently possess blood in his incorruptible body?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that life begins at conception?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that separation from God is in itself sin?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that God foreordained the fall of Adam and Eve?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that destroying a grave or body is an act of desecration?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that the spirit of a person remains conscious after death?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Mary and/or other saints are in heaven?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that people must have children?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that the Jews rejected their king?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that God cannot be manipulated?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that the soul/spirit continues after death?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief by Seventh-day Adventists that evangelized Gentiles should keep the Sabbath?
- 📝 What is the biblical and historical basis for the belief that the Second Coming of Christ hasn't happened yet (as of 2021)?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that Paul was the last to be called to be an apostle?