[continued from previous message]   
      
   > 4. Contextual Integrity of Proskuneo: While proskuneo can indeed mean   
   > reverence in non-divine contexts, its use for Jesus in divine settings,   
   > particularly in Revelation and the Gospels, demonstrates that He is   
   > worshiped as God.   
   >   
   > Conclusion   
   >   
   > Jehovah’s Witnesses misrepresent the biblical teaching on proskuneo by   
   > inconsistently translating it and ignoring contexts where Jesus is   
   > worshiped in divine settings. The biblical response affirms that Jesus,   
   > as God the Son, rightly receives worship, demonstrating His equality   
   > with the Father and the Spirit in the Godhead.   
   >   
   >>> "Strong's Ref. # 4352   
   >>>   
   >>> Romanized proskuneo   
   >>> Pronounced pros-koo-neh'-o   
   >>>   
   >>> from GSN4314 and a probable derivative of GSN2965 (meaning to kiss,   
   >>> like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e.   
   >>> (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence   
   >>> to, adore):"   
   >>>   
   >>> Notice these translations:   
   >>>   
   >>> -- New Jerusalem with Apocrypha   
   >>> Matthew 2:11 and going into the house they saw the child with his   
   >>> mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then,   
   >>> opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and   
   >>> frankincense and myrrh.   
   >>>   
   >>> -- New American with Apocrypha   
   >>> Matthew 2:11 and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary   
   >>> his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they   
   >>> opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense,   
   >>> and myrrh.   
   >>>   
   >>> - New Revised Standard with Apocrypha   
   >>> Matthew 2:11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his   
   >>> mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their   
   >>> treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and   
   >>> myrrh.   
   >>>   
   >>> -- Young's Bible   
   >>> Matthew 2:11 and having come to the house, they found the child with   
   >>> Mary his mother, and having fallen down they bowed to him, and having   
   >>> opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and   
   >>> frankincense, and myrrh,   
   >>>   
   >>> -- Darby's Bible   
   >>> Matthew 2:11 And having come into the house they saw the little child   
   >>> with Mary his mother, and falling down did him homage. And having   
   >>> opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, and   
   >>> frankincense, and myrrh.   
   >>>   
   >>> -- Weymouth's New Testament   
   >>> Matthew 2:11 So they entered the house; and when they saw the babe   
   >>> with His mother Mary, they prostrated themselves and did Him homage,   
   >>> and opening their treasure-chests offered gifts to Him - gold,   
   >>> frankincense, and myrrh.   
   >>>   
   >>> (Matthew 2:11) And when they went into the house, they saw the young   
   >>> child with Mary his mother, and falling down, they did obeisance to   
   >>> him. They also opened their treasures and presented him with   
   >>> gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh. (NWT)   
   >   
   > Idem.   
   >   
   >>> BUT APPARENTLY IT CAN ALSO MEAN WORSHIP. Thus, your Bible and many   
   >>> others are correct also.   
   >   
   > Correct. At least you were honest enough to admit that.   
   >   
   > Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings on the worship of Jesus have undergone   
   > significant changes over time. Initially, their publications endorsed   
   > the worship of Jesus, but later, they shifted to the stance that only   
   > Jehovah should be worshiped.   
   >   
   > Early Endorsement of Jesus' Worship   
   >   
   > In the early 20th century, the Watch Tower Society publications affirmed   
   > the worship of Jesus. For instance, the 1898 issue of The Watchtower   
   > stated:   
   >   
   >> "Yes, we believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worship   
   >   
   > ed,   
   >> and properly so" (The Watchtower, 15 July 1898, p. 216).   
   >   
   > This indicates that early Jehovah's Witnesses accepted the worship of   
   > Jesus as appropriate.   
   >   
   > Transition Period   
   >   
   > By the mid-20th century, the organization's perspective began to change.   
   > In 1954, The Watchtower addressed the translation of the Greek word   
   > proskuneo, which is often rendered as "worship" in English Bibles. They   
   > argued that proskuneo can mean "obeisance" or deep respect, not   
   > necessarily worship, especially when directed toward Jesus (The   
   > Watchtower, 1 January 1954, p. 31). This distinction marked a shift in   
   > their doctrinal stance.   
   >   
   > Biblical Evidence for the Worship of Jesus   
   >   
   > The Bible clearly presents examples of Jesus receiving worship in   
   > contexts of divine reverence:   
   >   
   > 1. The magi worshiped Jesus as a child, falling down before Him: "And   
   > going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they   
   > fell down and worshiped him" (Matthew 2:11, ESV).   
   >   
   > 2. After Jesus walked on water, His disciples worshiped Him: "And those   
   > in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of   
   > God'" (Matthew 14:33, ESV).   
   >   
   > 3. Following His resurrection, His disciples worshiped Him again: "And   
   > when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted" (Matthew 28:17,   
   > ESV).   
   >   
   > 4. The Father commands all angels to worship Jesus: "Let all God’s   
   > angels worship him" (Hebrews 1:6, ESV).   
   >   
   > 5. In the heavenly vision, all creatures worship the Lamb alongside the   
   > Father: "And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the   
   > earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To him who sits   
   > on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might   
   > forever and ever!'" (Revelation 5:13, ESV).   
   >   
   > Current Position   
   >   
   > Today, Jehovah's Witnesses teach that worship is due exclusively to   
   > Jehovah God. They assert that while Jesus is honored as God's Son, He is   
   > not to be worshiped. This position is reflected in their translation   
   > choices, where proskuneo directed toward Jesus is rendered as   
   > "obeisance" rather than "worship" (The Watchtower, 15 November 1970, p.   
   > 702).   
   >   
   > Conclusion   
   >   
   > The doctrinal evolution of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding the worship of   
   > Jesus highlights a significant shift from early acceptance to the   
   > current exclusive devotion to Jehovah. This change underscores the   
   > dynamic nature of their theological interpretations over time.   
   >   
   > Sources   
   >   
   > - "Interesting Queries." The Watchtower, 15 July 1898, p. 216.   
   > - "Questions From Readers." The Watchtower, 1 January 1954, p. 31.   
   > - "Obeisance or Worship?" The Watchtower, 15 November 1970, p. 702.   
   >   
   >>> So this doesn't settle the question of worship to Jesus.   
   >   
   > It only doesn't settle it if you're determined to deny the deity of   
   > Christ, which Watchtower is. As shown above, they have progressively   
   > sought to deny and change the wording of the Bible to accommodate their   
   > determined denial of Christ's deity.   
   >   
   >>> - Matthew 14:33: "And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly   
   >>> you are the Son of God'" (ESV).   
   >   
   >>> - Matthew 28:9: "And behold, Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And   
   >>> they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him" (ESV).   
   >   
   >>> - Matthew 28:17: "And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some   
   >>> doubted" (ESV).   
   >   
   >>> - John 9:38: "He said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him" (ESV).   
   >   
   >>> - John 20:28: "Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (ESV).   
   >   
   >> That is an exclamation! Like "Holy Cow", or "Oh my God", etc. Thomas   
   >> could have said the common expression "Oh my God", which you would   
   >> have jumped on to prove your point.   
   >   
   > You skip over multiple instances where the context clearly shows Jesus   
   > is being worshiped, and focus on one instance as an "overriding"   
   > contradiction. This makes sense only if you're determined to deny the   
      
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