To Jehovah's Witnesses Please. Concerning Jesus' Name.?

Question

I'm just curious, i don't intend to belittle your beliefs as I myself am quite interested in what you teach. I just want some things clearing up that I do not understand.

Do you believe Jesus is a title or a name? I ask this because Matthew 1:21 says:

"She will give birth to a son, and you must call his name Jesus" (Matthew 1:21)

And why does he have many names, like Michael the archangel?

Another thing that confused me is that in Isaiah 7:14, the prophecy of Jesus being born of a virgin it says she [Mary] will call him Immanuel.

"Therefore the LORD himself will give YOU men a sign: Look! The maiden herself will actually become pregnant, and she is giving birth to a son, and she will certainly call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Why are the names different if Jesus himself said "All the things written in the law of Moses and in the Prophets and Psalms about me much be fulfilled." (Luke 24:44)

Thank you. :-) And please only serious answers.

trolltotroll, yes the Bible does say:

"And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and seven trumpets were given them" (Revelation 8:2)

Bu notice it says "angels", not Archangels. God refers to Michael as "the archangel" (Jude 9) which means chief angel. He is refered to as THE archangel which suggests there is only one such angel. In fact, the term "archangel" in the Bible only occurs in singular, never plural.

Another reason why we believe that Michael is actually Jesus is that the Bible states that:

"Michael and his angels battled with the dragon... and it's angels." (Rev. 12:7)

Rev. also describes Jesus as the leader of an army of faithful angels (Rev. 19:14-16) So the Bible speaks of both Jesus and "his angels" and Michael and "his angels". Since nowhere God's word indicates there are to armies of faithful angels in Heaven, it is logic to believe that Michael is Jesus in his Heavenly role.

Sasi, I am not a Jehovah's Witness, if I was why would i ask such a question? And yes, i said "we believe" because both I and Jehovah's witnesses believe the same thing in this case.

If you believed something that was the same as a group or an individual, you would use the term "we".

And I don't intend to belittle their beliefs, why would I when i am asking a question about them?

Answer 1

Hi!
Jesus is his name, the one given to him while on earth anyway. Christ is a title. Michael is the name he went by while in heaven before comming to earth. We know it is Jesus though because 1 Thessalonians 4:16 speaks of him 'descending with an archangel's voice'. Since there is only one archangel, Michael and Jesus must be the same.
Immanuel is a title that applies to Jesus. Immanuel means "With Us Is God".

Jesus was given many titles. Isaiah 9:6 says “His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace...” But the only names had were Michael (refering to his heavenly position) and Jesus (refering to his position at the Christ of Messiah.

Hope that clears things up. :D

Answer 2

Do you believe Jesus is a title or a name?

"the WORD" is a title name. It identifies the function that God’s firstborn Son performed after other intelligent creatures were formed. A similar expression is found at Exodus 4:16, where Jehovah says to Moses concerning his brother Aaron: “And he must speak for you to the people; and it must occur that he will serve as a mouth to you, and you will serve as God to him.”

Jesus is a personal name. When Jesus’ followers referred to his “name” they frequently employed the expression “the Lord Jesus” or “our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ac 8:16; 15:26; 19:5, 13, 17; 1Co 1:2, 10; Eph 5:20; Col 3:17)

Illustrating an aspect of Jesus “name” is his prophetic warning that his followers would be “objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.” (Mt 24:9; also Mt 10:22; Joh 15:20, 21; Ac 9:15, 16)

And why does he have many names, like Michael the archangel?

The name Michael means "who is like God?" The only spirit creature that was created in God's image was Micheal/Jesus. So when Jesus is not human but rather a spirit creature then he is like God.

Zec 12:8 "and the house of David shall be like God, like the ANGEL of the LORD, at their head."

Immanuel is a prophetic title-name by which Messiah would be identified. Jehovah at first used the Ark of the Covenant to represent his presence with his nation of people. With it gone, Isaiah then spoke of a future symbol that would mean "With Us Is God". That Symbol would be Christ Jesus.

Jhn 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father

Answer 3

Aw Attention Hot another proof of your espousing heresy - a failed doctrine you and the JWs continue to use and defend.

(11) "The archangel" (Jude 1:9). Probably also the unnamed archangel of 1Th 4:16 is Michael. In the Old Testament he is mentioned by name only in Daniel. He is "one of the chief princes" (Da 10:13), the "prince" of Israel (Da 10:21), "the great prince" (Da 12:1); perhaps also "the prince of the host" (Da 8:11). In all these passages Michael appears as the heavenly patron and champion of Israel; as the watchful guardian of the people of God against all foes earthly or devilish. In the uncanonical apocalyptic writings, however, Jewish angelology is further developed. In them Michael frequently appears and excretes functions similar to those which are ascribed to him in Daniel. He is the first of the "four presences that stand before God"—Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel or Phanuel (En 9:1; 40:9). In other apocryphal books and even elsewhere in En, the number of archangels is given as 7 (En 20:1-7; Tobit 12:15; compare also Re 8:2). Among the many characterizations of Michael the following may be noted: He is "the merciful and long-suffering" (En 40:9; 68:2,3), "the mediator and intercessor" (Ascension of Isaiah, Latin version 9:23; Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Levi 5; Da 6). It is he who opposed the Devil in a dispute concerning Moses’ body (Jude 1:9). This passage, according to most modern authorities, is derived from the apocryphal Assumption of Moses (see Charles’ edition, 105-10). It is Michael also who leads the angelic armies in the war in heaven against "the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan" (Re 12:7 ). According to Charles, the supplanting of the "child" by the archangel is an indication of the Jewish origin of this part of the book.

The earlier Protestant scholars usually identified Michael with the preincarnate Christ, finding support for their view, not only in the juxtaposition of the "child" and the archangel in Re 12, but also in the attributes ascribed to him in Daniel (for a full discussion see Hengstenberg, Offenbarung, I, 611-22, and an interesting survey in English by Dr. Douglas in Fairbairn’s BD).
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Paul contended with this very thought among the converted Jews.

Jesus is not Michael the Archangel. The Bible nowhere identifies Jesus as Michael (or any other angel for that matter).

Hebrews 1:5-8 draws a clear distinction between Jesus and the angels, (Paul speaking to the Hebrews)

“For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be His Father, and He will be my Son"? And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, "Let all God's angels worship Him." In speaking of the angels He says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." But about the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.”

Angels worship Jesus. The angels are called sons of God (Genesis 6:2-4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7),

but Jesus is THE Son of God (Hebrews 1:8; Matthew 4:3-6).

Answer 4

How come a JW is asking other JWs to answer this Q? "I'm just curious. I don't intend to belittle your beliefs..."? Then you say in your additional comments "we believe..."!!! You're just setting this up for your fellow JWs to provide 'good' answers, I think, and - of course - you will pick a JW answer.

So the only reason I'm commenting is to mention this, plus to add an interesting Bible point to help JWs think more deeply on the various names of Jesus Christ. It's in Revelation 3:11-13 where Christ says that he will write on faithful Christians the name of the Father and the name of the Son (14:1) and the name of New Jerusalem (22:4) plus Jesus' own NEW name - all done by the operation of the Holy Spirit. I see a nice trinitarian link-up there but, not wishing to offend you, please pass that by and just think on what this NEW name might mean: but seeing as you won't have that new name on yourselves (unless you are of the anointed class) I don't suppose you will be interested. Pity. Names are telling, especially those names shared by Jehovah AND Jesus.

Answer 5

Not a JW.

Note the answer that states that Jesus's name was Michael.

This is doctrinal error.
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The bible was written on more that on level.
There is that statement for the time in which is was made.
The statement for the future.
The statement about the past.

There is the
practical info
mental info
spiritual info
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Here a statement not just about the near future but about Jesus - His name (a variation in Hebrew) - Josiah - this name means both Jehovah's healer or restorer. And restored by Jah or healed by Jah.

Jesus healed many and continues to heal.

2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, "Josiah" by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

These things came to pass...

Another variation of Jesus name in Hebrew is Joshua. This name means both Jehovah-saved and Jehovah's savior.
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Never once has Michael been a variation.
Michael means "one who is like God" or one "who is from God".
Michael is an angel. The first of the chief princes or archangels who is supposed to be the guardian angel of the Israelites.
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Below are two links to the names and offices of Jesus also called "Yah - shua" = Jah's savior - even sounds like it in English today!

Hope this helps -C

P.S. Each one of the scripture references is a study in itself too much for a short Y! Answers blurb.

Answer 6

Immanuel is prophetic.

Jesus is the name he was to go by while on earth.

Michael is the name he had prior to coming to the earth and again when when he returned.

Rev 3:12 states he will receive a new name, when and what it will be we don't know yet.

Names in Bible times had specfic meanings that described who and what people did.

“Peter” is named five different ways: here as “Simon, the one called Peter”; in 16:16, “Simon Peter”; in
Ac 15:14, “Symeon”; in Joh 1:42, “Cephas”; and most frequently “Peter,” as in Mt 14:28.

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Answer 7

You can look into anything that you want to....It is a free world, but it would be a good idea for you to look into older Witness teachings .....There are things that they will not reveal to you while having a study with them....You should know good Christian Aologetics.


http://equip.org Good doctrine on many subjects
http://towerwatch.com the other side of the witnwss doctrine that you need to know to make a conscious choice

http://silentlambs.org I am one of those abused by a beloved elder, and his crimes were covered up

Answer 8

im not a Jehovahs Witness but i read and listen to everything related to the scriptures and religious doctrines from the book of mormons, Qur'an ,church of christ etc. but i find the JW sensible.

Answer 9

"Jesus" is a name, of course.

Pivotal bible characters commonly have more than one name, sometimes to denote the different phases of their service to God. Abram was re-named Abraham and Jacob was re-named Israel, for example.

Thus, it is unsurprising that the bible indicates more than one name for the Christ, whose theocratic career spans from being "firstborn of creation" to 'the Son who subjects himself to God' (see Colossians 1:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:28). The central figure in the outworking of God's purpose certainly has multiple facets to present, and "Michael" and "Immanuel" are only two among several additional names for the Anointed Son of God.

Please note that Zechariah 6:12 refers to Jesus using the prophetic name "Branch" or "Shoot".
...(from ASV) Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah
...(from YLT) Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, saying: Lo, a man! A Shoot -- is his name, And from his place he doth shoot up, And he hath built the temple of Jehovah.

Many or most Christians acknowledge that Ezekiel 37:24,25 uses the name "David" to refer prophetically to the reign of Jesus as Messianic King.
...(from KJV) David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

Revelation 19:13 reminds bible readers that "the Word" is not merely a title of Jesus, but an actual name.
...(from KJV) his name is called The Word of God.

Two verses earlier, Jesus is also called "Faithful and True".
...(from KJV) I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.


Clearly, there is no reason to be surprised when the bible refers to Christ by a name other than "Jesus".

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/na/index.htm?article=diagram_04.htm