Trinity Proof Texts

   

Isaiah 45:23-24: "I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth
from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me
every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. They will say
of Me, ‘Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.’ Men will
come to Him, And" all who were angry at Him shall be put to shame.

Philippians 2:9-11: "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and

bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on
earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The irrefutable argument stated:

1. Isaiah 45:23-24 states that every knee shall bow to

Jehovah and every tongue shall confess allegiance to
Jehovah.
2. Isaiah 45:23-24 is quoted and applied to the Father in
Romans 14:9-12 and applied to the Son in Philippians
2:9-11
3. Therefore Jehovah is applied to both the Father and the
Son. Further, Isaiah 45:23-24 is another example of the
highest form of joint worship.

Comments: Anti-Trinitarians know they are in trouble with this verse. First
they deny Phil 2:9-11 is a quote of Isa 45:23-24. Next they will
say that Phil 2:9-11 teaches that every knee will bow to the
Father, not Jesus. Then, they flip-flop (often in the same article)
and say that that it does apply to Jesus but that this is not the
highest form of honor equal to what the Father would receive.
Just as slaves bow to human masters, men bow to Jesus, but that
makes neither divine!

Anti-Trinitarian rebuttals:

   

Anti-Trinitarian  Philippians 2:9-11 is not a quote of Isaiah 45:23-24

rebuttal #1
Anti-Trinitarian Only a blind desperate person would even suggest this. It is most
rebuttal refuted certainly a quote, as a casual reading will confirm. In fact
Philippians 2:9-11 and Romans 14:9-12 are both quotes of Isaiah
45:23-24.

   

Anti-Trinitarian At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow "to the glory of God
rebuttal #2 the Father" v11 not Jesus. They are not bowing to Jesus, but to
the Father.

Anti-Trinitarian 1. Stop and think about how silly this is. Imagine we are in
rebuttal refuted the heavenly courts. Suddenly someone says the name
"JESUS" and everyone falls to their knees to the Father
but not Jesus. And everyone confesses the name of the
Father but shows no respect to the name Jesus.
2. The obvious truth is, that at the name of Jesus, every knee
bows TO JESUS and every one confesses that JESUS'
NAME as Lord!
3. The expression "to the glory of God" certainly does not
mean that they are bowing to the Father. The act of
bowing to Jesus brings glory to God, just like "accepting
one another brings glory to God" Rom 15:7; and "our
eating or drinking or whatever we do brings glory to the
Father" (1 Cor 10:31); or "Let your light shine before
men (our actions) in such a way that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father who is in
heaven." Mt 5:16.
4. There is no avoiding the forceful conclusion that every
knee will bow to Jesus! Just as Isaiah 45:23-24
prophesied!

   

Anti-Trinitarian Jesus was given his high name, therefore he did not always have
rebuttal #3 this high status and therefore he cannot be God, for God's name is
always high. Acts 2:36 says Jesus was made Lord and Christ.

Anti-Trinitarian 1. This silly statement fails to realize that Jesus gave up the
rebuttal refuted "form of God" (outward appearance) and "equality with
God" (in rank/subordination) and became a slave.
Jehovah's Witnesses think it is impossible for God to give
up his high status and become a slave! This is the very
context of the previous 4 verses!
2. Further, it is clear that Jehovah acquired the specific status
as "savior" only after the blood of Christ was shed on the
 cross, for without this action in 30 AD, God could not
save man! Does the fact that God officially and actually
acquired the title of saviour at the cross mean he is not
God? No more than the fact that Jesus acquired the status
of Lord and Christ.
3. Very troubling for Jehovah's Witnesses is that YHWH is
not found in the New Testament Greek anywhere. They
are guilty of adding to the word of God! (The speculation
of a Hebrew gospel of Matthew is without any evidence
and is the result of wishful thinking. Even if Matthew was
originally written in Hebrew, it doesn't justify adding
YHWH to the other 26 "written in Greek" New Testament
books).
4. The only NAME given under heaven is Jesus! In fact, if
someone calls upon the name Jehovah alone they cannot
be saved! But if they call upon the name of Jesus alone
they will be saved! (Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in
no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that
has been given among men, by which we must be saved.")
5. So at the name of Jesus alone, we can be saved, and at the
name of Jesus every knee will bow, exactly like they bow
to the Father in Romans 14:9-12.
6. Micah 5:4 "And He will arise and shepherd His flock In
the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of
Jehovah His God." This prophecy is fulfilled in the name
"Jesus", for JESUS is the only name given in the New
Testament! This would not be so irrefutable, if any form
of YHWH (Jehovah) was found even once in the original
Greek!

   

Anti-Trinitarian Ok they are bowing to Jesus, I change my argument, but only in

rebuttal #4 the same way a servant will bow to a human king or master. This
is not the highest allegiance that is given exclusively to the
Father! After all, in Rev 3:9, sinners will bow down to Christians!

Anti-Trinitarian 1. Only enemies will bow at Christians feet, not all creation.
rebuttal refuted Philippians 2:9-11 has both enemies and righteous bowing
to Jesus! ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of
Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie—
behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your
feet, and to know that I have loved you. Rev 3:9
2. Isaiah 45:23-24 = Phil 2:9-11 has ALL CREATION
bowing down to Jesus. (this also proves Jesus is not a
 creature)
3. We see ALL CREATION bowing down to both Father
and Son in joint worship: Rev 5:11-14. "And every
created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and
under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I
heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the
Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion
forever and ever." And the four living creatures kept
saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and
worshiped."
4. The final blow to this desperate rebuttal is the fact that
Philippians 2:9-11 and Romans 14:9-12 are both quotes of
Isaiah 45:23-24. Romans 14:9-12 applies to the Father and
Philippians 2:9-11 applies to the Son. Jehovah's Witnesses
agree! But how can they say Romans 14:9-12 is the
highest form of worship, while Philippians 2:9-11 is a
"lower than divine" worship, WHEN BOTH ARE THE
SAME PROPHECY!

Further notes:
Triple parallel:

 Prophecy The Father The Son

Isaiah 45:23-24 Romans 14:9-12 Phil 2:9-11

Every knee will bow As I live, says the Lord, every at the name of Jesus every
knee shall bow to Me knee should bow

every tongue will every tongue shall give praise every tongue should confess
swearallegiance to God that Jesus Christ is Lord to the
glory of God the Father

Joint co-worship of Father and Jesus

1. Both are co-recipients of worship Heb 1:6; Rev 5:11-14; Matt 14:33; 28:9; John
9:38; Rev 19:10
2. Both are co-recipients of the kind of "service" that is only allowed to God: Matt
4:10; Rev 22:3f Greek--latreuo; cf. ). Notice the identical structure in Rev 20:6
speaks of Christ or both, but not the Father alone. "but they will be priests of
God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." Rev 20:6
Revelation 22:3 Revelation 20:6

throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, they will be priests of God and of Christ

and His bond-servants shall and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

serve [latreuo] Him

1. Notice the singular "HIM" either refers to Christ alone, or both Christ and God, but not
the Father alone.
2. If "HIM" in Rev 22:3 refers to either one of Jesus or God, we must conclude, based upon
Rev 20:6, that it is Christ. In Rev 20:6, we can be certain that Christ is included in the
reign.
3. In fact, the truth is that both God and Christ are included in BOTH passages. Rev 20:6 is
saying we will be priests and reign with BOTH God and Christ. Likewise, Rev 22:3 is,
with equal clarity, saying that bond-servants will SERVE [latreuo]
4. Never in Revelation does any verse refer to both God and Christ as "they, them" etc. This
is to show the unity of God. Modalists actually say this is proof that the Father is the
same person as the son. But they are mistaken!