A Person Cannot Worship Christ – (worship vs. honor)

Brief Summary

Showing from Holy Scripture that Christ (Messiah) cannot be worshipped, however can be honored as the risen King Messiah.

A word rule is briefly looked at to help with understanding this, and with this, we see that worship/glory belongs to the Holy G-d (the Father) only.

As an example, John 1:14 will also be translated more clearly in accordance with a word rule, a little later on here.

Begin

Civilly, with regard to Holy Scripture a person will not be able to find a single verse where it says it is acceptable to ‘worship’ or ‘give glory’ to Christ (Messiah) – when read in context.

Saying that any being other that G-d (who is the Father) can receive ‘worship’, can be seen as a mistranslation and interpretation of the context of the fuller scope of Holy Scripture.

This can be seen by reviewing the Hebrew and Greek interlinear text, where the Strong’s Concordance has categorised and numbered the words in it;

Word rule(s) can then be formed to support all of this, as we will briefly see here.

Christ Does Not Receive Worship Or Glory From Humans

“I do not accept glory from human beings,
John 5:41 NIV
^{[Strong’s G1391 is used in the interlinear text for John 5:41, and it’s definitions include; ‘..honor…glory.’ ‘worship’; (Strong’s exhaustive concordance)]}

With this, we then see in another place that glory is instead for G-d (the Father);

Worship / Glory Is To God Alone;

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
^{[Strong’s G1391 is used in the interlinear text for 1 Corinthians 10:31; ‘..honor…glory.’]}

A person can note that the same ancient Greek word (G1391) was used in both of the above subject verses.

God Is Honored And So Is The Risen Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah)

With this, we can see that ‘honor’ (respect/reverence) is allowed to be given to both God and also the Son (Christ/Messiah) – but no mention of ‘glory’ to the Son;

that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
John 5:23 ESV
^{[Strong’s G5091 is used in the interlinear text for John 5:23; ‘..honor, reverence.’, and not glory.].}

A Contextual Rule of Thumb

 A person can note that the ancient Greek word used in John 5:23 (G5091) does not have ‘glory’ as a definition – therefore a contextual translation rule could be humbly submitted here as;

Glory and honor/reverence to God; 
G5091 and G1391 ‘glory/honor/reverence’ ,
and
Honor/reverence to the risen King Messiah (Christ);
G5091 and G1391 ‘honor / reverence’;
as
‘glory’ is associated with the worship of G-d (see Strong’s exhaustive concordance, and dictionary definitions).’.

The above word rule is a useful introduction to this topic.

This approach can be lent to other Hebrew and Greek words that may appear in the Holy Scriptures which might also represent English words such as ‘worship, glory, honour’ – all with an aim to support monotheism, and assist in showing a person that the man-made doctrine known as the ‘trinity’, does not exist.

An Example: John 1:14 more clearly translated from ‘glory’ to ‘honor’

The are some unique sighting(s) such as John 1:14, which speak of the Son (Christ), and is translated with the word ‘glory’ – it reads as follows;

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 ESV

The Strong’s Greek word 1391 is again used here and it has some varying potential english definitions that are mentioned at the top of this response where John 5:41, 1 Corinthians 10:31 are quoted – e.g. ‘..honor…glory.’.

These definitions should be weighed carefully and be based on context – especially as this verse is speaking of Christ/Messiah, the righteous, risen man who cannot receive ‘glory’ from humans (ref. John 5:41).

For the sake of clarity, John 1:14 should thus not be translated with ‘glory’ in it, but rather with ‘honor’ instead – when speaking of the risen King Messiah (Christ). It can read as follows;

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his honor, the renown as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14 KJV amended)

Hoping it is fruitful.

May the Holy G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; bless you, with a beyond maximum increase; believing in His risen Son the Lord Jesus Christ (Adonai Yehoshua HaMoshiach). Amen.