Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself. -- King James Version
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who stretches forth the heavens alone; who spreads abroad the earth (who is with me?). -- World English Bible.
Isaiah 44:24 is often quoted as support for the extra-Biblical trinity doctrine. It is claimed that God was all by himself in the creation of the world of mankind, and therefore there could not have been another person there, not unless the other person was also God himself, as is claimed in the trinity dogma. In reality, there is nothing in Isaiah 44:24 that presents Jehovah as more than one person, and there no scriptural reason to imagine and assume that "Jehovah" in Isaiah 44:24 is not the same one person who is "Jehovah" in Isaiah 66:1. We do not need the extra-Biblical trinity rhetoric about three persons in order for this scripture to be harmonized with other scriptures.
It is often further claimed by many that Jesus is identified as the Creator in John 1:3,10; Colossians 1:16,17 and Hebrews 1:10, and thus Jesus must be Jehovah of Isaiah 44:24.
If Jehovah was indeed totally alone at the creation spoken of in Isaiah 44:24, then, in harmony with the rest of the scriptures, we could reason that this verse is referring to when he first produced the material universe before He brought forth his firstborn son, but, after that, he most certainly was not alone in the creation of the world of mankind, the heavens and the earth being spoken of in Genesis 1,2. Jesus was indeed present at the beginning of the world that was made through him, as spoken of in Genesis 1:1; John 1:1,3,10; 17:5. So were the angels present during the creation of that "world", with its heavens and earth. (Job 38:4-7 -- Should one also reason that all of these sons of God are also persons of God?) The "world" -- the skies and the land, and all that was in them, was indeed created through, or by means of Jesus. That "world" did not include the angels, since we read in John 1:10 that this that was made through Jesus did not recognize him when he came into the world. On the other hand, even the fallen angels did recognize who Jesus was during the days of his flesh. (Mark 3:11; 5:7; Luke 8:28; Hebrews 5:7) Thus Jesus was evidently brought forth into being as the firstborn creature (Colossians 1:15) sometime after the creation of the material universe, but before the beginning of the creation of the world of mankind that is spoken of in Genesis 1:1-2:4; Exodus 20:11; 31:17; John 1:1,10 and 17:5.
See "In the Beginning"
https://jesusnotyhwh.blogspot.com/2016/11/john1beginning.html
From this standpoint, we would have to see that Isaiah 44:24 is not speaking of the creation of the world of mankind, as in Genesis 1:1-2:4; Exodus 20:11; 31:17; John 1:1,10; 17:5, and Hebrews 1:10, but rather to the event before that creation, that is, the creation of the material universe itself.
However, even if Isaiah 44:24 should be thought to be speaking of the same creation as the Genesis 1:2, Exodus 20:11; 31:17; John 1:1,10; 17:5, and Hebrew 1:10 it would not necessarily follow that the word "alone" as used in that verse would lead to the conclusion that Jesus' presence with Jehovah in that creation would mean that Jesus would have to be Jehovah whom John says that Jesus was with (or toward) in the beginning. The word "alone" is often used in relation to what is being spoken, either as of a kind, or in context.
The word translated "alone" in the World English Bible translation is Strong's #905; it is the same word used of Adam in Genesis 2:18. Of course, we know that Adam was not totally alone, for he had God with whom he could speak; however, as regards a mate or a fellow human, he was alone. -- Genesis 2:20.
When Jacob said to Reuben concerning taking Benjamin to Egypt: "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone [Strong's #905]." (Genesis 44:28; 44:20) Jacob did not mean that Benjamin was totally alone, but in reference to what he was speaking, his sons by Rachel, whom he loved. (Genesis 29:18,30; 35:24) Jacob did not know that Joseph was still alive, and thought him to be dead.
One could find more references, but the point of these examples is that the word "alone" does not necessarily mean totally alone, but in most cases must be viewed in the context of which it is speaking.
From this standpoint, the context in Isaiah 44:24 shows that Jehovah is talking about the idol-gods and the men who worshiped them. Jehovah was without any of these gods (nor the men who worshiped them) in the creation of the heavens and earth. A comparison scripture shows this:
Jehovah alone did lead him, There was no foreign god with him. -- Deuteronomy 32:12.
Was Jehovah saying here that actually no one else led the nation of Israel? Or is he saying that he was without any of the foreign gods in leading the nation?
Exodus 15:22: Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
Here we read that Moses led Israel. Should we assume, like our trinitarians neighbors do with Jesus, that Moses is God Almighty, since Jehovah said that he alone led Israel? After all, isn't Moses also called elohim? -- Exodus 7:1.
Now, let us look at one more scripture:
Psalm 77:20: You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Here we read that Jehovah led his people by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Thus we can realize that Jehovah alone did lead them, but that he did so by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Likewise, Jehovah alone is the creator, yet he made the creation by the hand of Jesus.
The context of Isaiah 44:24 shows he was possibly comparing himself to the people of Israel here on earth and the idols they were making. (verses 1-23) None of these people who were forming these idols nor any of these formed idols were with Jehovah in the creation. So from this standpoint, even if Jehovah's words are speaking of the same creation as spoken of in John 1:1, it is not saying that Jehovah was not using Jesus in the instrument of creation, but rather that the idols gods of the nations were not with him at that creation.
In verse 19 it says "None calls to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,..." Taken out of context, this appears to be saying that there is no one [which taken to extremes could include even the angels] that calls to mind, etc. The context tells us that it is speaking of those who form idols from wood, however.
The word translated "alone" in Isaiah 44:24 is the Hebrew word bad (Strong's Hebrew #905). It is a word that used in comparison, and does not necessarily mean totally alone, but rather alone in relation to what is being spoken of. (Genesis 2:18; 32:24; Judges 6:40) Thus, in Isaiah 44:24 Jehovah could be seen in comparison with the idol-gods spoken of in the context (Isiah 44:9-20); only Jehovah stretched forth the heavens and spread abroad the earth. None of the idol-gods were with him in this.
Another point: Assuming that Isaiah 44:24 is speaking of the beginning of creation of the world of mankind as in John 1:1,10, if the last phrase of Isaiah 44:24 ("who is with me?") should be read to mean there was absolutely no one present when Jehovah spread abroad the earth, then it would contradict the scriptures in Job, which show that the angels were present at the creation of earth (as related to that spoken of in Genesis 1,2, and John 1:1,10; 17:5. At the beginning of creation spoken of in Mark 10:6, we do find that there were spirit sons of God at least present: "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." -- Job 38:4-7; see also Job 1:6; 2:1,2.
Thus we conclude that Jehovah could have been asking, "Who of these gods or their makers were with me when I created the heavens and the earth?"
Something else we need to note in Mark 10:6: Jesus says God (Jehovah -- whom he sits at the right hand of: Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 7:55,56; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:12; 1 Peter 3:22) is the maker referred to here in creation: "But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female." Thus only Jehovah is properly called the "Creator". -- Isaiah 40:28.
Furthermore, a business owner may say that he built his business all by himself, meaning that he was the one who originated the plans and and the force behind the business' growth. He does not mean that he had absolutely no one working with him in his business.
The scriptures abound with cases where Jehovah uses various servants but is given the credit for their actions since he was the directing force. -- Exodus 3:10,12; 12:17; 18:10; Numbers 16:28; Judges 2:6,18; 3:9,10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24,25; 14:6,19; 15:14,18; 16:20,28-30, 2 Kings 4:27; Isaiah 43:11, 45:1-6; etc.
Jesus is not directly called creator, yet he is the means by which Jehovah carried out his creation. In Mark 10:6, Jesus says of God (Jehovah -- whom he sits at the right hand of -- Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 7:55,56; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:12; 1 Peter 3:22) is the maker in creation: "But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female." Thus only Jehovah is properly called the "Creator". -- Isaiah 40:28.
See "Is Jesus the Creator?"
As we stated at the beginning, however, Isaiah 44:24 is probably referring to an event before the creation spoken of in John 1:1-3,10, Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:10, etc.
Regardless, we find nothing in Isaiah 44:24 that would give us any reason to add to the scriptures the extra-Biblical story about three persons in one being, nor any idea that Jesus is Jehovah his God.
Regardless, we find nothing in Isaiah 44:24 that would give us any reason to add to the scriptures the extra-Biblical story about three persons in one being, nor any idea that Jesus is Jehovah his God.
See also:
Does Jehovah Speak to Jehovah? -- Includes a discussion of Hebrews 1:10, as related to that which made by the hand of Jesus.
The Monotheistic Doctrine of Creation in Isaiah 44:24
ReplyDeleteA Response to George Kaplin
Robert M. Bowman, Jr.
Evangelicals argue that Isaiah 44:24 teaches that Jehovah alone made the physical
universe. Since the New Testament reveals that the Son made the physical universe (e.g., Heb.
1:10), evangelicals (and other Trinitarians) conclude that the Son is Jehovah. Jehovah’s
Witnesses must disagree, since on their view the preexistent created Son is not Jehovah and yet
did much or all of the work of making the universe. Recently a Jehovah’s Witness, George
Kaplin, has posted a series of messages to the Evangelical and JW Theologies forum defending
the Witness position. In this paper, I respond to Kaplin’s arguments and mount a detailed defense
of a Trinitarian interpretation of Isaiah 44:24. As it turns out, only a Trinitarian interpretation of
Isaiah 44:24 comports both with the monotheism of the text in its context and with the revelation
of the Son’s activity in creation in the New Testament.
I. Translations of Isaiah 44:24
The Hebrew text of Isaiah 44:24 uses five Hebrew (qal) participles as descriptions of
Jehovah. English versions generally translate these either as nouns (“Redeemer”) or in relative
clauses (“who formed you from the womb”). If we translate all of them consistently as English
participles, the result is as follows:
“Thus says Jehovah, [the one] redeeming you,
And forming you from the womb:
‘I [am] Jehovah, making all things;
Stretching out the heavens alone;
Spreading out the earth on my own….”
I am here assuming the wording “on my own” for the concluding words of the verse, a
matter to be discussed later. Here is a translation of the Septuagint version of the passage:
“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
And the one forming you from the womb,
‘I am the Lord, the one who brings about all things (hO SUNTELWN PANTA);
I stretched out [EXETEINA] the heaven alone [MONOS],
And made the earth strong” (Eng. trans. of the LXX).1
1The LXX translates the last few words of the Hebrew of Isaiah 44:24 as “who else” (TIS
hETEROS) and construes them with the next sentence, which accounts for them not being
quoted here as part of Isaiah 44:24.
<< The Monotheistic Doctrine of Creation in Isaiah 44:24 A Response to George Kaplin Robert M. Bowman, Jr. Evangelicals argue that Isaiah 44:24 teaches that Jehovah alone made the physical universe. Since the New Testament reveals that the Son made the physical universe (e.g., Heb. 1:10), evangelicals (and other Trinitarians) conclude that the Son is Jehovah. Jehovah’s Witnesses must disagree, since on their view the preexistent created Son is not Jehovah and yet did much or all of the work of making the universe. >>
DeleteWe are not with the Jehovah's Witnesses and we do not believe that their views are in harmony what we have presented.
While we concede that Isaiah 44:24 is probably referring to the creation of physical universe, we do not agree that Hebrews 1:10 is speaking of the creation of the physical universe. We believe, however, that Isaiah 44:24 is referring to the creation of physical universe, and that this creation took place BEFORE the creation of the firstborn creature spoken of in Colossians 1:15, and that creation of firstborn son took place AFTER the creation of material universe but BEFORE the creation of the invisible heaven dominions and that the creation of the invisible heavenly dominions took place before the creation of the world of mankind upon the earth. See all the links provided above for scriptural reasons for this.