@Duran
Your argument suggests that, because "all angels are 'sons of God,'" Jesus is simply another "angelic son," although He may be more exalted than others. However, Hebrews 1 emphasizes Jesus' unique, unparalleled relationship with God, distinct from any angelic beings:
- Hebrews 1:5 explicitly asks, “To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’?” This rhetorical question is intended to clarify that God did not say this to any angel, including Michael. The Sonship of Jesus is unique; He is begotten, not created, indicating a divine nature that angels, as created beings, do not share.
- Verse 6 continues, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Angels worship Jesus, marking a clear distinction between Jesus and the angelic realm; He is not their equal but their Lord, and only God can rightly receive worship.
Your argument attempts to equate Jesus with Michael by pointing out that He descends “with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice.” However, this phrase doesn’t imply that Jesus is an archangel but rather that He descends with the authority and power akin to that of an archangel:
- Context and Language: In this verse, Paul is using vivid, descriptive language to emphasize the power and authority with which Christ will return. Just as one might say, “He comes with a king’s decree,” this doesn’t imply that the person is a king but that he has the authority of one.
- Additionally, Revelation 19:16 presents Jesus as “King of kings and Lord of lords,” a title far surpassing that of any angel, including an archangel. His role in the resurrection of the dead and judgment is uniquely divine and beyond the role of any angel.
Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that Jesus is merely exalted by God rather than sharing God’s divine nature. However, Scripture attests to the divinity of Jesus and His role as Judge of humanity, which in Jewish theology is a role belonging solely to God:
- John 5:22-23 asserts, “The Father judges no one but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.” This equal honor implies shared divinity. To honor Jesus as one honors the Father underscores His divine status, incompatible with the status of a created being.
- Philippians 2:9-11 speaks of God exalting Jesus so that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.” The bowing of every knee is a direct echo of Isaiah 45:23, where Yahweh declares that every knee will bow to Him alone. Paul’s application of this to Jesus affirms Jesus’ equality with God.
Your argument contends that Jesus and God are “separate beings” because they appear as distinct persons in Revelation 5. However, this understanding overlooks the Trinitarian distinction between persons while maintaining unity in divine essence:
- Revelation 5:13-14 depicts “every creature” praising both “the One seated on the throne” and “the Lamb,” with “blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.” The worship directed at both signifies that the Lamb (Jesus) and the Father are equally worthy of divine worship, reinforcing the Christian understanding of the Trinity.
- The scene does not imply inequality but rather a relational distinction within the Godhead, where Jesus (the Lamb) and the Father are distinct persons sharing one divine essence. This theological view holds that while they are distinct in personhood, they are united in essence, allowing both to receive worship as God.
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that because Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory” and “the exact imprint of his being” (Hebrews 1:3), this means He is merely a reflection, not divine in Himself. However, the phrase signifies that Jesus shares the divine nature with the Father:
- The Greek word translated as “radiance” (apaugasma) indicates emanation rather than mere reflection. Jesus is described as the outshining of God’s glory, implying that He is of the same divine substance and manifests the very nature of God to us.
- As “the exact imprint of his being,” Jesus is presented as fully embodying God’s nature, not as a created representation. This phrase is used to affirm that Jesus possesses the same divine nature as the Father.
Jehovah’s Witnesses suggest that Thomas’s declaration of Jesus as “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28) is representational, yet the plain reading and immediate context affirm that Thomas was acknowledging Jesus’ divinity directly:
- Jesus does not correct Thomas but accepts the title, indicating that it was correct to call Him “God.” Had Thomas misunderstood Jesus’ nature, this moment would have been critical for correction. Instead, Jesus commends Thomas’s belief.
- In Jewish monotheism, calling anyone “my God” other than Yahweh would be blasphemous. Thomas’s declaration is a strong affirmation of Jesus' divine status, aligning with the Gospel of John’s theological aim to demonstrate Jesus’ divinity.
Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that Jesus is merely exalted above other angels but remains a created being. However, Scripture clearly delineates Jesus’ identity as God and His unique Sonship, setting Him apart from the angels:
- Colossians 1:16-17 clarifies that “by him all things were created… all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” This passage suggests that Jesus is not part of creation but is the divine agent through whom creation came into being.
- The title “archangel” is only ever directly applied to Michael (Jude 1:9), not Jesus. If Jesus were Michael, Hebrews 1:5 would not make sense, as God would indeed be calling one of the angels His Son, directly contradicting the passage.
The interpretation of Jehovah’s Witnesses fails to account for the full biblical witness to Jesus’ identity. Jesus’ title as “Son of God” and His shared honor and glory with the Father, along with the worship He receives, affirm His divinity. He is not merely a highly exalted angel or representative but God incarnate, as consistently attested in Scripture. The passages presented, when understood in their proper context, reinforce the Trinitarian doctrine that Jesus is fully God, distinct from yet one with the Father, and deserving of worship as such.