Deity Christ

The Deity of Christ
and the Watchtower

The Watchtower view

The Watchtower Reprints, April 15, 1893, p.

1515

It is since his resurrection that the message has gone forth - All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me. (Matt. 28:18) Consequently it is only since then that he could be called the Almighty
(as in Rev. 1:8)

The Finished Mystery (SS7), 1917, p. 15

1:8, I am THE Alpha and I AM ALSO THE Omega. - Alpha is the first letter, and Omega the last letter, of the Greek alphabet. The Beginning and the Ending. -Our Lords great honor is shown in that He was not only the first of Gods creation, but the last. From this we are to understand that the great Jehovah did not directly employ His own power in creating either men or angels; but that He delegated His power to His Only-begotten Son. - Z.93-115; Rev. 1:4; 16:5-7.

Should You Believe in the Trinity, 1989, p. 14

Jesus, in his prehuman existence, was the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15, NJB) He was the beginning of Gods creation. (Revelation 3:14, RS, Catholic edition). Beginning (Greek, ar-khe) cannot rightly be interpreted to mean that Jesus was the beginner of Gods creation. In his Bible writings, John uses various forms of the Greek work ar-khe more than 20 times, and these always have the common meaning of beginning. Yes, Jesus was created by God as the beginning of Gods invisible creations.

The Word Who Is He? According to John, 1962,p. 40

So again we note that Jesus never spoke of himself as God or called himself God. He always put himself below God rather than on an equality with God.

Make Sure, 1965, p. 485-487

Jesus Christ Not One God with the Father; The Father is Jesus God; Jesus called his Father the only true God, excluding himself; Jesus is the Son of God, not God the Son; Jesus is, not God, but Mediator between God and men; Jesus did not claim to be God, But Gods representative; Jesus Not Equal to the Father in Power and Glory, but Subject to Him; Even in heaven he is subject to the Father; Only Jehovah Is from Everlasting to Everlasting; Son of God had a beginning, was created; Oneness of Father and Son No More Mysterious than Unity of True Christians.

Kingdom Interlinear Translation, 1985, p. 529 Reference to Jesus as Ho Theos

The Watchtower, July 1, 1986, p. 31
The title ho theos (the God, or God) which now designates the Father as a personal reality, is not applied in the N(ew) T(estament) to Jesus Himself.

The Biblical view

Scripture does indeed call Jesus God, it calls Him God in several different ways and we will see this.

Russell had the Almighty part correct however Jesus did not "begin" to be the Almighty at His resurrection He already was the Almighty from all eternity. Russell confused the attribute of Omnipotence with His change in office.