Rejoice in Jesus or in Jehovah?

originally posted 12/12/14

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh---- Phil. 3:1-3

NET: "...exult in Christ Jesus..."
NKJV: "...rejoice in Christ Jesus..."
ESV and NASB have "...glory in Christ Jesus..."

4    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;- Phil. 4:4-5

These passages seem to be saying Christians are to rejoice in the Lord Jesus. If Jesus is the Lord in the context rather than the Father, then that would entail Paul exhorting Christians to rejoice in Jesus in a way similar or equal to the way the Old Testament teaches we are to rejoice in Jehovah/Yahweh the one true God. This would be consistent if Jesus is Jehovah (along with the Father). Phil. 4:5 states that "The Lord is at hand (or "is near")." This may be a reference to Jesus' Second Coming.

Comparing the above apparent exhortations to rejoice in Jesus with the following Old Testament exhortations to rejoice in Jehovah suggests that Jesus is Jehovah. How could anyone other than God receive or deserve the kind of worship that is only due to God? One can't, therefore Jesus is fully God.

yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.- Hab. 3:18

"Be glad, O children of Zion,
        and rejoice in the LORD your God,
    for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
        he has poured down for you abundant rain,
        the early and the latter rain, as before.- Joel 2:23

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
        and give thanks to his holy name!- Ps. 97:12

But may all who seek you
        rejoice and be glad in you;
    may those who love your salvation
        say continually, "Great is the LORD!"- Ps. 40:16

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
        my soul shall exult in my God,
    for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
        he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
    as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
        and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.- Isa. 61:10 [cf. Phil. 3:3 in the NET]


you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,
        and the tempest shall scatter them.
    And you shall rejoice in the LORD;
        in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.- Isa. 41:16

The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD,
    And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.- Isa. 29:19 NASB




It will be said on that day,
        "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
        This is the LORD; we have waited for him;
        let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."- Isa. 25:9

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.- Ps. 33:1 KJV