Matthew 1:23: Immanuel - Does This Mean that Jesus is God?

Matthew 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;" which is, being interpreted, "God with us." -- World English.

See, the virgin will become pregnant, and they will name Him Immanuel , which is translated "God is with us." -- Matthew 1:23, Holman Christian Standard Bible version 

The above scripture is often quoted by trinitarians without any explanation as to how this verse is supposed to mean that Jesus is God or a person of "God".  This verse is often referred to as saying "Jesus is God with us." Actually, Matthew 1:23 does not say "Jesus is God with us", nor is any such thought found anywhere in the Bible. There is definitely nothing in Matthew 1:23 that says that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is three persons, and that Jesus is a person of Jehovah. Rather it says that they -- those who believe in him -- will call the one whom Jehovah anointed (Isaiah 61:1) by the name Emmauel (Immanuel), and that this name means, "God with us", as this reads in many translations. Such names are usually given a translation in sentence form, and thus many give the meaning of the name as "God is with us." Indeed, the phrase is rendered in practically all translations in Isaiah 8:10 with the linking verb "is". Unlike English and many other languages, ancient Hebrew, as well as Koine Greek, did not always require a verb. Such linking verbs such as "is" and "are" are often supplied by translators.

Nevertheless, we know of no one who is consistent in the kind of application that many like to the name Immauel in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Many other names given to many people are with similar construction speaking of God, but no one thinks that the usage of God or Jah in those names is being applied to the bearer of those names. 

"Jehu", for instance, means "Jah he" or actually in English with the verb supplied: "Jah is he." "Jah" is a short form of the name often rendered as Jehovah. No one, however, thinks that the bearer of the name Jehu is Jehovah. Some references give the meaning as "He is God." This actually changes the shortened form of the Holy Name to "God"; God has nowhere given anyone authorization to change His eternal Holy Name to other words that do not even mean the same. The point, however, is that the bearer of this name is not who is being referred to as "Jah" or "God", but rather it is Jehovah Himself that is being spoken of. 

The scriptures show that "God" (one person, not three persons) was "with" Jesus. This is the same one person who spoke through the prophets of old, and who now speaks through His son, Jesus. (Hebrews 1:1,2) Peter spoke of "Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit  (Isaiah 11:2; 61:1) and with power, who went about [in the days of his flesh -- Hebrews 5:7] doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." (Acts 10:38, World English) Peter used the word "God" twice while speaking of Jesus. He first stated how "God" anointed Jesus. Earlier Peter stated: "God has made him both Lord and Christ [meaning, anointed one], this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36) Was it three persons that anointed Jesus, or was it one person? Isaiah quotes the Messiah prophetically as stating: "Jehovah hath anointed me" (Isaiah 61:1, American Standard Version) This is the same Jehovah who proclaimed Himself to be "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (Exodus 3:14,15) The one person who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob speaks and performs His works through His son. — Deuteronomy 18:15-19; John 3:34; 5:19; 6:38; 7:16,28,29; 8:28,38,40; 12:29; 14:10; 17:8; Acts 3:13-26; Hebrews 1:1,2.

But when Peter said: "God was with him" (Acts 10:38), who was Peter speaking of as being "God"? Again, it is only one person spoken of as God that Peter speaks of who was with Jesus. However, the fact that "God was with him," and the fact that Jesus was with Israel, demonstrates that God, being with the one whom He anointed, was also with His people Israel through Jesus' presence. However, only a few recognized Jesus for who he really was. -- John 1:10-12.

There is no scriptural reason to add to the scriptures dogma that would make Jesus a person of the Most High, or any teaching that Jesus is the Most High.


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