September 2022 Some Effective Evangelism to Jehovah’s Witnesses: Proving the Deity and Godhood of Jesus Christ Using The Watch Tower’s Current NWT Version The Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult. They follow a severely mistranslated version of the Holy Bible that is purposefully distorted and then handed to the members by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Their religion was founded by a false prophet named Charles Taze Russell who in the 1800s wrote out his own (mis)interpretation of the original Bible. This translation is what became the New World Translation (NWT) upon which the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization was founded. Their website (jw.org) will publicly and plainly list (at least) four instances in the history of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization wherein their doctrine (including the NWT Bible version) was glaringly and indisputably changed, eventually ending up as the amalgamation of ‘scripture’ that Jehovah’s Witnesses work with as of today. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God. They do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, and they also believe that Jesus is a being created by God. They will quote Colossians chapter one (1) and verse fifteen (15) so as to (attempt to) prove that Jesus is not God, but an entity with a beginning: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” – Colossians 1:15 (NWT) [JW Watch Tower] “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” – Colossians 1:15 (KJV) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” – Colossians 1:15 (ESV) “He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.” – Colossians 1:15 (AMP) 1 September 2022 They also believe that the Holy Spirit is actually an impersonal force or contained energy that operates according to the direct will of Jehovah. It is true that the Holy Spirit obeys God in all; there is scripture that says the Holy Spirit searches the deep things of the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). But they believe that the Holy Spirit (no capitalization in their doctrine) is just God’s ‘active force’ or God’s ‘power in action.’ Their own scriptures (along with the actual Bible) says otherwise: “But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.” – John 14:26 (NWT) [JW Watch Tower] “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” – John 14:26 (KJV) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” – John 14:26 (ESV) “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.” – John 14:26 (AMP) Notice the way the Holy Spirit is described. According to the NWT, the Holy Spirit gets (essentially) the exact same description as what can be found in correct translations of scripture (KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, AMP, etc.), but the Watch Tower refuses to recognize that ascribing the attribute of ‘helper’ to a given entity requires that entity to have individuality and personhood. This document is for born-again, Bible-believing, Holy-Spirit filled Christians who may run into a Jehovah’s Witness and need a basis upon which to refute their false claims and corrupted doctrines. This document will use several scriptures from the Watch Tower’s own translation to prove that Jesus is God in the flesh. 2 September 2022 Mark 14:60 – 64 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst 60 Then the high priest stood up in their midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer and questioned Jesus, saying: “Do you say nothing? What is it these men testify against nothing in reply? What is it these men are You?” testifying against you?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. 61 But he kept silent and made no reply at all. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Again the high priest began to question him Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the and said to him: “Are you the Christ the Son Blessed?” of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son 62 Then Jesus said: “I am; and you will see the of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and 63 At this the high priest ripped his garments said, “What further need do we have of and said: “What further need do we have of witnesses? witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do 64 You heard the blasphemy. What is your you think?” And they all condemned Him to decision?” They all condemned him as be deserving of death. deserving of death. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] This is an excerpt from the gospel according to Mark, chapter 14, verses 60 through 64. We observe in the passage that Jesus is standing before the high priests Caiaphas being questioned for the accusations laid against him by false witnesses. Caiaphas asks him whether Jesus is the Son of God, to which Jesus agrees. The important part of this excerpt is that Jesus not only claimed to be the Son of God, but he also claimed to be the Son of Man in a very specific way. This particular definition of Son of Man can be found in the book of Daniel, chapter 7, verses 13 and 14. According to Jesus, he is going to sit at the right hand of Power (the Blessed One) and come in the clouds of heaven. 3 September 2022 Daniel 7:13 – 14 13“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, 13 “I kept watching in the visions of the night, Coming with the clouds of heaven! and look! with the clouds of the heavens, He came to the Ancient of Days, someone like a son of man was coming; and And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory he gained access to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him up close before that One. and a kingdom, 14 And to him there were given rulership, That all peoples, nations, and languages honor, and a kingdom, that the peoples, should serve Him. nations, and language groups should all serve His dominion is an everlasting dominion, him. His rulership is an everlasting rulership Which shall not pass away, that will not pass away, and his kingdom will And His kingdom the one not be destroyed. Which shall not be destroyed. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] Here, Daniel the prophet is detailing the Son of Man that he witnessed in a vision. Notice how this Son of Man is exactly the same as what Jesus told the high priest Caiaphas. Keep in mind that according to the scriptures, there are two types of ‘sons of man.’ One is spoken of multiple times throughout the book of Ezekiel taking directly about the prophet Ezekiel himself, while the other is described only once by Daniel the prophet. Throughout the four gospels, Jesus uses only one of these two definitions of himself. This Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days on the clouds of heaven. He will be given dominion, power, and glory, and will receive worship (service, according to the NWT) from all of creation. The kingdom that this Son of Man receives will last for eternity; it will never pass away, and it will never be destroyed. This is the kingdom that Jesus claims to inherit when he tells the high priest that he is the Son of Man riding the clouds in heaven and seated beside Power. There’s a very important aspect of the model prayer Jesus made to God the Father; he pointed out that the kingdom of God belonged to Him. If this is the case, it is very peculiar that the Son of God (and the Son of Man) would receive this exact kingdom. 4 September 2022 Mark 6:9 – 13 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be 9 “You must pray, then, this way: Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Your will be done 10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. place, as in heaven, also on earth. 11 Give us today our bread for this day; 12 And forgive us our debts, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but But deliver us from the evil one. deliver us from the wicked one.’ For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] Both translations of this prayer make very clear mention that the kingdom of God belongs to God the Father. We know this to be the case because Jesus himself makes the prayer directly to God the Father in heaven. Jesus also makes sure to clarify that the kingdom belongs to no one else but God in heaven. So why is it that Jesus stands before the high priest and claims this kingdom for himself by calling himself the Son of Man? 5 September 2022 Hebrews 4:14 – 16 14 Seeing then that we have a great High 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest Priest who has passed through the heavens, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus Jesus the Son of God, let us hold the Son of God, let us hold on to our public fast our confession. declaration of him. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,+ but but was in all points tempted as we we have one who has been tested in all are, yet without sin. respects as we have, but without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne 16 Let us, then, approach the throne of of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find undeserved kindness with freeness of speech, grace to help in time of need. so that we may receive mercy and find undeserved kindness to help us at the right time. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] There are two very important characteristics ascribed to Jesus’ priesthood, both of which will help point to Jesus as God in the flesh. There is no one else who can claim to be without sin other than God Himself, yet Jesus the Son of God is seen here very clearly and completely without sin. According to this scripture, we access the ‘throne of grace’ (the throne of undeserved kindness with freeness of speech, according to the NWT) through this high priest that is the Son of God. Nowhere in any Old or New Testament scripture will you ever see the idea that God wanted His creation to reach Him through some other creation; when God’s children were to approach God, they took two crucially important steps: 1) They went directly to where God was or could be found (the temple, prophets, oracles, etc.) 2) They shed the blood of clean, spotless, and innocent animals to cover their sins before God, not before men (the sacrifices of the Mosaic Law) When the Levitical priesthood was in effect, none of the sacrifices detailed in the Mosaic Law were ever delineated to be for accessing this throne of grace. In fact, you will hardly find the word ‘grace’ throughout the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Bible authored by Moses. As is clearly taught in the New Testament, the Old Testament is but a type and shadow of what was to come. The Son of God is entirely distinguished as the only high priest to ever be without sin, and to be the only high priest by which we access the throne of grace; even Melchizedek never gets this specific characteristic. 6 September 2022 Hebrews 7:1 – 3 1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest 1 For this Mel·chizʹe·dek, king of Saʹlem, of the Most High God, who met Abraham priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of all, first being translated “king of everything. First, his name is translated “King righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, of Righteousness,” and then also king of meaning “king of peace,” Saʹlem, that is, “King of Peace.” 3 without father, without mother, without 3 In being fatherless, motherless, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, nor an end of life, but being made like the Son remains a priest continually. of God, he remains a priest for all time. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] These first 3 verses of chapter 7 of the book of Hebrews describes Melchizedek’s priesthood in detail. It is without natural parental lineage (father or mother, beginning of days or end of life), continually (eternally), king of righteousness and peace (as his name defines), and made like the Son of God. As clearly stated in both versions, this Melchizedek is not only like the Son of God, but he is also without beginning or ending; he has no creation date and he will have no termination date. This is the order of the priesthood ascribed directly to Jesus Christ, as can be observed in the later verses of this same chapter. 7 September 2022 Hebrews 7:15 – 17 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the 15 And this becomes even clearer when likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another another priest arises who is like priest Mel·chizʹe·dek, 16 who has come, not according to the law of a 16 who has become such, not by the legal fleshly commandment, but according to the requirement that depends on fleshly descent, power of an endless life. but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For He testifies: 17 For it is said in witness of him: “You are a “You are a priest forever priest forever in the manner of According to the order of Melchizedek.” Mel·chizʹe·dek.” NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] According to the scriptures, there arises another who inherits not the priesthood of Aaron or Levi, but that of Melchizedek alone. This means that whoever takes this position after Melchizedek not only has the attributes originally described of Melchizedek but also receives this inheritance according to the power of an endless life. The Law of fleshly commandment is that of Aaron and Levi, but the inheritor of this priesthood attains it through an entirely different means. Take note of the subtle but noticeable difference of choice of words. The NWT decides to use the word ‘indestructible’ instead of ‘endless.’ This single change of words, however, is not enough to remove the aspect of an unending priesthood ascribed precisely and wholly to Jesus the Son of God. 8 September 2022 Psalms 110:1 & 4 1 Jehovah declared to my Lord: 1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand “Sit at My right hand, Until I place your enemies as a stool for your Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” feet.” --- 4 The Lord has sworn --- 4 Jehovah has sworn an oath, and he will not And will not relent, change his mind: “You are a priest forever “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” In the manner of Mel·chizʹe·dek!” NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] King David the Psalmist (the author of this and other Psalms) is telling his audience that God spoke to his own Lord (which is the Lord of King David) and said to sit at His own very right hand. This same God also told this same Lord that the Lord’s priesthood is directly after that of Melchizedek’s. Taking into account everything we know about Melchizedek’s priesthood (coupled with the fact that Jesus, in both scriptures, explains that this Lord rules over King David), Jesus uses this title directly of himself according to Matthew 22:41 – 46. The priesthood King David describes is both forever, and the person involved is allowed to (and even instructed to) sit at the right hand of God the Most High, yet the New Testament of both versions say that the Son of God occupies this exact and only unique position in the kingdom of God. 9 September 2022 Matthew 28:18 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 18Jesus approached and spoke to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven saying: “All authority has been given me in and on earth. heaven and on the earth. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] Jesus himself knows that he has all authority both in heaven and on earth. This is the same kind of authority the Son of Man receives, with his everlasting kingdom and worship and honor from all of creation. Luke 5:20 – 24 20 When He saw their faith, He said to 20When he saw their faith, he said: “Man, him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” your sins are forgiven.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to 21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees started reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks to reason, saying: “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God blasphemies? Who can forgive sins except alone?” God alone?” 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, 22 But Jesus, discerning their reasoning, said He answered and said to them, “Why are you in answer to them: “What are you reasoning reasoning in your hearts? in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man 24 But in order for you to know that the Son of has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, he said to the paralyzed man: “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go to your house.” home.” NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] Because of the authority that has been handed to Jesus Christ, he has all jurisdiction to forgive the sins of all people. The pharisees ask within their hearts how Jesus can forgive sins; it looks like blasphemy to them, because they know the scriptures that say only God can forgive sins. Jesus then decides to justify both his own words and actions before them by healing the man of his palsy based solely on the faith of the man and his friends. Jesus justifies being God. 10 September 2022 John 14:23 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone In answer Jesus said to him: “If anyone 23 loves Me, he will keep My word; and My loves me, he will observe my word, and my Father will love him, and We will come to Father will love him, and we will come to him him and make Our home with him. and make our dwelling with him. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] This scripture, as rendered in both the NKJV and NWT versions, very clearly demonstrate that the doctrine of the Trinity is not pagan in origin. It is, in fact, squarely within Jesus’ doctrines as truth and fact. Jesus himself states that he and God the Father will come to those who obey the teachings of Jesus and make their ‘abode’ with that man. How else will Jesus make an abode wherein lives both he and his Father except it be done by the Holy Spirit? Another very clear demonstration of the trinity in the Bible can be found in Matthew 3:13 – 17. This is when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and right after Jesus rose God the Father spoke from heaven and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove onto Jesus’ head. John 14:26 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the 26But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in My name, He will teach Father will send in my name, that one will you all things, and bring to your remembrance teach you all things and bring back to your all things that I said to you. minds all the things I told you. NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] The Holy Spirit, according to both scriptures, is a helper. By definition, a helper requires personhood. So according to logic, the Holy Spirit is his own person. If the Holy Spirit is a person, how can he be just an inanimate force, or a concentrated collection of pure energy? 11 September 2022 John 20:26 – 28 26 Well, eight days later his disciples were 26 And after eight days His disciples were again indoors, and Thomas was with them. again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus Jesus came, although the doors were locked, came, the doors being shut, and stood in the and he stood in their midst and said: “May midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your you have peace.” 27 Next he said to Thomas: “Put your finger finger here, and look at My hands; and reach here, and see my hands, and take your hand your hand here, and put it into My side. Do and stick it into my side, and stop doubting not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, but believe.” 28 In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord “My Lord and my God!” and my God!” NKJV NWT [JW Watch Tower] Before the events of this excerpt, Thomas the disciple had stated that he was not going to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead except that he could put his finger into Jesus’ crucifixion wounds. Jesus appears to Thomas and instructs him to examine these wounds, and Thomas ends up exclaiming in belief in the Son of God. According to both scriptures, Thomas answers Jesus directly and cries out, ‘My Lord and my God!’ According to the grammatical and language laws used to translate these scriptures, Thomas has just called Jesus both Lord and God. What’s even more intriguing is the fact that Jesus never rebuked Thomas for calling him God; Thomas was only rebuked for not believing in the report given by the women at the tomb and the disciples that had seen Jesus. If these scriptures say exactly what they are read to be saying, are we to conclude that Thomas is telling the truth, or that Jesus is a liar and a blasphemer (and thus, guilty of sin) for not rebuking Thomas’ sayings? 12 September 2022 In Conclusion The scriptures detailed above should give you a good basis to start with when witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses about the error of their doctrine. Please take good note of the date and time that this document has been drafted (which is the 13th of September, in 2022, at approximately 11:00 PM), as the Watch Tower may change one or multiple of their scriptures in order to hide the truth of what their doctrine should be teaching its followers. It is also vitally important that, when conversing with and witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses, you do several things: 1) Pray beforehand for patience, kindness, the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and for the Jehovah’s Witness to have a soft heart, open ears, and a tearing down of the strongholds (especially religious) from on the minds of these Witnesses 2) Whatever sin they bring up (directly or not so) that they are living in, point them to the fact that it is an issue of the heart and that they need to be born again 3) Being ‘firstborn’ in God’s kingdom doesn’t necessarily have to mean ‘the first being to be created’; because they are missing the spiritual side of Jesus’ true teachings, Jesus being firstborn means that he is the inheritor, the prince, the heir to the throne of God’s kingdom. All of the scripture detailed above should be more than enough to prove just such a supposition 4) Make known and explain to them that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will manifest in those who truly belong to God, and that having this witness (along with the in- dwelling of the Holy Spirit) is absolutely imperative for being counted righteous before God I hope that all of this has helped. Feel free to add onto this anything you may believe will assist you in your witnessing to and interaction with the Jehovah’s Witnesses! 13
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