AboutBrenda Martin Expertise I have been one of Jehovah`s Witneses now for over 30 years, in those years I have brought up 4 children, teaching each of them the bible.Being one of Jehovah`s Witnesses has helped me cope with my Epilepsy and bring up a daughter with learning difficulties.I have conducted bible studies with people from nearly every denomination i.e. Muslim. Having used the bible all these years to answer peoples questions, I feel I am qualified to give any answer regarding Jehovah`s Witnesses and the bible.
Experience My experience has been one of attending bible lectures 5 times a week,taking part in these lectures in front of an audience and being with thousands of J.W. at conventions where I have seen the bible at work in peoples lives.It is truly a miracle when you see thousands of people meeting together and not one policeman needed, and not even a piece of litter in sight.It is like another world.
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Followup To
Question -
Does the term SON OF GOD mean that Jesus is not God? Of so, then does the term SON OF MAN mean that Jesus is not a man?
If the term SON OF GOD means that Jesus is a man, then what does the term SON OF MAN mean?
If the term Son of Man means that Jesus is a man, then what does the term Son of God mean?
Priority, pre-eminence, prime position Col 1:15
Although Esau was the firstborn, he could legitimately sell that position (his birthright) to his brother Gen 24:31
Birthright transferred 1Ch 5:1
Firstborn Manasseh, second Ephraim -- yet the reverse order is spoken of in terms of birthright Gen 41:51-52
Ephraim is my "firstborn" Jer 31:9
David is firstborn, even though David was actually the youngest son in his family Psa 89:27
If Jesus is the "the exact representation of his [God] very being" (Heb. 1:3, NWT), then how is Jesus (who is only a man) God's exact representation? It makes no sense.
Answer -
SON OF GOD?
Correct, the person who became known as Jesus Christ did not begin life here on earth. He himself spoke of his prehuman heavenly life. (Joh 3:13; 6:38, 62; 8:23, 42, 58) John 1:1, 2.) The Scriptures identify the Word (Jesus in his prehuman existence) as God's first creation, his firstborn Son. By virtue of his being the sole direct creation of his Father, the firstborn Son was unique, different from all others of God's sons, all of whom were created or begotten by Jehovah through that firstborn Son.
SON OF MAN ?
Prior to Jesus' birth on earth, angels had appeared on this planet in human form, apparently materializing suitable bodies for the occasion, then dematerializing them after completing such assignments. (Ge 19:1-3; Jg 6:20-22; 13:15-20) They thus remained spirit creatures, merely employing a physical body temporarily.
This, however, was not the case with the coming of God's Son to earth to become the man Jesus. John 1:14 says that “the Word became flesh and resided among us.” For that reason he could call himself “the Son of man.” (Joh 1:51; 3:14, 15)
COL 1:15
Trinitarians say that “first-born” here means prime, most excellent, most distinguished; thus Christ would be understood to be, not part of creation, but the most distinguished in relation to those who were created. If that is so, and if the Trinity doctrine is true, why are the Father and the holy spirit not also said to be the firstborn of all creation? But the Bible applies this expression only to the Son.
Benjamin Wilson's Emphatic Diaglott renders (Revelation) chapter 3, verse 14: “These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness [Jesus], the beginning of the creation of God.”
DAVID IS FIRSTBORN, PSA 89:27
David was not a firstborn son. (1Ch 2:13-15) So it seems that Jehovah was referring prophetically to the one foreshadowed by David, God's own “firstborn” Son in heaven upon whom He confers kingship more exalted than that of any human ruler.—Compare Eze 34:24, where Messiah is spoken of as “my servant David.”
(HEB.1:3,), THEN HOW IS JESUS (WHO IS ONLY A MAN) GOD'S EXACT REPRESENTATION?
God's firstborn Son, who later became the man Jesus, is in his Father's image. (2Co 4:4) Inasmuch as that Son was obviously the one to whom God spoke in saying, “Let us make man in our image,” this likeness of the Son to his Father, the Creator, existed from when the Son was created. (Ge 1:26; Joh 1:1-3; Col 1:15, 16)
When on earth as a perfect man, he reflected his Father's qualities and personality to the fullest extent possible within human limitations, so he could say that “he that has seen me has seen the Father also.” (Joh 14:9; 5:17, 19, 30, 36; 8:28, 38, 42)
BRENDA
Rev.3:14
Jesus is introduced, emphasizing that He is the faithful, authoritative Lord, in contrast to His compromising subjects
a. He is the Amen, the "so be it," the "it is done"; Jesus is "the personification and the affirmation of the truth of God." (Barclay)
b. He is the Faithful and True Witness, in contrast to the Laodiceans, who we will sadly find to be neither faithful nor true
c. He is the beginning of the creation of God; the idea behind the word for beginning [arche] is that of a "ruler, source, or origin," not of first in a sequential order. This verse does not teach that Jesus was the first being created, but that He is the ruler, source, and origin of all creation
Answer REV.3:14-- THIS VERSE DOES NOT TEACH THAT JESUS WAS THE FIRST BEING CREATED, BUT THAT HE IS THE RULER, SOURCE, AND ORIGIN OF ALL CREATION
Some take the view that what is meant is that the Son was ‘the beginner of God's creation,' that he was its ‘ultimate source.' But Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon lists “beginning” as its first meaning of ar•khe´. (Oxford, 1968, p. 252) The logical conclusion is that the one being quoted at Revelation 3:14 is a creation, the first of God's creations, that he had a beginning.
Compare Proverbs 8:22, where, as many Bible commentators agree, the Son is referred to as wisdom personified. According to RS, NE, and JB, the one there speaking is said to be “created.”)
Beginning” [Greek, ar•khe´] cannot rightly be interpreted to mean that Jesus was the ‘beginner' of God's creation. In his Bible writings, John uses various forms of the Greek word ar•khe´ more than 20 times, and these always have the common meaning of “beginning.”
Why does Jesus call himself “the Amen”? This title adds judicial weight to his message. “Amen” is a transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “surely,” “so be it,” and is used at the end of prayers to affirm the sentiments expressed therein. (1 Corinthians 14:16) Jesus is “the Amen” because his flawless integrity and sacrificial death confirmed and guaranteed the fulfillment of all of Jehovah's precious promises. (2 Corinthians 1:20) Since that time, all prayers are properly addressed to Jehovah through Jesus.—John 15:16; 16:23, 24.
Jesus is also “the faithful and true witness.” In prophecy he is often associated with faithfulness, truth, and righteousness, for he is completely trustworthy as a servant of Jehovah God. (Psalm 45:4; Isaiah 11:4, 5; Revelation 1:5; 19:11) He is the greatest Witness for Jehovah.
