Jehovah’s Witnesses
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1. The divine name
1. The divine name
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that God’s one true name—the name by which he must be identified—is Jehovah.
Biblically, however, God is identified by many names, including:
God (Hb. ‘elohim; )
(Hb. ‘elohim;
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
),God Almighty (Hb. ‘El Shadday; ),Lord (Hb. ‘Adonay; ), and Lord of hosts (Hb. yhwh tseba’ot; ).
God Almighty (Hb. ‘El Shadday;
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.
),Lord (Hb. ‘Adonay; ), and Lord of hosts (Hb. yhwh tseba’ot; ).
Lord (Hb. ‘Adonay;
1 Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with your majesty.
), and Lord of hosts (Hb. yhwh tseba’ot; ).
Lord of hosts (Hb. yhwh tseba’ot;
3 This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Armies at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.
).
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
), as did the apostles ().
, as did the apostles ().
2. The Trinity.
2. The Trinity.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Trinity is unbiblical because the word is not in the Bible and because the Bible emphasizes that there is one God.
Biblically, while it is true that there is only one God
6 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me.
; ; ; ; ; ), it is also true that three persons are called God in Scripture:
it is also true that three persons are called God in Scripture:
1. the Father
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
2. Jesus
28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus (; ), andthe Holy Spirit ().
(; ), andthe Holy Spirit ().
; ), andthe Holy Spirit ().
8 but to the Son: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
), andthe Holy Spirit ().
3. Holy Spirit
3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”
).
Each of these three possesses the attributes of deity—including
omnipresence (is everywhere)
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
; ; ),
23 “Am I a God who is only near”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away? 24 Can a person hide in secret places where I cannot see him?”—the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?”—the Lord’s declaration.
; ),
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
; ),
omniscience (Knows everything)
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
; ; ),
30 Now we know that you know everything and don’t need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”
; ),
10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
; ),
omnipotence (can do all things)
17 Oh, Lord God! You yourself made the heavens and earth by your great power and with your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you!
; ; ),
(; ; ),
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
; ),
; ),
and eternality
2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?
; ; ).
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
).
Still further, each of the three is involved in doing the works of deity—such as creating the universe:
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
The Bible indicates that there is three-in-oneness in the godhead
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
).
13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The Bible indicates that there is three-in-oneness in the godhead (; cf. ).
Thus doctrinal support for the Trinity is compellingly strong.
cf. ).
Thus doctrinal support for the Trinity is compellingly strong.
3. Jesus Christ.
3. Jesus Christ.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was created by Jehovah as the archangel Michael before the physical world existed, and is a lesser, though mighty, god.
Biblically, however, Jesus is eternally God
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”
14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
has the exact same divine nature as the Father
18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
; ; cf. ) and has the exact same divine nature as the Father (; ; ).
; ; ).
30 I and the Father are one.”
; ).
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
; ).
The Agels Worship Jesus
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
; cf. ; , ) and is worshiped by them ().
Jesus himself created the angels (; cf. ; , ) and is worshiped by them ().
; cf. ; , ) and is worshiped by them
6 Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says, And let all God’s angels worship him.
4. The incarnation.
4. The incarnation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that when Jesus was born on earth, he was a mere human and not God in human flesh.
This violates the biblical teaching that in the incarnate Jesus, “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”
9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,
; cf. ).
6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man,
).
Indeed, Jesus was Immanuel, or “God with us”
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Therefore, the incarnate Jesus was the sum total of the nature, being, and attributes of God in bodily form.
(; cf. ; , , ; ; ).
Indeed, Jesus was Immanuel, or “God with us” (; cf. ; , , ; ; ).
5. Resurrection.
5. Resurrection.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was resurrected spiritually from the dead, but not physically.
Biblically, however, the resurrected Jesus asserted that he was not merely a spirit but had a flesh-and-bone body
39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”
; cf. ).
19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” 20 Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
He ate food on several occasions, thereby proving that he had a genuine physical body after the resurrection
30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish.
, 42-43;
).
This was confirmed by his followers who physically touched him
9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
; ).
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
; ).
6. The second coming.
6. The second coming.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the second coming was an invisible, spiritual event that occurred in the year 1914.
Biblically, however, the yet-future second coming will be physical, visible
9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
), and will be accompanied by visible cosmic disturbances (). Every eye will see him ().
13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
will be accompanied by visible cosmic disturbances
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
; cf. ), and will be accompanied by visible cosmic disturbances (). Every eye will see him ().
). Every eye will see him ().
Every eye will see him
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen.
().
7. The Holy Spirit.
7. The Holy Spirit.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force of God and not a distinct person.
Biblically, however, the Holy Spirit has the three primary attributes of personality:
a mind
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
emotions
),emotions (), andwill ().
30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
), andwill ().
will
11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.
Moreover, personal pronouns are used of him
2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Also, he does things that only a person can do, including:
Also, he does things that only a person can do, including:
teaching
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
),testifying (),commissioning (),issuing commands (), andinterceding ().
testifying
26 “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.
),commissioning (),issuing commands (), andinterceding ().
commissioning
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
),issuing commands (), andinterceding ().
issuing commands
29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”
), andinterceding ().
interceding
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity ().
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
8. Salvation.
8. Salvation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that salvation requires faith in Christ, association with God’s organization (i.e., their religion), and obedience to its rules.
Biblically, however, viewing obedience to rules as a requirement for salvation nullifies the gospel
16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
; ). Salvation is based wholly on God’s unmerited favor (grace), not on the believer’s performance.
Good works are the fruit or result, not the basis, of salvation
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
; ).
9. Two redeemed peoples.
9. Two redeemed peoples.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe there are two peoples of God: (1) the Anointed Class (144,000) will live in heaven and rule with Christ; and (2) the “other sheep” (all other believers) will live forever on a paradise earth.
Biblically, however, a heavenly destiny awaits all who believe in Christ
1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.
(; ; ; ; ; ; ), and these same people will also dwell on the new earth (; ).
; ; ; ; ; ; ), and these same people will also dwell on the new earth (; ).
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
20 but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
; ; ; ; ), and these same people will also dwell on the new earth (; ).
10. No immaterial soul.
; ; ; ), and these same people will also dwell on the new earth (; ).
10. No immaterial soul.
10. No immaterial soul.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that humans have an immaterial nature. The “soul” is simply the life-force within a person. At death, that life-force leaves the body.
Biblically, however, the word “soul” is multifaceted. One key meaning of the term is man’s immaterial self that consciously survives death
18 With her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin.
; ). Unbelievers are in conscious woe (; , ; ; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. 10 They cried out with a loud voice: “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”
). Unbelievers are in conscious woe (; , ; ; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
Unbelievers are in conscious woe
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
). Unbelievers are in conscious woe (; , ; ; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
; , ; ; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
). Unbelievers are in conscious woe (; , ; ; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’
; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
Unbelievers are in conscious woe (; , ; ; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
; ; ) while believers are in conscious bliss in heaven (; ; ; ; ).
11. Hell.
11. Hell.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe hell is not a place of eternal suffering but is rather the common grave of humankind. The wicked are annihilated—snuffed out of conscious existence forever.
Biblically, however, hell is a real place of conscious, eternal suffering
22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.
(; , ; ; ; , ).
; , ; ; ; , ).
11 and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name.
; , ).