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Jesus.defender

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  1. John 14:28 - ‘The Father is greater than I’. Watchtower teaching: The JW book Let God be True, 1946, p.110 says that Jehovah is greater than Jesus in his office and person. Jehovah they say is intrinsically greater than Jesus, and hence Jesus cannot be God Almighty. The JW book Reasoning from the Scriptures, p.410, says, ‘The fact that Jesus is lesser than Jehovah proves that He cannot be God in the same sense that Jehovah is’. The Bible Teaching: In John 14:28 Jesus is not speaking about His nature or being (Christ had earlier said in John 10:30, ‘I and the Father are one’), but about His lowly position of incarnation as a man. The Athanasian Creed says that Christ is ‘equal to the Father as touching His Godhood, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood’. Christ was here contrasting His human humiliation, shame, suffering, rejection, opposition by enemies, and soon crucifixion, with the Father’s majesty, glory and worship by the angels in heaven. Key: Jesus said, ‘The Father is greater (Greek: meizon) than I’, not ‘The Father is better (Greek: kreitton) than I’. ‘Greater’ refers to the Father’s greater position (in heaven), not to a greater nature. If the word ‘better’ had been used, this would indicate that the Father had a better nature than Jesus. i) The distinction is made clear in Hebrews 1:4 where ‘better’ (Gk: kreitton) is used to teach Jesus’ superiority over the angels in His nature and position. ii) This difference between ‘greater’ and ‘better’ is seen in this example: ‘The President of a country is greater (Greek: meizon) in position than his people, but as a human being he is not better (Greek: kreitton) in nature than his people’. iii) Jesus in becoming a man, not only took on a lower position than the Father, but also took on a lower position than the angels. ‘But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death’. (Hebrews 2:9) QUESTION:‘Do you agree that a President is greater in position but not better in nature than his people?’ QUESTION: ‘In view of greater (meaning higher in position) and better (meaning higher in nature), is it not clear that in John 14:28 Jesus is speaking of the Father’s temporary higher position and not his higher nature than Jesus? QUESTION: How did Christ make Himself of no reputation when He became a man? (Phil. 2:6-9) 1. He veiled His preincarnate glory in order to dwell among men, but never surrendered His deity or divine glory. On the Mount Transfiguration He allowed His glory to shine briefly. If Christ had not veiled His glory, mankind would not have been able to look at Him. When John saw His glory on Patmos he said, ‘I fell at His feet as dead’. (Rev. 1:17). 2. He submitted to a voluntary non use of some of His divine attributes (on some occasions) in order to achieve His objectives. He never surrendered His attributes, but He did voluntarily cease using some of them on earth. Jesus showed His divine attributes of: i) omniscience (‘He knew all men’ John 2:24; 16:30;‘Lord thou knowest all things.’ 21:17 ii) omnipresence (John 3:13 ‘the Son of man which is in heaven’). As God He was everywhere at once, but as man He chose to walk there. iii) omnipotence (Matthew 28:18 ‘all power is given unto me’.) 3. He condescended to take on the likeness (form, appearance) of man and the form of a servant. (Phil 2:7). His becoming a man involved gaining human attributes (subject to weakness, pain, sorrow and temptation), but not giving up his divine attributes. Conclusion: ‘The Father is greater than I’ (John 14:28) said Jesus from the vantage point of His incarnation as a man. This verse relates to Christ’s voluntary subordination to the Father to accomplish His work on earth.‘Greater than’ refers to His greater position not His nature.
  2. John 20:17 - ‘My God and Your God’ ‘I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.’ Watchtower teaching: The JW book Reasoning from the Scriptures,$p.212, says, ‘To the resurrected Jesus, the Father was God, just as the Father was God to Mary Magdalene’. JWs argue that because Jesus referred to ‘My father’ and ‘my God’, Jesus cannot be Almighty God Himself. The Bible teaching: Why did Jesus call the Father ‘my God’? Does this imply that Jesus is not God? No, not at all. Christ had only a divine nature before the incarnation. After His birth as a man, He took on a human nature. Therefore, it is in Christ’s humanity that He acknowledged the Father as ‘my God’. Key verse: ‘Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God.’ Heb 2:17 Since Christ came as a man and since some of man’s proper duties are to worship God, pray to God and address God as ‘My Father’ and ‘My God’, then it was perfectly correct for Jesus (speaking as a man) to address the Father in prayer and to call Him ‘My God’. Question: Why didn’t Jesus just say, ‘I am ascending to our Father and our God?’ Answer: Jesus always carefully distinguished His relationship with the Father from humans’ relationship with the Father. Key: Jesus was God’s Son by nature, but Christians are God’s sons by adoption. Jesus never spoke of the Father as ‘Our Father’ but as ‘the Father’ or ‘My Father’ (The Lord’s Prayer is how Christians (Our) should pray.) Question: ‘Why did Jesus always say ‘the Father’ or ‘my Father’ but never ‘our Father’? Conclusion: Because Jesus is God’s Son by nature, He is truly God. Because Jesus is also truly a man by nature, He can call the Father ‘my God’.
  3. John 20:28 ‘Thomas answered and said unto him, “My Lord and my God”.’ Thomas addresses Jesus as ‘My Lord and my God’, thus recognizing Jesus as Jehovah God the Son. Jesus commended Thomas on his belated acknowledgement of Jesus as God. Watchtower Teaching: JWs dismiss this verse as a simple record of Thomas’ shock and surprise at seeing the risen Christ. A modern parallel might be ‘Oh, my God!’ Perhaps Thomas was making an emotional exclamation that was directed to Jehovah God, though spoken to Jesus. (Should you Believe in Trinity, p.29). Bible Teaching: a) If Thomas said, ‘My Lord and my God’ as expressing shock or surprise, then he would have been guilty of blasphemy, and of taking God’s name in vain. First century Jews regarded any careless use of God’s name as blasphemy. b) If Thomas had taken God’s Name in vain, Jesus clearly would have rebuked him for it. c) Instead, Jesus commended Thomas for believing that Jesus was both Lord and God. (‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed’ v.29). If Jesus was only a man or a god, He should have corrected Thomas’ wrong opinion, but Jesus reinforced Thomas’ view here. d) Thomas wasn’t calling Jesus ‘a god’; he was calling Jesus his Lord and his God. If Jesus was not Almighty God, He would have corrected Thomas by saying something like, ‘No, I am just a god, a lesser god. Jehovah is the only true God. You must not put me in Jehovah’s place. Only Jehovah may be called my Lord and my God.’ But Jesus said no such nonsense. He commended Thomas for recognizing Him as the true God. If Thomas said ‘My Lord and my God’ as an emotional exclamation of astonishment, as JWs think, then Thomas would be talking to himself. But v.28 states he was talking to Jesus by using the word ‘him’. Questions: 1) If Thomas was just expressing surprise, wouldn’t this be taking God’s Name in vain? 2) If Thomas took God’s Name in vain, don’t you think Jesus would have rebuked him? 3) Why do you think that Jesus commended Thomas, instead of rebuking him? 4) What did Thomas believe in John 20:28,29? (Answer: That Jesus was Lord and God). e) Thomas here quotes Psalm 35:23 which is used of Jehovah: ‘O LORD (Jehovah) . . . my God and my Lord.’ f) When a Hebrew says ‘my God’, he means Jehovah. (Aid to Bible Understanding, p.133,134) g) The JW KIT on John 20:28 is translated as: ‘The Lord of me and the God of me.’ The JW KIT (1985) calls Jesus in John 20:28 ‘the God (􀂆 􀂉􀁌􀂆􀀽) of me’, a title that JWs reserve only for God.(Theos preceded by the definite article ‘o’).
  4. John 1:1 Is Jesus Christ ‘a god’ or ‘God’? Watchtower Teaching: The NWT translates the first ‘θεος’ in John 1:1 as ‘God’, and the second ‘θεος’ as ‘a god’. In the Greek, there is a definite article ‘the’ (‘ό ’) before the first occurrence of God (ό θεος = the God). However, there is no definite article ‘the’ before the second occurrence of ‘God’. The Watchtower argues (falsely) that, when a noun has a definite article (like ‘ό θεος’), it points to an identity or personality, such as the person of Jehovah God. The WT claims (falsely) that the same phrase (‘ό θεος’) is never used of Jesus Christ in the NT (Watchtower, 1 July 86, p31). (Note: ‘ό θεος’ is used of Christ in Matthew 1:23, John 20:28 and Hebrews 1:8). The Watchtower claims (falsely) that when a singular predicate noun has no definite article, and it occurs before a verb (as theos in John 1:1c), then it points to a quality about someone, so that here it says that Jesus (the Word) has a divine quality, but is not God Almighty (KIT, p.1139). They alone translate Jesus as ‘a god’. To support this view they quote: i) Johannes Greber NT (1937), a SPIRITIST who claimed that spirits helped him translate the NT (Watchtower, 15 September 62, p.554; 15 October 73, p.640). The WT KNEW he was a spiritist in 1956 (Watchtower, 15 February 1956, p 110, 111), yet they still quoted him. ii) Dr Julius Mantey, who REFUTES their translation saying: ‘They have forgotten entirely what the (word) order of the sentence indicates that the “ λογος” (“logos” or “Word” in English) has the same substance, nature or essence as the Father. To indicate that Jesus was “a god” would need a completely different construction in the Greek. They misquoted me in support of their translation. 99% of Greek scholars and Bible translators in the world DISAGREE with JWs.’ Bible Teaching: The NWT is wrong in translating John 1:1 as ‘a god’ for these reasons: 1. JWs claim that, because the second ‘θεος’ (theos) has no definite article, we should translate it as ‘a god’. (Kingdom Interlinear Translation, p 1139). Then why has the NWT JW version broken their rule four times in John 1:6, 12, 13, 18 by translating ‘θεος’ with no article as ‘God’? They are inconsistent, as seen below: Verse 1: Verse 6: Verse 12: Verse 13: Verse 18: If the NWT was consistent, they should translate ‘θεος’ as ‘a god’ in these cases too: v. 6 ‘There was a man sent from a god.’ v.12 ‘to them gave he power to become the children of a god.’ v.13 ‘nor of the will of man, but of a god.’ v.18 ‘no man hath seen a god at any time.’ This is clearly wrong and ridiculous. Why only in verse one do they refuse to translate ‘θεος’ as ‘God’? Because they don’t want Christ to be Jehovah God. The Watchtower’s mistranslation of John 1:1 is not supported by any Greek grammar textbook. Many other verses have ‘θεος’ + no article, and yet are correctly translated as ‘God’, such as Matthew 5:9; 6:24; Luke 1:35, 78; 2:40; John 3:2, 21; 9:16, 33; I Corinthians 1:30; 15:10; Philippians 2:11,13; Titus 1:1; Romans 1:17, 18. 2. JWs say that by translating ‘θεος’ as ‘a god’, then Christ is a lesser god, a divine person. Answer: If John had intended this adjectival sense (ie ‘the Word was divine’), he had an adjective θειος (theios=godlike2304) available to use as found in II Peter 1:3, 4 (‘divine power’ and ‘divine nature’), if Christ was just a divine lesser god. Instead, John uses ‘θεος’ meaning ‘God’. Spiros Zodhiates, in his book Was Christ God? ( p.102), states assertively: ‘It would, therefore, be totally wrong to translate the statement that John makes in John 1:1 as “the Word was divine”. The word which is used in the original Greek is θεος (theos) “God”, not θειος (theios) “divine”. Jesus Christ did not merely have divine attributes, but He was God in His essence and nature. He was not a man who attained divinity, but God who humbled Himself to take upon Himself human nature in addition to His deity.’ 3. Contrary to the Watchtower claim, ‘θεος’ (God) with the definite article (‘ό’) is used of Jesus Christ in the New Testament: i) John 20:28. ii) Matthew 1:23. iii) Hebrews 1:8. Hence, the same word ‘ό θεος’ (ho theos) used of the Father is also used of Christ. 4. JWs say that Jesus is ‘a god’. Jehovah disagrees with them in Isaiah 44:8 by saying: ‘Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.’ (KJV and NWT). Jehovah says that there is no ‘a God’ beside Him. This shows John 1:1 in the NWT to be wrong. Hence, Jesus cannot be ‘a God’, so He must be ‘the God’. 5. Ancient UNCIAL Greek manuscripts were all written in capital letters, so one could not distinguish between ‘God’ and ‘god’, except by the context, and whether the writer believed in one true God or in more than one god. Ask: Did the Apostle John believe in one true God or more than one true God? Since John believed in one true God, we conclude that Jesus is the one true God in John 1:1. 6. JWs say that Jesus is ‘a god’ with Jehovah, as seen from ‘the Word was with God.’ They say that if Christ is ‘with’ God, He cannot be God. Answer: ‘with’ (Greek ‘ προς’) means that Christ was so intimately connected with God, that He is God. ‘There are no gods together with me’. (Deuteronomy 32:39 NWT) ‘There is no god with me.’ (Deuteronomy 32:39 KJV) Hence, Jehovah says that there are no gods with Jehovah, so Christ must be Jehovah God. 7. Every Greek scholar in the world is against the NWT translation of John 1:1 ‘the word was a god’. Examples include: M.R.Vincent: ‘The λογος (logos) of John is the real personal God’.(Word Studies in Gk N,T ,p.383) K.Wuest: ‘The Word was as to His essence absolute deity’.(Word Studies in Gk.NT p 209) A.T.Robertson: ‘the Word was God, of Divine nature; not “a god”.’(Expositors Gk Testmnt, p.684) Spiros Zodhiates: ‘In John 1:1, Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate state is called the Word, presenting as the second person of the Godhead.’ (NT Word Study Dictionary, p 935) W.E.Vine: ‘the λογος (logos), the Word, the personal manifestation, not of a part of the divine nature, but of the whole deity.’ (Complete Expository Dictionary of NT Words, p683) 8. All other gods are false gods. Hence, Jesus Christ in John 1:1 must be either the only true God Jehovah or a false god. Which one? 9. Church Writers writing before 325 AD all agree that John 1:1 is ‘the Word was God’, and that it means that Jesus is fully God and man. This verse was never disputed before the occultist Greber’s NT was published in 1937. Notice 12 Church writers before 325 AD who all quote John 1:1 correctly as ‘the Word was God’. Question: Why do NONE of them quote it as ‘a god’? • These early Church writers knew Greek as their mother tongue and first language, • These men often were quoting from the original autographs. 1) Irenaeus, (120-202 AD) Vol 1, p 328,Vol 1, p 428,Vol 1, p 546 2) Theophilus of Antioch (115-181 AD)Vol 2, p 103, 3) Clement of Alexandria (153-217 AD) Vol 2, p 173, 4) Tertullian (145-220 AD), Vol 3 p 488, p 489, p 602, p 607 5) Origen (185-254 AD), Vol.4 p 262, Origen de Principiis p 291, p 553 Origen against Celsus p 603, p 642, 6) Cyprian (200-258 AD), Vol 5 p 516, p 518 7) Novatian (210-280 AD), Vol 5, p 624,p 624, p 642 😎 Hippolytus (170-236 AD), Vol 5, p.288. 9) Thaumaturgus (205 AD), Vol 6,p.69 10) Methodius (260-312 AD), Vol 6,p.381. 11) Alexander (273-326 AD),Vol 6,p.292 12) Tatian’s Diatessaron (150 AD), Vol 10, p 43 Note: Compare these quotes by Ante-Nicene Church fathers which contradict the Watchtower’s invented quotes of Church fathers on p7 of ‘Should you believe in the Trinity?’ 10. TheWatchtower’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation (KIT, p.401) quote of John 1:1, in the left hand column has ‘god was the Word’, which CONTRADICTS the right hand column NWT translation which says ‘the word was a god’. Hence the Word (Christ who became flesh, v.14) is called ‘God’ on the LHS of the page, and ‘a god’ on the RHS of the page. 11. Greek grammar rules out ‘a god’. JWs say that for Jesus to be Jehovah God here, there should be the definite article ‘the’ (Greek ‘ό’) before God (θεος). Because ‘θεος’ does not have the definite article ‘ό’ before it, JWs conclude that ‘the word’ was indefinite, and means ‘a god’. Answer: A.T. Robertson Greek authority says (A Grammar of Greek NT, p.767): ‘Nouns in the Predicate: The article is not essential to speech....The word with the article (“ό”) is then the subject of the sentence, whatever the word order may be. So in John 1:1, “ ό λογος” , the subject is perfectly clear (“the word” = “ό λογος”, and it can only be “the word was God”.’ Key: Hence the article ‘the’ (ό) points out the subject (ό λογος) of the clause, and points out the predicate (θεος ) without the article. If John had written ‘ό θεος ην ό λογος’ as the JWs would want, then John would be teaching false doctrine of Sabellianism (that Christ is all of God, that God and Christ are interchangeable, that the Father was the one who became incarnate, suffered and died). Note: If the article is used with both the subject (ie. λογος ) and the predicate (ie. θεος), they would then be interchangeable as the subject nouns are in I John 3:4 (η αµαρτια εστιν η ανοµια) then both ‘sin is transgression’ and ‘transgression is sin’ are true’. But in I John 4:16, ‘ ’ can only be ‘God is Love’, not ‘Love is God’ (because the article points out the subject). If the Greek language allowed us to say ‘Love is God’ just as readily as ‘God is Love’ in this verse, then God would not be a person, but just an abstract quality. (see Was Christ God?, Spiros Zodhiates, p.98). Conclusion: Hence, the absence of the definite artice ‘􀂆’ in John 1:1 is deliberate in order to identify ‘the Word’ as the subject of the sentence and to make it only to read as ‘the Word was God’. It has nothing to do with Christ being a lesser god as the JWs claim. Hence, contrary to the NWT and The Emphatic Diaglott, the Greek grammatical construction leaves no doubt whatsoever that ‘the Word was God’ is the only possible rendering of the text.
  5. CHRIST’S BODILY RESURRECTION ‘I have power to take it again’. John 10:18 Watchtower Teaching: ‘Jesus was raised to life as an invisible spirit. He did not take up again that body in which he had been killed . . .’ ‘Let your Name be sanctified.’ (p.266). The Watchtower teaches that Jesus’ body was disposed of by God. The NWT mistranslates I Peter 3:18 as ‘being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit’ to teach merely a spiritual resurrection of Christ. Bible Teaching: I Peter 3:18 refers to when Christ died. His Spirit went and preached to spirits in prison (v. 19,20). After three days, Christ’s physical body was raised. I Peter 3:18 (KJV) correctly reads: ‘being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.’ Which Scriptures best teach Christ’s bodily resurrection? 1. ‘They were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.’ (v.37) He said unto them, ‘Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.’ (Luke 24:37, 39) Notice that the resurrected Christ says here that: (1) He is not a spirit; (2) His resurrection body has flesh and bones; (3) His physical hands and feet are proof of His physical resurrection; Jesus is trying to convince them that He, ‘I myself’ has a permanent physical body which still had the nail scars in His hands and feet. This is opposite to the WT teaching that Christ’s body was disposed of and that He became only a spirit. If the WT claim was correct, then Jesus would be deceiving the disciples here in showing them His body. 2. ‘Then saith he to Thomas, . . . reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.’ (John 20:27) Here Jesus says that He has a physical side that He challenges Thomas to touch. 3. ‘Neither did his flesh see corruption.’ - Acts 2:30,31 Notice the following: a) God promised David that ‘according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ’ to sit on his throne.’ (v.30). This is a bodily resurrection of Christ, not spiritual. The NWT omits this because of its corrupt Westcott-Hort Greek text. Well over 38 manuscripts have it. b) ‘neither did his flesh see corruption’ (v.31) means that Christ’s body did not decay. Why? Because Jesus was raised from the dead in a material, fleshly body. 4. ‘I will raise it up . . . he spake of the temple of his body.’ - John 2:19-21 ‘Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (v.19). But he spake of the temple of his body.’ (v.21) Jesus here promised that He Himself would raise up His own body after three days. Notice how Jesus uses the word ‘body’ meaning a bodily resurrection, not a spiritual resurrection. 5. Christ promises to eat of the fruit of the vine in the Kingdom. Only a body can eat. ‘I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come.’(Luke 22:18) Jesus here showed that his resurrected body would be able to eat and drink even in the Kingdom of God. Notice that a non-material spirit cannot eat and drink. Jesus promised the disciples in Luke 22:30 ‘that ye may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom.’ Question: If Jesus expected to become an immaterial spirit, why would He promise the disciples that they would eat and drink with Christ at His table in His Kingdom? 6. Christ ate a broiled fish and a honeycomb in front of them. Luke 24:41,42. 7. ‘he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies’. Rom. 8:11 As Christ’s body was raised physically from the dead, so shall our mortal bodies be raised. 8. His resurrection body could ‘breathe on them’(John 20:22). A spirit cannot breathe, can it? 9. ‘His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives...’ Zechariah 14:4 A spirit does not have feet. Only a physical body has feet as Jesus has at His second coming. 10. ‘One shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands?’ Zechariah 13:6 Question: How can a non-material spirit have wounds in his hands which can be observed? 11. The resurrected, glorified Christ touched John, laying his right hand on him. Rev. 1:17 Watchtower Objection: JWs quote I Corinthians 15:44,50 to support their claim that Jesus was raised from the dead as a spirit creature: a) ‘It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.’ (v.44) b) ‘flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.’ (v.50). JWs claim that Jesus must have had a spiritual resurrection, because flesh-and-blood bodies cannot exist in heaven. They claim that mortality and corruption belong to the fleshly body. Bible Teaching: a) The Greek word for body, ‘soma’ (4983), always means a material body, an organised whole made up of parts, when used of a person (Zodhiates, NT Word Study,p.1358). The spiritual body in I Cor.15:44 is not an immaterial body, but a supernatural, spirit-dominated body. It is a body directed by the spirit, as opposed to a body under the dominion of the flesh. There are no exceptions to Paul using ‘soma’ for a material body. Paul even refers to a believer as a ‘spiritual’ man who judges all things (I Cor. 2:15), yet Paul did not mean an immaterial invisible man with no physical body. He meant a spirit-controlled man with a flesh and blood body. QUESTION: In I Corinthians 2:15 (‘He that is spiritual judgeth all things’), is Paul discussing an invisible spirit creature or a material, flesh-and-blood human? Can you see that being ‘spiritual’ does not demand a non-material body? The same is true in I Corinthians 15:44. b) Key: In v.50 ‘flesh and blood’ is an idiom meaning that mortal, perishable, earth-bound humans, as we are now, cannot have a place in God’s glorious, heavenly Kingdom. c) ‘this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.’v.53 Nothing is taken away from us (materialness). Instead immortality is ‘put on’ or added to us. Question: Don’t the words ‘put on’ mean adding something to humanity (that is immortality), not taking away something from humanity (our material body)? Conclusion: Since Christ’s resurrected body could eat, drink, breathe (John 20:22), show His hands and feet with scars (Luke 24:40), be touched, and have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39), it is certain that this body was a material body. This is especially true since Jesus corrected the disciples’ misconception that they had seen a spirit (Luke 24:37). For the JWs to say that a body is not a body, is their last resort of redefining common words.
  6. I Corinthians 11:3 - Is God superior to Christ? ‘But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God’. Watchtower teaching: JWs say that, because Jehovah is the head of Christ, then Christ cannot be God. They say that since I Corinthians 11:3 was written in 55 AD when Jesus was ascended and glorified, then this superior rank of Jehovah over Jesus applies to their present relationship in heaven. They claim that ‘Jesus is always presented as a lesser, separate, humble servant of God’. Should you Believe in the Trinity? p.20. The Bible teaching: I Corinthians 11:3 has to do with patterns of authority, not to do with inferiority or superiority of one person over the other. Paul says that the man is the head of the woman, even though men and women are 100% equal in their essential being. Biblically men and women and equal in nature. They are both 100% human, created in God’s image, and one in Christ (I Peter 3:7 ‘Heirs together’) Key: Hence, even though men and women are equal in nature, they function within a hierarchy. In the same way, Christ and the Father are 100% equal in their divine being and nature. ‘I and the Father are one’. (John 10:30), even though Jesus functions under the Father’s headship authority. There is no contradiction to say that among the three persons in the Godhead, there is an equality of divine being and nature as well as two members functioning under the Father’s authority. Christ is 100% God and fully equal to the Father in being and nature, yet Christ is subordinate or submissive to the Father, especially in becoming a man. Therefore I Corinthians 11:3 does not teach that Jesus is less than God. Within the Godhead, the Father acts as Head without diminishing the full deity of the Son. Question: Are women inferior in nature to men because men exercise headship over women? Question: If ‘no’, then why does the WT teach that the Father’s headship over Christ means that Christ is inferior in nature to the Father?
  7. I Corinthians 8:6 - ‘One God the Father . . .’ ‘But to us there is but one God, the Father . . . and one Lord Jesus Christ . . .’ Watchtower teaching: JWs argue that, since there is ‘one God’ (Jehovah) who is distinct from ‘one Lord’ (Jesus Christ), then Jesus cannot be God. Biblical reasoning: If this WT reasoning is correct, then the same logic leads us to conclude that the Father is not Lord. Note: If the reference to the Father being the ‘one God’ proves that Jesus is not God, then by the same logic we must conclude that the reference to Jesus Christ as the ‘one Lord’ means that the Father is not Lord. No JW will concede that the Father is not Lord. You cannot interpret the first part of the verse one way, and the second part of the verse another way. The faulty logic of JWs here is their assumption that the use of a title for one person (the Father) in one context, automatically rules out its application to another person (Jesus Christ) in another context. JWs should consult what all Scripture says about the Father and about Jesus Christ. 1. The Father is called Lord in Matthew 11:25: ‘I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth’. 2. Jesus Christ is called God in John 20:28: ‘My Lord and my God’, and in Hebrews 1:8: ‘Unto the Son he saith: Thy throne O God . . .’ etc. Hence ‘God’ and ‘Lord’ are used interchangeably of the Father and the Son. Question: ‘Can you see that, since Jesus as one Lord does not mean that the Father is not Lord, then by the same logic, the Father as ‘one God’ does not mean that Jesus is not God?’
  8. Greek grammar rules out ‘a god’. JWs say that for Jesus to be Jehovah God here, there should be the definite article ‘the’ (Greek ‘ό’) before God (θεος). Because ‘θεος’ does not have the definite article ‘ό’ before it, JWs conclude that ‘the word’ was indefinite, and means ‘a god’. Answer: A.T. Robertson Greek authority says (A Grammar of Greek NT, p.767): ‘Nouns in the Predicate: The article is not essential to speech....The word with the article (“ό”) is then the subject of the sentence, whatever the word order may be. So in John 1:1, “ ό λογος” , the subject is perfectly clear (“the word” = “ό λογος”, and it can only be “the word was God”.’ Key: Hence the article ‘the’ (ό) points out the subject (ό λογος) of the clause, and points out the predicate (θεος ) without the article. If John had written ‘ό θεος ην ό λογος’ as the JWs would want, then John would be teaching false doctrine of Sabellianism (that Christ is all of God, that God and Christ are interchangeable, that the Father was the one who became incarnate, suffered and died). Note: If the article is used with both the subject (ie. λογος ) and the predicate (ie. θεος), they would then be interchangeable as the subject nouns are in I John 3:4 (η αμαρτια εστιν η ανομια) then both ‘sin is transgression’ and ‘transgression is sin’ are true’. But in I John 4:16, ‘ ’ can only be ‘God is Love’, not ‘Love is God’ (because the article points out the subject). If the Greek language allowed us to say ‘Love is God’ just as readily as ‘God is Love’ in this verse, then God would not be a person, but just an abstract quality. (see Was Christ God?, Spiros Zodhiates, p.98). Conclusion: Hence, the absence of the definite artice ‘􀂆’ in John 1:1 is deliberate in order to identify ‘the Word’ as the subject of the sentence and to make it only to read as ‘the Word was God’. It has nothing to do with Christ being a lesser god as the JWs claim. Hence, contrary to the NWT and The Emphatic Diaglott, the Greek grammatical construction leaves no doubt whatsoever that ‘the Word was God’ is the only possible rendering of the text. Colwell’s Rule of Greek grammar clearly states that a predicate nominative (􀂉􀁌􀂆􀀽=God) NEVER takes a definite article (‘􀂆’) when it precedes the verb ‘was’, as in John 1:1. Translations which render the Greek in this verse as ‘a god’ or ‘divine’ are motivated by theological, not grammatical considerations. The phrase ‘a god’ is particularly objectionable because it makes Christ a lesser god, which is polytheism and contrary to Deuteronomy 32:39. If Christ is ‘a god’, then He must be either a ‘true God’ or a ‘false god’. If a ‘true God’, then we have polytheism. If a ‘false god’, then He is unworthy of our belief. Of course, the correct translation found in the KJV and most other translations (‘the word was God’), presents Christ as the one and only true God, Jehovah. Therefore, He is monotheistic and worthy of our belief. John’s high view of Christ as God begins with John 1:1 and ends his gospel with Thomas addressing Christ as ‘my Lord and my God’ in John 20:28.
  9. Greek Scholars & The Watchtower: Julius Mantey Julius Mantey was arguably the greatest Greek scholar of the 20th century. He was co-author of A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament, a Greek grammar that was in use for half a century to teach Greek in prominent schools. Along with other Greek grammar book authors A. T. Robertson and Daniel Wallace, Mantey disagreed with the Watchtower’s (Jehovah’s Witnesses’) book, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT). For several years, Mantey was quoted in a footnote to the NWT, with the Watchtower trying to use Mantey’s grammar book to support their view of the bible. Mantey took offense, and wrote the letter below. The significance of this letter is that it is from a respected author of a Greek grammar. We live in a free country, and Wathtower supporters have, and likely will continue, to disagree with any point they desire. I am not in a position to defend Mantey; a scholar of his caliber does not need a defense from me. I am not a language scholar, do not pretend to be one, nor will I hide my ignorance of the languages. Concerning grammar and translation, too many arguments are made from those who should have remained silent, and I do not wish to contribute to the problem by adding my words to the conversation. But I know enough to use the tools and quote the scholars. Of the three Greek grammars I mentioned, all specifically disagree with the NWT. The Watchtower can protest all they want, but their disagreement is with the unified opinion of all the language scholars. If the Watchtower ever publishes a Greek text that is used in accredited schools to teach Greek, or can find one that is in agreement with them, they will be taken seriously. Until then, they will not. Below is a top-tier scholar’s view of the Watchtower and their book. Anyone can write a book claiming to know what they are talking about, but this does not make them true. The only objective reference we have for language is the recognized grammars. If the Watchtower claims all of the grammars are wrong, they have made a self-refuting statement. Julius R. Mantey 414 Palmette Road New Port Richey, FL 33552 July 11, 1974 Watchtower Bible & Tract Society 117 Adams St. Brooklyn New York 11201 Dear Sirs: I have a copy of your letter addressed to Caris in Santa Ana, California, and I am writing to express my disagreement with statements made in that letter, as well as in quotations you have made from the Dana-Mantey Greek Grammar. (1) Your statement: “their work allows for the rendering found in the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures at John 1:1.” There is no statement in our grammar that was ever meant to imply at “a god” was a permissible translation in John 1:1. A. We had no “rule” to argue in support of the trinity. B. Neither did we state that we did have such intention. We were simply delineating the facts inherent in Biblical language. C. Your quotation from p.148 (3) was in a paragraph under the heading: “With the Subject in a Copulative sentence.” Two examples occur there to illustrate that “the article points out the subject in these examples.” But we made no statement in the paragraph about the predicate except that , “as it stands the other persons of the trinity may be implied in theos.” And isn’t that the opposite of what your translation “a god” infers? You quoted me out of context. On pages 139 and 140 (VI) in our grammar we stated: “without the article theos signifies divine essence . . . theos en ho logos emphasizes Christ’s participation in the essence of the divine nature.” Our intepretation is in agreement with that in NEB and the TEV: “What God was, the Word was”; and with that of Barclay: “The nature of the Word was the same as the nature of God”, which you quoted in your letter to Caris. (2) Since Colwell’s and Harner’s articles in JBL, especially that of Harner, it is neither scholarly nor reasonable to translate John 1:1 “The Word was a god”. Word-order has made obsolete and incorrect such a rendering. (3) Your quotation of Colwell’s rule is inadequate because it quotes only a part of the his findings. You did not quote this strong assertion: “A predicate nominative which precedes the verb cannot be translated as an indefinite or a ‘qualitative’ noun solely because of the absence of the article.” (4) Prof Harner, vol. 92:1 (1973) in JBL, has gone beyond Colwell’s research and has discovered that anarthrous predicate nouns preceding the verb function primarily to express the nature or character of the subject. He found this true in 53 passages in the Gospel of John and 8 in the Gospel of Mark. Both scholars wrote that when indefiniteness was intended the gospel writers regularly placed the predicate noun after the verb, and both Colwell and Harner have stated that theos in John 1:1 is not indefinite and should not be translated “a god”. Watchtower writers appear to be the only ones advocating such a translation now. The evidence appears to be 99% against them. (5) your statement in your letter that the sacred text itself should guide one and “not just someone’s rule book”. We agree with you. But our study proves that Jehovah’s Witnesses do the opposite of that whenever the “sacred text” differs with their heretical beliefs. For example the translation of kolasis as cutting off when punishment is the only meaning cited in the lexicons for it. The mistrnalstion of ego eimi as “I have been” in John 8:58. The addition of “for all time” in Heb. 9:27 when nothing in the Greek New Testament supports it. The attempt to belittle Christ by mistranslating arche tes ktiseos “beginning of the creation” when he is magnified as “the creator of all things” (John 1:2 and as “equal with God” (Phil. 2:6) before he humbled himself and lived in a human body here on earth. Your quotation of “The father is greater than I am” (John 14:28) to prove that Jesus was not equal to God overlooks the fact stated in Phil. 2:6-8. When Jesus said that, he was still in his voluntary state of humiliation. That state ended when he ascended to heaven. Why the attempt to deliberately deceive people by mispunctuation by placing a comma after “today” in Luke 23:43 when in the Greek, Latin, German and all English translations except yours, even in the Greek in your KIT, the comma occurs after lego (I say) — “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” 2 Cor. 5:8, “to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.” These passages teach that the redeemed go immediately to heaven after death, which does not agree with your teachings that death ends all life until the resurrection. Cf. Ps. 23:6 and Heb. 1:10. The aforementioned are only a few examples of Watchtower mistranslations and perversions of God’s Word. In view of the preceding facts, especially because you have been quoting me out of context, I herewith request you not to quote from the Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament again, which you have been doing for 24 years. Also that you not quote it or me in any of your publications from this time on. Also that you publicly and immediately apologize in the Watchtower magazine, since my words had no relevance in the absence of the article before theos in John 1:1. And please write to Caris and state that you misused and misquoted my “rule”. On the page before the Preface in the grammar are these words: “All rights reserved — no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher.” If you have such permission, please send me a photo-copy of it. If you do not heed these requests you will suffer the consequences. Respectfully yours, Julius R. Mantey
  10. Firstborn or First created? Colossians 1:15 - ‘the firstborn (Greek: prototokos 4416) of every creature’. JWs use this verse to teach that Jesus was created at a point in time as an angel. They ignore the evidence and insist that the word ‘firstborn’ here means ‘first created’, ‘the eldest in Jehovah’s family of sons’. The Bible teaching: 1) ‘Firstborn’ (Greek: prototokos) does NOT mean ‘first-created’ (Greek: protoktisis). First-created (Protoktisis) is never used of Christ in New Testament. Question:Where is it used of Jesus in New Testament? Question: Why didn’t Paul use the term ‘first-created’ (protoktisis) in Colossians 1:15 if he meant that Christ was the first one created by Jehovah? 2) Ask: What does ‘firstborn’ (Greek: prototokos 4416) mean? Answer: ‘Pre-eminent, Ruler, Sovereign, First in rank’. It is used in other passages which refer to Christ: i. Romans 8:29 ‘that he might be the firstborn among many brethren’. ‘Prototokos’ presents Christ as the pre-eminent member of the group (S. Zodhiates NT, p 1249). ii. Colossians 1:15. ‘The firstborn of every creature’ Christ is the one pre-eminent and supreme ruler over all creation (S Zodhiates NT, p 1250). v.16 ‘By him were all things created’ means that Christ Himself is not part of Creation (John 1:3). iii. Colossians 1:18 ‘He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning (arche), the firstborn (prototokos=Ruler) from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence (proteuon)’. ‘Arche’ means ‘first cause’ (Revelation 3:14, Colossians 1:18) and is parallel to ‘prototokos’ in Colossians 1:15,18, both asserting Christ’s pre-eminence. Note: ‘Proteuon’ (pre-eminence) present tense is used only in Colossians 1:18 and indicates not an acquired right to be ruler and pre-eminent, but an inherent right by virtue of His nature. Christ, being the Creator, deserves to have pre-eminence. iv. Hebrews 1:6 ‘And again, when he bringeth the firstbegotten(prototokos=Ruler) into the world, he saith ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him’. Alternately, translate this as ‘And when He again brings the firstborn into the world’, refers to Christ’s second coming when Christ as King will be worshipped by the angels. Christ is exalted even above all the angels. v. Revelation 1:5 ‘And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the firstbegotten (prototokos=Ruler) of the dead, and the prince (arche = chief) of the kings of the earth.’ Here ‘prototokos’ means that Christ is first of those to be resurrected, and prince (arche) means ruler of earth’s kings at His second coming. Note: JWs compare Christ as the firstborn of all creation with the firstborn son of Pharaoh. This is nonsensical, because it is true that Pharaoh parented his son, but it is not true that ‘all creation’ parented Jesus. 3) We must understand what the original speaker or writer intended by the words which he used. The ancient Hebrews used the term ‘firstborn son’ when referring to the preeminent son, regardless of whether or not he was the first son born to the parents. The son with the title ‘firstborn’ had the right of primogeniture which meant that: i) He acquired a special blessing (Genesis 27); ii) He became heir of a double share of the father’s wealth (Deuteronomy 21:17); iii) He replaced his father as the family head. He had authority over his brothers; iv) He represented the father in civil and religious matters; v) He had some holiness because through him flowed the common blood of the tribe (Genesis 49:3; Deuteronomy 21:17). Key: The term ‘firstborn’ does not refer to the first one born, but to the pre-eminent one in the family. Consider these examples where the son with the title ‘firstborn’ was not born first: (1) David was the last born son of Jesse, yet Psalm 89:27 says of him: ‘Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth’. (v.20 onwards refers to David). (2) Ephraim was the second born son of Joseph: ‘The name of the second called he Ephraim.’ (Genesis 41:50-52). Yet ‘Ephraim is my firstborn’ (Jeremiah 31:9). This was because of his pre-eminent position. Manasseh was born first to Joseph, but Ephraim became the firstborn because of his pre-eminence. (3) Jacob (Israel) was the second son born to Isaac, after Esau, yet God says of Israel, ‘Israel is my son, even my firstborn.’ (Exodus 4:22). Esau says of himself, ‘I am Esau thy firstborn’. (Genesis 27:19). Esau means that he was born first and should have the birthright. God means that Israel, though born second, took the pre-eminent position. Hence, in this sense Christ is firstborn because of His pre-eminence, not because He was created first as JWs think. (4) Solomon was born to David later, and the line of the kings came through Solomon,yet Amnon was born first (I Chronicles 3:2). (5) Isaac was born 13 years after Ishmael, yet Isaac took the pre-eminent position in the family.(Genesis 17:19). (6) Judah was the fourth son born to Jacob (Genesis 29:35), yet Judah received the dominion and line of Christ, even though Reuben being born first forfeited his right of primogeniture due to fornication (Genesis 49:3,4) 4) Firstborn can be rendered metaphorically, not meaning born first. Examples include: i) Job 18:13 ‘the firstborn of death shall devour his strength’. As the firstborn son held the chief place, so Job refers to the chiefest (most deadly) disease that death possessed; ii) Isaiah 14:30 ‘The firstborn of the poor shall feed’, means the poorest of the poor. Conclusion: Firstborn does not mean born first or created first. Rather, it is a title of first rank, or pre-eminent position. Paul calls Christ the firstborn (prototokos = Ruler). Ask: What does Psalm 89:27 mean by calling David firstborn, when he was the last born son? Ask: Why didn’t Paul use ‘first created’ (protoktisis) of Christ in Colossians 1:15 if he intended to teach that Christ was the first one created by Jehovah?
  11. "In subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God has already begun...And that the "battle of the great day of God almighty [revelation 16:14], which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced. SOURCE: "The Time is at Hand; 1889. ( note: The 1915 edition of this book changed "A.D. 1914" to "A.D. 1915." ) "...the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced," SOURCE: The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101. Here we see "proofs" not "maybe" or "perhaps" or "our opinion is", but "proofs" and "WILL end", not "maybe" or "possibly". Even if the date was right but the prophecy wrong, it is still a failed prophecy. Comments? Dialog?
  12. "Avoid independent thinking...questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization. ( ie: the watchtower organisation )" (Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1983 pg. 22) "Fight against independent thinking." (Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1983 pg. 27 )
  13. BOTH the FATHER and the SON HAVE the SAME 119 ATTRIBUTES, CLAIMS and MAJESTY. ‘I am Jehovah - that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.’ (Isaiah 62:8). The glory of these 119 attributes are jointly owned by the Father and the Son, and nobody else. Jesus Christ is Jehovah God, equally with the Father, because both the Father and Son alone have the following attributes: 1. both are to be honoured equally (John 5:23) 2. both are the I AM (Exodus 3:14-15; John 8:24,58) 3. both are the Mighty God (Isaiah 10:20,21; Jer 32:18; Psalm 50:1; Isaiah 9:6; Gen 49:24) 4. both own the same throne (Psalm 45:6,7; Hebrews 1:8; Revelation 22:1,3) 5. both accept worship (Exodus 34:14; I Chronicles 16:29; Hebrews 1:6; Matthew 28:9) 6. both laid the foundation of the earth (Psalm 102:24-27; Isaiah 48:13; Hebrews 1:10-12) 7. One God has created mankind (Mal. 2:10; Prov. 16:4; Isaiah 44:24; Col 1:16; John 1:3) 8. both are the Shepherd (Psalm 80;1; Gen 49:24; John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; I Peter 5:4) 9. both are from Everlasting (Psalm 90:2; Habakkuk 1:12; Micah 5:2; Hebrews 7:3). 10. both are the First and Last (Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:17,18; Rev. 2:8; See p.54).) 11. both are the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8; 21:5-7; 22:13-16; See p.54) 12. both come and Reward (Isaiah 40:10; 62:11; Revelation 22:12) 13. both are unchangeable (Malachi 3:6: Hebrews 13:8) 14. both have unsearchable riches (Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:8) 15. both are the Holy One (Isaiah 43:15; Acts 3:14) 16. both are omnipresent and fill all things (Psalm 139:7; Jer. 23:24; Eph. 4:10; John 3:13) 17. both are omniscient (Psalm 147:5; Prov. 14:3; John 21:17; John 16:30; Colossians 2:3) 18. both are omnipotent (Genesis 17:1; Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:3) 19. both are eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27; Hebrews 7:3; Micah 5:2) 20. both own the everlasting Kingdom (Psalm 145:13; Daniel 7:14; II Peter 1:11) 21. both are Lord of all (Psalm 103:19; Matthew 11:25; Acts 10:36) 22. both are the only Saviour (Isaiah 43:11; Titus 1:3,4; Philippians 3:20; II Peter 1:1; 3:18; Luke 2:11; Hebrews 5:9; Acts 4:12) 23. both are the Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4; John 14:6) 24. both are sinless (Deuteronomy 32:4; Hebrews 4:15) 25. both are in the beginning (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1) 26. both God and the Son are the Judge (Psalm 82:8; John 5:22), but the Father is not the Judge (John 5:22 ‘The Father judgeth no man’). 27. both are our Hope (Psalm 39:7; I Timothy 1:1) 28. both shelter believers under their wings (Psalm 91:2,4; Matthew 23:37) 29. both are our Redeemer (Psalm 130:7,8; Isaiah 44:6; Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14) 30. the glory of both was seen by Isaiah (Isaiah 6:3,5; John 12:41) 31. both are the Rock (Deuteronomy 32:3,4,18; Psalm 18:31; I Corinthians 10:4) 32. both are to be looked to for salvation (Isaiah 45:22; John 1:29; John 6:40) 33. to both shall every knee bow and every tongue confess (Isaiah 45:23; Philippians 2:10; Romans 14:10,11) 34. the enemies of both shall perish (Psalm 92:9; Philippians 3:18,19) 35. both send the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28; John 16:7) 36. to both shall all men come (Psalm 65:2; Isaiah 45:24; John 12:32) 37. both forgive sins (Exodus 34:7; Mark 2:5,7; Colossians 3:13) 38. both blot out sin (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 1:3; I John 1:7) 39. both still storms (Psalm 107:29; Matthew 8:26) 40. both own the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:20; Romans 8:9) 41. both seek the lost (Ezekiel 34:16; Luke 19:10) 42. to both are applied 10 aspects of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; see page 954) 43. both receive believers to glory (Psalm 73:24; John 14:3) 44. both are our One Master (Malachi 1:6; Matthew 23:8,10) 45. both are served by believers (Deuteronomy 10:20; Colossians 3:24) 46. both lead believers to living waters (Psalm 23:2; Revelation 7:17) 47. both correct believers (Proverbs 3:12; Revelation 3:19) 48. both prepare a place for believers in heaven (Hebrews 11:16; John 14:2) 49. both are all in all (I Corinthians 15:28; Colossians 3:11) 50. both are known by believers (Galatians 4:9; Philippians 3:10; John 17:3) 51. both are cleaved to by believers (Deuteronomy 10:20; John 15:4) 52. both are the light of the world (Psalm 27:1; John 8:12) 53. both are the Light of the New Jerusalem (Isaiah 60:19,20; Revelation 21:23) 54. both give eternal life (Psalm 36:9; John 10:28) 55. both are called ‘My Lord and my God’ (Psalm 35:22,23; John 20:28) 56. both are our Righteousness (Isaiah 45:24; I Corinthians 1:30; Jeremiah 23:5,6) 57. both have the same voice as of many waters (Ezekiel 43:2; Revelation 1:15) 58. both are witnessed to by believers (Isaiah 43:10; Acts 1:8) 59. both own the peace given to believers (Philippians 4:7; John 14:27) 60. both own the gospel (I Thessalonians 2:2; Romans 1:16) 61. both give saving grace (Titus 2:11; Acts 15:11) 62. both are our peace (Judges 6:24; Ephesians 2:14) 63. both are pierced and looked upon (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37) 64. both sanctify believers (Exodus 31:13; I Corinthians 6:11) 65. both give victory to believers (Psalm 98:1; I Corinthians 15:57) 66. both heal people (Exodus 15:26; Matthew 9:35) 67. both equally own the churches (I Corinthians 15:9; Romans 16:16; I and II Thess. 1:1) 68. both own the Kingdom (Matthew 6:33; Rev. 11:15). 69. both are glorified by the Gentiles (Isaiah 24:15; II Thessalonians 1:12; Matthew 12:21) 70. both own the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:6; Philippians 1:6; II Thessalonians 2:2) 71. both give grace to believers (Romans 5:15; Colossians 1:6; II Cor. 8:9; Galatians 6:18) 72. both own the same glory (Romans 5:2; II Corinthians 8:23) 73. both own the same love (John 5:42; II Corinthians 5:14) 74. both own the same Word (Psalm 119:11; I Thessalonians 2:13; Colossians 3:16) 75. both own salvation (Luke 3:6; Jonah 2:9; Acts 4:12; II Timothy 2:10) 76. both were served equally by Paul (Titus 1:1; Romans 1:1);and by James (James 1:1) 77. both own the commandments (I John 5:3; John 14:15) 78. both had their way prepared by John the Baptist (Isaiah 40;3; Mark 1:1-3) 79. both search all hearts (Psalm 139:1; Revelation 2:23) 80. both own the same flock (I Peter 5:2; John 21:15,16) 81. both ascend on high, lead captivity captive, and give gifts to men (Psalm 68:17,18; Ephesians 4:7-10) 82. both are like a Bridegroom (Isaiah 62:5; Mark 2:19,20) 83. both receive the glory of God alone forever and ever (Isaiah 42:8; Galatians 1:4,5; I Peter 5:10,11; II Peter 3:18; Hebrews 13:21; I Peter 4:11; Revelation 1:5,6) 84. both are the source of fruit (Hosea 14:8; John 15:5) 85. both are our source of strength (Psalm 119:28; Philippians 4:13) 86. both give rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 11:29) 87. both shall appear at Christ’s return (Psalm 102:16; Zechariah 14:3,4,5; Titus 2:13) 88. both will come to earth (Isaiah 40:10; Revelation 22:7,12,20) 89. both are to be trusted in (Jeremiah 17:7; Ephesians 1:12; John 14:1) 90. both are our King (Isaiah 6:5; 33:22; Revelation 17:14; 19:16; I Timothy 6:14,15) 91. both will wound their enemies’ heads (Psalm 68:21; 110:6) 92. both take vengeance (Romans 12:19; II Thessalonians 1:7,8) 93. both will be opposed by the Antichrist’s armies (Isaiah 34:22; Revelation 19:19) 94. both will fight against the Antichrist’s armies at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:3; Revelation 19:11,13,21) 95. both will destroy death (Isaiah 25:8; II Timothy 1:10). 96. both receive the faith of believers (I Thessalonians 1:8; Galatians 3:26) 97. both are our life (Deuteronomy 30:20; Colossians 3:4) 98. both are to be prayed to (Matthew 6:9; Acts 7:59) 99. both raised up Christ (Acts 2:32; John 2:19,21) 100.both own all of the other (John 16:15) 101.both enter the east gate of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 44:1,2; Luke 19:37-45) 102.the man on the throne in Ezekiel 1:26 is identified as the God of Israel in Ezek 10:20 103.both names are placed on the same level in the baptism formula (Matthew 28:19) 104.both fellowship equally with believers (I John 1:3). 105.both comfort believers (Isaiah 66:13; Philippians 2:1). 106.both receive doxologies of worship in heaven (Revelation 5:8-10; 5:11,12; 5:13,14). 107.both jointly send grace and peace to the churches (Romans 1:7). 108.both the love of the Father and love of the Son are an equal privilege given to us.(John 14:21) 109.both jointly declare themselves to be Jehovah, “I am the first,& I am the last”(Isaiah 44:6) 110.both come to his temple, ‘the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple.’(Malachi 3:1; Mat 21:13) 111.both are the King of Israel (Isaiah 44:6; John 1:49). 112. both can be blasphemed (God-Rom.2:24; HS-Luke 12:10; Christ-Luke 22:65; Acts 13:45; 18:5,6; 26:9,11) 113.both are always with all believers (Matthew 28:20; 2 Corinthians 13:14). 114.both are the one lawgiver (God-Rom.7:22; Christ-Gal.6:2; HS-Rom.8:2; James 4:12). 115.both have the same face (Revelation 22:3,4) 116.both have the same Name (Revelation 22:3,4) 117.both own the same servants (Revelation 22:3) 118.both are the Temple of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22) 119.Heavens are the work of thy hands (Psalm 102:24-27; Hebrews 1:10-12) Since both Jesus and the Father have these same attributes, both are Jehovah God. There are not 2 Gods, but One God in 3 persons. One who has these attributes must be God. The Lord’s Prayer is devoted to worshipping the Father. Jesus conceals His personal glory in this prayer as seen by other Scriptures which are just as true of Christ as the Lord’s Prayer is of the Father.
  14. Can you help me with my ministry ?

    Do you have a spare dollar or two?

    Please paypal to calvarystudy@gmail.com

    Currently i am desperate for a new toner cartridge to print Bible tracts for Christmas, but i cannot afford the $70 to get one.

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  15. In 1889, the WT said " we present PROOFS that the setting up of the kingdom of God has already? begun...and that 'the battle of the great day of God almighty' (Revelation16:14),which will end in AD1914 with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced.". Â So, the WT presented "proofs"? These "proofs" were wrong, so what credibility do they have to "proclaim" anything? Â
  16. NWT Translators Did Not Know Biblical Hebrew Or Greek The Watchtower Bible calls the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures one of the best translations to be found. But is it a translation or merely are gross distortions of the actual Greek and Hebrew manuscripts based on these men’s opinions. The FORWARD of the New World Translation in 1961 edition, on page 5 states, "It is a very responsible thing to translate the Holy Scriptures from their original languages, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, into modern speech ... The translators who have a fear and love of the divine Author of the Holy Scriptures feel especially a responsibility toward Him to transmit his thoughts and declarations as accurately as possible." Have their translators been responsible? Are they true to the original languages? The men that comprised the Translation Committee were not even Greek scholars qualified to translate the Bible. These men were: N.H. Knorr, F. W. Franz the 4th President, A.D. Schroeder, G.D. Gangas and M. Henschel (write to Personal Freedom Outreach, P.O. Box 26062, St. Louis, Missouri 63136 for paper documentation). All met together in these translation sessions. The translation committee requested that the names of the translators remain secret even after their deaths (Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, p. 258). Franz was asked in a courtroom in Scotland, "Why the secrecy?" he said, "Because the committee of translation wanted it to remain anonymous and not seek any glory or honour at the making of a translation, and having any names attached thereto." The attorney replied, "Writers of books and translators do not always get glory and honour for their efforts, do they?" (Pursuer's Proof of Douglas Walsh vs. The Right Honourable James Latham, M.P., P.C., Scottish Court of Sessions, p. 92 Nov. 1954). In 1954, in a Scotland trial, Fred Franz, then head of the Watchtower Editorial Board, admitted that he himself was the one who had checked the accuracy of the translation and recommended its publication. (Douglas Walsh v. The Right Honorable James Latham Clyde, M.P., P.C., etc., Scotland, 1954, (1958 ed.).p.88.) The following is from the trial transcript: - (Q): Insofar as translation of the Bible itself is undertaken, are you responsible for that? (A): I have been authorized to examine a translation and determine its accuracy and recommend its acceptance in the form in which it is submitted. Later, Franz was asked about his own involvement in the translating(Douglas Walsh v. The Right Honorable James Latham Clyde, M.P., P.C., etc., Scotland, 1954, (1958 ed.).p.92) (Q) : Were you yourself responsible for the translation of the Old Testament? ( A ) : Again I cannot answer that question... Here, under oath, Franz refused to confirm or deny he was the translator of the Hebrew text. Why wouldn't he say that he did not translate the Old Testament? The court also wondered "why" and asked (ibid) (Q): Why the secrecy? (A): Because the committee of translation wanted it to remain anonymous and not seek any glory or honour at the making of a translation, and having any names attached thereto. Why is it the writers of the New Testament books identified their authorship by their names, we know they were not seeking honor. The facts speak for themselves. The real reason would be that the translators could not be checked since they had no qualifications and anyone investigating this could not find anyone to assume responsibility for the translation. A shrewd plan indeed. According to Raymond Franz, only Fred Franz had "sufficient knowledge of the Bible languages to attempt translation of this kind. He had studied Greek for two years in the University of Cincinnati but was only self taught In Hebrew." Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience (Atlanta: Commentary Press, 1983). Not one of the men had ever studied Greek, and wouldn't know the difference between an alpha or a omega. Only three of the five had even finished high school. Of those three only one went on to College. His name was Fredrick Franz, the same man who became the President of the Jehovah's Witnesses. He did begin at the University of Cincinatti but only completed two years. He then dropped out of College after the first semester in 1913 because he believed what Russell told him, that Christ was returning in 1914. He does not have even the most basic college degree, and certainly does not possess a degree for advanced study of the Bible. In fact, outside of the Watchtower circle Franz is not recognized by anyone as a scholar. As M. James Penton, a former Jehovah's Witness and historian, has written, "to all intents and purposes the New World Translation is the work of one man-Frederick Franz." M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985), The men who make up the "translation committee" were self-appointed men lacking any adequate schooling or background in biblical languages unable to function as Bible Translators. Their purpose was not to translate the Scripture into a modern version of the Bible but to justify their theology to their people and have ammunition against Christianity as it is practiced today. The New World Translation is a fabrication with no scholarship involved. It was specifically created to make the Bible agree their preconceived theology. It was made for their people to believe WT doctrine and uphold their false belief that Jesus is Michael the Archangel not God.
  17. JEHOVAH’S NAME or JESUS CHRIST’S NAME. The Watchtower teaches that God’s true Name is Jehovah. They teach that: ‘Sometime during the second or third Century CE, the scribes removed the tetragrammaton (JHWH) from both the Septuagint and the Christian Greek Scriptures and replaced it with κυριος (Lord) or θεος (God)’. Reference Edition of NWT, 1984, p 1564. The Watchtower’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation (KIT) proves that Jesus is Jehovah God. On page 10,11 of the 1985 KIT, under the heading ‘Restoring the Divine Name, Jehovah’ we read: ‘the evidence (what evidence?) is that the original text of the Christian Greek Scriptures has been tampered with (no proof) . . . Sometime during the second or third centuries CE, the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) was eliminated from the Greek texts by copyists (no proof). Instead of YHWH they substituted the words Kurios (‘Lord’) and Theos (‘God’).’ Note: This is a lie. There is no historical or manuscript evidence or evidence of protest to support this claim. Somebody would have protested such a change.No one did. It never happened. The New World Translation (NWT) is the JW perversion of the Bible made to support their false doctrines. It inserts the name ‘Jehovah’ in the New Testament in the place of God (θεος=theos) or Lord (κυριος =kurios) on 237 occasions, where they believe it refers to God the Father. They often refer to Hebrew translations of the NT to see where this has been done. These are footnoted as J1 to J27. Their dishonesty and deceit is shown by their failure to translate these words as ‘Jehovah’ when it refers to Christ. (eg: Philippians 2:11; Hebrews 1:10). JWs say that the proper use of God’s ‘correct’ name (Jehovah) is absolutely essential to one’s salvation. They quote from their NWT: ‘Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.’ Romans 10:13 (NWT). ‘People will have to know that I am Jehovah.’ Ezekiel 39:6 (NWT). JWs believe that because they are the only group who refer to God by His ‘true’ name, Jehovah, they are the only true followers of God. Their claim is false for these reasons: 1) Jehovah is not a Biblical term. It is a man-made term. The Old Testament has YHWH because the original Hebrew only had consonants. Jews feared taking God’s name in vain, so when they publicly read YHWH, they would pronounce it ‘Adonai’ (Lord). Later they inserted the vowels from Adonai (a-o-a) into the consonants YHWH to give YAHOWAH, which became Jehovah. Hence, the word Jehovah comes from a consonantvowel combination from YHWH and Adonai. 2) No-one knows for sure the original correct pronunciation of YHWH. Hence we cannot insist on ‘Jehovah’ as being correct. 3) Jesus never addressed the Father as Jehovah in the New Testament. If JWs are correct that God must be always called Jehovah, then Jesus was sinning by not calling God ‘Jehovah’. When the NWT puts Jehovah in Jesus’ mouth in the NT, it contradicts all the NT manuscripts which don’t have it. QUESTION: Since Jesus never in the NT addressed the Father as Jehovah, why should we? 4) Jesus and the Apostle Paul tell us to address God as ‘Father’: a) Jesus taught us to pray to God as ‘Our Father’, not ‘Our Jehovah’: ‘After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father.....’ (Matthew 6:9). b) Jesus addressed God as Father in His own prayers: ‘I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth’. (Matthew 11:25). ‘O my Father, if it be possible.......’ (Matthew 26:39,42). ‘He said, Abba, Father.......’ (Mark 14:36). ‘ I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven.......’ (Luke 10:21). ‘Saying, Father, if thou be willing.......’ (Luke 22:42). ‘Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them;.......’ (Luke 23:34). ‘Father, the hour is come......’ (John 17:1). c) Paul said, ‘we cry, Abba, Father.’ (Romans 8:15). d) The Holy Spirit through Paul said, ‘God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father’. (Galatians 4:6). Here the Holy Spirit of God tells us to call God ‘Abba, Father’, not ‘Jehovah’ QUESTION: If Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Paul all address God as Father nine times (and never as Jehovah) then shouldn’t we call God ‘Father’? 5) No Ancient NT manuscripts contain the tetragram (YHWH) to translate as Jehovah. The Church writers before 325 AD only mention Jehovah once in passing. JWs tell us that most Bible versions deceive people because they omit Jehovah as God’s Name, so the JWs dishonestly add the word ‘Jehovah’ to the NT text, even though it is not in any NT Greek manuscript, ancient version, papyri or lectionary. The WT’s claim that ‘Jehovah’ as God’s name was removed from the NT by superstitious scribes, is a total lie with no supporting historical or manuscript evidence. 6) Whose Name did the early Christians identify themselves with? Was it Jehovah or was it Jesus Christ? Always Jesus Christ, never Jehovah. Who knows more, the Apostles or modern JWs? Consider these examples: a) The Apostles never used the name ‘Jehovah’. b) The Apostles and first century Christians were never called ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’. ‘The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.’ (Acts 11:26). c) There is no proof that Jesus or his disciples ever pronounced the tetragram YHWH. JWs claim that when Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me....’ as quoted in Luke 4:18,19, that Jesus pronounced the word ‘YHWH’. This is most unlikely. JWs assume that the religious leaders endorsing Christ’s ‘gracious words’ in verse 22 was because He uttered the name YHWH? Historical records in the Mishnah, from Josephus, and from other sources show the Jews were loathe to allow the name YHWH to be used. The Jews would not have tolerated it being used by anybody but the High Priest.Jesus would have read ‘Adonai’ 7) 119 Bible passages referring to Jehovah, are quoted and applied to Christ in the New Testament (Proof Available) QUESTION: In view of 119 Bible verses applying ‘Jehovah’ to Christ in the NT, what does this tell you about who Christ is? ? The New Testament tells us to name the name of Jesus Christ, not the name of Jehovah. Consider these examples: 1. ‘Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’(II Timothy 2:19) 2. ‘I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .’ (I Cor 1:10) 3. ‘Ye are washed,....sanctified,... justified in the name of the Lord Jesus ’ (I Cor 6:11) 4. ‘Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.’ (Col 3:17) 5. ‘That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you....’ (II Thess 1:12) 6. ‘Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves.....’ (II Thess. 3:6) 7. ‘all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.’ (I Corinthians 1:2) 8. ‘Thou holdest fast my name....’ Jesus said to the Pergamos church. (Revelation 2:13). JWs have not held fast Christ’s name, nor have they called upon Christ’s name, nor do they name the name of Christ, nor is Jesus Christ precious to them, because they do not have saving belief in Him. ‘Unto you . . . which believe He is precious’.(I Peter 2:7). QUESTION: Where does the NT tell us to name the name of Jehovah? 9) The New Testament always lifts up Jesus Christ’s name, not Jehovah’s name. Why? Because Jesus Christ is Jehovah God on earth. Christ is 100% God and 100% man. Q1: In whose name should we meet together? ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ (Matthew 18:20) Q2: Demons were cast out by the authority of whose name? ‘Paul.....said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ (Acts 16:18) Q3: In whose name should we preach repentance and forgiveness of sins? ‘And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations. And ye are witnesses of these things.’ (Luke 24:47,48) Q4: In whose name are we to believe and receive forgiveness of sins? ‘....through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.’ (Acts 10:43, John 1:12) Q5: By whose name, and no other, do we obtain salvation? Acts 4:10,12 says: ‘by the name of Jesus Christ ... Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Q6: In whose name should we pray? John 16:23,24; 14:13,14; 15:16 says: ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.’ Q7: In whose name is the Holy Spirit sent? ‘But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name......’ (John 14:26) Q8: In whose name and authority did the disciples heal the sick? ‘His name through faith in his name hath made this man strong’ (Acts 3:16; 4:30) Q9: Whose name did Paul say that we are to call upon? ‘ all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (I Cor 1:2) Q10: Whose name is above every name? ‘God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name .... that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.’(Phil 2:9-11) Paul’s quote about Christ is from Isaiah 45:22-24 where every knee will bow to Jehovah. What is true about Jehovah, is also true of Christ, the Lord of all mankind Q11: According to Acts 1:8, of whom are we to be witnesses? ‘Ye shall be witnesses unto me (Jesus)’ Q12: In whose name were believers baptized? ‘they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus’. (Acts 8:16; 2:38) Q13: In whose name were believers designated? ‘the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch’. (Acts 11:26) Q14: In whose name did the apostles speak? ‘Commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus’ Acts 4:17,18 Q15: In whose name did early Christians suffer? Acts 15:26 says: ‘Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ ‘rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name’Acts 5:41;9:16 Q16: Whose name was Paul to carry? ‘Lord said: He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.’ (Acts 9:15) Q17: In whose name did Paul deliver a man to Satan? ‘In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...to deliver such an one to Satan.’ I Cor 5:4,5 Q18: In whose name did the apostles teach? Acts 5:28; 8:12 says: ‘Did we not straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?’ 10) Why does WT break their own rule (where the OT speaks of Jehovah), that they do not insert Jehovah in the NT, when the quote clearly refers to Christ? Peter quotes from Joel 2:32 (spoken of Jehovah) and applies it to Jesus in Acts 2:21 and 38. Calling on the name of Jehovah for salvation equals repenting and being baptised in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of sins. Conclusion: Jesus shares the nature of His Father and His Name. The absence of YHWH in any NT manuscript demolishes the WT case of introducing the word ‘Jehovah’ into the NT. Question: If God was so concerned about preserving His covenant name, why did the apostles not preserve it in their writings? Question: To imply that the name ‘Jehovah’ is the main name of God that we are to use, contradicts the continued NT use of the name ‘Jesus’ on 900 occasions, while the tetragram YHWH is used nowhere in the NT. QUESTION: Why does the WT not translate ‘Jehovah’ into Hebrews 1:10, I Peter 3:15 andPhilippians 2:11, when the OT passages from which these are quoted refer to YHWH? We are to make the name of the Father known as Jesus emphasized (Matthew 6:9; John 17:26). How do we do it? By recognizing that Jesus Christ was chosen by the Father to embody all the glory and important reputation of that Name.
  18. Because they are not allowed to think for themselves. "Avoid independent thinking...questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization." (Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1983 pg. 22) "Fight against independent thinking." (Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1983 pg. 27 )
  19. BOTH the FATHER and the SON HAVE the SAME 119 ATTRIBUTES, CLAIMS and MAJESTY. ‘I am Jehovah - that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.’ (Isaiah 62:8). The glory of these 119 attributes are jointly owned by the Father and the Son, and nobody else. Jesus Christ is Jehovah God, equally with the Father, because both the Father and Son alone have the following attributes: 1. both are to be honoured equally (John 5:23) 2. both are the I AM (Exodus 3:14-15; John 8:24,58) 3. both are the Mighty God (Isaiah 10:20,21; Jer 32:18; Psalm 50:1; Isaiah 9:6; Gen 49:24) 4. both own the same throne (Psalm 45:6,7; Hebrews 1:8; Revelation 22:1,3) 5. both accept worship (Exodus 34:14; I Chronicles 16:29; Hebrews 1:6; Matthew 28:9) 6. both laid the foundation of the earth (Psalm 102:24-27; Isaiah 48:13; Hebrews 1:10-12) 7. One God has created mankind (Mal. 2:10; Prov. 16:4; Isaiah 44:24; Col 1:16; John 1:3) 8. both are the Shepherd (Psalm 80;1; Gen 49:24; John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; I Peter 5:4) 9. both are from Everlasting (Psalm 90:2; Habakkuk 1:12; Micah 5:2; Hebrews 7:3). 10. both are the First and Last (Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:17,18; Rev. 2:8; See p.54).) 11. both are the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8; 21:5-7; 22:13-16; See p.54) 12. both come and Reward (Isaiah 40:10; 62:11; Revelation 22:12) 13. both are unchangeable (Malachi 3:6: Hebrews 13:8) 14. both have unsearchable riches (Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:8) 15. both are the Holy One (Isaiah 43:15; Acts 3:14) 16. both are omnipresent and fill all things (Psalm 139:7; Jer. 23:24; Eph. 4:10; John 3:13) 17. both are omniscient (Psalm 147:5; Prov. 14:3; John 21:17; John 16:30; Colossians 2:3) 18. both are omnipotent (Genesis 17:1; Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:3) 19. both are eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27; Hebrews 7:3; Micah 5:2) 20. both own the everlasting Kingdom (Psalm 145:13; Daniel 7:14; II Peter 1:11) 21. both are Lord of all (Psalm 103:19; Matthew 11:25; Acts 10:36) 22. both are the only Saviour (Isaiah 43:11; Titus 1:3,4; Philippians 3:20; II Peter 1:1; 3:18; Luke 2:11; Hebrews 5:9; Acts 4:12) 23. both are the Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4; John 14:6) 24. both are sinless (Deuteronomy 32:4; Hebrews 4:15) 25. both are in the beginning (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1) 26. both God and the Son are the Judge (Psalm 82:8; John 5:22), but the Father is not the Judge (John 5:22 ‘The Father judgeth no man’). 27. both are our Hope (Psalm 39:7; I Timothy 1:1) 28. both shelter believers under their wings (Psalm 91:2,4; Matthew 23:37) 29. both are our Redeemer (Psalm 130:7,8; Isaiah 44:6; Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14) 30. the glory of both was seen by Isaiah (Isaiah 6:3,5; John 12:41) 31. both are the Rock (Deuteronomy 32:3,4,18; Psalm 18:31; I Corinthians 10:4) 32. both are to be looked to for salvation (Isaiah 45:22; John 1:29; John 6:40) 33. to both shall every knee bow and every tongue confess (Isaiah 45:23; Philippians 2:10; Romans 14:10,11) 34. the enemies of both shall perish (Psalm 92:9; Philippians 3:18,19) 35. both send the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28; John 16:7) 36. to both shall all men come (Psalm 65:2; Isaiah 45:24; John 12:32) 37. both forgive sins (Exodus 34:7; Mark 2:5,7; Colossians 3:13) 38. both blot out sin (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 1:3; I John 1:7) 39. both still storms (Psalm 107:29; Matthew 8:26) 40. both own the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:20; Romans 8:9) 41. both seek the lost (Ezekiel 34:16; Luke 19:10) 42. to both are applied 10 aspects of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; see page 954) 43. both receive believers to glory (Psalm 73:24; John 14:3) 44. both are our One Master (Malachi 1:6; Matthew 23:8,10) 45. both are served by believers (Deuteronomy 10:20; Colossians 3:24) 46. both lead believers to living waters (Psalm 23:2; Revelation 7:17) 47. both correct believers (Proverbs 3:12; Revelation 3:19) 48. both prepare a place for believers in heaven (Hebrews 11:16; John 14:2) 49. both are all in all (I Corinthians 15:28; Colossians 3:11) 50. both are known by believers (Galatians 4:9; Philippians 3:10; John 17:3) 51. both are cleaved to by believers (Deuteronomy 10:20; John 15:4) 52. both are the light of the world (Psalm 27:1; John 8:12) 53. both are the Light of the New Jerusalem (Isaiah 60:19,20; Revelation 21:23) 54. both give eternal life (Psalm 36:9; John 10:28) 55. both are called ‘My Lord and my God’ (Psalm 35:22,23; John 20:28) 56. both are our Righteousness (Isaiah 45:24; I Corinthians 1:30; Jeremiah 23:5,6) 57. both have the same voice as of many waters (Ezekiel 43:2; Revelation 1:15) 58. both are witnessed to by believers (Isaiah 43:10; Acts 1:8) 59. both own the peace given to believers (Philippians 4:7; John 14:27) 60. both own the gospel (I Thessalonians 2:2; Romans 1:16) 61. both give saving grace (Titus 2:11; Acts 15:11) 62. both are our peace (Judges 6:24; Ephesians 2:14) 63. both are pierced and looked upon (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37) 64. both sanctify believers (Exodus 31:13; I Corinthians 6:11) 65. both give victory to believers (Psalm 98:1; I Corinthians 15:57) 66. both heal people (Exodus 15:26; Matthew 9:35) 67. both equally own the churches (I Corinthians 15:9; Romans 16:16; I and II Thess. 1:1) 68. both own the Kingdom (Matthew 6:33; Rev. 11:15). 69. both are glorified by the Gentiles (Isaiah 24:15; II Thessalonians 1:12; Matthew 12:21) 70. both own the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:6; Philippians 1:6; II Thessalonians 2:2) 71. both give grace to believers (Romans 5:15; Colossians 1:6; II Cor. 8:9; Galatians 6:18) 72. both own the same glory (Romans 5:2; II Corinthians 8:23) 73. both own the same love (John 5:42; II Corinthians 5:14) 74. both own the same Word (Psalm 119:11; I Thessalonians 2:13; Colossians 3:16) 75. both own salvation (Luke 3:6; Jonah 2:9; Acts 4:12; II Timothy 2:10) 76. both were served equally by Paul (Titus 1:1; Romans 1:1);and by James (James 1:1) 77. both own the commandments (I John 5:3; John 14:15) 78. both had their way prepared by John the Baptist (Isaiah 40;3; Mark 1:1-3) 79. both search all hearts (Psalm 139:1; Revelation 2:23) 80. both own the same flock (I Peter 5:2; John 21:15,16) 81. both ascend on high, lead captivity captive, and give gifts to men (Psalm 68:17,18; Ephesians 4:7-10) 82. both are like a Bridegroom (Isaiah 62:5; Mark 2:19,20) 83. both receive the glory of God alone forever and ever (Isaiah 42:8; Galatians 1:4,5; I Peter 5:10,11; II Peter 3:18; Hebrews 13:21; I Peter 4:11; Revelation 1:5,6) 84. both are the source of fruit (Hosea 14:8; John 15:5) 85. both are our source of strength (Psalm 119:28; Philippians 4:13) 86. both give rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 11:29) 87. both shall appear at Christ’s return (Psalm 102:16; Zechariah 14:3,4,5; Titus 2:13) 88. both will come to earth (Isaiah 40:10; Revelation 22:7,12,20) 89. both are to be trusted in (Jeremiah 17:7; Ephesians 1:12; John 14:1) 90. both are our King (Isaiah 6:5; 33:22; Revelation 17:14; 19:16; I Timothy 6:14,15) 91. both will wound their enemies’ heads (Psalm 68:21; 110:6) 92. both take vengeance (Romans 12:19; II Thessalonians 1:7,8) 93. both will be opposed by the Antichrist’s armies (Isaiah 34:22; Revelation 19:19) 94. both will fight against the Antichrist’s armies at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:3; Revelation 19:11,13,21) 95. both will destroy death (Isaiah 25:8; II Timothy 1:10). 96. both receive the faith of believers (I Thessalonians 1:8; Galatians 3:26) 97. both are our life (Deuteronomy 30:20; Colossians 3:4) 98. both are to be prayed to (Matthew 6:9; Acts 7:59) 99. both raised up Christ (Acts 2:32; John 2:19,21) 100.both own all of the other (John 16:15) 101.both enter the east gate of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 44:1,2; Luke 19:37-45) 102.the man on the throne in Ezekiel 1:26 is identified as the God of Israel in Ezek 10:20 103.both names are placed on the same level in the baptism formula (Matthew 28:19) 104.both fellowship equally with believers (I John 1:3). 105.both comfort believers (Isaiah 66:13; Philippians 2:1). 106.both receive doxologies of worship in heaven (Revelation 5:8-10; 5:11,12; 5:13,14). 107.both jointly send grace and peace to the churches (Romans 1:7). 108.both the love of the Father and love of the Son are an equal privilege given to us.(John 14:21) 109.both jointly declare themselves to be Jehovah, “I am the first,& I am the last”(Isaiah 44:6) 110.both come to his temple, ‘the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple.’(Malachi 3:1; Mat 21:13) 111.both are the King of Israel (Isaiah 44:6; John 1:49). 112. both can be blasphemed (God-Rom.2:24; HS-Luke 12:10; Christ-Luke 22:65; Acts 13:45; 18:5,6; 26:9,11) 113.both are always with all believers (Matthew 28:20; 2 Corinthians 13:14). 114.both are the one lawgiver (God-Rom.7:22; Christ-Gal.6:2; HS-Rom.8:2; James 4:12). 115.both have the same face (Revelation 22:3,4) 116.both have the same Name (Revelation 22:3,4) 117.both own the same servants (Revelation 22:3) 118.both are the Temple of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22) 119.Heavens are the work of thy hands (Psalm 102:24-27; Hebrews 1:10-12) Since both Jesus and the Father have these same attributes, both are Jehovah God. There are not 2 Gods, but One God in 3 persons. One who has these attributes must be God. The Lord’s Prayer is devoted to worshipping the Father. Jesus conceals His personal glory in this prayer as seen by other Scriptures which are just as true of Christ as the Lord’s Prayer is of the Father.
  20. The Trinity and Bible Proofs that Jesus Christ is God 1. Matthew 28:17-20 “they worshipped him”, “All power is given to me”, “I am with you always” and “baptizing them in the name (one God) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” = Trinity. 2. In Matthew 3:1-3, Jesus Christ fulfils Isaiah 40:3 to ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah’ and our God. 3. John 1:1 “the word was God” (KJV, NIV), not ‘a god’ (NWT). a) Isaiah 44:8 ‘Is there a God beside me?’ b) The absence of the article before “theos” (God) identifies “word” as the subject (Colwell’s rule)Ans855 ‘The subject is identified by the article (ho logos) and the predicate (theos) without it.’ AT Robertson 5,4. John did not use the word for “Godlike or a lesser god” (theios) to describe Jesus, but used “theos” (God). All early writers disagree with JWs. (Irenaeus,Theophilus, Clement,Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Tatian). All modern Greek experts disagree with JWs. (Zodhiates, AT Robertson, Wuest, Vine, Vincent, Mantey) 4. John 1:3 “All things were made by him” Malachi 2:10 “Hath not one God created us?” Jesus is Creator. 5. John 3:13 “Son of man which is in heaven.” Jesus is omnipresent (on earth and in heaven at same time) 6. John 4:42 “Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Isaiah 43:11 “Jehovah; beside me there is no saviour.” 7. John 5:18 “said God was his Father, making himself equal with God”. John believed it and quoted it. 8. John 5:23 “all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father” Do you honour the Son as God? 9. John 6:46 “Not that any man hath seen the Father.” Who did OT saints see who they said was God?Is6:5 10. John 8:24 “If ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins.” Jehovah is “I am” in Exodus 3:1-14. 11. John 8:58,59 “Before Abraham was, I am. They took up stones to cast at him.” Jesus said He is God. 12. John 10:30 “I and my Father are One. They took up stones to stone him.” No stoning if agree with God. 13. John 10:33 “thou being a man, makest thyself God. They sought again to take him (39)”. Why? 14. John 16:15 “All things that the Father hath are mine:” All the Father’s attributes as God are Christ’s. 15. John 17:5 “the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Isaiah 42:8 “I am Jehovah: my glory will I not give to another.” Jesus is Jehovah because he alone shares Jehovah’s exclusive glory. 16. John 20:28 “Thomas said unto him (Jesus), My Lord and my God.” No rebuke for blasphemy or error. 17. Acts 20:28 “Feed the church of God, which he (God) hath purchased with his own blood.” Jesus =God 18. I Cor. 1:2 “all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ.” Prayer to Jesus makes him God. 19. I Corinthians 15:47 ‘the second man is the Lord from heaven’ This is Jesus. No man is from heaven. 20. II Corinthians 13:14 is the Apostolic Benediction:“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” (II Corinthians 13:14). Why is there a change in the order of the persons of the Trinity, compared to Matthew 28:19, if not to show that in this Trinity none is before or after the other, and none is better than another? 21. Philippians 2:6 “Who being in the form of God (in His pre-incarnate state Christ had the form of God) thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” (a prize to be held on to, not a prize to be won. AT Robertson). 22. Colossians 2:9 “In him (Christ) dwells all the fullness (exhausts the limits) of the Godhead bodily.” 23. I Thes 4:14 “them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” Jesus returns as God at rapture. 24. I Timothy 3:16 “God was manifest in the flesh.” Jesus is God the Son conceived in Mary. 25. Titus 2:13 “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Granville-Sharp rule: Jesus is God and Saviour. 26. Hebrews 1:6 “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Only worship God. Matt 4:10, Ps97:7 Son is God 27. Hebrews 1:8 “To the Son he saith, ‘Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever’” Psalm 45:6,7. Son is God. 28. Hebrew 1:10 “And (to the Son he saith), Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:.thou art the same.” Son is unchangeable creator. Ps102:24 29. Hebrews 1:13 To which of the angels said he, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 35 30. I John 5:7 “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” The heavenly and earthly witnesses in v.7,8 are confirmed in v.9 by God and men. The masculine article (oi) for “that” in v.7 is derived from the masculine nouns “Father and Word” in v.7. 31. Revelation 1:17,18 “I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth and was dead;” Jesus = first and last. Revelation 1:11 “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:” Jesus = first and last = Alpha and Omega. Revelation 22:12,13 “I come quickly; I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” Jesus=Alpha & Omega. Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the Almighty.” Jesus = first & last = Alpha & Omega =Almighty 32. Revelation 22:3 “the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Both God and the Lamb equally own the throne. Revelation 22:3 “his servants shall serve him:” Both God and the Lamb equally own the same servants. Revelation 22:4 “they shall see his face.” Both God and the Lamb have the same face. Revelation 22:4 “his name shall be in their foreheads.” Both God and the Lamb have the same name. Revelation 20:6 “they shall be priests (of God and of Christ), and shall reign with HIM a thousand years” Revelation 21:22 “for (the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb) are the temple of it.” Both are temple of NJ Revelation 21:23 “for (the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light) thereof.” Both light of NJ 33. God identifies Himself as “us” (a Trinity) in:‘God said “let us make man in our image”’ Genesis 1:26 ‘Jehovah God said, “Behold the man is become as one of us . . .’ Genesis 3:22. ‘Jehovah came down … the Lord said, let us go down.’ Genesis 11:5,7 ‘who will go for us?’ Isaiah 6:8. 34. Exodus 3:14 “I AM hath sent me unto you.” ‘I AM’ is the name of the angel of Jehovah, Jehovah, God (2,4,6) & Jesus in John 8:58 “Before Abraham was, I AM” & John 8:24 “If ye believe not that I AM” 35. Psalm 110:1. God told David that David’s son would be David’s God. ‘The LORD (Jehovah) said unto my Lord (Adonai), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’ Jesus applied this to Himself in Matthew 22:41-45 as a question: ‘If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?’ This shows that Jesus Christ would be both a man descended from David and David’s God. 36. Isaiah 6:1-8,5. “Mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts” on the throne in heaven. God asked Isaiah “who will go for us?” (‘us’ = trinity). In John 12:37-41, John said, “These things said Esaias when he saw his (Jesus) glory, and spake of him (Jesus).” Jesus was the King, Jehovah of hosts that Isaiah saw. 37. Isaiah 9:6 ‘Unto us a child is born (human Jesus),unto us a son is given (God the Son): his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God.” Jehovah is Mighty God in Isaiah 10:21;Jer32:18; Ps 50:1 38. Isaiah 44:6 ‘Thus saith Jehovah the King of Israel (Father) and his redeemer Jehovah of hosts (Son)” 39. Isaiah 48:12,13,16 “Hearken unto me…Mine hand also has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spanned the heavens:…Come ye near unto me,..the Lord GOD, and his Spirit has sent me.” Me, mine, my and me is God the Son describing his two works of creation and of incarnation to save man. 40. Ezekiel 44:1,2 “This gate shall be shut…because Jehovah, the God of Israel has entered in by it.” In Luke 19:45-47 Jesus, who is Jehovah, fulfilled this prophecy, entering the east gate on a colt in 33AD. 41. Hosea 4:1 and 5:15. Jehovah will return to ‘my place’ (heaven), till the Jews admit their offence of killing Jesus. “Hear the word of the LORD (Jehovah) (4:1),.I will go and return to my place (heaven), till they (Jews) acknowledge their offence (of killing Jesus), and seek my face: in their affliction (7 year tribulation) they (Jews) will seek me early.” Jehovah the Son came from heaven to be born of Mary as a man, he was rejected and crucified by the Jews. The resurrected Lord Jesus returned to heaven. Jesus will return when the Jews acknowledge their offence of killing Jesus. This occurs after the 7 year tribulation. 42. Zechariah 11:4,12,13. “Thus saith the LORD (Jehovah) my God; (v.4). If ye think good, give me my price; So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver (v.12)….I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD’ (Zechariah 11:4,12,13). (silver, temple floor, potter field) These three prophecies were fulfilled in Judas betraying Jesus Christ in Matthew 26:14-16 and 27:3-10. 43. Zechariah 12:9-10. When Jesus Christ returns to earth, He is identified as Jehovah God whom Israel pierced on the cross. “I (Jehovah) will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem (v.9). They (Israel) shall look upon me (Jehovah) whom they have pierced.” Jesus fulfilled this in John 19:37. 44. Zechariah 14:3,4,5,9. When Jesus Christ returns to earth on the Mount of Olives, He is identified as Jehovah God (Zechariah 14:3,4). ‘Then shall the LORD (Jehovah) go forth and fight against those nations, And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives (v.3-4)....the LORD (Jehovah) my God shall come, and all the saints with thee (v.5)….the LORD (Jehovah) shall be king over all the earth.’ When Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, two angels told those witnesses present that “this same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-12). 45. In Zechariah 2:8-11, Jehovah the Son states twice that Jehovah the Father has sent Him to Israel. This proves that there are at least two persons in the Godhead, both called Jehovah. “For thus saith Jehovah of hosts (the Son).. (v.8) Ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts (the Father) hath sent me (v.9). ‘I (Jehovah the Son) will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts (Father) hath sent me unto thee.” (v.11). Lesson: Jehovah (the Father) sends Jehovah (the Son). Two persons here are named Jehovah. This clearly proves that Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate state is fully Jehovah God. 46. In Zechariah 3:2 “Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan”. One person in the Jehovah Godhead speaks about another person in the Jehovah Godhead. See Isaiah 48:16 Rules of Grammar dictate that: “Jehovah (the first person = person speaking) said unto Satan (the second person = person spoken to), Jehovah (the third person = person spoken about) rebuke thee.”
  21. JW Belief is first, the Bibilcal position is in bold Christ is God's Son and is inferior to him. Christ is God. He took on the form of man to come to earth. John 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:16 Christ died on a stake, not a cross. Christ died on a cross. John 20:25, Matthew 27:37, 27 Christ's human life was paid as a ransom for obedient humans. Christ life was paid as a ransom for sinners Matthew 9:13, 1 Timothy 1:15 Earth will never be destroyed or depopulated. God will create new heavens and earth and new physical laws. God's people will be removed from earth. Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, 1 Thess. 4:16-17 The human soul ceases to exist at death The spirit of man goes to be with God *Ecclesiastes 3:21, Ecclesiastes 12:7 Hell is mankind's common grave. Before Christ, all went to Hades, after Christ only non-believers *Psalms 9:17, Matthew 23:33 The 144,000 are born again as spiritual sons of God. All people who confess Christ as Lord and Savior are born again *John 3:3, John 3:3-7 Christians must give public testimony to Scriptural truth. Christians must give public testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ Romans 1:16, Romans 15:19, 1 Corinthians 1:17 The greatest name is Jehovah. The greatest name is Jesus Christ Ephesians 1:20-22, Philippians 2:9 Man does not have a spirit. Man has a spirit *Ecclesiastes 3:21 We are to worship Jehovah only. We are to worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 5:13 Jesus second coming occurred invisibly in 1914 and His kingdom was established in heaven. Jesus will return physically to earth and all alive will see Him as His kingdom is established on earth Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7 The greatest name is Jehovah. The greatest name is Jesus Christ Ephesians 1:20-22, Philippians 2:9 Christ is Michael the Archangel. Christ is not an angel, but God. Hebrews 1:13 Christ was first of God's creations. Christ is co-eternal with God, and as such was not created Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, Hebrews 13:8
  22. You really have no idea of the Bible, do you? "Probably most of us would have exclaimed similarly if in Thomas's position, but maybe not just for the reason you have cited , more in the spirit of 1Cor.13:4! John's account would not present contradictory material when he stated the purpose of his writing at John 20:31." IF what thomas said WAS an exclamation of shock, he blasphemed and the penalty was stoning to death on the spot. Just Jesus pick up stones? NO, He CONGRATULATED and AGREED with thomas! HAHA. Your first attempt to answer totally FAILS at the first hurdle! STOP LISTENING TO THE WATCHTOWER. THEY ARE A COMPLETELY SATANIC CULT
  23. HAHAHA. ANY cult can play THAT game! What a disgusting, deceitful organisation! Cannot back up ANYTHING they say!
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