Jehovah's Witnesses and John 14:28

[Jared_Silvey]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to respond to the Watchtower’s use of John 14:28, which they use to “disprove” the deity of Christ?

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to respond to the Watchtower’s use of John 14:28, which they use to “disprove” the deity of Christ?

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Phil 2

. 9 But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. Heb 2

28 You heard me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe. John 14
Jesus took on the role of a servant, He humbled Himself to come down and become a human. This is what Jesus was talking about, His human servant role. Later after He rises from the dead John 20 says:
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

 

[PhilVaz]

<< Does anyone have any suggestions on how to respond to the Watchtower’s use of John 14:28, which they use to “disprove” the deity of Christ? >>

Yes, one way would be to look at the Greek for “greater” – this is a different word than “better” (Hebrews 1). Jesus is so much “better” than the angels being the “exact image [or representation] of [God’s] substance [or being]” (Heb 1:3-4) since he wasn’t the Archangel Michael. He was God in the flesh (John 1:1-3, 14; Col 2:9).

The Father is “greater” in the sense that “the head of Christ is God” and the “head of woman is man” (1 Cor 11:3; 15:28; Eph 5). This doesn’t mean God the Father is superior by nature nor that man is superior to woman by nature. They are both equal and one by nature – man and woman, Gal 3:28; and Christ (the Word) and God, John 1:1; 8:58; 5:18; 10:30-33; 20:28; etc.

Phil P

 

[Mommyof02green]

Is Christ God?:

Christ is God’s Son and is inferior to him." Given in support of this position are these verses: “And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Matt. 3:17). “I proceeded and came forth from God” (John 8:42). “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). “The head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3). “When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one” (1 Cor. 15:28).

At first glance these citations seem imposing. It does seem that Christ is inferior to God the Father in some sense. But the New Testament also has verses which clearly show Christ and the Father to be equals. For example, there is John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” Or, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Or, “All that the Father has is mine” (John 16:15). Or, “The Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18). Or, “[Jesus], though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil. 2:6). These seem to contradict the other verses.

How do we make sense of all this? By keeping in mind that Jesus is both God and man. Some verses, such as these last five, refer exclusively to his Godhead. Others refer to his humanity. So far as he is God, Jesus is equal to the Father. Christ’s human nature, though, is created and is therefore inferior to the Father. But to focus on this aspect of Christ to the exclusion of his divine nature is a gross misunderstanding of who and what the Bible says Jesus Christ is. Other verses cited by the Witnesses, such as Matthew 3:17, show merely that Christ is God’s Son, not that he is inferior (in fact, John 5:18 shows that being God’s Son is being equal to God). Source: click here

And welcome to the forums!!!

 

[maureen2520]

1 Corinthians 11:3 has more information on the subject.

 

[Eileen_T]

Jesus was both God and man. As God the Son He is equal to the Father. As man He had surrendered His Divine nature and emptied Himself. His humanity rendered Him lesser than the Father for that time only. This passage comes shortly before His death on the Cross. He could only die as man because God cannot die.

Go a bit further into John…

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

I know this is a bit “picky” but in the NW Translation they have altered the text of John 1:1 and claim the Jesus was a God.

If they acknowledge that the Father is the only true God, and if they claim that Jesus is not God the second person of the Trinity, ask them if that means they think Jesus is a false God. This also violates the first commandment and Isaiah 43:10 because it acknowledges that there is more than one God.

Also, when Jesus claimed to be God in John 8:58 {b}Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am.

The Jews understood He was claiming Himself to be God, because the next verse reads:They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

Doesn’t that make Jesus either a liar or a madman if He were not God?

And finally, the book of Revelation has all sorts of descriptions of God and also has those same titles and descriptions being used for Jesus, eg The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Rev 1:8/Rev 22:13

2 Sam. 22:3 - God is the horn of salvation - Luke 1:68-69 - Jesus is the horn of salvation.
Psalm 24:10 - the Lord is the King of glory - 1 Cor. 2:8 - Jesus is the Lord of glory.
Psalm 62:12 - the Lord God renders to each according to his work - Matt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12 - Jesus so renders to each according to his work
Psalm 97:9 - the Lord God is above all - John 3:31 - Jesus is above all.
Psalm 148:1-2 - the angels worship the Lord God - Heb. 1:6 - the angels worship Jesus. Only God is worshiped.
Isaiah 42:8 - God gives His glory to no other - John 17:5; Heb. 1:3 - yet Jesus has the same glory as the Father.
Isaiah 43:14 - the Lord God is redeemer - Titus 2:14 - Jesus is the redeemer.
Isaiah 44:6 - the Lord God is the first and the last - Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13 - Jesus is the first and the last.
Isaiah 45:23 - to God, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear. Phil. 2:10-11 - at Jesus’ name every knee should bow and tongue confess.
Isaiah 48:17 - God is the Holy One - Acts 3:14 - Jesus is the Holy One.
Isaiah 60:19 - God is everlasting light - Revelation 21:23 - Jesus the Lamb is eternal light.
Jer. 17:10 - the Lord searches the hearts and repays us according to our deeds - Rev. 2:23 - Jesus searches the hearts and repays us according to our deeds.
Ezek. 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9 - God’s glorious appearance - Rev. 1:13-16 - Jesus’ glorious appearance.
Ezek. 43:2 - God’s voice was like a noise of many waters - Rev. 1:15 - Jesus’ voice was like the sound of many waters.
Dan. 2:47 - the Lord is the God of gods and the Lord of Lords - Rev. 17:14 - Jesus the Lamb is the Lord of Lords.