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NASB | John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 8:58 Jesus replied, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am." [Ex 3:14] |
Bible Question (short): Is Jehovah lying? |
Question (full): Greetings Ben! Thanks for the response my friend! I assume that you would agree that the following two statements cannot both be true in the same way: 1) There are no other gods. 2) There are other gods. So, how would you reconcile the statements of Jehovah and the statement of Paul. Simple - Jehovah is speaking of actual gods, while Paul is speaking of things that are only 'called' gods. There is a major difference. I could take a hunk of wood, and carve an idol out of it and call it my god. However, it would not really be a god, would it? It would still just be a hunk of wood. Notice that Paul's comments are in full agreement with this point. He says (in your version) that there are "those who are called 'gods'", but that doesn't make them gods in fact. In fact, didn't you read the very first part of Paul's statement? "There is no God but one"! Is. 37:19 also makes this point: "They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands." Both times that the word 'gods' appears in this verse it is the Hebrew word 'elohim'. Notice that the first occurance speaks of their 'gods', but the second occurance denies that there were actually 'gods'. Ex. 4:16 is an easy verse to explain. "He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him." Jehovah is simply making an analogy. Moses would speak to Aaron in the same way that God speaks to Moses. Notice the words 'as if'. Jehovah is not saying that Moses IS A GOD! :-) Exodus 7:1 is the same sort of statement: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.'" However, Is. 43:10 is an example of an unqualified direct statement by Jehovah: "'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.'" So, how do you reconcile this statement of Jehovah with the teachings of the JW's? How can Jesus be 'a god', if Jehovah Himself says that there is no other gods - either before or after Him? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |