Jesus and Jehovah

“Jehovah’s Witnesses” argue vehemently that it is never proper to refer to Jesus Christ by the name “Jehovah.” Their literature states: “Jesus is not Jehovah” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1989, p. 198).

As was pointed out in a previous article (see A Brief Study of the Angel of Jehovah), however, the designation “Jehovah” simply denotes the self-existence of deity. If it is the case, therefore, that Christ is self-existent —thus an eternal being —then it follows that it would be entirely appropriate to refer to Jesus as “Jehovah.”

Reflect upon the following line of evidence.

That the Second Person of the Godhead is eternal is clearly affirmed in the Scriptures. The prophet Micah declared that the person who was to be born in Bethlehem had an existence “from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2).

Additionally, the apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word...” (Jn. 1:1). The imperfect tense form of the verb “was” (Gr. en) denotes a “continuous timeless existence” and asserts the eternality of Christ (J.H. Bernard, St. John, Vol. I, p. 2). Jesus is self-existent. Make notes in conjunction with these passages.

Further, according to Isaiah, John the Baptizer was to prepare the way for the coming of “Jehovah” (40:3). The New Testament applies this to John’s preparations for Christ (Mt. 3:3). And, as was indicated earlier, Isaiah spoke of “Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts” (44:6). John, in the book of Revelation, quotes a portion of this passage and applies it to Jesus —“I am the first and the last” (Rev. 1:17).

Beside Revelation 1:17, write: See Isaiah 44:6.

Finally, there is that marvelous prophecy of Jeremiah in which he foretells the coming of David’s “righteous Branch.” “In his days,” the prophet declares, “Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell in safety.” The Branch “shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6).

Underscore this phrase, and note: Jesus is called Jehovah. The Watchtower folks are wrong about Christ.