(For JW's) John 4:23 Worship the Father only?

Question

The New World Translation reads John 4:23 “Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will WORSHIP THE FATHER with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him”. Jehovah’s Witnesses often cite this verse in support of their position that only God the Father -that is, Jehovah- is to be worshiped. Jesus, a lesser deity, is not to be worshiped.
Even though the same Greek word used to speak of worshiping Jehovah (PROSKUNEO) is used of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, the WTS says that the word is to be translated “obeisance” and not “worship” when used of Christ. Christ may be HONORED, but worship only to Jehovah God.
To begin, it is intriguing to note that at one time the WTS actually endorsed the worship of Jesus. An early issue of THE WATCHTOWER magazine said that “to worship Christ in any form cannot be wrong.” (Watchtower mag. March 1880, p. 83) Some years later, another issue of the magazine said, “Yes, we believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshipped, and properly so. While he was not THE God, Jehovah, he was A God.”(Watchtower mag. 15 May 1892, p. 1410)
Then many years later, The Watchtower mag. Dogmatically stated that “ it is unscriptural for worshipers of the living and true God to render worship to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.”(Watchtower mag. 1 November 1964 p. 671) They warn: Do not erroneously conclude that Christians are to worship Christ; that is not what he taught.”(Watchtower mag. 15 July 1959, p. 421)

* Why did the early issues of The Watchtower Mag. Say that we should worship Jesus while later issues say we should not worship Him?
* Since later issues of The Watchtower said it is “unscriptural” to worship Christ, does that mean the earlier issues of The Watchtower were “unscriptural”?
* What does this major reversal say about the Watchtower Society’s claim to be a true prophet of God?

Answer 1

Leave it to the JWs to give excuse after excuse when they change wording or dates of doom.
Why did they or Charlie Russell have to change anything?
What makes them think the bible had to be worded in their way? What was wrong with it in the first place?

Answer 2

WHY DID THE EARLY ISSUES OF THE WATCHTOWER. MAG. SAY THAT WE SHOULD WORSHIP JESUS WHILE LATER ISSUES SAY WE SHOULD NOT WORSHIP HIM?

Because thats what they use to teach...

SINCE LATER ISSUES OF THE WATCHTOWER SAID IT IS "UNSCRIPTURAL" TO WORSHIP CHRIST, DOES THAT MEAN THE EARLIER ISSUES OF THE WATCHTOWER WERE UNSCRIPTURAL?

If you are to find errors in your teachings, its best to correct it and come to a accurate knowledge. Thats something the Watchtower has done. But as for Christendom, they are still in a dark spiritual state, and teach false doctrines.




WHAT DOES THIS MAJOR REVERSAL SAY ABOUT THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY'S CLAIM TO BE A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD?

Watchtower never claimed to be a true Prophet of God.

I'm sure you talking about the 1972 Watchtower article, but its funny how anti-JWs don't bother quoting the other part.

All true Christians ARE Prophets

The New American Bible correctly States: "Prophet means 'one who speaks for another,' especially for God. It does not necessarily mean that he predicts the future!"

Back to the misquoted article.

You will be interested to learn that God has on earth a people, all of WHOM are "prophets", or a witness for God. In fact, they are known throught the world as Jehovah's Witnesses.




Questions for you:
Was it scriptural to remove Gods name?
Was it scriptural to accept pagan beliefs?
Was it scriptural to worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Was it scriptural to not use Gods personal name?

I have a lot of questions! :D

Answer 3

Jesus command to learn about his father and about him in John 17:3 but worship only to his father in the verse you quoted, that is what he said , I don´t understand why people quoted from magazines that are 100 years old at the begining we had many errors and we were in the learning process, why don´t you better spent more time reading the new issues are more accurate in the knowledge of the bible.

Answer 4

The primary "question" here seems one of semantics regarding the term "worship".

Jehovah's Witnesses fully understand and agree that Jesus Christ the Son deserves and receives what can be described as "worship", but only when the English-language word "worship" has been properly defined. The obeisance and honors due the Christ should remain unambiguously subject to the "exclusive devotion" which is owed to the Father, Jehovah God. The Scriptures quite plainly show that true worship is uniquely devoted to the person of Almighty Jehovah God the Father. His Son, Jesus, personally taught that Jehovah deserves a unique form of "sacred service".

(Matthew 4:10) Jesus said... ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’

(Luke 4:8) Jesus said... ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’

(Exodus 20:5) I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion


Jehovah the Father specifically directs that Jesus the Son receive obeisance and honor. Note that Jesus is at God's right hand and has *BECOME* better than the angels.

(Hebrews 1:6) [God] says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him [Jesus].”

(Hebrews 1:3-4) [Jesus] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places. So he has become better than the angels


From where does Christ's authority come?

(Matthew 28:18) And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.

(Acts 2:36) God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you impaled.

(John 3:35) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

(Acts 5:31) God exalted this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand

(Psalm 2:2-6) The kings of earth take their stand And high officials themselves have massed together as one Against Jehovah and against his anointed one... Jehovah himself will hold them in derision..., Saying: “I, even I, have installed my king [Jesus]

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20050422/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/19951101/article_02.htm

Answer 5

Interesting how you did not bring out the fact that the same Greek word was used in the 'worship' that Daniel accepted from Nebuchadnezzar.
Does that mean that Daniel is also God?

Maybe you should look up the available definitions for proskuneo?

προσκυνέω
Transliteration-proskyneō
Pronunciation; pros-kü-ne'-ō (Key)
Part of Speech-verb
Root Word (Etymology)-from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand)
TDNT Reference-6:758,948

Vines-View Entry
Outline of Biblical Usage

1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence

2) among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication

a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank

1) to the Jewish high priests

2) to God

3) to Christ

4) to heavenly beings

5) to demons


Seems to me that the Greek word translated worship means a bit more than your limited allowance of "worship due to Almighty God alone",... hmmm?

Doh! didn't expect a competent response? too bad. Most of us are actually used to doing as the Beoreans, and checking the scriptures to see if 'it is true'!

Answer 6

A more appropriate question would be why do self proclaimed Christians are unwilling to follow the verse preferring a doctrine put forth after Christ died?

Answer 7

Perhaps the most famous Biblical Hebrew scholar of all, Gesenius, tells us in Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, p. 813, (#7812), ‘Shachah’:

“WORSHIP:

(1) to prostrate oneself before ANYONE out of HONOR .... Those who used this mode of SALUTATION fell on their knees and touched the ground with the forehead ..., and this honor was not only shown to superiors, such as kings and princes, 2 Sam. 9:8; but also to equals; Gen. 23:7.”

The act described by proskuneo (or shachah) was of bowing or kneeling, and it generally indicated an act of respect and a display of one’s willingness to submit to or serve another person who occupied a superior position, regardless of his nature (somewhat similar to a salute in the military today). It was done, of course, in its very HIGHEST sense to God alone, but it was also done, in a lower sense of the same word, to kings, angels, prophets, etc. -RDB

Answer 8

Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory ... and he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of WORSHIP to me.” ...Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must WORSHIP, and it is to him ALONE you must render sacred service.’” ...( Matt 4:8-10)
Jesus said It. If you not Convinced By Jesus Words, then Perhaps all is lost.