Who’s Speaking In Proverbs 8, Follow Up

Q

In response to your answer to the question about Proverbs 8, how can we explain Proverbs 8:22-31 as referring to Jesus when Jehovah’s Witnesses use this to try to say that Jesus was created (as the Archangel Michael) by Jehovah God?

A

The fact that a certain group misinterprets a passage to justify their view should be irrelevant to our understanding. There are lots of clear passages to justify our belief in the deity of Jesus. John 1: 1-2, John 10:30, John 14:9, Colossians 1:15-16, Hebrews 1:3, and Hebrews 1:8-12 are examples. Ignoring these clear passages in favor of one whose meaning is subject to debate is a violation of the rules of interpretation. The weight of Scripture clearly supports the deity of Jesus.

Proverbs 8:22-30 tell of the Lord’s existence before the Creation, which is confirmed in Micah 5:2 and John 1:1-2, and His participation in the event. Wisdom did not create the world and could neither have observed it nor rejoiced over it. Nor does wisdom bring life as belief in the Lord does, or the lack of it bring death as it does to those who hate the Lord. (Prov 8:35-36)

Wisdom was never born, but long before the foundation of Earth was laid Jesus agreed to be born as a man to die for the sins of the people (1 Peter 1:18-20).