Did Russell Deny the Deity/Divinity of Jesus?

It is often stated that Russell denied the divinity or deity of Jesus Christ. Actually, this is not so, although he did deny the trinity doctrine, or that Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 
Russell was once asked: "Do you deny the divinity of Christ?" In his reply, he stated: "By no means, dear friends.... We certainly do claim the divinity of Christ." -- Excerpts from What Pastor Russell Said, page 226.

In applying Colossians 2:9 to Christ, Russell stated: "Theotes is rendered Godhead in Colossians 2:9; whereas it should be translated Deity, -- 'For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [Theotes--Deity] bodily.'"  -- The Atonement Between God and Man, page 71.

And Russell stated: "We affirm the humanity of Jesus and the deity of Christ." -- The Watch Tower, January 15, 1912, page 28, Reprints 4955.

The general assumption, however, appears to be that if one does not believe in the trinity or oneness doctrines, then one is denying the divinity of Jesus. This assumption, however, does not match reality.

One claims concerning Russell: "While he denied the divinity of Jesus, he denied the existence of the Holy Spirit." No reference is given, but so far, we have found no place in Russell's writings wherein he denies the existence of Jehovah's Holy Spirit. Russell did deny that God's Holy Spirit is person of Jehovah, but that does not mean that he was denying the existence of God's Holy Spirit itself. Nevertheless, as we have seen,

Additionally, Russell did not deny Jesus' divinity, although he did deny the application of his divinity as meaning that Jesus was a person of his God, Jehovah. His denial that Jesus' divinity means that we need to imagine, assume, add to and read into the scriptures that Jesus is God Almighty and that Jesus is one of three persons all whom are wholly and fully God Almighty does not mean that he was denying the existence of God's Holy Spirit. Russell's explanation of the divinity of Jesus does not mean that he was denying the existence of God's Holy Spirit, nor of the work of God's Holy Spirit. For what Russell taught concerning the Holy Spirit of God, we his studies "The Channel of the Atonement", "The Baptism, Witness and Seal of the Holy Spirit", "The Spirit of a Sound Mind", and "The Holy Spirit of At-one-ment".

See also: Russell on EL, ELOHIM and THEOS.

Russell endeavored to show from the Bible how the Hebrew and Greek words for diety are applied to Jesus and others than Jehovah. However, he seemed to reserve the English words "deity" and "divinity" for those whom he deemed were immortal or who would become immortal. In effect, he generally applied the words only to Jehovah, Jesus and the 144,000. Nevertheless, our study of the Hebrew and Greek words upon which the English words deity and divinity are based reveal broader application. Indeed, if one applies the word "diety" to the ways the Hebrew words often transliterated as EL and ELOHIM, etc., are used in the Bible one can see that, in effect, God made Moses deity [ELOHIM -- a mighty one] to Pharaoh. (Exodus 7:1) The sons of the Most High are deities -- mighty ones. (ELOHIM, Psalm 82:6; rendered as THEOI --plural form of THEOS -- in John 10:34-36. Only, Jehovah, the God and Father of the Messiah, however, is the Supreme Deity. -- Micah 5:4; Ephesians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6.

Nevertheless, we have given proof of what Russell did teach concerning Jesus' divinity/deity. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

CLICK HERE for links to some of our studies concerning the divinity of Christ, the trinity, etc.

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