Jehovah's Witness Scripture Answered Isaiah 9:6 - "Everlasting Father" - Is Jesus the Father?
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ISAIAH 9:6 – SINCE JESUS IS CALLED “EVERLASTING FATHER” IS JESUS THE FATHER?
OUR RESPONSE: Dear Friend, Thanks for writing. We have a book online that addresses these kinds of questions in depth. We trust you will find it helpful in your research. See our link below: To put it briefly, we believe in the distinctions of persons within the one Being of God—that is, the Trinity. the Athanasian Creed explains that the three persons are distinct from each other, yet one God, unified in substance and nature. Thus, Jesus is not the same person as the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit, the same person as the Father or Son. As you noted, this distinction is seen in the Father sending the Son and the Son asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit. It is also seen in the baptism of Christ where all three persons manifest at once. If the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were merely attributes or manifestations of one person, such distinction in persons, manifesting at once, would not be possible. Throughout Scripture, we see the phrase “Father of…” used to indicate that the person is the Author, Possessor, or Source of something. For example, God the Father is called:
All of these terms demonstrate God’s authorship of these attributes. Thus, when Isaiah 9:6 uses the phrase “Everlasting Father” of Christ, it is best understood as indicating that Jesus is the “Father of Eternity” or Possessor/Source of Eternity. This title demonstrates the fact that Jesus is not created, but rather the Author / Source of Eternity. As the Possessor of eternity, Jesus is well qualified to give eternal life (John 10:28). One cannot give something he does not possess. Thus, Isaiah 9:6 proves that Jesus is authorized to give eternal life, because He is the Everlasting Father / Father of Eternity. The phrase, “Wonderful Counselor” is not necessarily a reference to the Holy Spirit because the Pre-Incarnate Christ, called the “Angel of the LORD,” in the Old Testament, said His name is “Wonderful” when He was talking with Manoah at Judges 13:18. Thus, it seems plausible to tie this title of Christ to that incident, not necessarily to the Holy Spirit. Yet, in John 14:16, Jesus promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to be our Counselor. This same “Spirit of God” is called the “Spirit of Christ” at Romans 8:9. So even if you do link the Holy Spirit to the “Wonderful Counselor” title of Christ in Isaiah 9:6, it is not necessarily a proof that the Spirit and Christ are the same person. They are still distinct in their personhood, yet one God.
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