The Lord Jesus is the Almighty (Matthew 28:18)

[Faber]

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)

The Lord Jesus possesses all power in the absolute sense.
H. Sasse: His omnipotence, in which Christ shares as kyrios (1 C. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Mt. 28:18), extends over the whole world, over heaven and earth (TDNT 1:679, earth).
BDAG (3rd Edition): Of Jesus' total authority (exousia, page 353).

Some may claim that since the Lord Jesus was "given" this authority/power it proves that He is not God. However, this line of reasoning actually destroys monotheism.
Since the Lord Jesus has universal power (which means He is Omnipotent/Almighty), that would mean that God the Father created another Omnipotent being. There are not two Beings who are "Almighty." The Bible teaches there is only one Almighty God.
Those who believe the Lord Jesus is God can account for the fact that He was "given" all power in that before His resurrection He simply refused to always employ His omnipotence but those who deny the Lord Jesus is God are unable to satisfactorily explain that the Lord Jesus possesses (right now) all power - He is omnipotent/Almighty.
Leon Morris: He is making clear that the limitations that applied throughout the incarnation no longer apply to him. He has supreme authority throughout the universe (The Gospel According to Matthew, Pillar New Testament Commentary, page 745-746).

Why would anyone deny that possessing all-power (cf. Matthew 28:18) is not the same as being the Almighty?

All-power = Omnipotent = Almighty

[JehovahsWitness]

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)

How can you give power to someone that already has all power? If Jesus was Almighty nobody could give him anything in terms of power or authority. Somebody had to have more power than Jesus in order to give him (Jesus) additional power.

Logic,

JW

[Faber]

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)

How can you give power to someone that already has all power? If Jesus was Almighty nobody could give him anything in terms of power or authority. Somebody had to have more power than Jesus in order to give him (Jesus) additional power.

Logic,

JW

This was already answered in the OP. Here it is again:
Those who believe the Lord Jesus is God can account for the fact that He was "given" all power in that before His resurrection He simply refused to always employ His omnipotence but those who deny the Lord Jesus is God are unable to satisfactorily explain that the Lord Jesus possesses (right now) all power - He is omnipotent/Almighty.

B. Reicke: Elsewhere, however, it is said of the Redeemer during His earthly life that He has laid aside His power and appeared in lowliness and humility, Mt. 11:29; 12:18-21; 2 C. 8:9; Phil. 2:5-8...cf. the temptation of Jesus, Mt. 4:8 f. par. Lk. 4:5 f. Thus, when the full power of Jesus is occasionally mentioned during the time of His humiliation, it is merely a proleptic fact.
A new situation is brought into being with the crucifixion and resurrection. The Chosen One seizes the full power which He had from the beginning of the world, Mt. 28:18 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth". Cf. the proclamations of the heavenly King in Rev., e.g., concerning Alpha and Omega (TDNT 5:895, All).

[Faber]

Draw Close to Jehovah: Could the only-begotten Son receive even more power and authority? Following Jesus death on earth and his resurrection, he said: All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. (Matthew 28:18) Yes, Jesus has been granted the ability and the right to exercise power universally. As King of kings and Lord of lords, he has been authorized to bring to nothing all government and all authority and power"visible and invisible"that stand in opposition to his Father. (Revelation 19:16; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26) God has left nothing that is not subject to Jesus"that is, with the exception of Jehovah himself."Hebrews 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:27. ("Christ the Power of God", Chapter 9)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102002031

Since the Lord Jesus right now possesses universal power then by definition it is the same thing as affirming that He is the Almighty.

In terms of God the Father not being subject to the Lord Jesus this is true. They are EQUALLY all-powerful/omnipotent (Almighty).

[JehovahsWitness]

In terms of God the Father not being subject to the Lord Jesus this is true. They are EQUALLY all-powerful/omnipotent (Almighty).

If that were true it would be impossible for Jesus, after his return to heaven to be subject to his Father would it not?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 4 by Faber]

Since the Lord Jesus right now possesses universal power then by definition it is the same thing as affirming that He is the Almighty.

If by "universal" you mean all power, unlimited power, absolute power ... then No, Jehovah's Witnesses do NOT believe Jesus has "unversal power". If by "universal" you mean far reaching, extensive, substantial power, then yes we would agree Jesus has universal power.

We believe Jesus has all the power that God has given him, which, while being an incredible amount, is and will always remain less extensive than his Father's. Jehovah's Witnesses are not trinitarians and do not believe that Jesus is, was or ever will be equal to his Father.

Jesus is never once in scripture spoken of as being Almighty God.

JW





Scriptural Reasons why Jesus is not Almighty God
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 572#751572

How could Jesus be given authority he already had?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 355#829355

[Faber]

From "Draw Close to Jehovah" nothing is outside of Christ's absolute power except being above the Father - which is correct for they both have absolute power in equality.

BDAG (3rd Edition): Of Jesus' total authority (exousia, page 353).

[JehovahsWitness]

From "Draw Close to Jehovah" nothing is outside of Christ's absolute power ...

I do believe this is called misquoting. The Draw Close book never refers to "Christ's absolute power" you just made that up, didn't you. I know this is because...

#1 If logically if there are ANY exceptions that are beyond someone's power, then their power is not, by definition, absolute.

#2 The actual quote is a few posts above this one, in this very thread.

#3 I have been able to read for a number of years now.


Peace out,


JW

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102002059

[onewithhim]

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)

How can you give power to someone that already has all power? If Jesus was Almighty nobody could give him anything in terms of power or authority. Somebody had to have more power than Jesus in order to give him (Jesus) additional power.

Logic,

JW

This was already answered in the OP. Here it is again:
Those who believe the Lord Jesus is God can account for the fact that He was "given" all power in that before His resurrection He simply refused to always employ His omnipotence but those who deny the Lord Jesus is God are unable to satisfactorily explain that the Lord Jesus possesses (right now) all power - He is omnipotent/Almighty.

Wow, you are stretching it. It just isn't possible for God Almighty to give away ALL of His power and authority. To me it's like saying that if someone says that he gives you all his love, then he doesn't have any love left to give to someone else. Really....let's not stretch reason until its unrecognizable.

Jesus never indicated that he possesses ALL of the power in the universe and that he is equal or superior to God. This is borne out to us, once again, at I Corinthians 15:24-28 where Jesus HANDS BACK the power and authority to his God and Father. Explain that one.

.

[Faber]

From "Draw Close to Jehovah" nothing is outside of Christ's absolute power ...

I do believe this is called misquoting. The Draw Close book never refers to "Christ's absolute power" you just made that up, didn't you. I know this is because...

#1 If logically if there are ANY exceptions that are beyond someone's power, then their power is not, by definition, absolute.

#2 The actual quote is a few posts above this one, in this very thread.

#3 I have been able to read for a number of years now.


Peace out,


JW

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102002059

You are ignoring the fact that the only thing they say he doesn't have power over is the Father.

Draw Close to Jehovah: Could the only-begotten Son receive even more power and authority? Following Jesus death on earth and his resurrection, he said: All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. (Matthew 28:18) Yes, Jesus has been granted the ability and the right to exercise power universally. As King of kings and Lord of lords, he has been authorized to bring to nothing all government and all authority and power"visible and invisible"that stand in opposition to his Father. (Revelation 19:16; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26) God has left nothing that is not subject to Jesus"that is, with the exception of Jehovah himself."Hebrews 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:27. ("Christ the Power of God", Chapter 9)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102002031