Jehovah's Witnesses...?

Question

Please do not judge me or try to call me apostate. I am a sincere Christians with questions.

I would first like to let you know I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE TRINITY and so this is why I am asking.

Acts 10:25, 26 says "25 As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet and did obeisance to him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying: “Rise; I myself am also a man.”

Okay, Now the Watchtower seems to make a distinction between "doing obeisance" and "worship". In order to prove Jesus was not worshipped. But if there really is a difference, and Obesience is NOT the same as worship....

Why did Peter tell the man to get up....After all he wasn't worshipping him.

I really don't see a difference between obeisance and worship.

Phil B.

I am not saying that the trinity is false. I just do not believe in it.

I have search diligently in the scriptures to try to find proof of it and I have not been able too.

I have read many if not all of the PRO trinity scriptures.

But, I have also analyzed the ones that DO NOT support it, so I cannot at this time believe this doctrine.

Until I can see unity in all scriptures to support the trinity, then I will remain as I am.

Answer 1

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.ca/e/20050422/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.ca/e/19951101/article_02.htm

Answer 2

It was because "doing obeisance" can lead to "worship."

It's like trying to distinguish the colors of a rainbow. At what frequency does orange become red? And so on. There's a fine but definite line between the two.

In Revelation the angel tells John "be careful, do not do that" for the same reason.

Answer 3

it was still a form of worship, just like what some religions do to their people they consider infallible.
OBEISANCE

The act of bowing, kneeling, prostrating the body, or making some other gesture to betoken submission; or simply the paying of respect. It adequately translates the Hebrew hish·ta·chawah′ and the Greek pro·sky·ne′o in many cases.
WORSHIP

The rendering of reverent honor or homage. True worship of the Creator embraces every aspect of an individual’s life. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory.”—1Co 10:31.

hope this helps.

Answer 4

Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. If this isn't worship than I'm not sure what is? Jesus is to be worshiped by Christian's and will be by everyone else when He returns.

Why do you not embrace the triunity of God? The triunity of God is found throughout the scriptures. We are triune people that have been made in the likeness of the triune God. We have a body and a soul and a spirit. Frankly put and this goes for everyone: If you claim to be a Christian and do not embrace and believe in the triunity of God then you are either in ignorance of the scriptures, a heretic or a false believer. The Trinity isn't a disputable matter in Christianity, it is a doctrinal one which leaves no room for debate. There is nothing wrong with wrestling with the concept because of our limited understanding but an all out denial is heretical.

Answer 5

In fact, I believe that the Greek word we translate as worship comes from a word implying "to kiss a ring", showing devotion.
****
Sorry, I am incorrect, here is the correct Greek word used
"proskuneo, (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):--worship."

*****

Sorry for my confusion. What I wanted to say is that too often people try to make a distinction of what worship is. For example, in Roman Catholic doctrine, Mary is venerated, and most adherents will say that she is NOT worshipped. However, to pray to and revere is about as clearly worship as can be.
The same is true with Jesus Christ. He is clearly worshipped:
Hebrews 1:6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Answer 6

ok, so there were many good responses already regarding Jesus' claim to deity. I especially like the posts by Danny H and the one above him (I think it was trusdel).

What I would like to address is the Holy Spirit, since He is also part of the Trinity but has been pretty much left out of the discussion. I won't overwhelm you with a bunch of verses, but at least think carefully about Acts 5: 3, 4.

You will remember that this is in the context of Ananias and Sapphira's lying to the apostles about the money from the parcel of land they sold. Now, notice that in verse 3, Peter tells them that Satan has filled their hearts to lie to the Holy Spirit. But, then, in verse 4, he says, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto GOD."

Now, think about this:

1. Was Peter contradicting Himself?
2. How does one lie to a "force" like the WT says the Holy Spirit is? Can you like to electricity or to the wind--both of which are comparisons used by the WT?

Answer 7

JOHN 1:18
No man has seen God.

The trinity doctrine pertains Jesus as God.
Contradicting isn't it.

obeisance \oh-BEE-suhn(t)s; oh-BAY-suhn(t)s\, noun:
1. An expression of deference or respect, such as a bow or curtsy.
2. Deference, homage.

You can pay homage to a man but you shouldn't worship no other than God.

Answer 8

I would just like to say you have some excellent answers and scriptures here - Relentless, Danny H, and Phil B have given you all the texts you need - there is nothing i can add - accept to say i've added some of these posters to my contacts - i'm so impressed at the way they have answered you.
God Bless and Guide You
Yeshua Hameshia
Our God Reigns

Answer 9

Act 10:25 And1161 as5613 Peter4074 was1096 coming in,1525 Cornelius2883 met4876 him,846 and fell down4098 at1909 his feet,4228 and worshipped4352 him. – KJ

So what do you think Cornelius was doing when he did proskuneo to Peter?
Is it just simply paying respect, bowing down (proskuneo) or is it more than that? Peter said “I myself am also a MAN”. Caps mine. So Cornelius was doing proskyneo as if Peter is God, or a heavenly being, that’s why Peter told him to rise.


Proskuneo is the Greek word for worship or obeisance and has different meanings.

According to Thayer’s Greek dictionary it is :

1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence
2) among the Orientals, especially 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
3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank
3a1) to the Jewish high priests
3a2) to God
3a3) to Christ
3a4) to heavenly beings
3a5) to demons
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand)



Notice, the same word used “proskuneo” is applied to God, also applied to Christ or to demons, heavenly beings.

Proskuneo can be translated as kiss, bow down or fall upon the knees, make obeisance, etc.

It doesn’t mean that when someone “kneel or bown down (proskuneo)” to a king in the Bible times , it means automatically that that person that is bowed down to is God and deserves to be “worshiped as God”.

So how would differentiate between “kneeling without worshipping as God” as a sign of respect in Bible times, than “worshipping as God” unless you use two different English words, such as “worship” and “obeisance”.

At John 4:23, 24, even Dr. Young’s literal translation of the Bible changes from “bow down” to “worship.” So the New World Translation is no more inconsistent than Dr. Young’s literal Bible translation. Bowing to men does not necessarily mean worship.

We normally use the word “worship” to mean for God as Rev 19:10 states.
Jesus said that the “worship” belongs to the Father only. John 4:21, Mat 4:10.

Jesus said "WE (he included himself as one who worships) WORSHIP what we know" the Our Father in heaven. John 4:22, 23.

Answer 10

The Greek word proskyneo and its Hebrew equivalent shachac are terms refering to a posture of submission and thus an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.

Obeisance requires an attitude of reverential fear. This is evident in the behaviors of bending the knee (i.e. gonu or gonupeteo) and bowing down (histahawa or shachac {Heb.} or proskyneo {Gk. to kiss forward}) which are associated with worship.

Gen 24:48 "and I bow, and do obeisance before Jehovah, and I bless Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham"

It should be noted, however, that these postures are associated with other things too (i.e. one can have this attitude in petitions to God, gods or man).

Exd 18:7 "And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him: and they asked each other of [their] welfare: and they came into the tent."

Obeisance and attitude in petitions are not done to those who are equal to one another such as shown the example of Acts 10:25,26 and Rev 19:10.