ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Bible Translation and Study</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=unicode"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-gb"> <meta name="keywords" content="Jehovah's Witnesses, New World Translation, Jehovah's Witnesses Defended, Jehovas Zeugen, Témoins de Jéhovah, Testigos de Jehova."> <meta name="description" content="Defence of Jehovah's Witnesses, their doctrines and their New World Translation against critics."> <link rel=stylesheet type="text/css" href="style.css"> <style> <!-- span.MsoFootnoteReference {vertical-align:super;} --> </style> </head> <body bottommargin="0" leftmargin="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" rightmargin="0" topmargin="0" background="background.jpg"> <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="148" height="111"><FONT face=Verdana><IMG height=111 alt="" src="topleft.jpg" width=148 border=0></FONT></td> <td width="100%" height="111" background="topbg.jpg"><!----- Insert your logo below ------------------------------------------> <span lang="en-gb"><FONT face="Trebuchet MS"><FONT color=#0080ff size=7><EM><STRONG>Bible Translation and Study</STRONG></EM></FONT>&nbsp;<!-----------------------------------------------------------------------> </FONT> </span> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="96"><FONT face=Verdana><IMG height=1 alt="" src="spcr.jpg" width=96 border=0></FONT></td> <td width="100%"> <table width="100%" cellpadding="15" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td><!------------------------ Content zone, add your content below ----------------------------> <h3 style="margin-bottom: 12pt" align="center"> <font face="Trebuchet MS" size="5">Worship or Obeisance?</font></h3> <p style="margin-bottom: 12pt" align="center"> &nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">CARM, a website critical of the <i>New World Translation,</i> makes the following observation:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:36.0pt"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&quot;The word &quot;proskuneo&quot;<a name="_ftnref1" title href="#_ftn1"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><font size="1">[1]</font></span></a> occurs 55 times in the Watchtower Kingdome [sic] Interlinear.&nbsp; Of those 55, 15 are in reference to Jesus with 40 used of others.&nbsp; 27% of the usage is of Jesus and not a single reference is translated as &#39;worship&#39; even though in reference to the devil, demons, idols, etc., they <b>do</b> translate it as worship.&nbsp; If this doesn&#39;t demonstrate their bias, then what does?&quot;<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref2" href="#_ftn2" title><font size="1">[2]</font></a></span>&nbsp; </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">The statistics mentioned on the above website are not entirely correct.&nbsp; Actually, the Greek word </span> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&#39;</span><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">ÀÁ¿ÃºÅ½­É</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS" class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref3" href="#_ftn3" title><font size="1">[3]</font></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">, </span> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> <img border="0" src="proskuneo.GIF" width="333" height="97" align="left" hspace="8" vspace="8" longdesc="proskuneo" alt="proskuneo"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"><i>proskuneo&#39; </i>occurs 60 times in Westcott &amp; Hort Edition of the &quot;New Testament&quot;, on which the <i>Kingdom Interlinear Translation</i> is based.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS" class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref4" href="#_ftn4" title><font size="1">[4]</font></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp; Sometimes, the <i>New World Translation</i></span><font face="Trebuchet MS"> uses the verb &#39;worship&#39;, other times, the ex</font><font face="Trebuchet MS">pression &#39;do obeisance&#39;.&nbsp; So l</font><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">et us discuss whether the above website&#39;s criticism of the </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"><i> New World Translation</i> is valid.&nbsp; To do this, we need to examine (a) the range of meaning of the Greek word <i> proskuneo</i>, (b) criteria for determining which of the possible renderings should be used in any given situation, (c) whether the <i>New World Translation</i> has adhered strictly to these criteria.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center"> <b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Range of Meaning of </span> <span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">ÀÁ¿ÃºÅ½­É, </span><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> proskuneo</span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">To establish what <i>proskuneo </i>means, we shall examine both lexical definitions and the use of the word in the Bible, both the Greek Septuagint and the New Testament.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS" class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref5" href="#_ftn5" title><font size="1">[5]</font></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">The <b> United Bible Societies (UBS) Lexicon</b> gives the following definitions for <i>proskuneo</i>:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:36.0pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> worship; fall down and worship, kneel, bow low, fall at another&#39;s feet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">The <b> Friberg Lexicon</b> states:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:36.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">(1) from a basic sense <i>bow down to kiss </i>someone&#39;s feet, garment hem, or the ground in front of him; (2) in the NT of worship or veneration of a divine or supposedly divine object, expressed concretely with falling face down in front of someone <i>worship, venerate, do obeisance to</i> </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">Liddell and Scott&#39;s Greek-English Lexicon</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> says:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:36.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Plut.:-<i>to make obeisance </i>to the gods, <i>fall down and worship, to worship, adore, ...</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:36.0pt"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">2. </span></b> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">of the Oriental fashion of <i>making the </i>salam or <i> prostrating oneself before </i>kings and superiors, </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">The renowned </span><b><i><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></font><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"><a title="Click here for a review of the BDAG Lexicon and information about its compilers." href="http://faculty.bbc.edu/rdecker/bdag.htm">Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature</a></span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">, </span></i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">by Bauer, Danker, Arndt, Gingrich, 3rd edition, (BDAG) gives the following definition:<img border="0" src="bdag.JPG" width="130" height="170" longdesc="BDAG Lexicon" alt="BDAG Lexicon" align="right" hspace="8" vspace="8"></span></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">Freq. used to designate the custom of prostrating oneself before persons and kissing their feet or the hem of their garment, the ground, etc.; the Persians did this in the presence of their deified king, and the Greeks before a divinity or someth. holy.) to express in attitude or gesture one s complete dependence on or submission to a high authority figure, (fall down and) worship, do obeisance to, prostrate oneself before, do reverence to, welcome respectfully.</span></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">It adds that such respect is paid:</span></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">to human beings, but by this act they are to be recognized as belonging to a superhuman realm ...  Jesus, who is rendered homage as Messianic king and helper.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref6" href="#_ftn6" title><font size="1">[6]</font></a></span></span></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">An examination of above dictionary references indicates two basic possible meanings for</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> <i><span lang="EN-US">proskuneo</span></i><span lang="EN-US">:</span></span></p> <ol> <li> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"> <span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">Worship</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">.&nbsp; There can be no doubt that <i>proskuneo</i> is the word most frequently translated <i>worship</i> in the New Testament.</span></li> <li> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Obeisance</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">, homage, bowing down to a superior, for instance, a king.&nbsp; </span></li> </ol> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" align="center" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right: 0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:center"><b> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Defining the English Terms</span></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">To prevent any possible confusion, let us now examine the meaning of the English terms <i>worship, obeisance, homage, </i>according to the <i>Shorter Oxford Dictionary</i>, third edition.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Worship (verb):</span></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">1. To honour or revere as a supernatural being or power or as a holy thing; to adore with appropriate acts, rites, or ceremonies. ...</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">2. To honour; to regard or treat with honour or respect; to salute, bow down to.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Obeisance</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">:<i> </i>&nbsp;a respectful salutation; a bow or curtsy<img border="0" src="lep.jpg" width="300" height="237" align="right" hspace="8" vspace="8" longdesc="A leper pays homage to Jesus. Public domain" alt="A leper pays homage to Jesus. Public domain"></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Homage</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">: acknowledgement of superiority; dutiful respect or honour shown</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Although the verb &#39;to worship&#39; in the sense of &#39;honour, regard, respect&#39; has been widely used in the past, this usage is basically obsolete in modern English.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS" class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref7" href="#_ftn7" title><font size="1">[7]</font></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp; Hence, the only way the term &#39;worship&#39; is currently used in English is that cited under definition number 1 above, namely &quot;to honour or revere as a supernatural being or power ... to adore with appropriate acts.&quot;</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS" class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref8" title href="#_ftn8"><font size="1">[8]</font></a><font size="1"> </font></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" align="center" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right: 0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:center"><b> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">Use of <i>Proskuneo</i> in the New Testament</span></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">The article referred to above identifies a number of different persons to whom the verb </span> <span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">ÀÁ¿ÃºÅ½­É, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> proskuneo is applied: </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;</span></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" bgcolor="#DDFFEF"> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width:246.35pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Jesus</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> 15 times</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> God</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> 19 times</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Demons</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">1 time</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Dragon, beast, image</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">9 times</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Devil</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">2 times</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Generic</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">6 times</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Idols</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">1 time</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Peter</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">1 time</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="328" valign="top" style="width: 246.35pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Angel</span></td> <td width="329" valign="top" style="width: 246.4pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">1 time</span></td> </tr> </table> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> CARM&#39;s supposed &quot;generic&quot; category reveals a methodological error, bringing together a number of different items.&nbsp; In John 12:20, Acts 8:27, Acts 24:11, Revelation 11:1 and possibly Revelation 3:9, the verb is used in the sense of <i> worship</i>, with the object &#39;God&#39; implied, e.g. &quot;he came to Jerusalem to worship [sc. God]&quot;.&nbsp; However, CARM has also &#39;smuggled&#39; another, quite significant, verse into this category: Matthew 18:26.&nbsp; We shall discuss this verse in greater detail shortly. </span></p><FONT size=2> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=208 align=left border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD width=5> <font face="Trebuchet MS"> <IMG height=1 alt="" hspace=0 src="o.gif" width=5 border=0></font></TD> <TD class=sibtbg> <DIV> <DIV class=mva> <font face="Trebuchet MS"> <IMG height=13 alt="" src="left_quote.gif" width=24 border=0> <b>Although <i>proskuneo</i> can mean to worship, its basic meaning is unquestionably&nbsp; &#39;to bow down&#39;</b> <IMG height=13 alt="" src="right_quote.gif" width=23 align=right border=0><BR clear=all></font></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=mva> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></FONT> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">The NT usage of the verb <i>proskuneo</i> demonstrates the range of meaning given in the BDAG and other lexicons.&nbsp; There are cases where the verb clearly means &#39;to worship&#39;, but there are also cases where it can not mean anything other than &#39;to bow down&#39; to.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">In the Western world of the 21st century, we are not accustomed to bowing down to people.&nbsp; We might stand up when a judge enters the room, or nod our heads as a sign of respect, but that is usually as far as it goes.&nbsp; But we should not impose our understanding and culture on our reading of the New Testament, which was written in the 1st century C.E. and reflects the culture and customs of the time.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">One verse that demonstrates this quite clearly is Matthew 18:26.&nbsp; This is Jesus&#39; parable of the unforgiving slave.&nbsp; When his master tells him that he intends to sell him, his family and possessions, we read the slave&#39;s reaction: </span> </p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" bgcolor="#DDFFEF"> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width:55.4pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Greek</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> ÀµÃɽ ¿Å½ ¿ ´¿Å»¿Â ÀÁ¿ÃµºÅ½µ¹ [prosekunei, from proskuneo] ±ÅÄÉ, »µ³É½ ºÅÁ¹µ, ¼±ºÁ¿¸Å¼·Ã¿½ µÀ&#39; µ¼¿¹ º±¹ À±½Ä± ÿ¹ ±À¿´ÉÃÉ</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> KJV</span><a name="_ftnref9" title href="#_ftn9"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS" class="MsoFootnoteReference"><font size="1">[9]</font></span></a></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me and I will pay the all.</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> NIV</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> The servant fell on his knees before him. &#39;Be patient with me,&#39; he begged, &#39;and I will pay back everything.&#39;</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> NWT</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Therefore the slave fell down and began to do obeisance to him,&nbsp; saying,&nbsp; &#39;Be patient with me and I will pay back everything to you.&#39;</span></td> </tr> </table> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="unfsla.jpg" width="269" height="320" alt="&quot;The slave fell down and did obeisance to him&quot;. Taken from a Bible Story book now in the public domain." align="left" hspace="8" vspace="8"></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">Is this verse telling us that the slave <i>worshipped</i> his master, in the sense of &#39;honouring or revering as a supernatural being&#39;?&nbsp; No.&nbsp; It is true that the <i>King James Version</i> tells us that the slave worshipped his master, but that is because when the KJV was produced, the word &#39;worship&#39; still included the simple meaning of bowing down.&nbsp; Thus, the modern-language <i>New International Version</i> correctly says that the slave &quot;fell on his knees&quot; before his master.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS" class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref10" href="#_ftn10" title><font size="1">[10]</font></a></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> This text, then, confirms the comments of numerous lexicons cited above, that <i>proskuneo </i>can mean, simply to bow down.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> This usage of <i>proskuneo</i> is also found in the Greek <i> Septuagint.</i>&nbsp; For example, at Genesis 23:7, we read about an incident in the life of Abraham:</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;</span></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" bgcolor="#DDFFEF"> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width:55.4pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Greek</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> ±½±Ãı ´µ ‘²Á±±¼ ÀÁ¿ÃµºÅ½·Ãµ½</span><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> [</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">prosekunesen</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">, from <i>proskuneo</i></span><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">]</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> ÄÉ »±É Ä·Â ³·Â, Ä¿¹Â Ź¿¹Â §µÄ</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> KJV</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> NIV</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.0pt"> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; height: 12.0pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> NWT</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; height: 12.0pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Thereupon Abraham got up and bowed down to the natives,&nbsp; to the sons of Heth,</span></td> </tr> </table> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> &nbsp;</span></i></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Similarly, we read in 1 Kings 1:23 about Nathan&#39;s approach to King David:</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;</span></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" bordercolor="#DDFFEF" bgcolor="#DDFFEF"> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width:55.4pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 12.0pt"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Greek</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">º±¹ µ¹Ã·»¸µ½ º±Ä± ÀÁ¿ÃÉÀ¿½ Ä¿Å ²±Ã¹»µÉ º±¹ ÀÁ¿ÃµºÅ½·Ãµ½ [</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">prosekunesen</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">, from <i>proskuneo</i></span><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">] Ä¿ ²±Ã¹»µ¹ º±Ä± ÀÁ¿ÃÉÀ¿½ ±ÅÄ¿Å µÀ¹ Ä·½ ³·½</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> KJV</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> NIV</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.0pt"> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; height: 12.0pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> NWT</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; height: 12.0pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> After that he came in before the king and prostrated himself to the king with his face to the earth.</span></td> </tr> </table> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> Some other instances where the Septuagint uses <i>proskuneo</i></span><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> to refer to bowing down as a mark of respect are: </span> </p> <p class="Bulletlist" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span lang="EN-US">·</span></font><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Genesis 33:3: Jacob bowed to his brother Esau</span></p> <p class="Bulletlist" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span lang="EN-US">·</span></font><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Exodus 18:7: Moses bowed to his father-in-law</span></p> <p class="Bulletlist" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span lang="EN-US">·</span></font><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Ruth 2:10: Ruth bowed to Boaz</span></p> <p class="Bulletlist" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span lang="EN-US">·</span></font><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> 1 Samuel 20:41: David bowed to Jonathan</span></p> <p class="Bulletlist" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span lang="EN-US">·</span></font><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> 1 Samuel 24:8: David bowed to King Saul</span></p> <p class="Bulletlist" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span lang="EN-US">·</span></font><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> 1 Samuel 25:3: Abigail bowed to David</span></p> <p class="Bulletlist" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span lang="EN-US">·</span></font><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Trebuchet MS" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Daniel 2:46: Nebuchadnezzar bowed to Daniel</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS"> These, and many other, occurrences of the verb <i>proskuneo</i> in the Septuagint help us to understand two points:</span></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt"> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">1.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In a variety of cultures in Bible times it was customary to bow down before someone as a gesture of respect, with absolutely no religious meaning at all.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt"> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">2.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The verb <i>proskuneo</i> is frequently used to describe such actions.&nbsp; </span></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" align="center" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right: 0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Selecting the Correct Rendering</span></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">If translating the word <i>proskuneo</i> implies separating two shades of meaning, then on what basis can the translation decision be made?&nbsp; In other words, how can the translator decide whether to render the word &quot;worship&quot; or &quot;do obeisance, bow before, pay homage&quot;?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> First, we must acknowledge that rendering <i>proskuneo </i> as &#39;did obeisance&#39; or &#39;bowed before&#39; is <i>never wrong</i> when describing a physical action.&nbsp; If such an action is prompted by reverence for God or a divinity, then the rendering &#39;worship&#39; is appropriate.&nbsp; But even in that case, the rendering &#39;bowed before&#39; is not inappropriate.&nbsp; The difference between simple bowing down and worship is a matter of the heart and mind of the one performing the action.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Worship is not difficult to distinguish from respect, obeisance or homage.&nbsp; The basic distinction is this:&nbsp; the person performing an act of worship views it as an acknowledgement of <i>divinity.</i>&nbsp; He considers that he is worshipping <i>God</i> or possibly one or more of <i>many gods</i>.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">In cases when the object of the verb <i>proskuneo</i> is God:</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> the rendering &#39;worship&#39; is obviously appropriate, and probably no-one disputes it.&nbsp; True, certain verses might be translated &quot;bow before God&quot;, even as Abraham&#39;s servant is said to have &#39;bowed down before Jehovah&#39; (Genesis 24:26).&nbsp; Even if that is so, the meaning is certainly that of worship, as there could be no conceivable reason for bowing down before God, except to worship him. </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">In cases where the verb&#39;s object is an idol, an image, or a false god, such as the devil, the demons, the wild beast of Revelation:</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> again the rendering &#39;worship&#39; is appropriate, because the one performing the action is attributing (wrongly) to the thing worshipped the qualities of God.&nbsp; Here, too, a rendering like &#39;bow down&#39; or &#39;do obeisance&#39; might be used.&nbsp; But all of the above are <i>false gods</i>.&nbsp; They are false gods because people <i>worship</i> them.&nbsp; That is what makes them gods.&nbsp; The meaning of respect or honour here is improbable, since false gods are unlikely to be respected by anyone but their worshippers.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">In cases where the verb&#39;s object is a human or an angel, </span> </b><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> either translation might conceivably be possible, but that would depend on what we are able to establish about the motives of the one performing the act of obeisance.&nbsp; In Genesis 23:7, <i>LXX</i>, the gesture seems to have indicated little more than politeness.&nbsp;&nbsp; In 1 Kings 1:23, we have the action of a loyal subject to his king, a gesture of submission and respect, but certainly not worship.&nbsp; Likewise, in Matthew 18:26, quoted above, it would simply be wrong to translate the word as &#39;worship&#39;.&nbsp; The slave was not attributing any divine qualities to his master; he was simply throwing himself on his mercy.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">On the other hand, there are cases where people <i>do</i> worship other humans.&nbsp; Emperor worship was rife in the Roman world.&nbsp; Did Cornelius intend to worship Peter?&nbsp; (Acts 10:25).&nbsp; In view of the context, that is unlikely, as Cornelius is said to be a God-fearing man.&nbsp; The <i>New World Translation</i> says that he &#39;did him obeisance&#39;.&nbsp; The <i> New International Version </i>and the <i>Good News Translation</i> have similar renderings.&nbsp; </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" align="center" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right: 0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">The Fifteen Cases Involving Jesus Christ</span></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">The above principles provide us with more than enough guidance in order to decide how to translate the 15 occurrences of <i> proskuneo</i> with regard to Jesus Christ.&nbsp; </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Three instances of the verb <i>proskuneo</i> involving Christ have to do with his birth.&nbsp; It is said that the three magi came to visit Jesus in order to &#39;do him obeisance&#39; and that Herod, too, wished to &#39;do him obeisance&#39;.&nbsp; (Matthew 2:2, 8, 11).&nbsp; Did the astrologers believe that Jesus was the Son of God? &nbsp;Did Herod?&nbsp; All they knew was that Jesus was called &quot;King of the Jews&quot;.&nbsp; (Matthew 2:2).&nbsp;&nbsp; We have already established that it was customary to do obeisance to kings.&nbsp; Nothing in these accounts indicates that the translation &#39;worship&#39; would be appropriate.&nbsp; They did not refer to the child even as the &#39;Son of God&#39;, not to mention God himself!</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Numerous people approached Jesus and bowed down before him during his earthly ministry.&nbsp; Matthew 8:2 recounts how a beggar did obeisance to Jesus and asked to be healed.&nbsp; This man &quot;entreated him on bended knee&quot; (Mark 1:40).&nbsp; Nothing indicates that the man believed Jesus to be God.&nbsp; He was simply begging Jesus for a favour, just as the slave in Jesus&#39; parable did obeisance to his master and begged for a favour.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Similarly, Matthew 9:18 tells us that Jairus &#39;did obeisance&#39; to Jesus.&nbsp; Again, a parallel account gives a synonym: he &#39;fell at his feet&#39; (Luke 18:41).&nbsp; These are the actions of a man requesting a great favour.&nbsp; Nothing points to an act of worship in this passage.&nbsp; The Phoenician woman mentioned in Matthew 15:25 also belongs here; she was begging Jesus to cure her demonized daughter.&nbsp; So, too, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, who asked a favour (Matthew 20:20), and a man from whom Jesus expelled demons (Mark 5:6) </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Mark 15:19 tells us that the Roman soldiers &#39;did obeisance&#39; to Christ.&nbsp; It is scarcely possible that anyone would contend that this was an act of worship!&nbsp; As far as the Romans were concerned, Jesus was being executed for claiming to be &quot;King of the Jews&quot;.&nbsp; As we have already established, the correct way to behave in the presence of a king was to bow down.&nbsp; The soldiers were mocking Jesus&#39; claim to be a king by cynically bowing down to him.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref11" href="#_ftn11" title><font size="1">[11]</font></a></span> </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">We have seen, then, that in the above cases, there is absolutely no reason to conclude that the persons involved - most of them not believers - were actually worshipping Christ.&nbsp; They simply fell at his feet, in harmony with the prevailing custom of the day.&nbsp; What about cases where Christ&#39;s disciples &#39;did obeisance&#39; to him, before and after his resurrection.&nbsp; Do these prove that Christ was worshipped?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 14:33 informs us that the disciples &#39;did obeisance&#39; to Christ after he had silenced a great storm.&nbsp; John 9:38 tells us that a blind man who had been healed by Christ put faith in him and &#39;did obeisance&#39; to him.&nbsp; Matthew 28:9 tells us that women who saw the resurrected Jesus &#39;did obeisance&#39; to him, and Luke 24:52 tells us that other disciples did so too.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Is the <i>New World Translation</i> correct in rendering these verses as &#39;did obeisance&#39; rather than &#39;worshipped&#39;?&nbsp; Remember that &#39;do obeisance&#39; is a broader term than &#39;worship&#39;.&nbsp; It describes a specific act, which, in certain circumstances <i>could</i> imply worship, but does not always.&nbsp; If we can demonstrate that the disciples believed Jesus to be God, then we are justified in using the word &#39;worship&#39;.&nbsp; Otherwise, we are better off sticking with &#39;did obeisance&#39; or something similar.&nbsp; Since a physical act of bowing down is being described, the rendering &#39;did obeisance&#39; is <i>definitely</i> <i>correct</i>, regardless of whether the disciples believed that Jesus was God or not, whereas the term &#39;worshipped&#39; would only be correct if the disciples did believe such a thing.&nbsp; So the <i>New World Translation</i> can not be faulted for choosing the rendering that is definitely correct in these verses.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref12" href="#_ftn12" title><font size="1">[12]</font></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Did the disciples believe that Jesus was God?&nbsp; That is a topic for another discussion, but there is one very interesting point raised by Professor Jason Beduhn.&nbsp; It concerns Matthew 28:17:</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" bgcolor="#DDFFEF"> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width:55.4pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Greek</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">º±¹ ¹´¿½ÄµÂ ±ÅÄ¿½ ÀÁ¿ÃµºÅ½·Ã±½ ±ÅÄÉ, ¿¹ ´µ µ´¹Ãıñ½</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">KJV</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">NIV</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.0pt"> <td width="74" valign="top" style="width: 55.4pt; height: 12.0pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">NWT</span></td> <td width="583" valign="top" style="width: 437.35pt; height: 12.0pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">and when they saw him they did obeisance,&nbsp; but some doubted.</span></td> </tr> </table> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Can a person <i>worship</i> and <i>doubt</i> at the same time?&nbsp; As we have established above, the narrower rendering &#39;worship&#39; can be justified only if we can prove that the disciples believed Jesus to be God.&nbsp; This verse indicates that some of them not only doubted that he is God, but they even doubted that it was Jesus.&nbsp; In these circumstances, the rendering &#39;worshipped&#39; is very hard to justify.</span></p><FONT size=2> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=208 align=right border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD width=5> <font face="Trebuchet MS"> <IMG height=1 alt="" hspace=0 src="o.gif" width=5 border=0></font></TD> <TD class=sibtbg> <DIV> <DIV class=mva> <font face="Trebuchet MS"> <IMG height=13 alt="" src="left_quote.gif" width=24 border=0> <b>The apostles could not have &#39;worshipped&#39; and &#39;doubted&#39; at the same time!</b> <IMG height=13 alt="" src="right_quote.gif" width=23 align=right border=0><BR clear=all></font></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=mva> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></FONT> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">This leaves us with Hebrews 1:6, which in the <i>New World Translation</i> reads: &quot;Let all God&#39;s angels do obeisance to him [that is, Christ].&quot;&nbsp; The footnote very honestly admits that the phrase could be rendered by the alternate reading &quot;worship him&quot;.&nbsp; Since Christ, as the Son of God, occupies a position much higher than that of the angels, it is only right that they should do him obeisance.&nbsp; But, again, we can not read more into Hebrews 1:6 than it is actually saying.&nbsp; If you believe Christ is God, then, clearly you will feel that the <i>proskuneo</i> here refers to worship.&nbsp; But if you are trying to use the <i>proskuneo </i>here to prove that Jesus is God, then your argument would be circular.&nbsp; It would be like saying that the verb must mean &#39;worship&#39; because Jesus is God, and that he must be God because he is worshipped!&nbsp; You would be assuming the very thing you&#39;re trying to prove!</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">No wonder, then, that Professor Beduhn comments: &quot;There are passages where many translators have <i>interpreted</i> the gesture referred to by the Greek term <i>proskuneo</i> as implying &#39;worship&#39;.&nbsp; They have then substituted that interpretation in the place of a translation.&quot;<a name="_ftnref13" title href="#_ftn13"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><font size="1">[13]</font></span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" align="center" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right: 0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Other Translations</span></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Other translations, too, have recognized that a rendering like &#39;do obeisance&#39; or &#39;bow before&#39; is appropriate.</span></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none" bgcolor="#DDFFEF"> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width:123.15pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><b><font face="Trebuchet MS">&nbsp;</font></b></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"><b> <i>New English Bible</i></b><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref14" href="#_ftn14" title><font size="1">[14]</font></a></span></span></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"><b> <i>Jerusalem Bible</i></b><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref15" href="#_ftn15" title><font size="1">[15]</font></a></span></span></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: .5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"><b> <i><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/index.htm">New American Bible</a></i></b><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a name="_ftnref16" href="#_ftn16" title><font size="1">[16]</font></a></span></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 2:2</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> pay him homage</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> do him homage</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> do him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 2:8</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> pay him homage</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> do him homage</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> do him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 2:11</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed to the ground in homage to him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> did him homage</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> prostrated themselves</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 8:2</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed low</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed low in front of him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> did him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 9:18</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed low before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed low in front of him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> knelt down before him</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 14:33</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> fell at his feet</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed down before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> did him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 15:25</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> fell at his feet</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> was kneeling at his feet</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> did him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 20:20</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed low</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed low</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> did him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 28:9</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> falling prostrate before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> falling down before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> did him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Matthew 28:17</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> fell prostrate before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> fell down before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> worshipped [NB: not &#39;worshipped him&#39;]</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Mark 5:6</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> flung himself down before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> fell at his feet</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> prostrated himself</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Mark 15:19</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> paid mock homage to him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> do him homage</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> knelt before him in homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Luke 24:52</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> -</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> worshipped him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> did him homage</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> John 9:38</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> bowed before him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> worshipped him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> worshipped him</span></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.15pt; border-left: .5pt solid windowtext; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> Hebrews 1:6</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> pay him homage</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> worship him</span></i></td> <td width="164" valign="top" style="width: 123.2pt; border-left: medium none; border-right: .5pt solid windowtext; border-top: medium none; border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0cm"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;"> worship him</span></i></td> </tr> </table> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;</span></i></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">Is it true, then, as the CARM website asserts:</span></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">&quot;As you can see, the NWT is very bias [sic] in how it translates the word &quot;proskuneo.&quot;&nbsp; Whenever it is in reference to Jesus, they absolutely will not let it be translated as worship.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because they erringly deny that Jesus is God in flesh and their Bible reflects their bias.&nbsp; This is not how proper theology is done.&nbsp; ... &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Watchtower Organization has changed the Bible to suit its needs&quot;?</span></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;Let us summarize the evidence:</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">(1) <b>Lexicons</b>.&nbsp; All reliable lexicons list at least <i>two</i> meanings for <i>proskuneo.</i>&nbsp; One meaning is &#39;worship&#39;; the other is &#39;bow low, prostrate oneself, do obeisance&#39;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">(2) <b>Bible usage</b>.&nbsp; It is clearly seen from a number of examples in the NT and the Septuagint that the verb is frequently used without any religious significance, simply as a gesture of respect, submission, and humility.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">(3) <b>Other Bible translations</b>.&nbsp; It may be seen that other Bible translations, on occasion, agree with the NWT in <i> not</i> translating <i>proskuneo</i> as worship, when it refers to Jesus Christ.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt"> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">So who is really biased - the <i>New World Translation Committee </i> or its critics?&nbsp; Let scholar Jason Beduhn answer: <script> <!-- D(["mb","<br>&quot;In our exploration of this issue, we can see how theological bias has<br>been the determining context for the choices made by all of the<br>translations except the NAB and NW. &nbsp;There are passages where many<br>translators has interpreted the gesture referred to by the Greek term<br>proskuneo as implying \'worship\'. &nbsp;They have then substituted that<br>interpretation in place of translation. &nbsp;... The translators seem to<br>feel the need to add to the New Testament support for the idea that<br>Jesus was recognized to be God. &nbsp;But the presence of such an idea<br>cannot be supported by selectively translating a word one way when it<br>refers to Jesus and another way when it refers to someone else. ...<br>When we observe how these same translators choose \'worship\' when the<br>gesture is made to Jesus by certain persons, and choose other English<br>words to translate the very same Greek term when the gesture is<br>directed to someone other than Jesus ... their inconsistency reveals<br>their bias. (Bold added)<br><br>Beduhn isn\'t a Jehovah\'s Witness, and actually disagrees with a number<br>of translation decisions made by the NWT translation committee. &nbsp;If<br>you want to do yourself a big favour, read his book. &nbsp;You will learn a<br>lot more accurate information than you will by reading anti-Witness<br>books and websites, which I have repeatedly proved in this and<br>previous emails to be wrong. &nbsp;It will help you to be a lot more<br>careful about bandying about expressions such as \'biased\', \'missing<br>out\' words, \'deliberately mistranslating\', \'changing the Bible\', etc.<br><br>You asked about ordering it - you can get it from Amazon:<br><a onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\" href=\"http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761825568/\" target=_blank>http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec<wbr>/obidos/ASIN/0761825568/</a><br><br>In conclusion, Wayne, I\'d say that neither of us have the advanced<br>scholarly knowledge necessary to critique a Bible translation. &nbsp;That\'s<br>best left to the experts.<br><br>Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he<br>holds his tongue. - Proverbs 17:28, NIV.<br><br>I look forward to receiving your comments. &nbsp;Some sort of retraction<br>would be nice!<br>",1] ); //--> </script>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 36.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt"> <span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&quot;In our exploration of this issue, we can see how theological bias has been the determining context for the choices made by all of the translations except the NAB and NW. &nbsp;There are passages where many translators has interpreted the gesture referred to by the Greek term <i>proskuneo</i> as implying &#39;worship&#39;. &nbsp;They have then substituted that interpretation in place of translation. &nbsp;... The translators seem to feel the need to add to the New Testament support for the idea that Jesus was recognized to be God. &nbsp;But the presence of such an idea cannot be supported by selectively translating a word one way when it refers to Jesus and another way when it refers to someone else. ... When we observe how these same translators choose &#39;worship&#39; when the gesture is made to Jesus by certain persons, and choose other English words to translate the very same Greek term when the gesture is directed to someone other than Jesus ... their inconsistency reveals their bias. <span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a name="_ftnref17" href="#_ftn17" title><font size="1">[17]</font></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-family:&quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p> <div style="mso-element:footnote-list"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"><br clear="all"> &nbsp;</font><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn1"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn1" title href="#_ftnref1"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a> &#39;Proskuneo&#39; and &#39;proskyneo&#39; are alternative transliterations of the Greek verb <span lang="EL">ÀÁ¿ÃºÅ½­É.</span></font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn2"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn2" title href="#_ftnref2"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a> CARM website at <a href="http://www.carm.org/jw/nwt_proskuneo.htm" target=_blank> http://www.carm.org/jw/nwt_proskuneo.htm </a></font> </div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn3"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn3" title href="#_ftnref3"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span></a> In this and other essays on this site, accent marks on Greek text have been deliberately omitted, as experience has shown that polytonic Greek fonts are seldom displayed correctly.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn4"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn4" title href="#_ftnref4"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[4]</span></a> The list produced by CARM is not entirely accurate.&nbsp; A search of the <i>Westcott &amp; Hort </i>Greek Text of the New Testament using the e-sword program yielded a total of 60 occurrences in 54 verses, six verses having the word twice (John 4:20, 22, 23, 24, Revelation 13:4; 19:10.)&nbsp; </font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn5"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn5" title href="#_ftnref5"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[5]</span></a> In this essay, we are using the term &#39;New Testament&#39; for convenience.&nbsp; Jehovah&#39;s Witnesses feel it is more accurate and descriptive to refer to this portion of the Bible as the &quot;Christian Greek Scriptures&quot;.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn6"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn6" title href="#_ftnref6"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[6]</span></a> These dictionary quotations are taken from reference works available through the Bibleworks 5 software.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn7"> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left:0cm"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn7" title href="#_ftnref7"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[7]</span></a> It has, however, left <span lang="EN-US">its mark on modern English in such terms as &quot;Your Worship&quot; (the correct form of address for a Justice of the Peace or a Mayor in England).&nbsp; </span></font> </div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn8"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn8" title href="#_ftnref8"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[8]</span></a> We are not here discussing the metaphorical usage of the word in expressions such as &quot;he worships (or, adores) his wife&quot;, which might in most cases be classed as hyperbole. </font> </div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn9"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn9" title href="#_ftnref9"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[9]</span></a> Abbreviations: KJV, King James Version; NIV, New International Version; NWT, New World Translation.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn10"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn10" title href="#_ftnref10"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[10]</span></a> The use of <i>proskuneo</i> at Revelation 3:9 is debatable.&nbsp; It could either mean that the opposers would worship God in front of true worshippers (the object of the verb, &#39;God&#39;, being understood in Greek), or it could mean (as in the <i>NWT</i>) that they would &#39;do obeisance&#39; to the true worshippers, bowing down in acknowledgement of the fact that Christians are servants of the true God.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn11"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn11" title href="#_ftnref11"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[11]</span></a> Of course, in the Roman world it was generally believed that emperors and kings were divine, so perhaps they were pretending to worship Jesus.&nbsp; But the point is irrelevant for our purposes.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn12"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn12" title href="#_ftnref12"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[12]</span></a> The rendering &#39;did obeisance&#39; does not in any case contradict the doctrine that Jesus is God.&nbsp;&nbsp; We have seen in the Hebrew scriptures that servants of God did literally bow down to him on occasion.&nbsp; So Trinitarians should have no real quarrel with the rendering &#39;did obeisance&#39;.&nbsp; However, this rendering deprives them of one of their principal arguments for the view that Christ is Almighty God.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn13"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn13" title href="#_ftnref13"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[13]</span></a> <i> Truth in Translation - Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament, </i>page 47.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn14"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn14" title href="#_ftnref14"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[14]</span></a> 1961 edition.&nbsp; The <i>New English Bible</i> was made by representatives of the Church of England, Church of Scotland, Methodist, Baptist and Congregationalist Churches, as well as the Presbyerian Church in England, Society of Friends, Church in Wales, Churches in Ireland, British and Foreign Bible Society, and National Bible Society of Scotland.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn15"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn15" title href="#_ftnref15"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[15]</span></a> The Jerusalem Bible is a Catholic Bible version published in 1966, under the supervision of Alexander Jones, Christ&#39;s College, Liverpool.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn16"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn16" title href="#_ftnref16"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[16]</span></a> The <i>New American Bible </i>was produced by team of approximately 50 Bible scholars, the majority of whom were Catholics.</font></div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn17"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> <a name="_ftn17" title href="#_ftnref17"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[17]</span></a> <i> Truth in Translation - Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament, </i>page 47.</font></div> </div> <p style="margin-bottom: 12pt" align="center"> &nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <font face="Trebuchet MS"> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></font><BR><!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="178"> <table width="178" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td><font face="Trebuchet MS"><!------------------------ Menu section, links go below ----------------------------><!-- this is the code for a button below, just copy and paste the code to make multiple buttons, you will notice we have did this six times for example --><!--button code start--> </font> <table width="178" height="41" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr valign="top"><td width="178" height="11"> <FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=#0000ff size=2><IMG height=11 alt="" src="buttontop.jpg" width=178 border=0></FONT></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="178" height="20" background="buttonbg.jpg"> <FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=#0000ff size=2 ><IMG height=1 alt="" src="buttonspcr.gif" width=15 border=0>&nbsp;&nbsp; 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