Latreuo and Proskyneo in the NT

The Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus Christ is a created being, an angel, and since He is not God but simply a 'god,' it is wrong to worship Him.

If one might get ahold of the New World Translation Interlinear Greek New Testament it becomes an educational thing to observe a convenient translation of "worship" in the Greek, as simple "obeisance" for Jesus but the powerful translation of "worship" where Jehovah is mentioned in context. There is but one word meaning either "worship" or else "obeisance" -- proskyneo. By observing how the writers of the New Testament used the word proskyneo we might be able to determine if Jesus was intended to be worshiped just as Jehovah God.

This article also examines the usage of the Greek word latreuo, as it relates to this issue of worship, reverence and obedience to another.

First: Regarding "service": In these passages, note how “latreuo” (service) is rightfully only given to God (alone it says, referring to the godhead YHWH), and to Jesus:

Matt 4:10 “Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and (LATREUO) serve him only.'””

Romans 1:25 “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served (LATREUO) created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.”

Rev 22:3 “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve (LATREUO) him.”

(John 12:26 “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”)

Acts 7:42, 43 “But God turned away and gave them over to the worship (LATREUO) of the heavenly bodies. ... ‘Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’”

Second: Regarding "worship": It is significant to notice usage, by author. The following passages tell readers to "proskyneo" God alone, yet also demonstrate proskyneo being rightfully given to Jesus:

By the author Luke:

Luke 4:8 “Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship (PROSKYNEO) the Lord your God and serve him only.'"”

Luke 24:49-53 “’I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped (PROSKYNEO) him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

Acts 10:25-26 “As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence (PROSKYNEO). But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself.’"

Acts 7:40-43 “They told Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don't know what has happened to him!' That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made. But God turned away and gave them over to the worship (LATREUO) of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
    'Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship (PROSKYNEO). Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon.”

By Matthew:

Matt 4:10 “Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship (PROSKYNEO) the Lord your God, and serve him only.'””

Matt 2:2 “...Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship (PROSKYNEO) him.’"

Matt 2:11 “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped (PROSKYNEO) him.”

Matt 8:2 “A man with leprosy came and knelt before (PROSKYNEO) him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’"

Matt 9:18 “While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before (PROSKYNEO) him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’"

Matt 14:33 “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped (PROSKYNEO) him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’"

Matt 15:22, 24-25 “A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.’” ... “He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’ The woman came and knelt before (PROSKYNEO) him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.”

Matt 20:20 “Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down (PROSKYNEO), asked a favor of him.”

Matt 28:9, 17 “Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped (PROSKYNEO) him.” ... “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped (PROSKYNEO) him; but some doubted.”

By Mark:

Mark 5:2, 6 “When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.” ... “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees (PROSKYNEO) in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!’"

By John:

John 4:21, 24 “Jesus declared, ‘Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship (PROSKYNEO) the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.’ ... ‘God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship (PROSKYNEO) in spirit and in truth.’"

John 9:37-38 “Jesus said, ‘You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.’ Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped (PROSKYNEO) him.”

Rev 16:2 “The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped (PROSKYNEO) his image.”

Rev 19:20 “With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped (PROSKYNEO) his image.”

Rev 9:20 “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping (PROSKYNEO) demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.”

Rev 13:8 “All inhabitants of the earth will worship (PROSKYNEO) the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”

Rev 13:15 “He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship (PROSKYNEO) the image to be killed.”

Rev 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship (PROSKYNEO) the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

The author of Hebrews:

Heb 1:6 “And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ’Let all God's angels worship (PROSKYNEO) him.’"

Heb 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped (PROSKYNEO) as he leaned on the top of his staff.”

(Gen 47:31 in the Septuagint: “Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped (PROSKYNEO) as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Here, YHWH receives proskyneo without prostration, and in 1 kings 1:47, YHWH receives proskyneo with prostration, so actual bowing may not be required for giving proskyneo.)

Summary

Here are the summaries of when service and worship is given according to each book, and then according to author:

ACTS proves YHWH deserves worship and service righteously, and parts of creation, mere men, or false gods or idols, do not.

MATTHEW proves YHWH and Jesus deserves worship righteously, and Satan does not.

MARK proves Jesus did not correct or rebuke Satan’s emmissaries from worshiping him.

HEBREWS proves Jesus and YHWH both righteously receive worship.

REVELATION proves Jesus and YHWH both righteously receive worship, and angels do not.

JOHN proves Jesus and YHWH both righteously receive worship.

LUKE proves Jesus and YHWH both righteously receive worship.

ACTS + LUKE together prove YHWH and Jesus both righteously receive worship, and parts of creation, mere men, false gods, and idols, do not.

JOHN + REVELATION together prove Jesus and YHWH both righteously receive worship, and angels, demons, idols, images, and the beast do not.