JESUS IS CUTE BUT JEHOVAH’S A BRUTE — PART 2

The difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament God — Part 2

Brace yourself! This is more of a teaching blog than an entertaining one. It may not be an easy read because there is more here than a normal, well adjusted person would normally want to know but it will be worth it. It is the detail which makes me a boring person that brings the Bible alive for me.

[NOTE: Important words analysed below are identified with Hebrew/Greek transliterations into English and Strong’s Numbers so that whoever wants to can check them out — it is strongly recommended that you do. I use the Blue Letter Bible (https://www.blueletterbible.org/ )]

This is a five part series.

This Part 2 will use the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible to confirm that the OT Yehovah and NT Yeshua/Jesus is one-and-the-same-Person.

Part 1 demonstrated, using simple Hebrew spelling and etymology that, at the Burning Bush, Moses was speaking to the God of the Old and New Testament, Who is one-and-the-same Person.

Part 3 will use the Scriptures from both Testaments to show that the tasks completed by Yehovah, Christ and the Holy Spirit confirmed that the OT Yehovah and NT Yeshua/Jesus is one-and-the-same-Person.

Part 4, will examine why NT Saints have such a low regard for the loving kindness and mercy of the OT Yehovah and present a remedy for anyone interested enough to take it up.

Part 5, will examine the evidence provided in the Scriptures to give a different perspective as to the type of relationship the Christ desires with His Church.

The JW argument.

It is argued that Jesus is not God but a god. The weightiest argument they use is John 1:1. Comparing the New King James Version (NKJV) to the New World Translation (NWT) JW — 2013 Revision translation (https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/nwt/books/john/1/)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. (NWT)

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

It can be seen that the NWT differs in two ways. There is an indefinite article, a, inserted before the final ‘god’ which carries a lower case ‘g’.

[Side note: The definite article, is a grammatical term identifying a definite object. The pen. That apple. This day. Those people. The indefinite article is not specific. A pen. An apple. Any day.]

The Greek teaching website (https://www.foundalis.com/lan/artindef.htm), dealing with both the Classic and Modern language, states, “In Ancient Greek there was no indefinite article.” So, whatever huffing-and-puffing, the JWs are technically in error but you and I don’t know enough about Greek to argue. But there is one place we can always go — the Bible.

Expositional Constancy

Before proceeding it is necessary to engage with a bit of Theology terminology.

[Side note: I always baulk at a preacher/teacher apologising for using technical terms. “Here is a big word, but don’t worry,” is a line often used with a tone implying the words unspoken, “I’m clever enough to understand it but I’ll dumb it down for you.” I’m wary of the (small ‘p’)preacher who takes that attitude.]

The Holy Spirit often highlights and explains a word/idea which will be used elsewhere and expect the student (we should ALL be students) to hear the explanation unspoken on other occasions the word is used. This is one of the signals He is giving that the entire 66 Books tie together.

For example, it is written in 1 Corinthians 10:4, “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock (G4073 — petra) that followed them, and that Rock (G4073 — petra) was Christ.” (Parenthesis mine)

This shows the importance of knowing the narrative because the Biblicaly Literate will know that this is referring to the striking of the Rock in the wilderness, Exodus 17:6, where it is written, “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock (H6697- ṣûr) in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock(H6697- ṣûr), and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” (Parenthesis mine)

The Septuagint shows that H6697- ṣûr is translated G4073 — petra. The link has been made. The textus receptus contains a total of 97 occurrences of H6697 + G4073. Interrogation of these occurrence show that they all refer to Yehovah or Christ. So when you read ‘rock’ the word unspoken that should be heard is, “Christ.” Why not, “Yehovah?” Read on.

So what?

Back to the JWs.

The following is an enquiry which must be conducted with the NWT so there can be no argument about which translation has the best Hebrew/Greek linguists.

It is a universal idiom across languages that the A and the Z, the α and ω, the א and ת, all mean the First and the Last.

• First enquiry.

It is written in Isiah 41:4 (NWT), Who has acted and done this, Summoning the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, am the First One;+And the last I am the same.”

The question is, Who is the First and the Last? The answer is obviously, “Jehovah God.”

[NOTE: These Bible verses are cut-&-paste extracts directly from the JW website. Pay no attention to the special characters. They are links embedded in the JW Bible online.]

• Second enquiry.

Isaiah 44:6, This is what Jehovah says,The King of Israel+ and his Repurchaser,+ Jehovah of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last.+ There is no God but me.+

The question is, Who is the First and the Last? The answer is obviously, “Jehovah God.”

• Third enquiry.

Isaiah 48:12, Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called. I am the same One.+ I am the first; I am also the last.+

The question is, Who is the First and the Last? The answer is obviously, “Jehovah God.”

° So it has been established that the First and the Last is Jehovah God.

• Fourth enquiry

Revelation 1:17–18, When I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. And he laid his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First+ and the Last,+ and the living one,+ and I became dead,+ but look! I am living forever and ever,+ and I have the keys of death and of the Grave.*+

The question is, Who is the First and the Last? The answer is obviously, “Jesus.”

The additional question is, Who was living, became dead, and am living forever and ever? The answer is obviously, “Jesus.”

• Fifth enquiry

Revelation 2:8, “And to the angel of the congregation in Smyrʹna write: These are the things that he says, ‘the First and the Last,’+ who became dead and came to life again:+”

The question is, Who is the First and the Last? The answer is obviously, “Jesus.”

The additional question, Who became dead, and came to life again? The answer is obviously, “Jesus.”

• Sixth enquiry

Revelation 22:12–13, “‘Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to repay each one according to his work.+ I am the Alʹpha and the O·meʹga,*+ the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

The question is, Who is Alʹpha and the O·meʹga, the first and the last, the beginning and the end? The answer is obviously, “Jesus.”

Conclusion.

By simple logic it is established from the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ bible that Jesus is Jehovah. There may be a bit of baulking, ducking and diving with the Revelation questions.

This line of argument works in the opposite direction to be just as effective with NT Saints who reject Yehovah.

Once anyone becomes aware they must deliberately reject the notion. So, the evidence suggests that it is reasonable that anyone who differentiates between the Loving NT God and Grouchy OT God is in need of a higher standard of teaching.

This is a different paradigm

But where does that leave the Trinity? We know, broadly speaking, where the Holy Spirit fits into things. We also know that Jesus is the Son. Up until now I thought that Yehovah was the Father but that can’t be correct because He is the Name Yeshua went by in the OT. So where does the Father come into things? Obviously we didn’t know as much about God as we thought. None of us should become pompous about the knowledge we think we have. But not become discouraged because Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8:2–3, “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.” Maintain a teachable spirit and you will never become bored and remember, if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

The forgoing evidence has not been presented to convince any reader but to allow a personal decision to be made. There is much more to know about this subject. Perhaps you’ll pay another visit, sometime.

All Glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

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