I found this site, which compares what the Bible says about YHWH to what it says about Jesus Christ, making a case that Jesus is in fact YHWH. I thought, however, that some of his points were a little weak, so I am posting here a list of his strongest points on God's and Jesus's unique characteristics to be compared, along with a few of my own. Keeping in mind that I owe most of my homework to the God and Science website. :)
(Also note that whenever the Old Testament uses the word "LORD" in small caps, it is translating the tetragrammaton, YHWH.)
God is preeminent over all things...
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all." -I Chronicles 29:11
... and so is Jesus.
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." -Colossians 1:17-18
God is omniscient, knowing even our hearts...
"...in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things." -I John 3:20
... and so does Jesus.
"Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.'"-John 21:17
"And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?" -Matthew 9:4
God tests the hearts and judges us accordingly...
"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the result of his deeds." -Jeremiah 17:10
...the same is said of himself by Jesus
"...and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds." -Revelation 2:23
God alone created the heavens and the earth...
"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,
“I, the Lord, am the maker of all things,
Stretching out the heavens by Myself a
nd spreading out the earth all alone." -Isaiah 44:24
...and that would be Jesus.
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." -John 1:3
"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." -Colossians 1:16
God is the only Savior...
“I, even I, am the Lord,
And there is no savior besides Me." -Isaiah 43:11
"“Declare and set forth your case;
Indeed, let them consult together.
Who has announced this from of old?
Who has long since declared it?
Is it not I, theLord?
And there is no other God besides Me,
A righteous God and a Savior;
There is none except Me." -Isaiah 45:21
...so why did He send Jesus?
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12
"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior* Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours..." -II Peter 1:1
God is coming in His glory...
"Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
And all flesh will see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” -Isaiah 40:45
...that glory which belongs to the "Son of Man," Jesus.
“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory." -Matthew 24:30
"And we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:14
God is our Father...
"For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us
And Israel does not recognize us.
You, O Lord, are our Father,
Our Redeemer from of old is Your name." -Isaiah 63:16
...and Jesus did say, "I and the Father are one."
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6
God is the First and the Last...
"“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the first and I am the last,
And there is no God besides Me." -Isaiah 44:6
...Jesus also claims that title.
"I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.'" -Rev. 1:17-18
Jesus was the "Stone of Stumbling and Rock of Offense," right?
"And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God.... and,
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." -I Peter 2:4-8
...but the passage Peter quoted was talking about YHWH.
“It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. A
nd He shall be your fear, a
nd He shall be your dread.
Then He shall become a sanctuary; b
ut to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, a
nd a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem." Isaiah 8:13-15
John came crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord**...
"And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." -Luke 1:17
"For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,
“The voice of one crying in thewilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
MakeHis paths straight!’ ”-Matthew 3:3
...who leapt in Mary's womb when he met that Lord**...
"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" -Luke 2:41-45
...whom the Old Testament names "YHWH".
"A voice is calling,
“Clear the way for the Lord [YHWH] in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God." -Isaiah 40:3
God has been around since eternity...and so has Jesus
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, t
oo little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.” -Micah 5:2
Who is the Lord of lords? Is it the LORD (YHWH)?
“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe." -Deut. 10:17
...or Jesus, the Lamb of God?
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” -Revelation 17:14
To whom did God say every knee will bow and every tongue confess allegiance?
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
For I am God, and there is no other.
I have sworn by Myself, t
he word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness a
nd will not turn back, t
hat to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance." -Isaiah 45:22-23
"so that at the name of Jesus, EVERY KNEE WILL BOW of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -Philippians 2:9
Who is the Righteous Branch*^ of David (i.e., the Jewish Messiah)?
"‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth." -Jeremiah 33:15
"There shall come forth a Rod (Shoot) from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." -Isaiah 11:1
"The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch...
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD [YHWH] Our Righteousness."-Jeremiah 23:5-6
... and Jesus claims that position for Himself.
"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and The Offspring*^ of David, the Bright and Morning Star." -Revelation 22:16
...as is rightly His, He being:
-The offspring of David (see Matt. 1 and Luke 1)
-A King
-Restored Davids' house to heavenly royalty after his line no longer ruled in Israel.
-The promised Messiah of whom Jeremiah writes that His name will be "YHWH-Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness"
-His work makes Him the only one deserving of that title:
Christ Jesus is "our righteousness." 1 Cor. 1:30
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor.5:21
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." -Rom. 8:10
God alone is holy...
“There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God." -1 Samuel 2:2
"Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Revelation 15:4
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
...and God alone makes us holy
"Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.'" Exodus 31:13
"Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever." Ezekiel 37:28
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." -I Thessalonians 4:3 (the word "sanctify" - αγιαζω means "to make holy". It comes from αγιος - "holy".)
--> Creatures are not holy in and of themselves. They are holy because God makes them that way, despite their original sin.
...yet Jesus is called Holy
"What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-- the Holy One of God!" -Mark 1:24
"Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.'" -John 6:68-69
Was Jesus made holy, or was He holy already?
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." -Hebrews 4:15
“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you," Acts 3:14
But aren't the angels called "holy ones" too?
Yes... "'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'" -Daniel 4:17
But... “What is man, that he should be pure, or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in His sight." -Job 15:14-15
But of the Holy God... "Day and night they [the Four Living Creatures] never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” -Rev. 4:8
And... “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” -Rev. 4:11
The Bible teaches that the Son is distinct from the angels:
[Hebrews 1]: God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say, "YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"?
And again,
"I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM
AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?
And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
"AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."
And of the angels He says,
"WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS,
AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE."
But of the Son He says,
"YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER,
AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
"YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU
WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS."
And [of the Son],
"YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH,
AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN;
AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT,
AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP;
LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED
BUT YOU ARE THE SAME,
AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END."
But to which of the angels has He ever said,
"SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES
A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
And the last question, for 2000 points...
Whose bride are we? YHWH's...
"For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the Lord of hosts; a
nd your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth." -Isaiah 54:5
"'In that day,' declares the LORD, 'you will call me "my husband"; you will no longer call me "my master." I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion.'" -Hosea 2:16,19
... or Christ's?
"For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." 2 Corinthians 11:2
"Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready." -Revelation 19:7
*Watchtower publications argue that this passage can also be read as "our God, and our Savior Jesus Christ." However, the Greek does not support this reading because in order to separate the two, one would expect a doubling of the definite article and a repeated modifier "our", which does not appear; Greek is known for its redundancies more so than English. Instead, the phrase "our God and Savior" is followed by "Jesus Christ," which the clause "God and Savior" modifies: "του θεου ημων και σοτηρος, ιησου χριστου."
**In all the New Testament quotations, the name "Lord" is translated from the same Greek word, "κυριος," including the passage in which Elizabeth calls Mary the "mother of my Lord" and then indicates that "what the Lord said to her will be accomplished," (i.e., giving birth as a virgin to the Messiah).
***Also reads, "fashioned."
*^The Hebrew word for "branch" means both "root" and "shoot". It refers to the type of branch that springs out of the root or stump of a tree that has been cut down but is still alive.
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