Does the NT contain evident that Jesus was worshipped?
Ben Crick
ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Wed Jun 24 18:07:41 EDT 1998
On Wed 24 Jun 98 (05:46:55), questioning1 at yahoo.com wrote:
> Therefore, Matthew is reporting that Jesus said ONLY YHWH is to be
> "worshiped." This doesn't mean, however, that YHWH is the only one Who
> can properly receive PROSKEUNEW. It is my contention that PROSKEUNEW
> does not PRIMARILY denote "worship." This is seen in a number of ways:
> [excellent homework snipped]
Dear Edgar:
With respect, I would want to look at the reaction when Cornelius fell
down at Peter's feet "and worshipped him" PESWN EPI PODAS PROSEKUNHSEN.
Peter replied "...ANASTHQI· KAI EGW AUTOS ANQRWPOS EIMI" (Acts 10:25-26).
Clearly this ANQRWPOS EIMI is Peter's rejection of any hint of aspirations
to deity or godlike status, implied by the verb PROSKUNEW. This was not
just the KENTURIWN "saluting" his superior officer, like his CILIARCOS. You
stand to attention to salute; you don't do it from a prone lying position!
There is the very similar passage in Revelation, where John falls down to
worship the angel who revealed certain things to him. John writes "...
EPESA PROSKUNHSAI EMPROSQEN TWN PODWN TOU AGGELOU TOU DEIKNOUONTOS MOI
TAUTA" (Revelation 22:8). The angel replied "hORA MH· SUNDOULOS SOU EIMI
KAI TWN ADELFWN SOU TWN PROFHTWN KAI TWN THROUNTWN TOUS LOGOUS TOU BIBLIOU
TOUTOU· TWi QEWi PROSKUNHSON". Clearly again, the angel denies in the
strongest terms any aspirations to deity: only Deity is to be worshipped
by any creature.
I hesitate to mention Romans 1:25, because the verb there is SEBAZOMAI, not
PROSKUNEW; but here are men who change the truth of God into a lie (what
John's angel referred to as TOUS LOGOUS TOU BIBLIOU TOUTOU) and worshipped
the creature, instead of the Creator Who is blessed for ever: "hOITINES
METHLLAXAN THN ALHQIAN TOU QEOU EN TWi YEUDEI KAI ESEBASQHSAN KAI ELATREUSAN
THi KTISEI PARA TON KTISANTA, hOS ESTIN EULOGHTOS EIS TOUS AIWNAS, AMHN".
My "Amen" goes to that too.
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
<ben.crick at argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
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