Post by ResLight on May 24, 2013 12:41:35 GMT -5
I will next consider the matter of calling Jesus "the Almighty" -- ho pantokratwr - in verse eight.
egw eimi to alpha kai to w legei kurios ho
I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, IS SAYING LORD, THE
1473 1510 3588 0255_5 2532 3588 5598 3004 2962 3588
theos ho wn kai ho een kai ho erchomenos
GOD, THE (ONE) BEING AND THE (ONE) WAS AND THE (ONE) COMING,
2316 3588 1511_1 2532 3588 1511_3 2532 3588 2064
1511_2
ho pantokratwr
THE ALMIGHTY.
3588 3841
Westcott & Hort Interlinear, as obtained from the Bible Students Library DVD.
Brother Russell stated:
Although Brother Russell quoted the scripture as "the Almighty", his explanation drops the definite article to make it simply "Almighty". The Greek, however, is not simply "Almighty", but rather it has the definite article: "ho pantokratwr".
Brother Russell elsewhere did present Jesus as being “the Almighty”.
But although our Redeemer had always occupied the place of honor in the heavenly courts, it was not until his faithful obedience to the Father had been tested to the extent of his changing nature to that of man, and then giving himself as fallen man's ransom, that he received his present unexcellable glory and honor. It is since his resurrection that the message has gone forth – "All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me." (Matt. 28:18.) Consequently it is only since then that he could be called the Almighty (as in Rev. 1:8). The Heavenly Father has always been almighty, and this all-power or all-might was never given to him, but was his eternal possession. But now that he has given the same power to his Only-begotten and well-pleasing Son, our Saviour, both we and angels delight to know it, and delight to honor him whom the Father has so highly honored, and whom he has instructed us to honor, saying: "That all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father."-- John 5:23. – Watch Tower, April 15, 1893, pages 115,116.
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1893APR.asp#R1514:20
Brother Russell also cited Matthew 28:18 in this regard:
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying , All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Does this make Jesus "the Almighty"? Obviously not, since the the Most High is excepted in the "all power" that the only Most High gives to Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:27) While one could say that the "all power" that the Most High gave to Jesus makes Jesus one who is "almighty" in that power that was given to Jesus, this does not make Jesus "the Almighty" "Lord God".
Jesus is no where in the Bible said to be "the Almighty", which, in effect, actually describes He Who is the source of all might (1 Corinthians 8:6), nor is Jesus ever said to be "the Most High". Jesus is indeed "mighty", in that his God and Father has given to him might that is above all might except that of the Most High. It is highly unlikely that Jesus would be called "the Almighty" and the "Lord God" in the book of Revelation.
www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=almighty&c=&t=web&ps=100&s=Bibles
www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=%22most+high%22&c=&t=web&ps=100&s=Bibles
Brother Russell also wrote concerning the expression “Alpha and Omega”:
No doubt, Brother Russell, at that time, did not see any other way to harmonize the scriptures, as he evidently never thought that the words uttered in Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13, could have not been Jesus’ words, but rather the words of Jehovah himself. Indeed, the trinitarian influence promoted that idea in order to make it appear that Jesus is Jehovah. Nevertheless, although Brother Russell sought to harmonize the scriptures, a close examination shows that the effect would be to bring disharmonization of the scriptures, since, if it should be thought that in Revelation 1:4 that “his throne” is the throne of Jesus, then to be consistent, one would have to say that Jesus is both the one on the throne in Revelation 5:1, and that he is also the lamb who takes the scroll from the hand of the One who is on the throne in Revelation 5:6,7. However, the “Expanded Comments” shows that Russell believed that the One who sits on the throne in Revelation 5: 1 is:
And, regarding the one on the throne at Revelation 4:2,
This means that he who is, was and is coming in Revelation 4:8 is not Jesus, but rather Jehovah.
This cannot be harmonized with the claim that it is Jesus’ throne spoken of in Revelation 1:4, since it is obvious that both scriptures are speaking of the same one.
It is claimed that Brother Russell quoted many translations. Yes, Brother Russell did indeed frequently quote many different Bible translations. I haven't found anything in Brother Russell's writings, however, where he addresses the Greek related to Revelation 1:8, the expression "Lord God" of Revelation 1:8, nor of the application of he who was, is, and is coming, and his throne, of Revelation 1:4.
I do agree with Brother Russell that Jesus was the first and last only direct Son of God that Jehovah brought into existence.
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1888FEB.asp#R1005:8
In context,in Revelation 1:17,18 and Revelation 2:8, however, "the first and the last" appears to be more related to Jesus' having been dead, and the only firstborn from the dead. -- Revelation 1:5.
See my studies:
The First and the Last
www.rlbible.com/jesus/?p=911
The First and the Last Was Dead
www.rlbible.com/jesus/?p=154
Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4 * Part 5 * Part 6
Looking for a good study Bible? I like the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible myself; many words are linked to Strong's numbering system, and it also contains a lot of helps, including Strong's Dictionary. It also makes a nice gift for any occasion.
The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible comes in several editions, translations and bindings:
www.rlbible.com/items/?tag=item0047
www.rlbible.com/items/?tag=item0047&paged=2
egw eimi to alpha kai to w legei kurios ho
I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, IS SAYING LORD, THE
1473 1510 3588 0255_5 2532 3588 5598 3004 2962 3588
theos ho wn kai ho een kai ho erchomenos
GOD, THE (ONE) BEING AND THE (ONE) WAS AND THE (ONE) COMING,
2316 3588 1511_1 2532 3588 1511_3 2532 3588 2064
1511_2
ho pantokratwr
THE ALMIGHTY.
3588 3841
Westcott & Hort Interlinear, as obtained from the Bible Students Library DVD.
Brother Russell stated:
Now we are prepared to understand the words of Jesus to John on Patmos. (Rev. 1:8,11,18.) "I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty"-- Almighty since Jehovah had given to him all power in heaven and in earth. -- Watch Tower, December 1882, page 7.
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1882DEC.asp#R422:21
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1882DEC.asp#R422:21
Although Brother Russell quoted the scripture as "the Almighty", his explanation drops the definite article to make it simply "Almighty". The Greek, however, is not simply "Almighty", but rather it has the definite article: "ho pantokratwr".
Brother Russell elsewhere did present Jesus as being “the Almighty”.
THE ALMIGHTY
But although our Redeemer had always occupied the place of honor in the heavenly courts, it was not until his faithful obedience to the Father had been tested to the extent of his changing nature to that of man, and then giving himself as fallen man's ransom, that he received his present unexcellable glory and honor. It is since his resurrection that the message has gone forth – "All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me." (Matt. 28:18.) Consequently it is only since then that he could be called the Almighty (as in Rev. 1:8). The Heavenly Father has always been almighty, and this all-power or all-might was never given to him, but was his eternal possession. But now that he has given the same power to his Only-begotten and well-pleasing Son, our Saviour, both we and angels delight to know it, and delight to honor him whom the Father has so highly honored, and whom he has instructed us to honor, saying: "That all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father."-- John 5:23. – Watch Tower, April 15, 1893, pages 115,116.
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1893APR.asp#R1514:20
Brother Russell also cited Matthew 28:18 in this regard:
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying , All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Does this make Jesus "the Almighty"? Obviously not, since the the Most High is excepted in the "all power" that the only Most High gives to Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:27) While one could say that the "all power" that the Most High gave to Jesus makes Jesus one who is "almighty" in that power that was given to Jesus, this does not make Jesus "the Almighty" "Lord God".
Jesus is no where in the Bible said to be "the Almighty", which, in effect, actually describes He Who is the source of all might (1 Corinthians 8:6), nor is Jesus ever said to be "the Most High". Jesus is indeed "mighty", in that his God and Father has given to him might that is above all might except that of the Most High. It is highly unlikely that Jesus would be called "the Almighty" and the "Lord God" in the book of Revelation.
www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=almighty&c=&t=web&ps=100&s=Bibles
www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=%22most+high%22&c=&t=web&ps=100&s=Bibles
Brother Russell also wrote concerning the expression “Alpha and Omega”:
In no other way can we understand Jesus to be the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, as he claims in his revelation to John (Rev. 1:8; 3:14; 21:6; 22:13), than as the Scriptures harmoniously teach, that as Jehovah's agent he is the beginner and finisher of the wondrous plan, though not its author. In a word, he was the only direct creation of Jehovah – born "from the womb of the morning," as the Psalmist expresses it (110:3), – all other creations being through him, as Jehovah's agent, or representative; as we read: "To us there is one God – the Father – of whom are all things and we in him; and one Lord – Jesus Christ – by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Cor. 8:6.) He is the first born of every creature [born before all creation]; for by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or principalities or powers; all things were created by him and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is [also] the head of the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead--that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. – Col. 1:15-18.
Our Lord's pre-human condition, we have thus seen, was one of mighty power, as the chief of all Jehovah's creation, and his agent in all subsequent creations. He was the first and the last direct creation of Jehovah. Hence with the proper conception of the meaning of the word God, as used in the Scriptures, namely, a mighty, a powerful being (See, Nov. '87 TOWER), we see the propriety of applying the name God (which in Scripture is applied to angels and to some great men) to this great being, who was and is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, of Jehovah's creation. – Watch Tower, August 1888, page 7.
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1888AUG.asp#R1060:7
Our Lord's pre-human condition, we have thus seen, was one of mighty power, as the chief of all Jehovah's creation, and his agent in all subsequent creations. He was the first and the last direct creation of Jehovah. Hence with the proper conception of the meaning of the word God, as used in the Scriptures, namely, a mighty, a powerful being (See, Nov. '87 TOWER), we see the propriety of applying the name God (which in Scripture is applied to angels and to some great men) to this great being, who was and is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, of Jehovah's creation. – Watch Tower, August 1888, page 7.
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1888AUG.asp#R1060:7
No doubt, Brother Russell, at that time, did not see any other way to harmonize the scriptures, as he evidently never thought that the words uttered in Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13, could have not been Jesus’ words, but rather the words of Jehovah himself. Indeed, the trinitarian influence promoted that idea in order to make it appear that Jesus is Jehovah. Nevertheless, although Brother Russell sought to harmonize the scriptures, a close examination shows that the effect would be to bring disharmonization of the scriptures, since, if it should be thought that in Revelation 1:4 that “his throne” is the throne of Jesus, then to be consistent, one would have to say that Jesus is both the one on the throne in Revelation 5:1, and that he is also the lamb who takes the scroll from the hand of the One who is on the throne in Revelation 5:6,7. However, the “Expanded Comments” shows that Russell believed that the One who sits on the throne in Revelation 5: 1 is:
Of him -- The Heavenly Father, the Ancient of Days, Jehovah. E36; R2208:5, 2156:1; SM488:2; OV7:1
And, regarding the one on the throne at Revelation 4:2,
And one sat -- This is the Father, the "Ancient of days." (Dan. 7:9)
This means that he who is, was and is coming in Revelation 4:8 is not Jesus, but rather Jehovah.
This cannot be harmonized with the claim that it is Jesus’ throne spoken of in Revelation 1:4, since it is obvious that both scriptures are speaking of the same one.
It is claimed that Brother Russell quoted many translations. Yes, Brother Russell did indeed frequently quote many different Bible translations. I haven't found anything in Brother Russell's writings, however, where he addresses the Greek related to Revelation 1:8, the expression "Lord God" of Revelation 1:8, nor of the application of he who was, is, and is coming, and his throne, of Revelation 1:4.
I do agree with Brother Russell that Jesus was the first and last only direct Son of God that Jehovah brought into existence.
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1888FEB.asp#R1005:8
In context,in Revelation 1:17,18 and Revelation 2:8, however, "the first and the last" appears to be more related to Jesus' having been dead, and the only firstborn from the dead. -- Revelation 1:5.
See my studies:
The First and the Last
www.rlbible.com/jesus/?p=911
The First and the Last Was Dead
www.rlbible.com/jesus/?p=154
Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4 * Part 5 * Part 6
Looking for a good study Bible? I like the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible myself; many words are linked to Strong's numbering system, and it also contains a lot of helps, including Strong's Dictionary. It also makes a nice gift for any occasion.
The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible comes in several editions, translations and bindings:
www.rlbible.com/items/?tag=item0047
www.rlbible.com/items/?tag=item0047&paged=2