Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Is Jesus the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

In this presentation, unless otherwise noted, the World English Bible World English Bible version will be quoted.
In Exodus 3:13-15, we first read a question that Moses presented to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6), and then the response to that question:
Exodus 3:13
When I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, “The God of your fathers [Exodus 3:6] has sent me to you;” and they ask me, “What is his name?” What should I tell them?
Let us now read Jehovah’s response to that question:
Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM [EHJEH ASHER EHJEH],” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM [EHJEH] has sent me to you.'”
Then Ehyeh identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob:
Exodus 3:15
God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh [Jehovah], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.
The name – I AM WHO I AM – in Exodus 3:14 is often rendered into English as EHJEH ASHER EHJEH. The short form “I AM”, in Exodus 3:14, is often rendered in English as simply EHJEH. EHJEH and JEHOVAH should not be thought of as two different names; they are simply two forms of the same name.
It is often claimed, especially by trinitarians and Mormons, that Jesus is Jehovah (or, as some prefer, Yahweh), the God of the Old Testament.
Some use scriptures such as John 1:1 and John 8:58 to support their claim.
Some have even gone so far as to claim that the Father of Jesus is NOT “I AM” (EHJEH), the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Exodus 3:14,15. These who claim that the Father is not EHJEH thus claim that only Jesus is EHJEH, JEHOVAH, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who spoke to Moses.
If it was actually Jesus who claimed to be Ehjeh, Jehovah, in Exodus 3:14,15, then this would mean that Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that Jesus’ name is “I am” – EHJEH, etc. Trinitarians allege that this was Jesus, whom they further allege to be the second person of their triune God. They thus claim that the God of the Bible is three persons, all whom they claim to be the “one God” of the Bible.
In the Bible, however, we actually find no teaching of a trinity, nor do we find any mention at all of a trinue God. Additionally, we do not find any place in the Bible in which the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is ever once presented as more than one individual (or, person). Furthermore, we do not find any scripture in the Bible that ever presents Jesus as being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, although some read that thought into several scriptures. Indeed, in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is ALWAYS presented as being one individual (or, person). In the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is ALWAYS distinguished from the Messiah, the one whom He anointed and sent.
How do we know that it was JEHOVAH — the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob of Exodus 3:14,15 — who sent Jesus? In Isaiah 61:1, the Messiah is prophetically presented as saying:
The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is on Me, because Jehovah has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the meek. He has sent Me....  -- Green's Literal.
Jesus, in effect, showed that he was the one anointed by Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14), when he quoted the words of Isaiah 61:1 as recorded at Luke 4:17-20. It was the indeed, Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Exodus 3:14,15, who anointed Jesus, and who sent Jesus.
If examined closely, one can see that the entire Bible is fully at harmony with itself without adding the trinity doctrine.
Nor is there is any scriptural reason to add any kind of doctrine into the Bible that Jesus is Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It was the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” of Exodus 3:14,15, who declared that He would raise up a prophet that would be like Moses. Moses told the children of Israel:
Deuteronomy 18:15 - Jehovah your God shall raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, one like me; you shall listen to him. -- Green's Literal.

Moses then related to Israel what Jehovah had said to him:

Deuteronomy 18:18 - I shall raise up a prophet to them from among their brothers, one like you; and I will put My Words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.

Notice that it was Jehovah, EHJEH, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15), who said to Moses that He would raise up a prophet from among the children of Israel. It was Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15), who said that He would put His words into the mouth of this prophet, and that this prophet would speak all that Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would command of him. Thus, rather than proclaiming that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the Messiah, the prophet Moses shows that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob says that He will send the Messiah, and that this prophet would speak His words.
We will next look at Psalm 110:1, which states, according the American Standard Version:

Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

David thus identifies the Messiah as sitting at the right hand of Jehovah, not as Jehovah Himself.
In Acts 2:32-36, Peter applies “Jehovah” from Psalm 110:1, not to Jesus, but rather to the Only True God (John 17:3), the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. — Exodus 3:14,15.
Acts 2:32
This Jesus God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
In Acts 2:32, Peter is speaking of when God raised Jesus up from the dead. “God” in Acts 2:32 refers to one person, not three persons, nor does “God” in Acts 2:32 refer to Jesus.
Acts 2:33
Being therefore exalted by the right hand of [Jehovah – Psalm 110:1], and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured forth this, which you now see and hear.
Peter states that Jesus, having been raised from the dead, has been exalted to the right hand of Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. — Exodus 3:14,15.
Acts 2:34
For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘[Jehovah – Psalm 110:1] said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,
Thus, Peter identifies “God” of Acts 2:32 as Jehovah of Exodus 3:14,15, and Peter also shows that Jesus sits at the right hand of Jehovah, not that Jesus is Jehovah.
Acts 2:36
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Peter consistently speaks here of “God”, not as being three persons, but as being one individual, and identifies that one individual as “Jehovah” of Psalm 110:1. He does not at all identify Jesus as being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Peter consistently distinguishes “God” from “Jesus of Nazareth”. Peter does not here or anywhere else ever include Jesus as being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
That Peter is referring to EHJEH — I AM — the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (of Exodus 3:14,15) as the God and Father of Jesus may be further seen by Peter’s words as recorded in the next chapter beginning with Acts 3:13, which reads:
Acts 3:13
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
In Acts 3:13 Peter speaks of the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who spoke to Moses, and who declared His name to be “I AM” (EHJEH), as recorded in Exodus 3:14,15. Rather than saying that it was Jesus who spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:14,15, as many have claimed, Peter declares that it was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (of Exodus 3:14,15) who glorified Jesus, and that Jesus is Jehovah’s servant.
Think!
Does this read at all as though Peter thought that Jesus IS the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
But we have even further evidence as we read more of Peter’s words from Acts 3:14,15:
Acts 3:14
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
Acts 3:15
and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.
Again, Peter distinguishes Jesus from EHJEH (I AM), the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Acts 3:13; Exodus 3:14,15), and declares that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had raised Jesus from the dead.
Let us continue with Acts 3:18:
Acts 3:18
But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Again, Peter, by his words recorded in Acts 3:18, speaks of EHJEH (I AM), the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not as Jesus, nor as three persons, but as one individual, and he states that this one individual was the One who foretold Jesus by means of all His prophets.
Acts 3:19
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come times of refreshing from the presence [Greek, transliterated, Prosopon, Strong’s 4383, face] of [Jehovah — Psalm 80:19],
Acts 3:20
and that he [Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — Acts 3:13; Exodus 3:14,15] may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before,
Acts 3:21
whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from ancient times.
Peter continues to distinguish Jehovah [EHJEH/I AM] of Exodus 3:14,15, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, from Jesus. It is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Acts 3:13) who sent Christ Jesus! In common reasoning, if Bob sends Jack on an errand, no one thinks that Jack is Bob. Likewise, the default reasoning is that Jesus is NOT Jehovah who sent Jesus.
However, to believe that Jesus is Jehovah (Yahweh) of the Old Testament, one has to throw the default reasoning out the window, and rely greatly upon the spirit of human imagination so as add assumption upon assumption to the scriptures in order to make the scriptures appear to be saying the very opposite of what they do say.
In Acts 3:22, Peter connects the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Acts 3:13; Exodus 3:14,15) with Jehovah who said he raise up a prophet like Moses, as we read in Deuteronomy 18:15-18.
Acts 3:22
For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘[Jehovah — Exodus 23:17; 34:23; Deuteronomy 3:24; 9:26;18:15,17] will raise up a prophet to you from among your brothers, like me. You will listen to him in all things whatever he says to you.
Peter’s words in Acts 3:22 definitely demonstrate that Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob of the Old Testament (Acts 3:13), who spoke to Moses at Exodus 3:14,15, is NOT Jesus.
Let us now look at Hebrews 1:1,2:
Hebrews 1:1
God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
Hebrews 1:2
has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the [ages].
Who is “God” in these verses, and who is Jesus? “God” is said to have spoken “through the prophets” in the days of the Jewish “fathers”. Was this not the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob of Exodus 3:14 who spoke through the “fathers” of Israel?
Numbers 12:6
If there be a prophet among you, I [Jehovah] will make myself known to him in a vision, I will speak with him in a dream.
It was Jehovah/Ehjeh of Exodus 3:14,15, who declared that he speaks to the prophets of Israel. — Numbers 12:6
Exodus 4:30
Jehovah had spoken to Moses. -- Green's Literal.
Exodus 6:2,3
And God spoke to Moses and said to him, I am Jehovah. And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, and by My name JEHOVAH I have not been known to them. -- Green's Literal.
Therefore, it was “Jehovah/Ehjeh”, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15) who spoke through the prophet Moses. — Exodus 4:30; 6:1,2; 6:10; 7:8; 8:1; 21:1; 13:1, etc.
Joshua 1:1
Jehovah spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,,… -- Green's L
It was “Jehovah/Ehjeh”, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15) who spoke through the prophet Joshua. —Joshua 1:1; 4:8,15; 20:1; etc.
1 Samuel 9:17
When Samuel saw Saul, then Jehovah answered him.... -- Green's Literal.
It was “Jehovah/Ehjeh”, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15) who spoke through the prophet Samuel. — 1 Samuel 9:17.
1 Kings 5:5
Jehovah spoke to my father David. -- Green's Literal.
1 Kings 8:15; 2 Chronicles 6:4
And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, God of Israel, who spoke by His mouth with my father David. -- Green's Literal.
It was “Jehovah/Ehjeh”, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15) who spoke through the prophet David. —1 Kings 5:5;18:15; 2 Chronicles 6:4.
2 Samuel 12:7
And Nathan said to David, You are the man! So says Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed you as king over Israel….” -- Green's Literal.
It was “Jehovah/Ehjeh”, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15), who spoke through the prophet Nathan.–2 Samuel 12:7.
2 Kings 10:10
Jehovah has done that which He spoke by the hand of His servant Elijah. -- Green's Literal.
It was “Jehovah/Ehjeh”, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15) who spoke through the prophet Elijah. — 2 Kings 10:10.
Isaiah 20:2
Jehovah spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying,... -- Green's Literal
It was “Jehovah/Ehjeh”, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:14,15) who spoke through the prophet Isaiah. —Isaiah 20:2.
Let us return now to Hebrews 1:1,2:
Hebrews 1:1
God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
Hebrews 1:2
has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the [ages].
For those who say that the Father is not Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, notice that Hebrews 1:2 refers to “his Son”, that is, to the Son of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Most definitely, then, “God” In Hebrews 1:1 is the God and Father of Jesus (Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3), He who is Ehjeh, Jehovah, of Exodus 3:14,15, and Jesus is identified as the Son of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Does Hebrew 1 ever state Jesus as being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or that Jesus is a person of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
See our studies:
As we have seen, Jesus, the prophet like Moses, came in the name of Jehovah, as prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15-19; if Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then it would mean that Jesus’ name is Jehovah, and thus, that Jesus came in his own name. However, Jesus indicated that he did did not come in his own name. — John 5:43.
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by means of his holy spirit, reveals through the scriptures that He Himself (Jehovah) is the only true God, the unipersonal God and Father of the Lord Jesus. Jesus has One who is the Supreme Being over him; Jesus is not his Supreme Being whom he worships, prays to, and who sent him, and whose will he carried out in willful obedience. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Matthew 4:4 [Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:4]; Matthew 4:7 [Deuteronomy 6:16]; Matthew 4:10 [Exodus 20:3-5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:13,14; 10:20; Luke 4:8]; Matthew 22:29-40; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 27:46; Mark 10:6 [Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7,20-23]; Mark 14:36; 15:34;Luke 22:42; John 4:3; 5:30; 6:38; 17:1,3; 20:17; Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 11:31; Ephesians 1:3,17;Hebrews 1:9; 10:7; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 2:7; 3:2,12
For links to studies in general regarding Jesus and his God:
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