Against the Watchtower: John 12:36-43

Version 0.001; subject to revision.

Watchtower claim:

Isaiah . . . saw his glory: When Isaiah saw a vision of the heavenly courts where Jehovah was sitting on his lofty throne, Jehovah asked Isaiah: “Who will go for us?” (Isa 6:1, 8-10) The use of the plural pronoun “us” indicates that at least one other person was with God in this vision. So it is reasonable to conclude that when John wrote that Isaiah “saw his glory,” this refers to Jesus’ prehuman glory alongside Jehovah. (Joh 1:14) This harmonizes with such scriptures as Ge 1:26, where God said: “Let us make man in our image.” (See also Pr 8:30, 31; Joh 1:1-3; Col 1:15, 16.) John adds that Isaiah spoke about him, that is, the Christ, because a large portion of Isaiah’s writings focuses on the foretold Messiah.

Response:

We agree that John quotes from Isaiah 53:1 (cited in the NWT), a passage we would both say is about Jesus the Messiah.

We agree that Isaiah is referring to Jesus in Isaiah 6:1 (quoted in John 12:41). We agree that the glory Isaiah saw was the glory of Jesus (at least, we agree that it must also be Jesus’ glory).

According to John, in Isaiah 6:10, quoted in John 12:40, who is Isaiah speaking of? In John 12:41, John says that Isaiah was speaking about Jesus – which we’ve agreed upon.

In Isaiah 6:9, it says that He replied. Who is the He of Isaiah 6:9? It isn’t “us,” as in Jehovah and others. It’s just Jehovah. Jehovah speaks the words of Isaiah 6:10. But John says that Isaiah was speaking about Jesus. Does it not stand to reason that John is saying that Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory, and that when Jehovah spoke in Isaiah 6:9-10, Jesus spoke? This only makes sense if Jesus is Jehovah.

Furthermore, Isaiah 6:1 doesn’t use “us.” It is just speaking about Jehovah on His throne in His glory. The “us” does not come until later. The scene Isaiah sees and speaks of is dominated by Jehovah and His glory. Interpreting the “us” as bringing in others who aren’t Jehovah to share the spotlight goes against the focus of the whole chapter.

In addition, the glory that Isaiah saw can only be attributed to Yahweh/Jehovah. In Isaiah 6:3, the glory of “Jehovah of armies” is what fills the whole earth. Isaiah did not see anyone else’s glory. Because John attributes the glory Isaiah saw to Jesus (John 12:41), Jesus must be Jehovah.

John 12:36b-43 ESV

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes

and hardened their heart,

lest they see with their eyes,

and understand with their heart, and turn,

and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

John 12:36b-43 NWT

Jesus said these things and went off and hid from them. 37 Although he had performed so many signs before them, they were not putting faith in him, 38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, who said: “Jehovah, who has put faith in the thing heard from us?*+ And as for the arm of Jehovah, to whom has it been revealed?”+ 39 The reason why they were not able to believe is that again Isaiah said: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and has made their hearts hard, so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and turn around and I heal them.”+ 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory, and he spoke about him.+ 42 All the same, many even of the rulers actually put faith in him,+ but they would not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, so that they would not be expelled from the synagogue;+ 43 for they loved the glory of men even more than the glory of God.*+

Isaiah 6:1-3, 8-10 NWT

6 In the year that King Uz·ziʹah died,+ I saw Jehovah sitting on a lofty and elevated throne,+ and the skirts of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were standing above him; each had six wings. Each* covered his face with two and covered his feet with two, and each of them would fly about with two.

 3 And one called to the other:

“Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies.+

The whole earth is filled with his glory.”

…

8 Then I heard the voice of Jehovah saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”+ And I said: “Here I am! Send me!”+

 9 And he replied, “Go, and say to this people:

‘You will hear again and again,

But you will not understand;

You will see again and again,

But you will not get any knowledge.’+

10 Make the heart of this people unreceptive,+

Make their ears unresponsive,+

And paste their eyes together,

So that they may not see with their eyes

And hear with their ears,

So that their heart may not understand

And they may not turn back and be healed.”+

Isaiah 6:1-3, 8-10 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!”

…

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;

keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

10 Make the heart of this people dull,

and their ears heavy,

and blind their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.”