"To me it is as clear as the sun at noonday that Christ was the Jehovah of the Old Testament."
John Nelson Darby
The article which begins on the opposite page is to be continued in the three succeeding monthly issues. It is also being prepared in separate pamphlet form (32 pages) and is to be available shortly, the Lord willing.
The editor and publishers of Christian Truth strongly urge Christians to meditate on the precious truths contained therein. It is a scriptural answer to the basic error on which the heresy of the so-called Jehovah's Witnesses is built. The same Arian heterodoxy is inherent in all modernistic teaching which affects the truth of the deity of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus Is Jehovah
1. Jehovah-Jesus, THE CREATOR
Early in the history of the professing Church of God, a grave and significant controversy arose as to the Person of Christ. This came to a head early in the fourth century. Emperor Constantine called a council at Nice in Bithynia in the year 325. A powerful defender of the faith came forward in the person of the great Athanasius, later bishop of Alexandria, who was used of God to turn the tide of the conference in favor of an uncompromising defense of the absolute deity of Christ. His opponent was a certain Arius, presbyter in the church at Alexandria. As the result of the latter's insistent denial of the deity of Christ, the term "Arianism" became a synonym for the blasphemy of reducing the Christ of God to the stature of a creature—"the greatest of creatures, but not equal to the Father."2
In contrast to Arius, eminent church fathers down through the ages taught that Christ was Jehovah. Among such might be named Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Chrysostorn, and Augustine.3
Down through the church's history many sects, parties, and denominations have arisen who were of Arian persuasion, as. opposed to what is commonly called "orthodoxy," which word means simply, "right doctrine." Today the most militant and aggressive of all such Arian groups is the one which takes the name of "Jehovah's Witnesses." The present day organization is the offshoot of a movement started some ninety years ago by a C. T. Russell, later superseded by J. T. Rutherford, and now headed by N. H. Knorr.
The whole Jehovah's Witness credo may be said to be bifocal The Witnesses have selected one passage of scripture in the Old Testament, and one passage in the New, to which they make frequent reference in their discussions, preachments, and propaganda. We would refer to Isa. 43:10-1210Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. 12I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. (Isaiah 43:10‑12) in the Old Testament, and John 1:1-131In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:1‑13) in the New.
Before discussing the above references, we would call attention to a helpful device used in the familiar King James Bible. When translating the Hebrew word "Yahwe" or "Jehovah," they use all large and small capital letters, and render it "Lord." Thus wherever we read "LORD" we know the word in the Hebrew was "Jehovah," which means "essential existence—self-existing." The Hebrew word "Elohim" is consistently rendered "God," and means, "supreme power, as in creation." Bearing these distinctions in mind, let us read now Isa. 43:10-1210Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. 12I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. (Isaiah 43:10‑12).
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD [Jehovah], and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD [Jehovah], and beside me there is no savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD [Jehovah], that I am God."
A parallel passage follows in chapter 44:
"Thus saith the LORD [Jehovah] the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD [Jehovah] of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God."
Now verse 8:
"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."
Remember as we read these portions of the prophet Isaiah, there were no chapter divisions in the original document. Isaiah is here occupied with calling the attention of Israel to the folly of idolatry. If we read right on into the 45th chapter, verses 11, 12 we find:
"Thus saith the LORD [Jehovah], the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come
concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded."
"O LORD [Jehovah] of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth."
Now it is as clear as language can make it that the One who calls Himself, "the LORD [Jehovah]," beside whom is no God, is the One who "made the earth, and created man upon it." Likewise He
"stretched out the heavens," and commanded all their host.
Let us then turn to the New Testament for enlightenment as to who this "LORD [Jehovah]" is who
"made the earth, and created man upon it,... and stretched out the heavens."
In John's Gospel, first chapter, verses 1-3, we find ourselves at the second focal point of Jehovah's Witnesses' effort to demote the Christ of God to the status of a creature. We quote:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made."
Putting then these statements from Isaiah along all those from John we have the following startling parallel:
"Thus saith the LORD [Jehovah]... I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I... have stretched out
"All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." John 1:33All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3). the heavens, and all their host have I commanded." Isa. 45:11, 1211Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. (Isaiah 45:11‑12). Surely any unprejudiced reader of the above citations must feel compelled to the conclusion that Jesus is Jehovah.
Thus we can see that the two major Scripture citations of the Jehovah's Witnesses' propaganda are mutually destructive of the Witnesses' Arian attack on the Person of Christ. That the Creator of the earth and man upon it was the work of the "Logos," the "Word," the Christ of God, is so unequivocal that nothing less than blind infatuation with an Arian inspired rationalization can escape seeing and owning it.
As a further attestation of Jesus' creatorship, let us note the following parallels. We shall compare Jer. 10:10-1610But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 14Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name. (Jeremiah 10:10‑16) with Col. 1:12-1712Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:12‑17):
"But the LORD [Jehovah] is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King [margin reads, "King of eternity"]:... He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.... The LORD [Jehovah] of hosts is his name."
"Giving thanks unto the Father... who... hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son [margin, "Son of his love"]: who is the image of the invisible God,... for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible... all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist."4
No better example of this truth could be given than by citing the manner in which the Jehovah's Witnesses wrest the Scriptures in their fallacious rendering of John 1:11In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1). We quote:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god."
The unwarranted and gratuitous insertion of the indefinite article before the word "God" in the third clause of this sentence, shows an utter disregard of the context, and is, moreover, at variance with the best scholarship of the ages, both Catholic and Protestant. Not one of the reputable translations that have appeared during the past one hundred years has had the effrontery to insert the indefinite article and thus render it "a god." It would seem the Witnesses got their cue for this vulgarism from Benjamin Wilson's "Emphatic Diaglott," published in 1864, a work filled with gross errors and misrepresentations. In 1926 Wilson's translation found a rival in another of similar irresponsible character, "The Concordant Version of the Sacred Scriptures" by Adolph E. Knock of Los Angeles. Both became very popular with the Witnesses because they were both in agreement in denying the deity of our Lord.5
Now, having vitiated this statement as to Christ's being God, and having reduced Him to the level of "a god," the Witnesses are willing to accept him as the creator of all things. But we shall see as we follow on in our study, that such a view is in stubborn contradiction to many other statements as to the Person of our Lord.
No, reader, the Word of God is crystal clear-
Jesus-Jehovah is the Creator God.
2. Jehovah-Jesus OF Isa. 6 AND John 12
One of the most striking parallels is that between Isa. 6:1-31In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1‑3) and John 12:37-4137But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. (John 12:37‑41). We quote:
"I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.... Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did
"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.... Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart;
fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD [Jehovah] of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.... Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD [Jehovah] of hosts.... And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." Isa. 6:1-101In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (Isaiah 6:1‑10).
that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him." John 12:37-4137But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. (John 12:37‑41).
With what precision John lets us know that the One of whom he was writing, Jesus, was none other personage than the LORD (Jehovah) whom Isaiah had seen. Yes, Jesus is Jehovah.
3. Jehovah-Jesus INTRODUCED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST
Anyone with even an elementary knowledge of the Scriptures is aware of the fact that the Old Testament abounds with prophetic announcements of the eventual coming into the world of the promised Messiah. Of all these promises one of the most glorious is that found in Isa. 40:1-51Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:1‑5). Now in order that we may see that it was of Christ that Isaiah was prophesying we shall put in parallel the promise and its fulfillment as recorded in Matthew's Gospel:
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying,
and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S [Jehovah's] hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD [Jehovah], make straight in the desert a highway for our God.... And the glory of the Lord [Jehovah] shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD [Jehovah] hath spoken it."
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Matt. 3:1-31In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matthew 3:1‑3).
If the reader will note carefully the above comparison he will see that here the Spirit of God has definitely identified the Jehovah of Isaiah with the Jesus of Matthew. Then add to this Luke's word in chapter 1, verse 76:
"And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways."
Thus is John the Baptist called the prophet of the Highest. Who can this be but the Lord Himself, Jehovah. Yes, Jesus is Jehovah.
4. Jehovah-Jesus, THE STUMBLING STONE
Of all the Old Testament prophets, perhaps Isaiah is the most noted for his many and detailed announcements regarding the coming of Messiah. Repeatedly he identifies this Messiah with Jehovah. Witness the following from Isa. 8:13-1513Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. (Isaiah 8:13‑15) and note the identity of this One with Jesus as recorded by Peter in his first epistle, chapter 2, verses 7, 8:
"Sanctify the LORD [Jehovah] of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him
"Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient,
be your dread. And he shall be for... a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel.... And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken."
the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient."
How patent is the conclusion from the above comparison that Jesus is Jehovah.
5. Jehovah-Jesus, THE ROCK
Another of the majestic titles of Jehovah in the Old Testament is "the Rock." The same is applied unreservedly to Christ in the New Testament.
Thus we see again that Jesus is Jehovah.
(To be continued)
1. Collected Writings of J. N. Darby, vol. 9, pp. 475-478. London, G. Morrish, 20 Paternoster Square, E.G. 4.
2. "Christian Testimony Through the Ages," T. W. Canon, G. Morrish, 114 Camberwell Rd., London. p. 50.
3. Evangelical Quarterly, James Clark & Co. Ltd., 9 Essex St., Strand, W. C. 2, London, England. Article by Prof. Dr. W. Childs Robinson, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, G. vol. 5, pp. 275-282.
4. "In Col. 1:15-1715Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:15‑17) the Jehovah Witnesses' translation falsifies what Paul originally wrote, rendering it, 'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth.... All other things were made to exist.' Here the word 'other' has been unwarrantably inserted four times. It is not present in the original Greek, and was obviously used by the translators in order to make the passage refer to Jesus as being on a par with other created things." "Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ," by Bruce M. Metzer in Theology Today, Princeton, N. J., p. 76. April, 1953.
5. For a fuller discussion of the fallacious rendering of John 1:11In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1), see "Jehovah of the Watchtower," by Martin and Klann, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1956, pp. 50-54.