A. The Jehovah's Witnesses believe the Lord Jesus is not God and so therefore should never be worshiped.
1. Reverent adoration should be expressed only to God. To render worship to anyone or anything else would be a form of idolatry...True Christians do well to direct their worship only to Jehovah God, the Almighty (Awake! April 8, 2000, page 26+27). Since "every prayer is a form of worship" (The Watchtower, December 15, 1994, page 23) this would mean that praying to the Lord Jesus is not allowed.
B. We have already seen elsewhere that Paul believed the Lord Jesus was to be prayed to/worshiped.
1. See "Call Upon the Name of the Lord - Praying to Jesus" (Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:22): http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesus
2. See also "Doxologies to the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 4:18): http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...d-Jesus-Christ
C. 2 Corinthians 12:8
Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me (2 Corinthians 12:8, NASB).
1. In verse 8 Paul declared that he implored the Lord. Someone might insist that besought doesn't have to mean prayer. If they resort to this argument I would ask if a Roman Catholic stated that he/she implored Mary (the mother of Jesus) would that mean they were praying to Mary?
The obvious answer is yes.
2. The JW's believe this is a prayer:
The apostle Paul prayed for relief from what he called his “thorn in the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) This “thorn” may refer to a chronic eye affliction or to the constant harassment of opposers and “false brothers.” (2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 4:14, 15) Paul wrote: “I three times entreated the Lord that it might depart from me.” However, God knew that if Paul continued preaching despite this nagging “thorn in the flesh,” it would clearly demonstrate God’s power and Paul’s implicit trust in Him. So rather than grant Paul’s request, God told him: “My power is being made perfect in weakness.”—2 Corinthians 12:8, 9. (The Watchtower, Why Do Some Prayers Go Unanswered, January 1, 2009).
Interestingly, the New World Translation in 2 Corinthians 12:8 does not read Jehovah but Lord.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would depart from me (2 Corinthians 12:8, NWT)
www.watchtower.org/bible/
3. Murray Harris: In secular Greek parakalew is a common word for invoking a deity for aid (The New International Greek Testament Commentary, 2 Corinthians, Murray J. Harris, page 859). He cites in footnote #167 the TDNT 5:775 which reads: for calling on the gods or God in prayer, with a suggestion of the original sense of invoking divine help, e.g., Plat.Leg., 11, 917b and931c (TDNT 5:775, parakalew, O. Schmitz).
4. NIDNTT: In this way the early church bears witness to the fact that it regards Jesus Christ as its Lord and living head, who, having conquered death, is alive for evermore. Consequently one can enter into living, personal contact with him, talking with him just as one did when he was on earth (cf. Acts 9:10-16; 2 Cor. 12:8f) (2:867, Prayer, H. Schonweiss).
5. NIDNTT: Paul also mentions the word that the exalted Lord spoke to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9) (3:315, Revelation, W. Mundle).
6. TDNT: Paul tells us that three times he called on the risen Lord in vain for deliverance from the angel of Satan (5:794, parakalew, Schmitz).
7. Danker: 8- In view of the context, v. 9, it is probable that Paul addressed these three petitions to Christ. If such is the case, it is a unique departure from Paul's custom, which is to address God as the one who is ultimately responsible for everything (cf. 5:18; Rom. 11:33-36). Paul's Jewish liturgical tradition is still firmly entrenched, but Christ is the natural object of his petition here, for it is in the proclamation of his service for all humanity that Paul is engaged. An answer coming from Christ will indeed be especially meaningful (Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: 2 Corinthians, page 194).
8. Vine: Prayer is properly addressed to God the Father, Matt. 6:6; John 16:23; Eph. 1:17; 3:14, and the Son, Acts 7:59; 2 Cor. 12:8 (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Prayer, page 872).
9. Murray Harris: It is scarcely open to question that the person addressed in Paul's plea for relief from the battering of the messenger of Satan was the Lord Jesus (The New International Greek Testament Commentary, 2 Corinthians, Murray J. Harris, page 860).
10. R.T. France: In 2 Corinthians 12:8, for instance, who was the 'Lord" to whom Paul prayed? Normally his prayers are addressed to God, but "my power" in the answer to Paul's prayer appears to be identified with 'the power of Christ' (verse 9). It seems then that for Paul, Jesus was already so much identified with God that the same language was naturally applicable to each ("The Worship of Jesus - A Neglected Factor In Christological Debate?", R.T. France, Vox Evangelica, 12, c. 1981, 19-33 -> This quote here appears on page 29).
D. Philippians 2:10
so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:10, NASB).
1. There are four passages as found in the New Testament (only by Paul) where "bow" (kamptw) is used - and everyone refers to worship (Philippians 2:10; Romans 11:4; 14:11; Ephesians 3:14).
2. TDNT: kamptein gonu (gonata) is the gesture of full inner submission in worship to the one before whom we bow the knee. Thus in R. 14:11 bowing the knee is linked with confession within the context of a judgment scene, and in Phil. 2:10 it again accompanies confession with reference to the worship of the exalted Kyrios Jesus by the cosmos. At R. 14:11 kamptein gonu te Baal signifies surrender to Baal, and at Eph. 3:14 the formula kamptw ta gonata pros ton theon is a solemn description of the attitude of submission to God in prayer (3:594-595, kamptw, Schlier).
3. Thayer: to bow the knee, of those worshipping God or Christ: Ro. 11:4; Eph. 3:14; Ro 14:11 (1 K. 19:18); Phil. 2:10 (Is. 45:23) (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, gonu, page 120).
4. Vine: to bend, is used especially of bending the knees in religious veneration, Rom. 11:4; 14:11; Eph. 3:14; Phil. 2:10 (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Bow - kamptw, page 135).
5. Murray Harris: Object of worship (Phil. 2:10-11) (Jesus as God, An Outline to the New Testament Testimony to the Deity of Christ, page 316).
6. Robertson: 2:11 {Should confess} (exomologˆsˆtai). First aorist middle subjunctive of exomologeomai with hina for purpose. {Lord} (kurios). Peter (#Ac 2:36) claimed that God made Christ "Lord." See also #1Co 8:6; 12:3; Ro 10:9. Kennedy mourns that the term Lord has become one of the most lifeless in the Christian vocabulary, whereas it really declares the true character and dignity of Jesus Christ and "is the basis and the object of worship."
http://www.godrules.net/library/robert/robertphi2.htm
7. Holman Bible Dictionary: Kneeling was the posture of prayer (Daniel 6:10; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:3; Ephesians 3:14; compare 1 Kings 18:42), acknowledging a superior (2 Kings 1:13; Matthew 17:14; Matthew 27:29; Mark 1:40; Mark 10:17; Luke 5:8), or worship of God (1 Kings 8:54), Jesus (Philippians 2:10), or idols (1 Kings 19:18; Isaiah 66:3 where blessing an idol refers to kneeling before an idol)
http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?n=3696
1. Reverent adoration should be expressed only to God. To render worship to anyone or anything else would be a form of idolatry...True Christians do well to direct their worship only to Jehovah God, the Almighty (Awake! April 8, 2000, page 26+27). Since "every prayer is a form of worship" (The Watchtower, December 15, 1994, page 23) this would mean that praying to the Lord Jesus is not allowed.
B. We have already seen elsewhere that Paul believed the Lord Jesus was to be prayed to/worshiped.
1. See "Call Upon the Name of the Lord - Praying to Jesus" (Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:22): http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesus
2. See also "Doxologies to the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 4:18): http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...d-Jesus-Christ
C. 2 Corinthians 12:8
Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me (2 Corinthians 12:8, NASB).
1. In verse 8 Paul declared that he implored the Lord. Someone might insist that besought doesn't have to mean prayer. If they resort to this argument I would ask if a Roman Catholic stated that he/she implored Mary (the mother of Jesus) would that mean they were praying to Mary?
The obvious answer is yes.
2. The JW's believe this is a prayer:
The apostle Paul prayed for relief from what he called his “thorn in the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) This “thorn” may refer to a chronic eye affliction or to the constant harassment of opposers and “false brothers.” (2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 4:14, 15) Paul wrote: “I three times entreated the Lord that it might depart from me.” However, God knew that if Paul continued preaching despite this nagging “thorn in the flesh,” it would clearly demonstrate God’s power and Paul’s implicit trust in Him. So rather than grant Paul’s request, God told him: “My power is being made perfect in weakness.”—2 Corinthians 12:8, 9. (The Watchtower, Why Do Some Prayers Go Unanswered, January 1, 2009).
Interestingly, the New World Translation in 2 Corinthians 12:8 does not read Jehovah but Lord.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would depart from me (2 Corinthians 12:8, NWT)
www.watchtower.org/bible/
3. Murray Harris: In secular Greek parakalew is a common word for invoking a deity for aid (The New International Greek Testament Commentary, 2 Corinthians, Murray J. Harris, page 859). He cites in footnote #167 the TDNT 5:775 which reads: for calling on the gods or God in prayer, with a suggestion of the original sense of invoking divine help, e.g., Plat.Leg., 11, 917b and931c (TDNT 5:775, parakalew, O. Schmitz).
4. NIDNTT: In this way the early church bears witness to the fact that it regards Jesus Christ as its Lord and living head, who, having conquered death, is alive for evermore. Consequently one can enter into living, personal contact with him, talking with him just as one did when he was on earth (cf. Acts 9:10-16; 2 Cor. 12:8f) (2:867, Prayer, H. Schonweiss).
5. NIDNTT: Paul also mentions the word that the exalted Lord spoke to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9) (3:315, Revelation, W. Mundle).
6. TDNT: Paul tells us that three times he called on the risen Lord in vain for deliverance from the angel of Satan (5:794, parakalew, Schmitz).
7. Danker: 8- In view of the context, v. 9, it is probable that Paul addressed these three petitions to Christ. If such is the case, it is a unique departure from Paul's custom, which is to address God as the one who is ultimately responsible for everything (cf. 5:18; Rom. 11:33-36). Paul's Jewish liturgical tradition is still firmly entrenched, but Christ is the natural object of his petition here, for it is in the proclamation of his service for all humanity that Paul is engaged. An answer coming from Christ will indeed be especially meaningful (Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: 2 Corinthians, page 194).
8. Vine: Prayer is properly addressed to God the Father, Matt. 6:6; John 16:23; Eph. 1:17; 3:14, and the Son, Acts 7:59; 2 Cor. 12:8 (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Prayer, page 872).
9. Murray Harris: It is scarcely open to question that the person addressed in Paul's plea for relief from the battering of the messenger of Satan was the Lord Jesus (The New International Greek Testament Commentary, 2 Corinthians, Murray J. Harris, page 860).
10. R.T. France: In 2 Corinthians 12:8, for instance, who was the 'Lord" to whom Paul prayed? Normally his prayers are addressed to God, but "my power" in the answer to Paul's prayer appears to be identified with 'the power of Christ' (verse 9). It seems then that for Paul, Jesus was already so much identified with God that the same language was naturally applicable to each ("The Worship of Jesus - A Neglected Factor In Christological Debate?", R.T. France, Vox Evangelica, 12, c. 1981, 19-33 -> This quote here appears on page 29).
D. Philippians 2:10
so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:10, NASB).
1. There are four passages as found in the New Testament (only by Paul) where "bow" (kamptw) is used - and everyone refers to worship (Philippians 2:10; Romans 11:4; 14:11; Ephesians 3:14).
2. TDNT: kamptein gonu (gonata) is the gesture of full inner submission in worship to the one before whom we bow the knee. Thus in R. 14:11 bowing the knee is linked with confession within the context of a judgment scene, and in Phil. 2:10 it again accompanies confession with reference to the worship of the exalted Kyrios Jesus by the cosmos. At R. 14:11 kamptein gonu te Baal signifies surrender to Baal, and at Eph. 3:14 the formula kamptw ta gonata pros ton theon is a solemn description of the attitude of submission to God in prayer (3:594-595, kamptw, Schlier).
3. Thayer: to bow the knee, of those worshipping God or Christ: Ro. 11:4; Eph. 3:14; Ro 14:11 (1 K. 19:18); Phil. 2:10 (Is. 45:23) (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, gonu, page 120).
4. Vine: to bend, is used especially of bending the knees in religious veneration, Rom. 11:4; 14:11; Eph. 3:14; Phil. 2:10 (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Bow - kamptw, page 135).
5. Murray Harris: Object of worship (Phil. 2:10-11) (Jesus as God, An Outline to the New Testament Testimony to the Deity of Christ, page 316).
6. Robertson: 2:11 {Should confess} (exomologˆsˆtai). First aorist middle subjunctive of exomologeomai with hina for purpose. {Lord} (kurios). Peter (#Ac 2:36) claimed that God made Christ "Lord." See also #1Co 8:6; 12:3; Ro 10:9. Kennedy mourns that the term Lord has become one of the most lifeless in the Christian vocabulary, whereas it really declares the true character and dignity of Jesus Christ and "is the basis and the object of worship."
http://www.godrules.net/library/robert/robertphi2.htm
7. Holman Bible Dictionary: Kneeling was the posture of prayer (Daniel 6:10; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:3; Ephesians 3:14; compare 1 Kings 18:42), acknowledging a superior (2 Kings 1:13; Matthew 17:14; Matthew 27:29; Mark 1:40; Mark 10:17; Luke 5:8), or worship of God (1 Kings 8:54), Jesus (Philippians 2:10), or idols (1 Kings 19:18; Isaiah 66:3 where blessing an idol refers to kneeling before an idol)
http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?n=3696
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