Jehovah’s witnesses trying to deny Jesus’ omniscience, quote the following verses:
Mat 24:36 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only (gr. monos) the Father. (NIV)
Mark 13:32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only (gr. monos) the Father. (NIV)
Considering that fragment of Bible they say that:
1. The Father knows the day and the hour of Jesus second coming to the earth.
2. The Son doesn’t know the time.
3. Nobody knows that except Father only, which excludes the Holy Spirit from those, who know
4. The knowledge of the Father is greater than anyone’s else in the universe (including the Holy Spirit)
In this way they claim that the Father is the only one, who knows everything. But saying that there is something that the Holy Spirit doesn’t know they trap themselves, because in the same way one can prove that there is something which Jehovah doesn’t know:
Rev 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. (NIV)
- According to the verse is the new name known only to those who will receive it, and in this way isn’t it known to the Father?
Moreover, In Bible one can find some verses saying that there is something which is known to the Son only and something known to the Holy Spirit only:
Rev 19:12n His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. (NIV)
Some commentators say that the name “Word of God” is so mysterious, that only Jesus fully knows that. The question is very similar to the previous one. Doesn’t the Father know the meaning of the name?
1Kor 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (NIV)
So, one can say, that Jehovah doesn’t know the thoughts of God.
It is very interesting, that they have attacked the omniscience of Jesus Christ showing Mt 24:36 where they found the word ‘monos’, when they deny the Jesus’ omnipotence showing that Greek word ‘pas’ which means ‘all’, ‘everything’ and so on, doesn’t stand for “completely everything” – for good example see Mat 3:5.
Mat 28:18 “(...) All (Gr. pas) authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (NIV)
contrasted with
Mat 3:5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all (Gr. pas) Judea and the whole region of the Jordan (NIV)
It is obvious that not everybody came to him to be baptized. So ‘pas’ doesn’t mean absolutely all.
So, let us look at some verses including the word ‘monos’:
Ga 1:23 They only (gr. ‘monos’) heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. (NIV)
- Didn’t they hear anything else?
Mat 17:8 When they looked up, they saw no one except (Gr. ‘monos’) Jesus. (NIV)
- Didn’t they see each other?
Luke 24:12 But having risen, Peter ran to the sepulcher. And having stooped down, he sees the linen cloths laying alone (Gr. ‘monos’) . And he departed, wondering to himself at that which happened. (ACV)
- Didn’t he see soil, the cave, stones and so on?
Why did Jesus say that he didn’t know the hour of his coming?
Jesus Christ being a man disowned his divine attributes, but he had had a dignity of Son of God for all that time. We can see a very similar thought of St. Paul:
Gal 4:1-2
1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. (NIV)
In this fragment Jesus is shown as someone who is lower being in his body:
Herb 2:7 You made him a little lower than the angels (...)(NIV)
but having dignity of a child of King that surpasses everything:
Hebr 1:6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." (NIV)
If Jesus, being a man, had had his divine attributes, he wouldn’t have been a man, but only God steering his own body. This fact acknowledges that verse:
Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (NIV)
It clearly shows that Jesus coming to earth divested himself of his omniscience to become one of us. From that come those verses indicating seemingly that Jesus didn’t know everything. Let us analyze the most frequently quoted verses:
John 7:16-18
16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.
17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. (NIV)
In this verse we can see that Jesus was taught by Father what He was to teach. It harmonizes with Luk 2:52. But if we go into the context, we will see a greater sense of that statement. Jesus contrasts himself with false prophets who come in their own name and presumptuously speak their own teaching expecting honor for themselves. Very similar problem is shown in this verse:
John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." (NIV)
One of the most controversial fragments, which they quote, is that:
Rev 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, (NIV)
But does this verse really tell us that Jesus doesn’t have omniscience? Let’s look at this:
John 16:15 All things that the Father has are mine; on account of this I have said that he receives of mine and shall announce [it] to you. (Darby)
Moreover, in Act 2:36 it is said that God after Jesus’ resurrection made Him both Lord and Christ. It doesn’t mean that Jesus wasn’t Lord and Christ before (see John13:13 and Mat 16:16-17). So, when it is said, that God gives something to Jesus, it doesn’t mean that Jesus didn’t have it earlier. We can say exactly the same about the verse Rev 1:1 – as God gave Jesus the revelation, it doesn’t have to mean that Jesus didn’t have it earlier.
The Bible clearly teaches about Jesus’ omniscience. He is shown as somebody, who has 7 eyes (Rev 5:6), which is interpreted as a symbol of omniscience. What else Bible says about Jesus:
2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NIV)
And about the Holy Spirit:
1Kor 2:10-11
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (NIV)
At the end I will quote words of heavenly Jesus:
Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (NIV)
Regards
Grzesiek Z (Greg from Poland)