WHO IS JEHOVAH?
A
COMPREHENSIVE BIBLE STUDY
OF THIS ESSENTIAL DOCTRINE
IS JESUS CHRIST YHWH?
PREFACE
The importance of this
subject warrants the utmost care in selecting a correct translation of the
Bible. The following translations are recommended as being generally faithful to
the Hebrew and Greek:
King James Version
American Standard, 1901 (Watchtower
Edition)
New American Standard Bible
(Creation House)
The Bible in Living English
(Watchtower Edition)
New International Version (Zondervan
Bible Publishers)
INTRODUCTION
The following workbook is designed to enable any serious student of the Bible to investigate in great detail what the Bible teaches on the subject of the deity or godhead of Jesus Christ. It is expected that the reader will be faithful in looking up all the scripture passages, in examining the context of each passage and in having a willing and open mind to accept whatever the Bible teaches even if it contradicts his previous religious convictions. In John 7:17, Jesus reminds us that religious truth can be obtained only by those who approach the subject with a willing attitude. Jesus said:
“If any man is willing to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from myself.”
PRELIMINARY QUESTION
1. Is it scripturally possible for God to take upon
Himself human nature and to become a man in every sense of the word? (Mark
10:27; Ps. 135:6; Job 42:2; Dan. 4:34-35) ______
The reader must acknowledge that “all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27). Thus, we must admit at the very outset of our study that it is possible for God to be incarnate in human form. To approach the deity of Christ with the assumption or presupposition that it is not possible for Christ to be deity is to reveal a lack of openness to the Scriptures and a rationalistic attitude which says, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is already made up.” We should not limit what God can or cannot do simply on the basis of what we think He can or cannot do. Any theology which tells God that He cannot do a certain thing is not only poor theology, but it also borders on being blasphemy.
2. Literally speaking, is there only one God or are there many
gods? Does the Bible teach monotheism or polytheism? (Isa. 43:10,11; 44:6,7;
45:5,6,21-13; 46:9; Acts 19:26; Gal. 4:8 ) _______________________________
3. Even though literally speaking there is only one true God, and the “gods” of
the heathen are nothing but man-made idols (Ps. 115:1-8), the word “god” was at
times used in a figurative manner or sense to describe someone or something
which had a god-like function. Thus, Moses was to function as a god-like judge
over Pharaoh (Ex. 4:16). Satan is figuratively called “the god of this age” (2
Cor. 4:4). The judges over Israel were called Elohim, that is, “gods” in
Ex. 21:6; 22:8, 9 etc., because like God, they held the power of life and death
over men. While Moses, the judges, angels and even Satan himself are, at times,
called “god” in a figurative sense, are they ever said to be God by nature?
______ Are we ever told to bow before them and give them divine worship?
______ Are we told to pray to them? ______ Are we ever told to place our
ultimate faith, hope, trust, and love in them? ______ Are the divine
characteristics such as eternity or omnipotence ever attributed to them?
______ While they may have been called Elohim (God), were they ever
called YHWH (Jehovah)? ______
4. Since there is only one true God, will this God share His glory with anyone else? (Isa. 42:8) ______
5. Can we worship any created being or thing? ______ Or does the Bible teach
that we are to worship God alone? (Deut. 6:13) ______
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
1. In the beginning, did YHWH create one man “in His image and likeness,” using Himself as the pattern? (Gen. 1:26-27, 2:7) ______
2. Does a man have three parts – body, soul, spirit? (1 Thes. 5:23; Rev.6:9-11) ______ Does YHWH have three parts? ______
3. Did YHWH ever come down to earth and manifest Himself to people in the form of a man? (Gen. 18:1-5, 13, 17, 22; 32:24-30; cf. 35:1-3, 9-13; Ex. 24:9-11; Isa. 6:1-9) ______
4. When YHWH was in His human form, did men actually see and touch Him? (Gen. 16:13; 18:1-5; 32:24-30; Ex. 24:9-11; Isa. 6:1-9) ______
5. While Ex. 34:20 states that to see God in His absolute glory would mean
instant death, evidently men could see YHWH in His human form. Thus, Moses
could see YHWH’s back without dying (Ex. 33:18-23). Abraham could wash YHWH’s
feet (Gen. 18:1-4), and Jacob could wrestle with YHWH’s body (Gen. 32:30;
35:1-15; Ex. 3:6). And Isaiah escaped death even though he saw YHWH with his
own eyes (Isa. 6:5). Are these accounts true? ______
6. The key to unlock these mysterious appearances of YHWH in human form is
found in John 1:1-18. In verse one of this passage, the Apostle John clearly
points out that the WORD was not only ______ YHWH, but that He was ______. In
verse two, he states that the ______ was in the beginning with YHWH. Thus
whenever YHWH appeared in His human form, it was the ______ that men saw and
touched. In verse fourteen, who did the WORD become? ______ Was Jesus Jesus
before he became Jesus, or was He the WORD? ______ What part of YHWH is the
WORD? ______ What part of YHWH is the Father? ______ What part of YHWH is
the Holy Spirit? ______
7. We are told in John 1:18 that no one has ever seen the Father in his
own absolute and essential glory. Yet, at the same time, we are told the WORD,
here called “the unique God,” has fully revealed the Father. Thus, John 1:18
says that no one ever saw God the Father but they have seen God the WORD. Has
anyone ever seen your soul or spirit? ______ Note: The KJV’s “only begotten
son” come from an error in the received text. The proper Greek text reads “only
God” and is being rendered so in most modern versions. That the Greek word
monogenes means “unique” or “only” and not “created” can be established by
any Greek lexicon or by an examination of Heb. 11:17 were Isaac is called
Abraham’s monogenes son. Since Abraham had many sons he had begotten
(Gen. 16:15, 25:6), Isaac was not the only “created” son. But Isaac was the
“unique” son, being the heir of all things (Gen, 25:5). Thus, monogenes
means “unique” or “only one of its kind.”
8. John 1:18 helps us to understand the appearances of YHWH in human form in the Old Testament. The Jehovah God who appeared to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, etc., was none other than the body part of YHWH named the WORD who would become Jesus Christ. The word who was with YHWH of the Old Testament is the same person who in the New Testament became Jesus Christ.
9. Who was YHWH/man on earth who visited Abraham in Gen. 18? The ______. Who did the WORD become? (John 8:56-59) ________
10. Who was the YHWH/man who wrestled with Jacob? (Gen. 32:30; cf. Ex. 3:6) ________
11. Since the “God of Jacob” is the One with whom Jacob wrestled, and is later
identified in Ex. 3:6 as YHWH, who could this God/Man be? (Ex. 3:6; cf. Gen.
35:2-13) ________ The most logical identification of YHWH/man of the Old
Testament is the ________ who became flesh.
12. God called Himself in Ex. 3:13-14 by the name of ________. In the New
Testament, who also claimed this divine name? (John 8:58-59) ________
Now if Christ was only called Elohim (god) in a figurative sense like Moses or Satan, it would not be necessary to believe that He is God in His nature. But Jesus is called YHWH (I AM) and is different in every way from the figurative “gods.”
13. In the following Old Testament passages, we find that YHWH is spoken of in either direct or indirect language. These passages are either quoted or alluded to in the New Testament. Check and see if the New Testament writers applied the YHWH Old Testament passages directly to Jesus. If they did this, it is obvious that they felt that the YHWH of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament. After each series of scriptures, write out the particular YHWH name, title, or function that is attributed to Jesus Christ.
a. Ps. 23:1; Isa. 40:1-11; cf. John 10:1-14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4
________________
b. Ps. 50:1-6; cf. 2 Thess. 1:7-10 ________________
c. Ps. 68:15-18; cf. Eph. 4:8 ________________
d. Ps. 102:1, 12, 25-27; cf. Heb. 1:10-12 ________________
e. Isa. 8:12-15; cf. 1Pet. 2:8 ________________
f. Isa. 40:3, 9, 10, 11; cf. John 1:23; Rev. 22:12
________________
g. Isa. 43:3; cf. Acts 3:14 ________________
h. Isa. 44:6; cf. Rev. 1:7, 8, 17, 18; 2:8; 22:13
________________
i. Isa. 45:22, 23; cf. Rom. 14:9-12; cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 2:10
________________
j. Isa. 62:11, 12; cf. Rev. 22:12 ________________
k. Jer. 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; cf. Rev. 2:23 ________________
l. Jer. 23:6; Zech. 3:8; 6:12; Mal. 3:1,2; cf. Matt. 11:10
________________
m. Joel 2:32; cf. Rom. 10:9-15 ________________
n. Zech. 12:10; cf. John 19:37 ________________
14. Not only is Jesus identified as YHWH of the Old Testament and the WORD, but
He is also given other names of God. After each passage, write out the names or
titles given to Christ.
a. Gen. 18:3; cf. Acts 10:36 ________________
b. Gen. 18:25; cf. 2 Tim. 4:1,8 ________________
c. Gen. 32:30; cf. John 1:1 ________________
d. Gen. 35:11; cf. Gen. 35:1 ________________
e. Ex. 3:14; cf. John 8:58 ________________
f. ps. 23:1; cf. John 10:14 ________________
g. Ps. 45:6; cf. Heb. 1:8 ________________
h. Isa. 7:14; cf. Matt. 1;23 ________________
i. Isa. 9:6; cf. Luke 1:31-33 ________________
Note: In the Hebrew of Isa. 9:6, “Mighty God” appears without the definite article. But this is also true in such places as Isa. 10:21; 49:26. Since YHWH is called "Mighty God" without the definite article in Isa. 10:20-21, the absence of the article cannot be interpreted to show that YHWH is just “a god” in a figurative sense. In the same way, neither can the absence of the article in Isa. 9:6 reduce Jesus to “a god.” But the comparison between Isa. 9:6 and Isa. 10:20-21 demonstrates that Jesus is the YHWH who is the “Mighty God.” After all, there cannot be two “Mighty Gods,” for there is only one God (Isa. 43:10).
There is also an irrefutable scriptural logic behind the
proposition that Jesus is YHWH. In logic, the following syllogism is always
valid:
A > B a=b
B > C or b=c
A > C a=c
In the same way, the teaching of Scripture can be arranged in conformity to the
above syllogism.
Jesus is “Mighty God” (Isa. 9:6)
“Mighty God” is YHWH (Isa. 10:20-21)
Jesus is YHWH
The logical sequence cannot be shown to be invalid. The conclusion is automatic
and irrefutable.
j. Isa. 10:20; cf. Acts 3:14 ________________
k. Isa. 44:6; cf. Rev. 22:12-16 (v. 13) ________________
15. The Old Testament prophesied that while Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, His origin should be traced back to eternity itself. How does Micah 5:2 describe this origin of Christ? _______________________________
Note: The words “from everlasting” are also used to describe the origin of YHWH in Ps. 90:1-2. Did YHWH have a beginning? ______ How does Ps. 90:2 express the eternity of YHWH? _______________________________ Since the same Hebrew word is used in Micah 5:2 as found in Ps. 90:2, what does this tell us about The WORD who would become Christ? _______________________________
CONCLUSION
In the Old Testament the Messiah is clearly prophesied as the coming of YHWH in human form to redeem a lost and sinful humanity (Isa. 40:1, 9-11). To prepare the way for the incarnation of YHWH, the WORD appeared in human form on many occasions so that the people of God would be prepared to see and touch the living God when He came to die on the cross (Zech. 2:10). The Messiah is none other than YHWH incarnate as a human being.
NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY
1. At the very outset of the New Testament, John the Baptist is sent to prepare the way for the coming of ________________ (Isa. 40:3, 10; cf. Matt. 3:1-3; Luke 1:76). Granted that John the Baptist clearly came to prepare the way for the coming of YHWH, did he ever identify Jesus as the One of whom he spoke? (John 1:23, 30) ______
2. The angel who announced the incarnation to Mary instructed her that her child would be “Immanuel” (Matt. 1:23). What does this name mean? ________________
3. When the beginning began, was the Word (who would become Christ) already existing in eternity itself? (John 1:1) ______
4. John identifies this eternal Word as _________________ in John 1:1.
Note: It is grammatically impossible to translate John 1:1 as “the Word was a god.” The absence of the definite article in John 1:1 does not mean “a god” should be translated in such places. John calls the WORD “God” to identify the divine nature of the WORD.
5. Who is the Creator of the universe? (John 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17;
Heb.1:10-12,2:10) _________________
6. When the Jews sought to kill Jesus, the Apostle John tells us that their
primary reason was that Jesus claimed that God was His Father in a unique sense
not shared with any other being. Then John adds his own understanding of what
Jesus meant when He said that God was His own Father. What did John say? (John
5:18) _________________
7. Having stated that Jesus was “equal with God” the Father in John 5:18, this
equality is further expanded in John 5:23. We are to give equal ________ to the
Father and to the Son. The words “even as” reveal that all worship and ________
we show to the Father must also equally be given to Jesus Christ. If someone
does not give Christ equal honor with the Father, what does John give as the
consequences in the second half of verse 23? _________________
8. In John 10:31, the Jews attempted to stone Jesus. Why did they do this? (verse 30) _________________
9. Since the Jews would not have been upset if Jesus simply meant “I and My Father are one in purpose and in work,” what was their understanding of Jesus’ words “I and My Father are One”? (vs. 33) _________________ Thus, the Jews clearly saw that Christ was claiming to be YHWH. Just as they tried to stone Him for what they felt was blasphemy in John 10:31, what did they do when Jesus called Himself YHWH’s name “I AM” in John 8:58,59? __________________________________
10. If you do not believe that Jesus is “I AM,” what will happen to you? (John 8:24) _________________
11. After Christ was raised from the dead, He proved His bodily resurrection to doubting Thomas by letting him see and handle the wounds on His body which He received on the cross (John 20:27). Thomas was convinced of Christ’s bodily resurrection; and, also, he spoke to Jesus directly calling Him various names. The words “unto him” in verse twenty eight reveal that Thomas was not simply making an exclamation into the air, but what he said must be applied “unto him;” that is, unto Christ Jesus Himself. What did Thomas call Christ? (vs. 28) _________________
12. Did Jesus rebuke Thomas for taking God’s name in vain or attributing to Him that which belongs only to God the Father? (vs. 29) ______ Jesus approved of Thomas’ words because He is Thomas’ Lord and God.
13. In the New Testament, did angels allow themselves to be worshipped by men? (Rev. 22:8- 9; cf. Col. 2:18) ______
14. Did the Father ever say to angels “you are My Son”? (Heb. 1:5) ______
15. Whom do the angels worship? (Heb. 1:6) _________________
16. When WORD who would become flesh appeared to Isaiah as YHWH in human form,
what were the seraphim doing? (Isa. 6:1-5) _________________
17. Is it therefore possible for Christ to be only an angel? _________________
18. Should men be worshipped? (Acts 14:11-18) _________________
19. Whom did the disciples and apostles worship? (Matt. 2:2,11; 8:2; 9:18;14:33; 28:9,17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38; 1 Cor.1:2) _________________
20. In Acts 20:28, whose blood purchased the church? _________________
21. According to Rom. 9:5, who is “over all” and “God blessed forever”? _________________
22. Who is the “Rock” of Israel? (Deut. 32:1-4) _________________ What did the people of Israel do to the Rock YHWH? (Deut 32:15-18) _________________
23. Who was the Rock of Israel (YWHW) referred to in the Old Testament? (1 Cor. 10:1-4) _________________
24. In whom does “the fullness of deity dwell in bodily form”? (Col.2:9) _________________
25. In Titus 2:13, who is called “our great God and Savior”? _________________
26. Who is called the same thing in 2 Pet. 1:1? _________________
27. Who is the true God and eternal life in 1 John5:20? _________________
28. Did the Father share His glory with the Son? (John 17:5) ______ Would the Father share His glory with a created being? (Isaiah 42:8) ______ What conclusion does this naturally lead to? ________________
29. In Col. 1:16, we are told that Christ created all ______________. All _______________ were created ____ Him and _______ Him (vs. 16). We are also told in verse seventeen that Jesus Christ existed ________ all __________ came into being. He is the Sovereign Sustainer of the universe because He “holds together” or “upholds” all __________ (vs. 16).
Note: The New World Translation has “all other things” instead of “all
things.” The Greek does not have the word “other” in the text. The verse
simply says that Christ created “all things.”
The book of Hebrews demonstrates the superiority of Christ in His person and in
His work over that of the Old Testament economy. The key word in the book of
Hebrews is “_____________” (1:4; 7:19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 12:24). This word
points out the qualitative superiority of Christ’s nature. He is, by nature, in
terms of His being, better than anyone and anything else in the universe.
Note: Some have tried to translate the Greek as “your throne is God.” But this does not follow the actual wording of the verse in the Greek text, and the picture of the Father being sat upon as someone’s chair. Also, it would imply that the Son is “better” than the Father, for it is only obvious that the person who sits on a chair is superior to that chair. The whole point of the passage is to show that the Son is “better,” that is, superior to, the angels. He is superior because He is God. The Father can call Christ “God” in Heb. 1:8 just as the Son calls the Father “God” in John 5:18.
6. After the Father calls Christ ____________ in verse eight, He calls Him
__________ in verse ten. Both verses are quotations from the Old Testament.
The word “Lord” in verse ten comes from Ps. 102. The exact name of God that is
used in Ps. 102 is___________ ( Ps. 102:1,2, 25-27). Thus the Father not only
calls Christ “God” but also _____________. The YHWH of Ps. 102 is the
_____________ of Heb. 1:8-12.
7. According to Ps. 102:25-27, who created the world? ____________ To what natural and logical conclusion do the above answers lead you? ____________________
8. According to Ps. 102:26 and Heb. 1:11-12, all created things are temporary and not eternal. Everything will perish. But in contrast to the temporary character of created reality, YHWH remains the same (Ps. 102:26-27). In the Old Testament, YHWH declared in Mal. 3:6, “I, YHWH, do not ___________________________.” These classic Old Testament YHWH passages are applied without hesitation to Jesus Christ. Christ is “the ________ yesterday, today, and _________” (Heb. 13:8). The Father points this out in Heb. 1:11-12. He said that created things will “__________” (vs. 12). The context will allow only the one interpretation, that Christ is superior to the angels because He is the eternal WORD and YHWH who created all things. While all created things decay and ultimately come to an end, Christ remains ever the same.
9. The last argument of the author of Hebrews to prove that Christ is superior to the angels is found in 1:13-14. Did the Father ever at any time ask an angel to sit at His right hand? ________ To sit at the Father’s right hand is to share in the Father’s glory and dominion. Did the Father ever say to any angel, “Sit at my right hand” while I will serve you by “making your enemies your footstool”? _________ While the Son sits enthroned next to the Father, with the Father Himself bringing honor and glory to the Son by subduing His enemies, the angels are but “ministering ________________,” sent forth to minister to “ _______________________.”
30. In Heb. 5:6, Ps. 27:4 is quoted in reference to Christ’s priesthood, that it lasts ________ and is in the order of _________________. In Heb. 7:3, what are the requirements of the Melchizedek priesthood? _________________ Who is the only being who can meet these requirements? _________________ Who was Melchizedek in Genesis? (John 1:1, 14, 18) ____________ In Heb. 5: 8-10, 7:15-24, who has met these requirements? ____________
CONCLUSION
Jesus Christ is both God and man. He is the WORD, the body part of YHWH, incarnate as a human being. The New Testament writers with out hesitation took the classic YHWH Old Testament passages and applied them directly to Christ. Jesus is given divine titles and worshipped as deity by angels and by men. It is impossible to escape the deity of Christ and do justice to the New Testament Scriptures.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
Used by permission:
HOW TO ANSWER A JEHOVAH’S WITNESS
Robert A. Morey 1980
BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS
edited