Is Jesus Michael the Archangel? A Response to the Jehovah’s Witnesses
Firstly, ang scriptures do not reserve ang title na “archangel” (Gk. αρχαγγελος-archangelos) to one person alone. The reason ay na ang mga Saksi ni Jehova would use text kagaya ng 1 Thessalonians 4:16 where it says that “ For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.’” (1Ths. 4:16, New Revised Standard Version). Jehovah’s Witnesses would conclude na ang name na “Michael” would be synonymous with Christ (Insight on the Scriptures. Vol. 2. [Pennslvania NY: WBTS.] 393–394.), and that “Scriptural evidence indicates that the name Michael applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return” (Aid to Bible Understanding [Pennsylvania NY; WBTS , 1971] 1152.). Jehovah’s Witnesses would argue na tanging si Jesus Christ lamang ang archangel and na ang Scriptures do not show na ang αρχαγγελος (archangelos) in plural form and thus “ . . . implying that there is only one” (Reasoning from the Scriptures [Penssylvania Ny.: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society] 218.). Objections against sa argument na ito can be found in Daniel 10:13 where Michael is “one of the princes”, and in the usage of the Bible of words, “princes” (שַׂר - sar) used lexically as “prince”, ”ruler”, “chieftain”; is used synonymously with the Greek word αρχαγγελος. That would imply more than one na kung saan ay iba sa pinapakita ng New Testament about kay Jesus Christ; na si Jesus Christ ay “only begotten” or “unique” (μονογενης - monogenes; Jn. 1:14-18; 3:16-18; 1Jn. 4:9; cf. D&C 93:11). An archangel also by definition is an angel of higher rank or of a higher order. Furthermore, ang mga nagcicirculate na Jewish literature around the time between the Old and New Testaments (Intertestamental Period); we see that they identify other archangels beside kay Michael: Dokiel (Testament of Abraham 13:10); Puriel (Testament of Abraham 13:11); Ouriel (Testament of Solomon 2:4); Uriel (Testament of Solomon 2:7; Prayer of Joseph 3:3); Azael (Testament of Solomon 7:7); and Gabriel (Jubilees 2:1; 48:1). There are more of them! Jehovah's Witnesses also would say na ang name na Michael is a proof also as well na si Jesus Christ ay si Michael the Archangel; with Michael in Hebrew meaning "one who is like God"; pero isa itong theomorphic na pangalan. If it will be so ay i-consider din natin ang name ng prophet Micah, that means "one who is like Yahweh". Would that make Micah ontologically Michael the Archangel? Hindi.
One problem also with the Christology of the Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus is Michael the Archangel, is that Jesus is ontologically higher than angels in Hebrews 1. The Epistle to the Hebrews make different contrasting statements between Jesus and other beings and makes different contrast with Christ and Old Testament figures. Hebrews 1 gives the contrast between sa mga angels at kay Jesus Christ; as in Hebrews 1:5 where no angel did God said to them that “ . . . You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?" (New King James Version). Sinasabi din satin ng Hebrews 1:6 na si Jesus Christ ay isang recipient ng worship from the angels, and Hebrews 1:8-12 as Jesus Christ being God and the one who established the foundations of the world; as well as Hebrews 2:7-9 where it tells us na ang pre-existent Jesus Christ ay "higher than angels". That would not downgrade the ontological existence of Jesus to an angel, or an Archangel. Christ is all and in all (Col. 3:11; Eph. 1:23; cf. 1Cor. 12:6) and is above all (Eph. 1:19-23; Heb. 2:8). Most of all, sinasabi ng Hebrews 1:3 na si Jesus Christ “ . . . reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (Revised Standard Version) : na kung saan ay walang angel ang magfi-fit under this category. Jesus is not Michael the Archangel based on scriptural accounts; and as for Latter-day Saints, we find in Latter-day Saint revelation that it is revealed that Michael the Archangel is Adam, the first man. Divine revelation from God is something that Jehovah's Witnesses also do not believe. Although I appreciate the Jehovah's Witnesses and their opposition to Creedal Trinitarianism, I do not agree that the ontology of Jesus is this low. Jesus is the Divine Son not being lowered to an Archangel.
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