The Watch Tower Society believes that only Jehovah is God therefore only he is entitled to receive worship. Any other worship is wrong. The Society states:
‘Most Hebrew and Greek words that can denote worship can also be applied to acts other than worship. However, the context determines in what way the respective words are to be understood.’ - Insight on the Scriptures, vol.2, 1988, p.1211
However, the Society's conclusions are decided in advance. They decide Jesus isn’t God the Son and allow that conclusion to colour every text that mentions Jesus being worshipped. This is not the way to do an open-minded Bible study.
History
The above position on worship has not always been held by the Society. Today a Jehovah’s Witness must not worship Jesus, but in 1916 they were told that many would worship even Charles Russell:
‘Charles Taze Russell thou hast, by the Lord, been crowned a king and through the everlasting ages thy name shall be known amongst the people, and thy enemies shall come and worship at thy feet.’ - Zion’s Watch Tower Reprints, 1 December 1916, p,6015
The Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, dated January 1945, declares part of the purpose of the Society, ‘...and for the public Christian worship of Almighty God and Jesus Christ.’
New World Translation Changes
The Society have made a number of changes to their own Bibles over the years to accommodate changes in teaching. The evolution of Hebrews 1:6 demonstrates this:
NWT 1970 – Let God’s angels worship him.’
NWT 1971 – ‘Let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.’ (footnote – ‘or worship him’)
NWT 1981 – ‘Let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.’ (NB no footnote)
NWT 1984 – ‘Let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.’ (no footnote)
KIT 1985 – Literal translation ‘let do obeisance toward.’ NWT – ‘Let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.’ (NB no footnote)
This means between 1970 and 1985 they have changed, in their own translation, worship to obeisance, with or without a footnote. In every case in Scripture the root Greek word is the same, proskuneo. However, where this refers to Jesus they translate it as ‘obeisance’ where, in referring to Jehovah they use ‘worship.’
prosekunesan – Mat.2:11 – obeisance to Jesus
prosekunesan – Rev.7:11 – worship to Jehovah
prosekunesan – John 9:38 – obeisance to Jesus
prosekunesan – Heb.11:21 – worship to Jehovah
There is no grammatical rule in Bible translation that allows such a change. Interestingly, the Society seems to agree, as the following quote demonstrates:
‘When the Gentile Cornelius bowed reverently to the apostle Peter, note what happened. ‘As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet and did obeisance to him. But Peter lifted him up, saying: ‘Rise, I myself am also a man.’ Bowing worshipfully to a human was improper, and Peter would not accept it’ – The Watchtower, 1 May, 1989, p.22 [emphasis added]
Obeisance in their own publication here means ‘bo worshipfully’ and so to give obeisance is to give worship!
Bible Teaching
This is very important in witnessing. There re any references in the New Testament to worship being offered to Jesus, even though the Society translates ‘obeisance’ in the text:
Matthew 2:11 – Wise men worshipped Jesus
Matthew 8:2 – a leper worshipped Jesus
Matthew 9:18 – a Jewish ruler worshipped Jesus
Matthew 14:63 – the Disciples worshipped Jesus
Matthew 15:25 – A Canaanite woman worshipped Jesus
Matthew 20:20 – A mother worshipped Jesus
Matthew 28:9 – The two Marys worshipped Jesus
Matthew 28:17 – Disciples worshipped Jesus
Mark 5:6 – a demoniac worshipped Jesus
John 9:38 – a blind man worshipped Jesus
‘Obeisance’ in Acts 10:25,26 is ‘bowing worshipfully,’ according to the Watchtower. On this basis Peter would not accept worship because he himself was also a man. If Jesus is also a creature, albeit and angel, why is he accepting worship? He accepted worship, the implications are clear; Jesus is neither an angel nor simply ‘the Greatest Man who ever Lived. He was acknowledging his status as God.
The Scripture Declares
‘For by him (Jesus) all things were created, both in the heavens and on the earth...all things have been created by him and for him, And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’ -Colossians 1:16,17
‘All things came into being by him; and apart from him nothng came nto being that has come into being.’ - John 1:3
‘Jesus Christ (he is Lord over all)’ - Acts 10:36
‘At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth, and under the earth.’ - Philippians 2:10
‘Every creature n heaven, on earth, and under the earth’ give equal, ‘blessing, glory, and honour and might forever and ever,’ to the Lamb as well as to the Father – Revelation 5:13-14
‘The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb’ – Revelation 5:8
Jesus Christ is not a creature at all, he is is the Creator and sustainer of all things, and all things worship him. Heaven already worships him, as do all who know and love him.
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