freelight
Eclectic Theosophist
Honoring God and his servants.................
Honoring God and his servants.................
Of course we honor Jesus, just as we honor the Father, because He is God's Son, his anointed, his messenger, his representative. As I shared earlier, the 'honor' is one, because 'God' is one. Since the Son does the will of the Father, he is naturally honored accordingly. While 'honor' may include a sense of 'worship', 'reverence',...I don't think that's the main meaning here, its more appropriately 'honor' or 'respect'. Most English translations use the word 'honor',....not 'worship'. You might also know that by sharing a Unitarian POV, I am certainly NOT dishonoring Jesus in anyway, since to honor him is to honor God. Theirs is a shared reverence, a mutual respect,...you cannot separate the Sender from the one sent.
Again,...honoring the Son is honoring the Father, and vice versa of course,...this goes without saying
Honoring Jesus as we honor God because Jesus is God's Son, Messenger, Anointed one....does not make Jesus 'God'.
Of course. To honor God is to honor all those who represent Him as well.
You're welcome. I share more of my views in Kingdom Rose's thread here....from post# 77 onwards - for those familiar with my theology, my view includes aspects of both Unitarianism & Trinitarinism, and beyond. My Christology is liberal and eclectic.
Honoring God and his servants.................
Let us look at the verse again:
"That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him" (v.23).
I don't know about you, but the best way that I honor God is by worshipping Him. So I honor God when I worship Him. And since the Lord Jesus says that we should "honor"Him even as we "honor" the Father then if I do that then I must worship the Lord Jesus.
Of course we honor Jesus, just as we honor the Father, because He is God's Son, his anointed, his messenger, his representative. As I shared earlier, the 'honor' is one, because 'God' is one. Since the Son does the will of the Father, he is naturally honored accordingly. While 'honor' may include a sense of 'worship', 'reverence',...I don't think that's the main meaning here, its more appropriately 'honor' or 'respect'. Most English translations use the word 'honor',....not 'worship'. You might also know that by sharing a Unitarian POV, I am certainly NOT dishonoring Jesus in anyway, since to honor him is to honor God. Theirs is a shared reverence, a mutual respect,...you cannot separate the Sender from the one sent.
In fact, one of the meanings of the Greek word translated "honor" is "revere" (Thayer'sGreek English Lexicon).
And that matches the following meaning (in "bold") of the Greek word translated "worship":
"to make obeisance, do reverence to" (from pros, "towards," and kuneo, "to kiss"), is the most frequent word rendered "to worship." It is used of an act of homage or reverence" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of the New Testament).
The dictionary also defines "worship" in the same way:
"reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also: an act of expressing such reverence" (Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary).
Again,...honoring the Son is honoring the Father, and vice versa of course,...this goes without saying
If you are not worshipping the Son to honor Him as you do the Father then you are not honoring the Father:
"That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him" (v.23).
We honor the Father by worshipping Him and we are to honor the Lord Jesus as we honor the Father. Therefore, we must worship the Lord Jesus. And as you said, "the worship of God is singular to God himself."
Therefore, common sense dictates that the Lord Jesus is God.
Honoring Jesus as we honor God because Jesus is God's Son, Messenger, Anointed one....does not make Jesus 'God'.
Now a question for you. Do you honor the Father when you worship Him?
Of course. To honor God is to honor all those who represent Him as well.
Thanks!
You're welcome. I share more of my views in Kingdom Rose's thread here....from post# 77 onwards - for those familiar with my theology, my view includes aspects of both Unitarianism & Trinitarinism, and beyond. My Christology is liberal and eclectic.