Topical Bible: Jesus, the Christ: Divinity of Invoked As Jehovah

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The divinity of Jesus Christ as Jehovah is a central tenet in Christian theology, affirming His identity as God incarnate. This doctrine is rooted in the belief that Jesus shares the same divine essence as Jehovah, the God of Israel, and is supported by various scriptural references that equate Jesus with the divine attributes and titles of Jehovah.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding the divine nature of the Messiah. In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet declares, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This passage attributes divine titles to the coming Messiah, indicating His divine nature.

New Testament Affirmations

The New Testament explicitly affirms the divinity of Jesus, often invoking His identity as Jehovah. In John 1:1, the apostle writes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This verse establishes the pre-existence and divine nature of Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

In John 8:58, Jesus Himself declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" This statement echoes the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, where God declares, "I AM WHO I AM." By using the phrase "I am," Jesus identifies Himself with Jehovah, the eternal God.

Divine Attributes and Works

Jesus is ascribed divine attributes and performs works that only God can do. In Colossians 1:16-17, Paul writes, "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." These verses attribute the creation and sustenance of the universe to Jesus, roles that belong to Jehovah alone.

Furthermore, Jesus exercises divine authority over life and death. In John 10:17-18, He states, "The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again." This authority over His own life and resurrection underscores His divine power.

Worship and Prayer

The New Testament records instances of Jesus receiving worship, which is due only to God. In Matthew 14:33, after Jesus walks on water and calms the storm, the disciples worship Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." Similarly, in Revelation 5:12-13, Jesus is worshiped alongside the Father: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

Prayer is also directed to Jesus, as seen in Acts 7:59, where Stephen, as he is being martyred, calls out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." This invocation of Jesus in prayer reflects His divine status and the early church's recognition of His deity.

Conclusion

The divinity of Jesus as Jehovah is a foundational doctrine supported by both Old and New Testament scriptures. Through His divine attributes, works, and the worship He receives, Jesus is affirmed as God incarnate, sharing the same essence and identity as Jehovah, the eternal God of Israel.

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Joel 2:32
And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
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1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
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Library

Corinthians. Calling on the Name
... He was not the Lord to be invoked and adored ... in the Christian communities of the
divinity of our ... Testament writings, that, when we read of Jesus Christ as 'Lord ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/i corinthians calling on the.htm

The Unity of the Divine Essence in Three Persons Taught, in ...
... and therefore bore the most ample testimony to his divinity. ... But the name of Christ
is invoked for salvation ... in Stephen, when he said, "Lord Jesus, receive my ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 13 the unity of.htm

Swedenborgians, Or, the New Jerusalem Church.
... Love, and so returned into his Divinity in which he ... time, those who acknowledge the
Lord Jesus Christ to be ... and, at length, wishes to be invoked and worshipped ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/swedenborgians or the new jerusalem.htm

On Idolatry
... which he offers to a false divinity, or for ... by the [popish] saints, and as discharged
by Christ Jesus. ... intercessors and donors, yet in subordination to Christ. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 23 on idolatry.htm

Papal Infallibility Explained, and Tested by Tradition and ...
... controversies on the Trinity and the Divinity of Christ ... will (hen thelema) of our
Lord Jesus Christ, since the ... orthodox Church by teaching that Christ had two ...
/.../ 34 papal infallibility explained.htm

The Mystery
... freely, as the Israelites in the wilderness of worshipping Jehovah; with temples ...
who keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus Christ.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

Crucified, Dead, and Buried. '
... opposite side, to view Him only in His Divinity. ... discipleship during the life-time
of Jesus, not only professed such of the Crucified Christ, [6195] but ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv crucified dead and.htm