QUESTION:

I have tried to convince Jehovah Witnesses that Jesus is God but they interpret differently the scripture.  Do you have a different aproach or material about this question?

Answer:

I address the question of Jehovah Witness teaching in notes and a power point at the web site. I suggest you go to the power point section at the site to see this material. To simplify for you, I am copying an pasting a part of that material relevant to your question below.

That Jesus is God is so obvious from scripture that one is left wondering how our JW friends can reach this conclusion. The answer is that they are carefully and thoroughly indoctrinated into this belief using literature from the Watchtower Society. I do not want to discourage you, but you should be aware that it is really quite unusual that people can “argue” JW believers out of their false teachings. My suggestion is that you deepen your convictions in this area, pray for your friend, but not pin your hopes too strongly on being about to convince your friend using the scripture, no matter how strong the case is for the conclusion that Jesus is God. Also, be aware that the New World Translation was made specifically for the purpose of disproving the deity of Christ. Of all the Bible tranlsations it is perhaps the most biased and the poorest one available. Hopefully you can agree with your friend on use of a translation both can agree on.

I suggest you not get into arguments with a Jehovah Witness. Instead, I suggest that you let your light shine, that you share your love and deep conviction and heart for God. The biggest weakness of the JW religion, other than its obvious false theology, is that it is a religion of the head, not the heart. Perhaps you have found a person who has begun to recognize the need for a loving, gracious relationship with God and with his followers, and perhaps you will be able to help God supply this need.

John Oakes

False teachings of Jehovah witnesses:

I. Jesus is not God. Jesus is the first and highest of created beings. Jesus is an angel. He is the archangel Michael. (?Michael the great prince is none other than Jesus Christ Himself? (The Watchtower, Dec, 1984, p 29.) (Daniel 10:1,13, 12:1)

This is the Arian heresy of Arius  (about 325 AD)

J. W. proof-texts:

Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.

Jn 3:16 ?Jehovah?s first creation was his only begotten Son? (an attempt to preempt Jn 1:14)

Rev 3:14 the beginning of (The ruler of)the creation of God (a mistranslation)

Coll 1:15-17 The first-born of (NIV over) all creation?. By means of him all other thi ngs have been created (they insert the word other)

Jn 14:28 The Father is greater than I

Jn 20:17 My God

1 Cor 15:28 the head of Christ is God.

Claim: Jesus is never worshipped in the NT

Jesus is never called Jehovah, so he is not God, because Jehovah is the only name of God.

Answer:

Compare Coll 1:16 to Hebrews 2:10

Besides, just look at Coll 1:16 all things were created by Christ?   All things  were created by him and for him.

Heb 1:2 the entire universe was created by Jesus Christ–therefore he is God.

OT: God is the creator

NT: Jesus is the Creator  Logically, then, Jesus is God.

Jn 8:58 Before Abraham was born, I AM (Exodus 3:14) they picked up stones to stone him.

Jn 10:30 I and the Father are one. Clear enough? Read through vs. 33.

Coll 2:9 The fullness of deity lives in bodily form.

(NWT: Because it was in him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily)

Not a single Greek scholar will support the NWT

Jn 20:28 My Lord and my God.

Titus 2:13 Our great God and savior, Jesus Christ

(NWT: the Great God and of the savior of us, Jesus Christ)

Isaiah 43:11 God says that only he saves

God our savior and Jesus Christ our savior used interchangeable in Titus

Phil 2:5,6 Who being in very nature God.

Zech 12:10 They will look on me, the one they have pierced?

(NWT look to the one whom they pierced)

Isaiah 9:6,7

Heb 1:6 angels are commanded to worship (proskuneo) Jesus.    Only God is to be worshipped, yet Jesus clearly accepts worship–also found in Revelation.