Bible Questions and Answers

A visitor writes,

"According to the doctrine of the Trinity, why is Jesus Christ worshiped as God according to the Bible? (Matthew 28:17, Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 5:13-14)"

Matthew 28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

Hebrews 1:6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honour and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" 14  Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

The question contains a fallacy. Jesus is nowhere worshipped ‘as God’.

Using Strong’s concordance:

Worshipped <4352> προσκυνέω proskuneo  from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); 
Translated in the KJV – ‘worship’ 60 times
Meaning:
1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence 
2) among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence 
3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication 
3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank 
3a1) to the Jewish high priests 
3a2) to God 
3a3) to Christ 
3a4) to heavenly beings 

Jesus is worshipped not ‘as God’ but because he is the Son of God and the promised King of Israel.

Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

Worship was paid to superiors without them being thought of as God.

Thus, in the parable of the debtors:

Matthew 18:26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped <4352> him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Jesus is worshipped not ‘as God’ but because he is superior to both men and angels.

God is superior to Jesus, being his Father.

There is a hierarchy, as Paul explains:

1 Corinthians 11:3  But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Jesus is superior to the angels:

Hebrews 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Therefore, Angels and men ‘worship’ Jesus as superior to themselves but they do not worship him 'as God'.

Philippians 2:9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The relationship between Jesus and his Father is foreshadowed in the words of Pharaoh to Joseph:

Genesis 41:40  "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.".

I hope this helps.

God bless,

Glenn