WORSHIP or HOMMAGE?
Apr 30, 2016 4:35:07 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Apr 30, 2016 4:35:07 GMT -5
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Jehovah's Witneeses have never believed Jesus to be God and have always encouraged worship of the Creator Jehovah THROUGH Jesus. Prior to this time however, there was an indeed an incomplete understanding as to a distinction between homage (to Jesus) and worship (to Jehovah) resulting in statements that indicated worship it's various senses was due to both.
WORSHIP or HOMMAGE?
Prior to January 1st 1954 the early bible students did not fully understand the word Greek word “pros·ky·ne′o" properly rendered (“do obeisance” pay homage, bow down) previously rendered "worship" in the society's publications regardless of whether it was applied to Jesus or Jehovah. A fuller understanding lead to a revision in rendition, clarifying that worship belonged to Jehovah and "obeisance" to Jesus (see (John 9: 38; Philipians 2: 10).
That said, as early as 1906 it was clear they understood the "secondary" meaning of the word. drawing attention to the astrologers "worship" of Jesus the January 1st issue (p. 15) of that year spoke about the {quote} "senses of the word" and highlighted it to be in the sense of ...(1) reverence, (2) expressions of rejoicing and confidence and (3) recognition of royalty.
Thus even in the early days, Jehovah's Witnesses recognised the distinction between their exclusive devotion in worshipful service to JEHOVAH as opposed to their respect and recognition of his son.
PETITIONS OR WORSHIP?
In the early days, the bible students did feel it was acceptable to ask Jesus directly for things (make pétitions). Russell recognized however that such a thing was NOT INSTRUCTED IN SCRIPTURE, writing in Zion's Watch Tower 1892 May 15 p.157 he states :
"....Although we are nowhere instructed to make PETITIONS to him, it evidently could not be improper so to do; for such a course is nowhere prohibited [...]" Zion's Watch Tower 1892 May 15 p.157
So the answer to the question is no, Jehovah's witness have (and continued) to worship Jehovah alone through Jesus but their publications in the past have failed (by rendering pros·ky·ne′o in relation to Jesus 'worship' instead of obeisance/hommage ) to properly communicate the difference. The also failed to understand that it was inappropriate to petition Jesus directly. All this is simply further evidence of the light of accurate understanding increasing and Jehovah's Witnesses in line with this shedding unscriptural beliefs (see Proverbs 4: 18. )
onlytruegod.org/defense/proskyneo_worship.htm
fosterheologicalreflections.blogspot.fr/2009/08/lily-ross-taylor-on-proskunhsis.html
Non-Witness
examiningthetrinity.blogspot.com/2009/08/worship-as-used-in-scripture.html
(non-witness)
www.xenos.org/essays/worship.htm