Well, the LXX does use proskuneo a number of times for other forms of adoration in the Old Testament. I believe I have also heard of extra-biblical examples giving a broader meaning to the term. I have read elsewhere that in Classical Greek, this was a very common term for bowing and showing reverence to those in authority. But, no one doubts Jesus' authority on earth or that adoration or even divine worship is due him. So, although I think there is a lexical response, I don't think it's necessary in this case. Even if worship is only due God, that doesn't mean that the principle of agency plus the heightened divinity as God's Son (with all regal authority implied in that culture) wouldn't be seen as effectively being given to God through His divine appointed agent or royal/divine son.Homer wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 12:09 pmHi Darin,
You posted:
Homer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:05 am
So why did Jesus not rebuke them?
Matthew 14
28 Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!”
They "worshipped" Him. I do not believe you can cite one instance (of some 60 in the New Testament) where the Greek proskuneo (worship) is used approvingly of any other than God the Father and God the Son. That is my point.Well, quite obviously, because there was nothing wrong and everything right with giving him praise and honor and proclaiming him as the Son of God. There are many examples of forms of "worship" (if that's the word you prefer) of all sorts of men of renown and honor. That doesn't make them Yahweh.
Here is one commentary discussing this with a couple of specific examples...
....
It has been further said that there are some instances in which Jesus is represented as receiving worship from the Jews while he was on earth. A more weak and preposterous idea cannot be imagined. They who urge this seem not to be aware of the latitude of meaning in which the Greek word proskuneo is employed. See, for example, Dan. ii. 46. Gen. xxiii. 7, 12.
The word, in the instances alleged, is in fact the one most commonly used to denote that respect and veneration which men are accustomed to render to their superiors. Had Christ permitted himself to be treated as an object of religious worship, and that in a public manner too, it would not have been overlooked by the scribes and pharisees. On this ground they would not have failed to condemn him as an enemy to the most fundamental principle of the law, the worship of the one God. Their total silence on this point proves that they did not consider the worship that he received as of the same kind as that due to God. The words leitourgeo, latreuo, sebomai, and proseuchomai, are never applied as expressive of the worship that was on any occasion given to Jesus; but universally to that which was given to the Father.