GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON

     The Jehovah's Witnesses quote The Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich) and conclude that "proskuneo" here means "a respectful bowing down; paying homage" WT 2-15-83 p.18

     But the Lexicon here isn't defining any particular New Testament usage of the word "proskuneo." As we read on, several things become clear. The definition, as far as the Watchtower has quoted it, is also used in non- biblical writings, and can refer to the false worship of deified men and holy objects. (Lexicon p.723)
     Furthermore, starting where the Watchtower left off, the Lexicon says:
     "...the Persians did this in the presence of their deified King, and the Greeks before a divinity or something holy..."

     Here, it is apparent that "proskuneo" is something more than casual respect, like a salute or calling someone "sir." And certainly this description doesn't imply that real worship isn't to be understood in Hebrews 1:6.

     It is specifically mentioned further in the definition, under point 2:
     "to God" item "a." The kind of worship in Hebrews 1:6 is listed as being used "of the God worshipped by monotheists (Christians, Jews, Samaritans)" (Lexicon p.724)
     The Lexicon lists this form of worship at Hebrews 1:6 with what Jesus said shall be offered to the Father at John 4:21,23 and also of that restricted to Jehovah Himself in Luke 4:8 and Matthew 4:10.

RELATIVE WORSHIP

     Since the Watchtower Society doesn't believe that Jesus is really God, there isn't much difference between "relative" (indirect) worship and idolatry. The Watchtower once defined idolatry as:
     "...the worship of anyone or anything aside from the one true God." WT 1-15-63 p.53

     But by Watchtower statements, the worship that is to go through Jesus, must go to Jesus Himself:
     "It does no good to argue that such honor given to images is merely "relative," for in actual practice...the worship of the image itself is real." Let God Be True, 1952, p.150

     The Watchtower further states:
     "A religionist may not excuse himself by saying that he merely gives the image "relative honor and worship" and is not worshipping the image itself, but the one for whom the image stands." The Truth Shall Make You Free, 1943, p.37

     The above two statements refer to "images" as used in the Roman Catholic Church. But even in the "relative worship" of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the worship going through Jesus, who in a similar sense becomes the "image," has to be REAL if it's ultimately going to go to God Himself.

     The Society's publication, "Reasoning From the Scriptures," said this about worship:
     "We must understand that it is "proskuneo" with a particular attitude of heart and mind that should be directed only toward God." (p.215)

     If Jesus is a created being, then the Father commanded all the angels to engage in creature worship in Hebrews 1:6. Would God really do this, or is it "relative creature worship?"

     Since the Witnesses believe that Jesus is an exalted angel, (AWAKE! 9-22-59 p.7) can an angel receive "relative worship?" The Society's book, Let God Be True, 1952, p.151 answers:
     "Relative honor to God through an angel was reproved in these words: "Be careful! Do not do that! (Rev. 19:10; 22:8,9)

     Finally, notice that the Father commands all the angels to worship the Son. If Jesus was Michael the Archangel, Hebrews 1:6 would have said: "Let all the "other" angels worship Him."
     The Watchtower once used this very verse to prove that Jesus could NOT be Michael! (WT Nov. 1879, p.4)

     The New World Translation goes so far as to render the exact same Greek word as "worship" when applied to Jehovah, but "obeisance when applied to Jesus Christ. Then the Society goes to great lengths to try and make "obeisance" mean something less than worship! Why do they do this only when the word "worship" is used in connection with Jesus Christ? The words "worship" and "obeisance" mean exactly the same thing!

     Jesus accepted the worship of men throughout the New Testament:
Matthew 14:33 "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him..."
Matthew 28:9 "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him."

     The Watch Tower publication Make Sure of All Things (1965) has this erroneous and nonsensical heading on page 283:
     "He (Jesus) taught men not to worship him, but to worship Jehovah, his Father."

     He did no such thing! There is no verse in the entire Bible which says that only the Father should be worshipped.
     Then turning right around in their twisted reasoning, and in direct opposition to the "Make Sure of All Things" book, the newer "Reasoning From the Scriptures"(1985) had this question on page 214:
     "Does the fact that worship is given to Jesus prove that he is God?"
     Now they are admitting that worship WAS given to Jesus! This act of worship was refused by men and angels in the Bible (Acts 10:25 and Rev. 19 and 22)

     In their Bible commentary, "Insight on the Scriptures" under "Obeisance", on page 523, they state:
     "...bowing to anyone other than Jehovah as a deity was prohibited by God."
     So what did they think the disciples were doing as they bowed down before Jesus, took hold of his feet, and "worshipped" Him?
     Backpedaling as fast as they can in the "Insight" book, they warn their misguided members that:
     "...the evidence does not warrant one's reading too much into this rendering."

     What evidence? They produce none that any scholar would accept. Jesus was worshipped (received obeisance) and they cannot explain away the word of God so easily.

THE WATCHTOWER CHARTER - 1944 (Amendments 1945)