In the OT, the words for "worship" are used for both God and people. In Gen 14:4 people had to worship the king. The Aramaic PELACH is used for the son of man and the saints of God, Daniel 7. In Esther 3:2 the king’s officials bow down, I.e., worship Haman. And in Isa 45.14 redeemed Israel will both be worshiped and prayed to by the remnant nations!
In the NT the Greek word PROSKUNEO is used for angels [Rev 19.10; 22.8], humans [Mat 8.2; 18.26; 20.20; Acts 10.25], Christians (Rev 3.9) and even demons/idols [Act 7:43; Rev 13:8; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4].
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible is therefore correct to observe that "it cannot be proven that in any of these cases…more than an act of homage and humble obeisance is intended."
The Greek LATREUO, “divine service/worship” used for people in Deut. 28:48 LXX; the son of man, the saints (Dan 7.13, 27 Aquila's LXX). [NOTE the Apocryphal book of Judith 3:8a for king Nebuchadnezzar].
Yet, LATREUO is never used for Jesus by the NT writers as Wainwright states in his book, The Trinity in the New Testament.
“In the NT [latreuo] is never used of service or worship given to Christ. [And again] there is no instance of [latreuo] which has Christ as its object.”
In the NT the Greek word PROSKUNEO is used for angels [Rev 19.10; 22.8], humans [Mat 8.2; 18.26; 20.20; Acts 10.25], Christians (Rev 3.9) and even demons/idols [Act 7:43; Rev 13:8; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4].
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible is therefore correct to observe that "it cannot be proven that in any of these cases…more than an act of homage and humble obeisance is intended."
The Greek LATREUO, “divine service/worship” used for people in Deut. 28:48 LXX; the son of man, the saints (Dan 7.13, 27 Aquila's LXX). [NOTE the Apocryphal book of Judith 3:8a for king Nebuchadnezzar].
Yet, LATREUO is never used for Jesus by the NT writers as Wainwright states in his book, The Trinity in the New Testament.
“In the NT [latreuo] is never used of service or worship given to Christ. [And again] there is no instance of [latreuo] which has Christ as its object.”