Presented by Destiny Music
www.SongLover.com
There are over 5,500 Greek manuscripts containing all or part of the New Testament. If major early translations in Syriac, Coptic, Arabic, Latin, and other languages are counted, there are over 9,000 copies of the New Testament. In addition to the New Testament manuscripts, the early church Fathers (2nd to 4th centuries) cited the New Testament in their own writings with over 36,000 quotations. Because of the multitude of manuscripts and sources available, scholars can compare and correlate verses and carefully weed out what might have been copying errors or additions to the autographs (original writings). All these sources have been used by scholars to establish the Greek manuscript of the New Testament. In addition, 97% of the New Testament can be reproduced from the non-Scripture writings of the early church Fathers alone! A "variant reading" is where there is a subtle difference in a passage between early Greek manuscripts. No Christian doctrine is founded primarily on any variant reading. And most variant readings are noted in the margins or footnotes of modern translations from the Greek (unlike the KJV). This reliability of the New Testament is unprecedented in all other ancient texts except the Old Testament. (1)
Many belief systems have either added their own interpretations to the Bible by adding their own books (Mormons) or retranslating the Bible to fit their own belief systems despite the clear Greek of the ancient manuscripts (Jehovah’s Witnesses). The Jehovah’s Witness church dramatically changed ("retranslated") the text and published their own New World Translation. This church often misquotes ancient Greek scholars to support their version; these misrepresentations of the positions of quoted scholars are becoming better documented.
The Holy Bible translations used by the Christian church (NIV, New King James Version, King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, etc.) do not vary in doctrine or theology, as the New World Translation does, but rather vary in the style of everyday language. All these translations cited are trustworthy translations recognized for the word-for-word literal translation of the Greek texts.
For the truth-seeker, the following is offered as justification that the Bible claims and establishes that Jesus is indeed Jehovah. Jesus is Almighty God.
Written by Catherine Gortner / Please feel free to distribute / Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission / Special acknowledgment to Ron Rhodes "Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses" (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1993)
(1) Norman L. Geisler, "Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics" (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 531-7.
|
YAHWEH/JEHOVAH |
JESUS |
|
|
The names "Jehovah" or "Yahweh" do not appear in the New Testament. |
"Jehovah" or "Yahweh" are used often in the Old Testament |
The word "Jehovah" does not occur a single time in the New Testament Greek manuscripts! Jesus refers to God as "Father" |
|
Jesus is Yahweh in flesh, wholly God and wholly man. |
|
John 20:28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus 2Cor. 5:19 …God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them…. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word ["logos"=Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Col. 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God…. Heb. 1:8 But of the Son He says, "YOUR THRONE, O GOD ["O GOD" = "the Son"], IS FOREVER AND EVER…." Heb. 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same…. |
|
YAHWEH/JEHOVAH |
JESUS |
|
|
"I AM" ("ego eimi") refers exclusively to Jehovah in the Old Testament and emphasizes there is only one (1) eternal God and no lesser gods. "Ego eimi" is used by Jesus to refer to Himself. The Jews understood very clearly Jesus was referring to Himself as Yahweh (Jehovah); that is why they attempted to stone Him after His "ego eimi" statement. |
Ex. 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’" Deut. 32:39 "See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me…." Is. 43:10 "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me." Is. 45:5 "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God…" |
John 8:58-59 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Therefore they [the Jews] picked up stones to throw at Him… John 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." John 18:4-6 So Jesus…said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He *said to them, "I am He."…. So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. John 13:19 "From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He." |
|
YAHWEH/JEHOVAH |
JESUS |
|
|
The LORD alone receives worship (1st and 2nd commandments). However, Jesus received worship. In order to not violate the commandments, Jesus must be the LORD in order to receive worship. |
Is. 45:22-24 "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself… that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance…. Ex. 20:3,5 You shall have no other gods before Me…. for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…. Matt. 4:10 Then Jesus *said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’" John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Rev. 5:14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped. Rev. 7:11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God Rev. 11:16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God |
Phil. 2:9-11 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. Matt. 14:33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God’s Son! Matt. 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. John 9:38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. |
|
YAHWEH/JEHOVAH |
JESUS |
|
|
"Mighty God" |
Is. 10:21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. |
Is. 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us… and His name will be called… Mighty God…. |
|
"Alpha and Omega" and the Almighty God |
Is. 41:4 "Who has performed and accomplished it, calling forth the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD [Yahweh or Jehovah], am the first, and with the last. I am He.’" Is. 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me." Is. 48:12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last." |
Rev. 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "…the Almighty." Rev. 21:5-7 And He who sits on the throne said, "….It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end…. I will be his God and he will be My son." Rev. 22:12-13 "Behold, I ["I" clearly refers to Jesus] am coming quickly…. I [same "I", thus "Jesus"] am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Rev. 1:17-18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He [Jesus] placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last… and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Rev. 2:8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last [Jesus], who was dead, and has come to life…" |
|
YAHWEH/JEHOVAH |
JESUS |
|
|
Authority to forgive sins |
Ex. 34:6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; Ex. 34:7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin… Neh. 9:17 …You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness… Dan. 9:9 "To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness… Jonah 4:2 He prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, …You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity." |
Mark 2:5 …Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:9-10 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and… walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"…. Matt. 9:5-6 "Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"–then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." Acts 26:15,18 ‘I am Jesus… open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ Col. 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. |
|
YAHWEH/JEHOVAH |
JESUS |
|
|
Creator of all things, not other things |
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Is. 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. Psa. 95:5-6 The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psa. 102:25 Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. |
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word ["logos" = Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. Col. 1:15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church…. Eph. 3:9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things Also see: Heb. 1:1-3, Heb. 2:10 |