Jehovah's Witnesses: Can anyone other than God have the attributes of God?

Question

The Father is God: Peter refers to the saints "who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father "
1 Peter 1:2

Jesus is God: When Jesus made a post-resurrection appearance to doubting Thomas, Thomas said "My Lord and my God" John 20:28. The Heavenly Father said of His Son Jesus, " Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom" Hebrews 1:8

The Holy Spirit is God: In Acts 5:3,4, Peter said to Ananias, " How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?" Lying to the Holy Spirit is equated with lying to God.

Bill: Sorry, but I had to block you. Luckily all Jehovah's Witnesses are not like you. There are actually nice people, let's see how many of them actually want to follow your "order". I think you are a bad example to follow.

Steinbeck11: Thanks for defending me. I am flabbergasted byt this hatred some people ar spewing on me, but that tell more about them than about me.

If any of JWs does not want to answer my questions, they can follow Bill's orders. That is an organization for you.

This is an open discussion column.

TeeM: Through Scripture is clear that there is only one God, in the unfolding of God's revelation to humankind it is also becomes clear that there are THREE DISTINCT persons who are called God.

For example, Peter refers to the saints "who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God THE FATHER ( 1 Peter 1:2 )

When Jesus made a postresurrection appearance to doubting Thomas, the disciple worshipfully responed by addressing Him " My Lord and my God" in John 20:28.

The Father also said of the Son, " Your throne, O God, will last foe ever and ever" in Heb 1:8.

In Acts 5:3,4, we aretold that lyingto the Holy Spirit is equivalent to lying to God.

Besides being called God, each of the three persons are seen on different occasion to posses the attributes of deity.

Can we agree that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit each exercise the attributes of deity in different occasions?

Keiichi: Col 1:15 The term first-born is often used in Scripture to signify the priority in importance or rank, rather than actual birth order.

Look verse 18, which identifies Christ as "the head" and "the first-born" and says that this is for the purpose "that in everything he might be pre-eminent" RSV

Col 2:9 " For in Christ all the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form" NIV

"For in him dwelleth all the fullnes of the Godhead bodily" KJV

"For in Christ there is all of God in a human body" LB and " in him all the fullness of deity is resident in bodily form" ( The Bible in Living English, tranlated by Steven T. Byington, published by the Watchtower Society, 1972 "

The Watchtower's NWT attemps to water down the message of verse by rendering it : because it is in him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily. " Greek word for "divine quality" literally means "godship"

See Isaiah 9:6, Daniel 10:13,21, 12:1, John 1:1, John 20:28, Rev 1:7

Answer 1

hello just want to say that we was all given freedom of speech, and we was all made in Gods image, his wonderful attributes was shown to us by his son, we learn from others that imitate what the see and learn from the ones that teach them, like we teach our young ones from the very start the rights and wrongs, the do's and the don'ts. so it is understandable that we can learn to love, to hate, to be happy, to be sad, we learn self control. we learn to be peaceable but where did it start.“Try to Be Like Him”

“In a word, as God’s dear children, try to be like him.”—Eph. 5:1, New English Bible.

EVERYBODY, some time or other, tries to imitate someone. Children try to imitate their parents or, very often, other children with whom they play. If they try to imitate good qualities, it is to their advantage. If they imitate that which is bad, it is to their own hurt. Interestingly, we are invited to “become imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Eph. 5:1) Can we really be imitators of God? Let us see if there is even a possibility.

2 Well, in the beginning, about 6,000 years ago, when God created man, the Bible tells us: “God went on to say: ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.’ . . . And God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:26, 27) The first book of the Bible, Genesis, then goes on to say: “God blessed them and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it.’” (Gen. 1:28) By now there have been billions of individuals, all the offspring of Adam and Eve, that should have had the image and likeness of God, their Father. And God was their Father. That can be proved by reading what Luke wrote at chapter 3, verse 38, of his Gospel account, which refers to “Adam, son of God.” So Adam was God’s son, and we all come from Adam. When he was created he had God’s qualities, his fine attributes of wisdom, justice, love and power. Adam was a perfect man.—Deut. 32:4.

3 But things have changed since then. Why? Because Adam disobeyed God, and while some men manifest to some extent the fine qualities originally included in the perfect man, it is sin that predominates. The apostle Paul expressed it very well in Romans 5:12: “Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.” So “death ruled as king” from Adam down to the present time. What a shame! (Rom. 5:14) Is that the end of it all? No! God’s Word, the Holy Bible, holds out hope for us, saying: “Just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22) How was that arranged? this disobedience just lead man to rule on his own standards thare fore not imitating the good portions but doing what one he himself thinks is best and where in this world has that got mankind to day, if all did imitate the true God with al his attributes that he ahs given to us to follow we would not be in such a degrading mess as to what we are in today 2 tim 3: 1-5 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. 6 For from these arise those men who slyly work their way into households and lead as their captives weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, 7 always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

Answer 2

Adam.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

Gen 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

Col 1:15 (Jesus) Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature

God created the human face to reflect his own joy and glory. How could he possibly allow even one of his children to go around sad-faced in his new world? What must Jehovah have intended when he created Adam and Eve? They were his own children. Can you imagine being a true son or daughter of a loving Father like Jehovah?

We are so far removed from Eden it doesn't seem real sometimes. But that is where our imagination comes in; not in imagining some Elysian fantasy, but imagining what is real—what is to come. Paradise offers you the opportunity to find out what it really means to be made in the image of God and to be part of God's universal family.

Answer 3

Which doctrines do you think are blunders? Jehovah is the sole authentic God? Jehovah would not torture his creation able to hearth and brimstone consistently? Jesus is God's consultant and the anointed king and severe priest? The trinity guy-god is a pretend god? Which of those at the instant are not a hundred% precise? Which doctrines do you think of are in blunders? Which doctrines have replaced? Organ transplants? What else? think of approximately this as you contemplate my question. All Born back Trinitarians coach that they have the indwelling of the holy spirit. they say that the Holy spirit directs their existence. They coach that for the time of basic terms born back Trinitarians are authentic Christians and in basic terms they are directed by ability of the holy spirit. they say they have been "referred to as". yet no longer all Born back Trinitarians coach or have confidence the comparable factor yet all of them declare to be directed by ability of the holy spirit. Which one in all those Born back Trinitarians are particularly directed by ability of the holy spirit? Spirit directed isn't stimulated of God.

Answer 4

Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that even humans should work to imitate the qualities of Almighty Jehovah (God the Father). The example of Jesus provides irreplaceable insight into the personality of Jehovah.

(1 Corinthians 2:16) For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ.

(Romans 11:34) For “who has come to know Jehovah’s mind...?

(Isaiah 40:13) Who has taken the proportions of the spirit of Jehovah, and who as his man of counsel can make him know anything?


Of course, a human who imitates God's qualities does not actually become God. Neither Christ the Son nor God's "finger" could ever become God, even if they do share some characteristics of their Creator.

(Colossians 1:12-16, KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father... Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son... 15 [The Son] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature

Comparing these two Scriptures (which describe the identical event) helps explain that the Holy Spirit can be thought of as "God's finger".
...(Luke 11:20) If it is by means of God's finger I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken you
...(Matthew 12:28) If it is by means of God’s spirit that I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken you.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_07.htm

Answer 5

The bible tells us to strive to be more like God.
All things that Jesus accomplished were through the use of God's powers.
Many quotations are for different purposes, and spoken to different people on different occasions.
You cannot lump all situations together and make sense of it.
Yet, you can prove some things by doing exactly that.
Remember, the bible is a library, not a novel.

Answer 6

Well honestly, anyone can. Jehovah's 4 main attributes are Love, Justice, Wisdom and Power.

So truly, while not perfect, or to the same extent, anyone can have similar attributes, or show to some degree the same ones. Remember we were made in his image.

Answer 7

I agree whole-heartedly w/ our brother Bill.
So, I will answer this 1, and possibility 1 or 2 more.
Bc Nina says she wants to know more, but then says the opposite thing, when she's not addressing us.
Or in her response when choosing a B/A.

All mankind is invited to draw close to Jehovah.
He is ready & willing to receive us into His favor as friends.
@ the same time, He promises that if we take steps to draw close to Him, He will take corresponding action.
He will draw close to us.
Thus we may enter into something truly precious--
intimacy w/ Jehovah.~~Ps 25:14

The 4 main attributes of Jehovah
found beautiful expressions in Jesus.
He had power over disease, hunger, even death.
Yet, unlike selfish men who abuse their power,
he never used his miraculous power in his own behalf or to hurt others.~~Matt 4:2-4

He loved justice.
His heart was filled w/ righteous indignation @ seeing unfair merchants exploiting the ppl.~~ Matt 21:12,13

He treated the poor & downtrodden w/ impartiality,
helping such 1's to "find refreshment"
for their souls.~~Matt 11:4,5, 28-30

There was matchless wisdom in the teachings of Jesus, who was "more than Solomon." ~~Matt 12:42

But Jesus never made a showy display of his wisdom.
His words reached the hearts of common ppl,
for his teachings were clear, simple, & practical.

Jesus was an outstanding example of love.
Throughout his ministry,
he displayed love in its many facets,
including empathy & compassion.
He could not see the suffering of others w/out feeling *pity.
Over & over again, that sympathetic regard moved him to action. ~~Matt 14:14

Although he healed the sick & fed the hungry,
Jesus expressed compassion in a far more vital way.
He helped others to know, accept, & love the truth about God's Kingdom, which will bring permanent blessings to mankind.~~Mark 6:34; Luke 4:43
Above all,
Jesus showed self-sacrificing love
by willingly
surrendering his soul in behalf of others.~~John 15:13

So, Jesus displayed his God & Father's attributes.
And as a footstep follower of Christ,
we (mankind) can also, show or display,
God's 4 main attributes.
Power
Justice
Wisdom
Love


*pity~positive action; not negative feelings

Answer 8

The INITIAL lie was to the Apostles. Peter says: "why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied to men [the Apostles], but unto God."

So, in line with trinitarian-type evidence above, "Lying to the Apostles is equated with lying to God."

Answer 9

I to have been coming to the same conclusion as Bill.

This to will probably be my last answer.

Why do trinitiarians stop reading and ignore context?

1 Pet 1:2 is followed by: 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

You will notice Peter didn't believe in your trinity.

John 20:28 1st Peter was also in that room with Thomas, and Peter didn't get the same understanding as you, (Read 1 Pet 1:2 & 2)

Next just a few verses prior to John 20:28; notice what Jesus told Mary:

17Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"

If Thomas saying 'My God' can only mean one thing why doesn't Jesus saying the exact same words mean the exact same thing.

Who is the God of Jesus, both Peter and Jesus agree that Jesus has a God.

Next John 20: 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Did you notice why John wrote his gospel?

To prove that Jesus is who? THE SON OF GOD, not God the Son.

We don't have to guess who John really taught as to who Jesus is,

Read Rev 1:1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him 6and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father

John believes the exact same thing as Jesus and Peter.

John was also in that same room as Thomas, and didn't get the same conclusion as you.

Heb 1:8, again you stopped reading to soon.

PLease read vs 9:9"YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU
WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS."
(caps by the NASB)

Who's God anointed Jesus? Since Jesus is God's representative God's throne is still lasting forever.

Acts 5:3,4

Remember Chapter 2 of Acts, The spirit of ( of dentoes ownership) God like flames came upon the disciples.

The spirit is liken not to people but to fire, since it comes from God it is holy.

If you lie to your anointing then you've lied to the spirit that anointed you, (the spirit here is liken to the oil of anointing not to the one doing the anointing)

thus you have lied to God.

If you ignore the writtings of Jesus, Peter, and John maybe you will listen to Paul.

Rom 15:5 you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

6so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you have the mind of Christ, do you with one voice Glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?

I haven't heard you once.

Remember if we believe that Jesus' glory is greater than that of an idol, then we are an unbeliever and are blinded by Satan.

2 Cor 4:4in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

When did it become acceptable to worship idols?


Edit===============

Oh by the way, JW's don't sit at the table of Luck.

(Isaiah 65:11) 11 “But YOU men are those leaving Jehovah, those forgetting my holy mountain, those setting in order a table for the god of Good Luck and those filling up mixed wine for the god of Destiny.

.

Answer 10

TO BILL--and those taking his "advice"--

You are saying that Nina (whom you despisingly call Nini) that this scripture that you quote somehow applies to her:
“Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.”
Bill, I have never seen Nina be a fornicator, or greedy, or an idolatory, or reviler, or drunkard, or extortioner.


IF you have a DOCTRINAL difference with someone aren't you supposed to REASON with them? Just because you have failed in your attempts to share your beliefs with her--you now discourage others to not share their beliefs with her?

Who here is trying to discuss their beliefs openly?

Your attempt at trying to use the word of God to manipulate and control others shows what kind of motives are in your heart.

Not only are you misapplying the scriptures and assigning sins to Nina no one has seen her participating in but also, you are discouraging anyone from discussing their beliefs with her!

Are you the sole source of judge and jury against Nina now?

God is her judge--you are but a power-hungry man.

Having a doctrinal difference with someone does not mean you shun such a person.

She is trying to explain why she believes in the Trinity through scriptures.

IF what you believe is the truth--then why would you be so threatened by someone who disagrees with your doctrine?

Don't you have confidence in your own beliefs?

IF you really believed in the word of God you would either refute her with your own scripture references or you would pray for her--but--instead you criticize, mock and harass her. How is this acting like a christian? How is this putting on Christ, putting on the new man and following after God's ways?

I seriously suggest you open your eyes to your own heart and motivations.