Jw Witnessing Guide

TESTS 1. The Watchtower Test: “We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such as examination.” (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, Brooklyn: The WTBS of Pennsylvania, 1968, p.13) 2. The Bible Test: 2 Cor 13:5; Eph 3:17 3. The Jesus Identity Test: Mtt 16:15; Mr 8:29; Lk 9:20; Jn 5:39-40 4. The First & Last Test: Rev 1:8,11, 17-18, 22:12-13 5. The Thomas Test: Jn 20:28 6. The Bodily Resurrection Test: Acts 3:26; Jn 2:18-22, 20:24-29, 24:39-40 7. The Name of Salvation Test: Acts 2:21; Rom 10:12; Joel 2:32; Acts 4:12; 1 Cor 1:2 8. The Salvation Assurance Test: 1 Jn 2:25, 5:13; Rom 8:35-39, 10:12 9. The Test of Who Raised Christ’s Body: Acts 3:26; Jn 2:18-22, 20:24-29, 24:39-40 10. The Witness Test: Is 43:10; Acts 1:8; Jn 14:26; Mtt 18:20; Lk 21:8 11. The Gospel Test: Gal 1:1-10; 1 Cor 15:1-11 12. The Test of Whose Blood was Shed for the Church: Acts 20:28 13. The Jesus-Michael Test: Angels are not men, Jesus was a man. Jesus cannot be an angel and He can never change (1 Jn 4:2, 3; 2 Jn 1:7; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 13:8). Angels could not have created because they themselves are creations. 14. The Zeal Test: Rom 10:1-4, 9; Jn 5:39-40; 2 Cor 11:3-4. It’s not good enough just to be zealous – you must be zealous about the correct cause

WARNING Jude 4 2 Cor 11:3-4 Gal 1:6-12 2 Thes 3:14 2 Tim 3:15 2 Cor 4:2 1 Thes 5:21; Acts 17:11 Rom 16:17 Deut 18:18-20; 2 Pet 2:1

TO

TEST

FOR

TRUTH

AND

HERESY

Denying our only Lord Corrupted from simple Gospel to another gospel Any other gospel Not obey words of Paul Scriptures – salvation in Christ Handling Bible deceitfully Examine everything; Bereans Contrary doctrine Falsely claiming to be a prophet (1914, etc.)

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1. ARGUMENTS FOR THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST A. SAME TITLES & FUNCTIONS Saviour Father: Is 43:3, 11, 45:21-22, 49:26, 63:8; Hos 13:4; Acts 2:21; Rom 10:9, 13 (cf Acts 4:11-12); Lk 1:47; 1 Tim 2:3; 4:10; Tit 1:3-4 Son: Tit 1:4, 2:13 (3:4); Phil 3:20; Lk 1:46; 2:11; Jn 1:1, 29, 4:42; Acts 4:10-12, 13:23, 2 Tim 1:10, 2:10, 2 Pet 1:1, 2:20, 3:18; Heb 1:8, 3:6, 5:9; 1 Jn 4 :14 Creator Father: Gen 1:1; Is 40:28, 43:1, 44:24-25, 45:7-18; Ps 33:9, 6, 95:5, 6, 102:24-25; Jer 32:17-18; Mal 2:10; Job 33:4; Mt 19:4-6; Lk 2:22; Acts 4:24; Rev 4:11 Son: Col 1:15-16; Jn 1:2, 3, 10 (cf. Ps 33:6; Heb 11:3); 1 Cor 8:6; Heb 1:3, 10 (Ps 102:24-26); Acts 3:15 (killed author of life); Eph 3:9 (God created through Son); Rev 3:14; Job 33:4 (Spirit created us); Gen 1:2 (Spirit hovered); Heb 1:3 (upholds universe) I AM Father: Ex 3:14; Deut 32:39; Is 43:10, 44:4 Son: Jn 8:24, 58, 18:4-6; note that NWT translates all other “ego emi” as “I am” except Jn 8:58 (e.g., Jn 6:35, 41, 8:24; 13:19; 15:5) – invented ‘past perfect’ fictitious Greek tense; 1 Tim 6:16; Rev 7:14, 9:16; “have been” only acceptable in context- not here. God Father: Deut 4:39, 6:4; Ex 15:11; Is 43:10-11, 44:6-8, 45:5-6, 21-22, 26; 1 Ki 8:60; 1 Tim 1:17, 2:5; Rom 3:30; 1 Cor 8:4-6; Jas 2:19; Ps 96:46 Son: Is 9:6 (Is 10:21; Jer 32:18; Lk 22:69); 7:14 - Immanuel (Mtt 1:23); Lk 2:11; Jn 20:28; Acts 4:10-12; Heb 1:8 (cf Is 45:6); Tit 2:13 (3:4-6); 2 Pet 1:1, 2:20, 3:18; Jn 8:58; 1 Cor 4:4; 8:4-6; Phil 2:6; Col 1:17, 2:9; Rev 4:11; Rom 8:9 (Spirit of God / Spirit of Christ interchangeable), 9:5 King of Kings; Lord of Lords Father: Deut 10:17; Ps 136:3; 1 Tim 6:15; Dan 2:37 (1 Tim 6:15-16) Son: Rev 17:14, 19:16; 1 Tim 6:15-16

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Immanuel (‘God with us’) Father: Is 9:6 (cf. Is 10:21, 43:10) Son: Is 7:14; Mt 1:23

A. SAME TITLES & FUNCTIONS - CONTINUED Stone Father: Deut 32:3-4; 2 Sam 22:32; Ps 89:26; Is 44:8 Son: Rom 9:33; 1 Cor 10:3-4; 1 Pet 2:4-8 Our Righteousness Father: Is 54:5; Jer 23:5-6 Son: 1 Cor 1:30; Rom 2:21-22 Lord our Healer Father: Ex 15:26 Son: Acts 9:34 Redeemer Father: Ps 130:7-8; Is 43:1, 48:17, 49:26, 54:5 Son: Acts 20:28; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:12 Husband Father: Is 54:5, Hos 2:16 Son: Mt 25:1; Mk 2:18-19; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25-32; Rev 21:2, 9 Alpha and Omega Father: Is 41:4, 44:6, 48:12-13; Rev 1:8, 17-18, 2:8; in v.11, Alpha and Omega is speaking to the 7 churches; following this to v.17, it’s Jesus! Son: Rev 1:7-8, 11, 17, 22:12-13, 20 (A&O is pierced, coming, Jesus) Our Salvation Father: Is 12:2; Jer 3:23; Ps 18:14 Son: Lk 2:30; Rom 1:16; 1 Tim 3:16 Holy One Father: Ps 16:10; Hos 11:9 Son: Acts 2:27; 3:14

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Almighty / Mighty God Father: Almighty- TNTC - Gen 17:1; Ez 10:5; Rev 19:5; Mighty- Is 10:21; Jer 32:18 Son: Almighty- Rev 1:8, 17-18; 22:12, 20; Mighty- Is 9:6; Heb 1:3; Mtt 28:18

A. SAME TITLES & FUNCTIONS - CONTINUED Shepherd Father: Gen 49:24; Ps 18:31, 23:1, 80:1 Son: Jn 10:11, 16; Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25, 5:4; 1 Cor 10:4 King of Glory - Lord of Glory Father: Ps 24:8-10 Son: 1 Cor 2:8 One Foundation Father: Is 28:16 Son: 1 Cor 3:11 King Father: Ps 95:3; Is 43:15; 1 Tim 6:14-16 Son: Rev 17:14, 19:16 Light Father: 2 Sam 22:29; Ps 27:1 Son: Jn 1:4, 9, 3:19, 8:12, 9:5 Giver of Physical and Eternal Life Father: Gen 2:7; Deut 32:39; 1 Sam 2:6 Son: Jn 5:21, 10:28, 11:25 Tries the Reigns of the Heart Father: Jer 11:20; 17:10 Son: Rev 2:23 Forgiver of Sin Father: Ex 34:6-7; Neh 9:17; Dan 9:9; Jon 4:2; Ps 103:2-3; Is 43:25; Num 14:18; Jer 31:34; Mk 2:7

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Son: Mt 9:2; Mk 2:1-12; Lk 24:47, 5:20; Jn1:29; Acts 10:43, 26:18; Col 2:13, 3 :13

A. SAME TITLES & FUNCTIONS - CONTINUED Who Raised Jesus from the Dead? Father: Acts 2:24, 32; 1 Cor 6:14; Rom 8:11 (Spirit) Son: Jn 2:19-22, 10-17-18; Mt 27:40 Transformation of Bodies Father: Rom 8:23 Son: Phil 3:21; 2 Tim 4:1 Come Like a Thief in the Night Father: 1 Thes 5:2 Son: 2 Pet 3:10 Day of the Lord Father: Is 2:12, 13:6, 9; Jer 46:10; Ez 30:3; Amos 5:18; Mal 4:5; 1 Thes 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10 Son: Phil 1:6, 10; Rev 6:16-17 Stilled the Storm Father: Ps 107:29 Son: Lk 8:24 I am With You Father: Is 41:10 Son: Mt 28:20 Searches the Heart Father: Jer 17:10 Son: Rev 2:23 Disciplines Father: Pr 3:12

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Son: Rev 3:19 No one can Snatch Them Father: Is 43:13 Son: Jn 10:28-30

A. SAME TITLES & FUNCTIONS - CONTINUED Will Judge the World in Righteousness Father: Gen 18:25; Ps 94:2, 96:13, 98:9 Son: Jn 5:22-23; Acts 17:31; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Tim 4:1 Whose Name we Call upon for our Salvation Father: Gen 4:26, 13:4, 12:8, 26:25;1 Kings 18:24; Ps 116:4; Joel 2:32; Zep 3:10; Jn 3:18; Acts 2:21, 22:16; Rom 10:13,17 Son: Jn 10:28, 17:1-2; Acts 4:12; 1 Cor 1:2 Hears and Answers Prayers Father: Ps 86:5-8; Is 55:6-7; Jer 33:3; Joel 2:32 Son: Jn 14:14; Rom 10:12-13; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 12:8-9

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B. WORTHY

OF

SAME HONOUR

Receiver of Glory, Honour and Power Father: Is 42:8, 11; 48:11; Rev 4:9-11, 5:13, 7:12; 1 Tim 1:17, 6:16 Son: Heb 13:21; Jn 5:23, 17:5; Rev 5:12-13; 2 Pet 1:17 Honour Son like the Father: Jn 5:23; Rev 5:8-13; Heb 1:6; Mt 14:33, 28:9; Lk 24:52; Acts 10:25-26; Rev 22:8-9 Every Knee Will Bow Father: Isaiah 45:22-23; Rom 14:10-12 Son: Phil 2:10-11 Who is Served? Father: Jos 24:24 Son: Col 3:24 We are His Witnesses Father: Is 43:10 Son: Acts 1:8 Not to be Tempted

Father/Son: Mt 4:7; Lk 4:12; Jas 1:13 Multitudes in Heaven Worship Him Father: Neh 9:6 Son: Heb 1:6 Receiver of Worship Father: Mt 4:9-10, 9:18, 14:33, 15:25, 28:9; Jn 4:24; Lk 4:8, 24:52, 19:4, 10; Acts 12:20-23, 14:8-18; Ps 97:7; NWT replaces proskuneo (Gr. worship) with “do obescience”; ONLY when used for Christ; God (Rev 5:14; 7:11; 11:16,); Jesus (Mtt 14:33, 28:9, 17) Worship God only: Mtt 4:9-10; Not man: Acts 10:25-26; Not angels: Rev 19:10; Son: Mt 2:8, 11; 14:33; 28:9; Lk 24:52; Jn 9:38; Phil 2:10-11; Heb 1:6; Rev 5:13-14, 22:9

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C. SAME

NATURE

&

ATTRIBUTES

Omnipresent (‘all present’) Father: Ps 139:7; Pr 15:3 Son: Mt 18:20, 28:20; Jn 14:20; 2 Cor 13:5; Eph 1:23; Col 2:13, 3:13 Omniscient (‘all knowing’) Father: Is 40:10-31; 45:5-13; Rev 19:6 Son: Mt 28:18; Mk 1:29-30; Eph 1:20-23; Heb 1:3; Jn 3:13, 10:18, 11:43 Pre-Existent Father: Gen 1:1; Ps 90:2 Son: John 1:1,15, 20, 30, 3:13, 31, 32, 6:62, 16:28, 17:5, 8:58; Heb 13:8; Is 9:6; Mic 5:2; Col 1:17 Eternal Father: Ps 102:26-27; Hab 3:6 Son: Is 9:6; Mic 5:2; Jn 8:58; Heb 13:8 Unchanging Father: Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17; Ps 90:2, 102:26-27 Son: Rom 13:8; Heb 1:11-12, 13:8; Jn 8:58; Col 1:17 Speaks with Divine Authority Father: “Thus saith the Lord” hundreds of times in OT Son: Mt 23:34-37; Jn 3:5, 7:46; “Truly, truly, I say…” Unsearchable Father: Rom 11:33 Son: Eph 3:8 Trust God, Not Man Father: Jer 17:5

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Son: Jn 14:1 (many references) Righteous Father: Ps 116:5 Son: 1 Jn 2:1 (Christ called the ‘righteous One’)

C. SAME

NATURE

&

ATTRIBUTES

-

CONTINUED

True and Faithful Witness Father: Jer 42:5 Son: Rev 3:14 Our Refuge and Strength Father: Ps 46:1 Son: Phil 4:13 Our Light and Salvation Father: Ps 27:1 Son: Jn 8:12 Hope Father: Jer 17:7; Ps 71:5 Son: 1Tim 1:1 Spring of Living Water Father: Jer 17:3 Son: Jn 4:14 Will Give Drink to Thirsty Father: Rev 21:6 Son: Jn 7:37 Redeems a People for His Own Possession Father: Ex 19:5; Ps 130:7-8; Ez 37:23 Son: Tit 2:14

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D. MIRROR PASSAGES: OT LORD & NT JESUS Dan 7:13 Is 40:3 Ps 45:6-7 Ps 102:25-27 Is 43:13 Joel 2:32; Gen 4:26; Ps 116:13,17; Zep 3:9

E. DONE

IN

Mr 14:62-64 Mt 3:3 Heb 1:8 Heb 1:10-12 Jn 10:28-30 Rom 10:9, 13; Acts 2:21; 4:21

JESUS’ NAME

Mt 18:20; 1 Cor 5:4 Lk 10:17; Acts 16:18 Lk 24:47 Jn 1:12, 3:16; Acts 10:43; 1 Jn 3:23; 5:13 Acts 2:21, 4:12 Jn 14:13-14, 15:16: 16:23-24 Jn 14:26 Acts 3:16, 4:7-10, 30 1 Cor 1:2 Eph 1:20-21; Phil 2:9-11

F. JESUS’ DEATH, BURIAL

AND

Acts 2:31; 13:34-37 Acts 13:34 John 2:19, 1 Thes 1:10 Jn 2:21-22, 20:27; Lk 24:39

Meet together Demons subject to Repentance and forgiveness preached To believe and receive forgiveness of sin To obtain salvation When we bring petitions to God Is the Holy Spirit sent Healing the sick and lame Did Paul call upon Above every name

RESURRECTION Not allow flesh to see corruption God raised Jesus Jesus raised Himself Jesus rose with his own crucified body; not as a spirit creature

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G. JESUS

IS NOT AN

ANGEL

Col 1:16; Jn 1:3 Heb 1:5; 2:16 Heb 2:16 Dan 10:13 Jn 3:16; Heb 1:6-7, 14; Phil 2:6-7 Heb 2:5,8; 2 Sam 7:16; Lk 1:32; Rev 19:16; Jude 1:9; Mt 4:10-11, 16:23 (if Michael created the universe including Lucifer, he should have been able to rebuke him) Heb 1:6; Rev 19:10; Phil 2:10; Mt 28:9 Dan 10:13, 21, 12:1; Jude 9; Rev 12:7

H. CLEAR NT STATEMENTS Jn 1:1 1 Tim 3:15-16 Col 2:9 Jn 20:28 2 Pet 1:1 Heb 1:8 (Ps 45:6) Heb 1:10 (Ps 102:25) Titus 2:13 (3:4,6) 1 Jn 5:20 Heb 1:3

OF

Created angels No angel called God’s Son Christ does not have angel’s nature Michael part of a group Unique; angels servants / Christ not servant until after incarnation World not subject to angels but is subject to Christ; Christ will rule Kingdom Michael no authority to rebuke Satan; Jesus had no problem rebuking Satan Angels not receive worship Nothing to do with Jesus; Dan 10:13 who is another chief prince with Jesus?

CHRIST’S DEITY “Word (logos - theos) became flesh” “God (He) was manifest in the flesh” “Fullness of the Godhead bodily” “My Lord and my God” “Our God and Saviour” “Thy throne, O God” “Lord, in the beginning… you laid the foundation…” “The great God and our Saviour…” “This is the true God” “The express image of His person”

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Jn 16:27-28 Jn 14:1 Jn 6:46; 14:9 Acts 20:28 Rom 9:5

“I came out from God” “Believe in God, believe in me.” “Seen the Father, seen the Son” “He purchased with his own blood” “God over all” “God blessed forever” “Crucified the Lord of glory”

1 Cor 2:9

I. JESUS’ STATEMENTS

OF DEITY CONSIDERED BLASPHEMY

•

Mt 9:2-3, 26 :64-66

•

Mk 2:5-7, 14:62-64 (cf. Dan 7:13-14)

•

Jn 5:17-18, 8:56-59 (“ego emi”; cf Ex 3:14), 10:29-39, 14:1, 8-13, 23, 19:6-7

J. OT ALLUSIONS

TO

CHRIST WHICH

Ps 45:6-7 Ps 102:25-27 Zech 12:10 Dan 7:13 Is 7:14 Is 9:6 Is 44:6

Jer 23:6 Mic 5:2 Is 40:3; Mal 3:1; Mtt 3:3, 11-17, 11:10; Mk 1:1-3; Jn1:23

ARE

DESCRIBING GOD

Heb 1:8-9 Heb 1:10-12 “Look on me, who they pierced” Mk 14:62-64; Rev 1:13; 14:14 Matt 1.23 “Mighty God” The LORD the King of Israel and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first and the last and no other gods besides me Descendant of David would be called ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ “from the days of eternity” Prophecy about John the Baptist: Prepare the way for the LORD – revealed in the NT as Jesus

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2. ARGUMENTS FOR THE TRINITY A. OT REFERENCES

TO THE

PLURALITY

OF THE

GODHEAD

“Certainly the word ‘Trinity’ does not occur in the New Testament, but the doctrine could hardly be plainer”. Robert S. Crossley, The Trinity 1987 – IVP; p.30 Ps 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord Mt 22:41-46 Zech 2:10-12 Jehovah of armies sends Jehovah to earth Gen 18:1-2 Yahweh appears to Abram as three persons Ps 45:6-7 “Your throne, O God… God, your God” Gen 16:13 God appears in human form Gen 1:26 “Let us” Gen 3:22 “One of us” Gen 11:7 “Let us” Is 6:8 “Go for us?” Ps 45:6-7 “Throne O God” Ps 110:1 “Lord said to my Lord” Mal 3:1-2 “Lord shall come… saith Lord” Is 48:13-16 “LORD God and Spirit sent me” Hos 1:7 “I will save them by the Lord” Jn 14:15-17, 25-26 “I pray to Father… sends comforter” Dan 7:13 “Son of man came with clouds”

B. COORDINATE FORMULA

FOR

TRINITY

IN THE

NT

Mt 3:16-17, 28:19; Lk 1:30-35, 3:22; Jn 3:34, 8:18, 14:16-17, 23-26, 15:26, 16:7, 13; Acts 1:2, 4, 2:32-33, 5:29-32, 10:36, 38, 20:21-24; Rom 1:3, 18, 3:20-21, 8:2-30, 9-11; 1 Cor 12:3-6; 2 Cor 1:21; 13:14;

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Gal. 3:13-14, 4:4, 6, 5:5-6, 22-24; Eph 2:18; 4:4-6; 2 Thes 2:13, 16; Tit 3:4-6; Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1:2, 3:18; 1 Jn 5:6; Jude 20-21; Rev 1:4-5, 4:8

C. HOLY SPIRIT

IS A

PERSON,

NOT AN ENERGY FORCE

He is a ‘He’ Took form of a dove He speaks He bears witness He feels hurt Injured by our sin He knows; searches the depths of God Dwells in believers Will lead believers A will; distributes gifts accordingly Intellect/mind He can be insulted Sensibility Descended on Jesus He intercedes for us Drove Christ in wilderness He fills many people like Jesus He can be lied to He forbids He teaches Will rest on you He gives prophetic messages He can be grieved He can be sent Jesus – Spirit is upon me Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and Father Jesus acting through HS Jesus commissions disciples with Father and HS

Jn 16:13 Lk 3:22 Acts 8:29, 13:2,4; 1 Tim 4:1 Jn 15:26, Rom 8:16 Is 63:10 Mk 3:29; Acts 5:3-4 1 Cor 2:10-13 Acts 5:24; Eph 5:18 Gal 5:8 1 Cor 12:11 Rom 8:2; Acts 15:28 Heb 10:29 Is 63:1-; Eph 4:30 Mk 1:10 Rom 8:26-27 Mk 1:12 Acts 2:4; Eph 1:23 Acts 5:3-4 Acts 16:6-7 Jn 14:26 Is 11:2; 42:1; Acts 11:28 Eph 4:30; Is 63:10 Is 48:16; Jn 15:26, 16:7 Lk 4:18 (Is 61:1-2) Lk 10:21-22 Mt 12:28; Lk 11:20 Lk 24:49; Acts 1:5-8

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D. HOLY SPIRIT

IS

GOD

Lied to God, lied to Holy Spirit The Lord Jehovah is that Spirit Savior

We are God’s temple where He (Spirit) dwells Omnipresent Eternal Lord Omnipotent

Omniscient Born of Spirit but only God can do that Giver of life Resurrects the dead Holy

Truth Grace Glory Righteous Good Sovereign

Acts 5:3-4 2 Cor 3:17 Jn 3:1-8, 14:16-17, 16:8-11 1 Cor 6:19 Eph 2:18 Ez 36:25-28 2 Thes 3:13 1 Pet 1:2 1 Cor 3:16 Ps 139:7-8 Heb 9:14 2 Cor 3:16-18 (cf. Ex 34:29-35) Mic 3:8 Acts 1:8 Rom 8:11, 15:13,19 Zech 4:6 1 Cor 2:10-11 Is 40:13-14 Jn 3:5-7; 1 Jn 3:1 Job 33:4 1 Pet 3:18 Ps 51:11 Is 57:15, 63:10 Lk 11:13 Eph 4:30 1 Thes 4:8 Jn 14:17, 15:26, 16:13 Heb 10:29 1 Pet 4:14 Is 59:17-19 Neh 9:20 (cf. Mk 10:18) Ps 51:12; Jn 3:8

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THE DOCTRINE

OF THE

TRINITY

BY

SCOTT A. HANSON

Many from other religions argue that Christians worship three Gods. They also have trouble acknowledging that Jesus is God. This paper, complete with scripture references, argues for the existence of God in three persons. Christians believe in one Lord, God, Saviour and Creator, but that He has eternally existed in three distinct persons, each one playing a vital role in creation and our salvation. We call this the Trinity, or Tri-unity of the Godhead. This unfathomable mystery is clearly elaborated in scripture. “Certainly the word ‘Trinity’ does not occur in the New Testament, but the doctrine could hardly be plainer” (Robert S. Crossley, The Trinity 1987 – IVP; p.30). The Trinity is undoubtedly the most distinctive doctrine of Christianity. Most religions are pantheistic (Buddhism) or polytheistic (Hinduism). Two other religions are monotheistic (Judaism, Islam), but only Christianity recognizes the one true God in three persons. The sacred book of the Muslims, The Koran, regards Jesus as only a prophet, and repeatedly denounces as infidels all those who would dare believe in the Trinity. The Jews largely consider Jesus to have been a great teacher, perhaps a prophet, but nothing more. So what is the weight of scriptural evidence for this Trinity?

PARTIAL

REVELATION IN THE

OLD TESTAMENT

There are many occasions in the Old Testament where Jehovah God manifested Himself in a plural form (Ps 110:1; Mtt 22:41-46; Gen 18:12, 16:13; Ps 45:6-7). Ps 110:1 says, “The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." At the onset of Creation, Elohim says, “Let us make man in our image” (Gen 1:26). This was not a “plural of majesty” that a king would use about himself. This clearly indicated plurality within the Godhead. In many other passages, God is spoken of in the plural (Gen 3:22, 11:7, Is 6:8, 48:16; Ps 45:6-7, 110:1; Hos 1:7; Mal:1-2; Jn 14:15-17, 25-26). Zech 2:10-12 speaks of Jehovah of armies has sent Jehovah who is coming. In Isaiah 48:16, the Son, the divine Word who is speaking, is being sent into the world by the Father and the Spirit: 16

Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit."

MORE

COMPLETE REVELATION IN THE

NEW TESTAMENT

The New Testament provides us with a formula, in which all three persons are listed together. Some call this the coordinate relationship of the Trinity, which is involved in every aspect of our salvation and sanctification. Before salvation, every member of the Godhead was involved in our election (1 Peter 1:2). The actual event of salvation is accomplished by the working of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Gal 4:4-6). The believer is baptized into the name (note the singular use of name in scripture when referring to the Trinity) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt 18:19). The Trinity is involved in purging us of dead works and serving the living God (Heb 9:14). An extremely important part of our Christian walks is prayer. This is also accomplished with each person of the Trinity participating (Eph 2:18). We are empowered (Eph 3:16-19; Jn 16:16-17) and taught (Jn 14:26, 15:26) by all three persons of the Trinity.

WHAT

SCRIPTURE TEACHES ABOUT

GOD

From scripture, we can know that there is one God; that God exists as three distinct persons; and that each person is fully God. Let’s break this down and look at the evidence.

A. There is one God Christianity is a monotheistic religion, as is Judaism and Islam. Scripture is clear on this point. There is one God (Is 43:10, 45:5-6; 2122;1 Cor 8:6), one Lord (Deut 6:4); one Saviour (Is 43:11); one Creator (Is 44:24). "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. (Is 43:10) There are literally dozens of Old and New Testament passages that clearly affirm one God. The first two Commandments make it clear that there are no other gods. Then God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” You shall have no other gods before

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Me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. (Ex 20:1-4). See also Jeremiah 2:11,28.

B. God exists as three distinct unchanging persons The Hebrew Elohim (“Almighty God’) is a plural word, alluding to the Trinity. Furthermore, Deuteronomy says, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one Lord. However, the Hebrew echad (“one”) means united or unity, not singularity. It is the same word used in Gen 2:24, when God creates Even from Adam and says, “…they shall become one flesh.” Obviously a husband and wife remain two persons although they are united in one flesh through marriage. One of the clearest passages on unity and diversity of God, as well as the deity of Jesus Christ, is John 1:1-2: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. We also know from scripture that the three persons have existed eternally. When Jesus prays to the Father in John 17:5, He asks that He would be glorified by the Father with the glory He had with the Father before the world was. Also, in Hebrews 13:8 we read, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Finally, God chose us “in” the Son before the foundation (creation) of the world (Eph 1:3-4). The previously given examples of the plurality of the Godhead in the Old Testament and the coordinate relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the New Testament are strong evidence of the Trinity.

C. Each person is fully God The Holy Trinity is a mystery and proves that our human minds cannot comprehend all that God is. That revelation remains for our future glorification as believers. This is not the only difficult doctrine. However, it is wrong to think that we can’t understand the Trinity at all. All three persons of the Godhead are identical in nature, or “being” but different in roles and how they relate to each other: one undivided being. This is not a contradiction. Each person of the Godhead shares identical natures as holy, eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, creator, sanctifier, and so on. God’s being is so much greater than ours that within His one undivided being there can be, as Grudem puts it, “an unfolding into interpersonal relationships, so that there can be three distinct persons.” (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p.254). This unity and diversity is reflected in the earthly relationships

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of family and marriage that God has established for us. In these roles, we see separate persons as part of a whole, in which the separate members relate to each other through various roles of authority and submission. However, unlike the human examples, each person of the Godhead is fully God, not just one-third of Him. This is why most analogies of the trinity fall short and in fact give an erroneous view of the Trinity. Each person has the whole fullness of God’s being Himself.

Father is God It is evident throughout the Old and New Testaments that God the Father is the sovereign Lord over all and that Jesus prays to the Father in heaven.

Jesus is God The deity of the Son of God is thoroughly laid out in scripture: i.

The Son and the Father share the same titles (I AM, God, Lord, Saviour, salvation, shepherd, King of kings, Lord of Lords, Rock, first and the last, etc).

ii.

They share the same attributes (receiver of worship, every knee will bow, receiver of glory and honour, to be obeyed).

iii.

They share the same qualities (unchanging, holy, unsearchable, righteous, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, true and faithful witness, light, hope, living water, etc.).

iv.

They share the same acts (created the universe, redeems us from our sins, forgives, hears our prayer, stilled the storm, He is with us, disciplines those He loves, no one can snatch them from out of His hands, He will judge the world).

v.

Many Old Testament prophecies allude to the Saviour Messiah being Jehovah Himself, with attributes and titles of God alone (Is 9:6, Zech 12:10; Mic 5:2).

vi.

Jesus’ proclamation of His Godhead regarding the Father being in Him, forgiving sins, being the “I AM”, etc. (Mtt 9:2-3, Mk 2:5-7, 14:62-64; Jn 5:17-18, 8:56-59, 10:29-39, 14:8-13). These statements blasphemous to the Pharisees.

vii.

New Testament statements of Christ’s deity: God (Jn 1:1); God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16); Godhead dwells in Christ bodily (Col 2:9); Thomas proclaims Christ is God (Jn 20:28); “Our God and Saviour” (1 Pet 1:1; Tit 2:13); Father calls the Son “God” (Heb 1:8); the true God (1 Jn 5:20); exact imprint of God (Heb 1:3); Jesus came out of God (Jn 16:27); if you believe in God you believe in Christ (Jn 14:1); first and last, alpha and omega (Rev 1:17, 22:13-14). 19

Holy Spirit is God Admittedly, the deity of the Father and the Son are more thoroughly laid out in scripture than for the Holy Spirit. However, the Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit owns many of the same names, titles, attributes and functions, and is thus not just some vague “energy force”. Once we understand that the Father and the Son are both fully God, we more clearly see how those verses of coordinate relationship (e.g., Mtt 28:19) prove the deity of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 5:3-4, Peter accuses Ananias of lying to God by lying to the Holy Spirit. Ps 139:7-8 talks about God’s Spirit. Paul says that the Spirit teaches the depths of God (1 Cor 2:10-11). In fact, we know that that God is spirit (Jn 4:24).

THE

ROLES OF THE PERSONS OF THE

TRINITY

Regarding the way that God relates to the world through creation and redemption, the three persons of the Trinity are known to have different functions or roles. Grudem refers to this as the “economy of the Trinity.” The different functions for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are simply outworkings of an eternal relationship between the three persons, one that has always existed and always will. Considering creation, although God the Father spoke creation into existence, it was God the Son who carried out those commands (John 1:3, Col 1:16, Heb 1:10). The Holy Spirit had an active role of “energizing” the early creation – the manifestation of God’s immediate presence in His creation (Gen 1:2). The same applies to redemption. God the Father planned it and sent His Son to accomplish it (John 3:16, Gal 4:4). The Son, in obedience to the Father, accomplished it (John 6:38, Heb 10:57). When Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit was commissioned by the Father and Son to apply redemption to us (John 14:26). Thus we can say that the persons of the trinity always have and always will relate to each other according to their relationship to each other. They are equal in nature (ontogeny) but different in role (economy).

ANALOGIES

FALL SHORT

“It is best to conclude that no analogy adequately teaches about the Trinity, and all are misleading in significant ways.” (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 241). The excellent teaching curriculum, Firm Foundations: Creation to Christ, (New Tribes Missions) strongly warns against using any analogy for the Trinity: “Do not try to explain the Trinity. It is impossible, and all illustrations (e.g., water, egg, triangle) fall far short of the truth. It is better to admit that we cannot understand the 20

Trinity.” (Trevor McIlwain, Firm Foundations: Creation to Christ, Children’s Ed; Book Two, p. 20). The main reason that these analogies fail is that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each fully God, and God exists as all three at the same time. A final reason why we should not use analogy is because scripture never does. Although many characteristics of God and His nature are given in scripture through figurative speech or parable, nowhere does the Bible illustrate the Trinity, except by identifying the three persons of the Godhead. The creation itself is seemingly a model of the tri-unity of the Godhead (Rom 1:20). There are many aspects of the physical universe (space, time, matter) and humans (body, soul, spirit) that point to the true God, who is diverse in nature, although these models fall short as well. The best analogy might be the “space” of God’s created universe. Space is comprised of three dimensions, each of which permeates and fills ALL space. However, space can only exist within all three dimensions. Each dimension is a different but equal function to the other dimensions. Thus, although no man could ever model the Godhead, God has clearly told us about His nature in Scripture. There are no real differences between the persons of the Trinity in deity, attributes, or nature. Each person is fully God with all the attributes of God. As Grudem says, “The only distinctions between the members of the Trinity are in the ways they relate to each other and to creation (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 251).

THE

IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE

TRINITY

“…Christianity stands or falls with the confession of the deity of Christ and of the Trinity… In the confession of the Trinity throbs the heart of the Christian religion: every error results from, or upon deeper reflection may be traced to, a wrong view of this doctrine (Grudem, p. 248 quoting from Herman Bavinck, The Doctrine of God, 1977, pp. 255-334). The Trinity is essential to Christianity. Only God could bear the full wrath of God against all our sins, not some creature. Furthermore, how can we trust that Christ can make us fully justified by faith in Christ if he in turn is not fully God? Also, if Jesus is not God, why are we instructed to pray to and worship Him and that all creation will bow down before Him one day? Only God is worthy of worship. If He is not

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God then it is idolatry to worship Him. Considering salvation, if Christ is merely a creature, then we are relying on one of God’s creations to save us as opposed to God. Finally, why should we think that there could be any ultimate unity within the universe if it is being held together by many gods as opposed to one God with perfect unity within Himself?

CONCLUSION Scripture teaches one God in a tri-unity, each person being fully God and bearing the same nature but with diverse roles. This is reflected in the human family relationships (husband-wife, father-child, Christchurch) that God has established for us. These diverse roles within the Trinity are essential for creation and redemption and distinguish Christianity from every other religion. It is a mystery only because of our finite minds. One day we will see face to face and better understand this and other difficult doctrines of God.

The Tri-Universe (#204) by Henry Morris, Ph.D. Abstract "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His

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eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). In a previous Back to Genesis article, "The Wonderful Truth of the Trinity" (Acts & Facts, November 2005), the Biblical doctrine of the triune God (or Trinity) was briefly expounded in terms of some of the key verses of Scripture teaching it. A comprehensive treatment was obviously impossible in three pages (entire books have been written on this subject), but at least the essential truth was presented, namely that the God of Creation is one God, in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is arguably the most important doctrine of Christianity—certainly the most distinctive. This does not mean that there are three Gods; there is only one God who created Heaven and Earth and everything in them. The term "God" as used in the Bible most commonly refers to the Father, but the Son and the Holy Spirit are each also recognized as God. This concept is so difficult for many to accept that some have argued that the three divine Persons are not really three distinct individuals but merely three modes in which the one God can express Himself as occasion demands. But this also is a false invention. There are many accounts of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit speaking to each other, for example. The doctrine of the Trinity is admittedly difficult (in fact impossible) to comprehend fully with our minds, but it is taught so definitely in God's Word that we believe it with our hearts. Skeptics can deride the Trinity doctrine as mathematically impossible. One plus One plus One does not equal One, but three. Nevertheless, the Bible reveals God to be a Trinity—one God in three Persons. Are we naïve and credulous to believe such a thing? Well, not really. It is also a remarkable fact that the divine Trinity, the tri-une God, has created a great universe which is itself a trinity, with each of its three components also structured as trinities. This would not necessarily prove that God is a Trinity, but it is a fact that needs explanation. Could God have created it as a model (or type, or analogy) that would help people understand His own Nature, at least in some degree? Consider: The created universe is actually a tri-universe of Space, Matter, and Time, each permeating and representing the whole. However, the universe is not partly composed of space, partly of matter, and partly of time (like, for example, the three sides of a triangle). A trinity is not a trio or a triad, but a tri-unity, with each part comprising the whole, yet all three required to make the whole. Thus, 23

the universe is all Space, all Time, and all Matter (including energy as a form of matter); in fact, many scientists speak of it as a Space-MatterTime continuum. Furthermore, note the parallels between the divine trinity and the triuniverse in terms of the logical order of its three components. Space is the invisible, omnipresent background of everything in the universe. Matter-and-Energy reveal the reality of the universe. Time makes the universe understandable in the events occurring in it. Note that exactly the same sentence will apply if the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit replace the words, Space, Matter, and Time. Space itself is also a tri-unity, comprised of three dimensions, with each dimension permeating all space. The reality of any portion of space is obtained by multiplying the three dimensions together (the "mathematics of the Trinity" is not 1+1+1=1, but rather 1x1x1=1). Further, Space is identified in the first dimension seen in the second dimension, experienced in the third dimension. The same sentence could be used with Father, Son, and Spirit replacing first, second, and third dimensions. Similarly, Time is future, present, and past. The future is the unseen source of time, manifest moment-by-moment in the present and understood in the past. Again substitute Father, Son, and Spirit. Finally, Matter is unseen, omnipresent Energy, manifesting itself in various forms of measurable motion, then experienced in corresponding phenomena. For example, light energy generates light waves, which are experienced in the seeing of light. Sound energy generates sound waves which we experience when we hear sound. Thus, the physical universe is a great "trinity of trinities," with the inner relationships of each element modeling the relationships of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All of this (as cautioned above) does not prove that God is a Trinity, but it certainly is a remarkable fact. It is an amazing effect, which can at least seemingly be explained on the assumption that God is a tri-une God, and has made His creation to reflect Himself. In fact it is very hard to explain any other way. The above several paragraphs have been quoted mostly from the footnotes supporting Romans 1:20 in The Defender's Study Bible. So far as I know, however, this striking analogy was first recognized by Dr. Nathan H. Wood, former president of Gordon College in his book The Secret of the Universe (Warwick Press, 1932), which included a very laudatory Foreword by Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, one of the greatest

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British Bible teachers of the early twentieth century. This book was also reprinted by Kregel in 1978, under the title The Trinity in the Universe. It is therefore a fact that the physical universe is a great trinity of trinities. But how about the universe of life? Many expositors have called attention to the fact that each person is a trinity of body, soul, and spirit. Each of these entities is real and distinct, yet each involves the whole person. The prayer of Paul, in one of his first epistles was this: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it" (I Thessalonians 5:23-24). The "soul" is that part of the person that is the actual "life" that energizes the "body," which then is the material component that others can see and hear and touch. The classic Old Testament verse relating these two is Leviticus 17:11: ". . . the life of the flesh is in the blood." The Hebrew word for "life" in this verse is the same word as for "soul," and scientists have known for many years that it is the blood's circulation throughout the body that maintains life in the body. The body's "spirit," on the other hand, is the body's "breath," and this also is essential for maintaining its life (the Hebrew word for "breath" and its New Testament Greek equivalent are each used also for "spirit"). It is sometimes hard to differentiate between soul and spirit for this reason, but the fact that they are different is confirmed especially in Hebrews 4:12, which says that "the word of God is quick, [that is, alive] and powerful [that is, energizing], and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, . . ." The "spirit" is more than merely the "breath" of the body, however, for the person's spirit somehow is also that entity which partakes of the very image of God. When the first man was yet an inert body formed of the dust of the ground, God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Thus "God created man in His own image" (Genesis 1:27). The breath of God thereby became the image of God implanted in man's body of dust and his living soul. The analogy with the tri-unity of God is fairly obvious. The soul is the life of the body, unseen and intangible but nevertheless the very basis of the person's existence and actions; the body then is the visible and tangible manifestation of the soul. Furthermore the spirit of the person is (like the soul) invisible and intangible but very real in its capacity to

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interact intelligibly with others, especially with God, including also the ability to make moral and esthetic judgments. Now animals also possess soul (that is life), body, and spirit (in the sense of breath). They also in a very limited sense seem able to interact with other animals and even human beings on more than a mere instinctive level; however, they cannot, so far as we know, comprehend moral, or spiritual concepts. To what extent, if any, this animal tri-unity correlated with that of humans in the beginning we do not know. In any case, the entrance of sin and death into the world made drastic changes. Now there is a vast difference. Death comes to both men and animals, and "all turn to dust again." But then it is "the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth" while the spirit of man and "shall return unto God who gave it" (Eccle-siastes 3:20-21; 12:7), consistently with Paul's prayer noted above. In any case, we can infer that both human life and animal life are actually trinities (three components in the logical trinitarian order with each also pervading the whole). However, the human tri-unity will be restored to live forever whereas animals (body, life, breath) will not. Only men and women are in the image of the eternal God. Thus, there is a remarkable tri-unity pervading the physical universe, and also one throughout the biological creation. Neither one is perfect, of course. No model can ever be perfect when the original is God Himself. But they are each real trinities. Each unit is distinctive with its own function, and yet all three are necessary components of the whole, and each pervades the whole. These trinities pervading the creation may not be perfect reflections of the Creator. But they are good and realistic models of the tri-une God who made them. It would seem there must be some good explanation for this remarkable fact other than coincidence. A plausible explanation would surely seem to be that they were deliberately created by God to help us understand, in at least some small degree, His own tri-une nature. *Dr. Henry Morris is Founder and President Emeritus of ICR.

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3. ARGUMENTS FOR SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE Rom 6:10; Heb 7:27, 9:12, 26, 10:2, 10; 1 Pet 3:18 Eph 2:8-9 Tit 3:5 Jn 20:31 Rom 3:20 Gal 2:16 1 Jn 1:9;12 Rom11:6 2 Cor 6:10 Jn 3:15-18, 36 Jn 6:47 Jn 10:10 Jn 11:25 Jn 12:46 Jn 14:6 1 Jn 5:5 Mr 16:16 Acts 16:31 Acts 4:12 Heb 9:12 Rom 10:9 Rom 6:23

Died once for all Grace, not works Mercy Believing gives you life Not observing the law Faith alone Confess for salvation By faith, not works Christ died for all Believe on the Son Eternal life from believing Life more abundantly Believe in Christ Believe in Christ Way, truth and life The one who overcomes is the one who believes that Jesus is Son of God Believe and be baptized Believe upon Jesus to be saved No other name under heaven His blood, eternal redemption Confess Jesus as Lord Eternal life through Jesus

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4. ARGUMENTS AGAINST OTHER WTBTS VIEWS A. 144,000, GREAT CROWD, OTHER SHEEP Rev 7:4-8 1 Jn 5:1

Jews; 12 tribes All Christians born of God – not just 144,000 Where is the 1935 cut off in the Bible? If tribes symbolic then 144K is also symbolic Other sheep will be brought into the “one flock” Other sheep are converted Gentiles who would become “one body” with converted Jews Jesus speaking to Jews; nothing to do with 144,000 Holy brothers partakers of heavenly calling Whoever does God’s will is Jesus’ brother Past OT saints have heavenly home No two classes – all have the same hope Other sheep brought into one fold 144,000 out of 12 tribes of Israel Kings and priests out of every tribe and nation; not 144,000

WTBTS Key Jn 10:16 Eph 2:11-16 Lk 12:32 Heb 3:1 Mk 3:35 Heb 11:6 Eph 4:4 Jn 10:16 Rev 7:4 Rev 5:9

B. GREAT CROWD Rev 7:9

IN

HEAVEN, NOT EARTH Great Crowd in heaven before the throne

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Rev 7:15 Rev 7:9-10 Rev 19:5-6 Jn 17:20-24

Great Crowd in His temple Great Crowd has salvation from their God! Voice of a great crowd responding to God Jesus prayed that all believers be with Him

C. REFUTE SECOND CLASS GROUP 1 Cor 12:27 Jn 3:3 2 Tim 4:18 1 Cor 12:13 1 Cor 10:16-17 Heb 12:24 Rom 3:26

D. HELL

IS

REAL

Lk 12:46-48 Lk 13:27-28 Lk 16:22-28 Mat 13:41-42 Mat 13:49-50 Mat 22:13 Mat 24:50-51 Mat 25:30 Mat 26:40 Mk 9:47-48 Lk 6:23-25 Lk 12:4-5 Rev 14:9-11

OF

BELIEVERS

Not members of Christ’s body Can’t be born again Can’t share in Christ’s heavenly kingdom Can’t receive baptism of Holy Spirit Can’t participate in communion Not in the New Covenant Can’t be fully justified by faith in Christ

Bad servant will go to weeping and gnashing Depart to where there is weeping and gnashing Beggar and rich man Evildoers thrown into the furnace of fire Evil into furnace of fire King cast them out to where weep and gnash Bad servant will go to weeping and gnashing Bad slave to weep and gnash Better for Judas not to be born – hell Better no eyes than hell Woe to rich who will mourn and weep God throws into hell Worshipers of the beast will be forever tormented

E. CONSCIENCE EXISTENCE AFTER DEATH Phil 1:21 2 Cor 5:8

To live is Christ, to die is gain Away from body, at home with the Lord

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Lk 23:43

Lk 12:4-5 Rev 6:9-11 Acts 7:59-60 Heb 9:27 Lk 16:22-28

Truly, today in paradise This phrase used by Jesus 6X in Luke; 71 times in all 4 Gospels; NWT only puts the comma after today in this verse – highly biased to get away from teaching that thief immediately went to heaven Fear Him who can throw you into Hell Dead saints with Jesus around throne Stephen – receive my spirit Appointed once to die then judgment Beggar immediately went to Abraham’s bosom and rich man went immediately to Hades

5. ARGUMENTS AGAINST WT EISAGESIS Mistranslation of Firstborn (prototokos) •

Physical: the first of a mother's offspring <Ex 12:12

•

Figurative: the expression "firstborn" stands for that which is most excellent. Thus Jesus Christ is head of the "church of the first-born" (Heb. 12:23). "The firstborn of the poor" (Is 14:30) means the poorest of the poor. "The first-born of death" (Job 18:13) is the most terrible disease. Christ is firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18). Firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29). Israel God’s firstborn son (Ex 4:22); Ephraim (Jer 31:9; cf Gen 41:51-52); David called firstborn although he was the lastborn (Ps 89:20, 27).

•

Col 1:15 does not refer to “first from his mother’s womb”. It is referring to his excellence and pre-eminence over all of creation (clarified in v.19 as supremacy). He obviously created everything so it would be impossible for him to be created (“He is firstborn over creation because He created…”). Jesus has dominion over everything just like the firstborn in a family is heir and lord all (Heb 1:2). Church of the firstborn (Heb 12:23); v.16 explains why Jesus is firstborn over creation – because He was the creator of it.

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•

V.16 explains why Christ is firstborn… For (because) by Him all things were created. Which works better: He was first created (v.15) because he created all things (v.16) OR He is supreme over all (v.15) because He created all things (v.16)?

•

Even in the NWT, the firstborn is clearly defined. Firstly, it says in v.18 that he is the firstborn from among the dead. Clearly firstborn in this context could not mean “first one born among the dead”! Secondly, it explains why He is firstborn: “so that in everything He might have supremacy. Finally, v.19 says that God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Christ.

•

Firstborn inferred birthright - David was called “firstborn” even though we know he was the youngest, not the physical firstborn among Jesse’s children (Heb 12:16; c.f. Ps 89:20-27).

•

Manasseh was firstborn to Jacob (Gen 41:51-52) although God calls Ephraim His firstborn.

•

The NWT translates Col 1:16-17 with [other] 4 times in order to get away from the clear statement that Jesus is the uncreated Creator. They have no excuse for this addition. They do this throughout the NT in order to strip Christ of His deity. See also Acts 20:28 where [Son] is inserted in order to get away from the clear statement that Jehovah God shed His own blood.

Mistranslation of John 1:1 • • • • • • • •

283 anarthrous ‘theos’ in NT; why only ‘a god’ when associated with Jesus (try 2 Cor 5:19 or Jn 6:45 [cf. Is 54:13]) ‘theos’ comes first in statement and is therefore emphatic; ‘ho theos en ho logos’ would mean that logos is all of God or interchangeable (Sabellianism), thus denying the Godhead Colwell’s rule (JW’s agree with) states that if predicate noun precedes verb, it is written anarthrous (without definite article) and is definite with few exceptions. How else could John have said it? It tears phrase from immediately preceding ones- can the eternal, creator who was with God be ‘a god’? Could John, a devout Jew, write about a god other than Jehovah when he was strongly monotheistic? Is 43:10 – no god formed; only Jehovah; retranslating Jn 1:1 forces JW’s into polytheism

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• • •

No respected scholar would agree with the ‘a god’ rendering (Metzger, Mantey) Show how NWT doesn’t translate all other anarthrous theos in Jn 1 as ‘a god’. Is Jesus then a true god or a false god?

NWT translates anarthrous ‘theos’ in John 1:1 as ‘a god’ This is how John 1 would read if the NWT consistently substituted “a god” everywhere theos does not have the definite article: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There came a man, sent from a god, whose name was John. 7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but {came} that he might bear witness of the light. 9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of a god, {even} to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of a god. Mistranslation of Begotten (monogenes) •

A New Testament word that describes Christ as the only, or unique, Son of His heavenly Father (John 3:16-18; Heb. 11:17; 1 John 4:9). The Greek word expresses the idea of distinctiveness--" one of a kind." As the unique, sinless Son, Jesus accomplished our salvation through His death on the cross.)

•

Isaac referred to as only begotten but he wasn’t only born to Abraham because of Ishmael (Heb 11:17-18).

•

Only begotten of the dead (Rev 1:5)

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Wisdom Personified (Pr 8:22-31) •

Wisdom personified could be Christ, however brought forth (Heb. qanah) does not mean created but possessed or brought forth, in agreement with Heb 1:5-6 (brought forth or begotten)

Misapplication of Matthew 24:45-47 JW’s believe the WT to be the “faithful and wise slave” (God’s channel or mouthpiece) because they are the only organization on Earth teaching the truth because they accept everything that the Society tells them (circular argument). Verses JW’s misapply to making H.S. into a force Lk 4:44; Rom 15:13; 1 Cor 2:4 Explaining the Possibility of the Trinity God can be everywhere at the same time and answer prayers and speak to people. Is it not possible that God could visit the Earth while still remaining in heaven to run the universe? E.g., 3 dimensions of space Example from Adam and Eve ‘One” (Heb. Echad) means Composite unity, not singularity. Gen 2:24 – the two shall become one (Echad) flesh (two personalities but one unified); this is “one” used in Isaiah 43:10; Deut 6:4. Verses of Christ’s Subordination These passages show that Jesus “gave up” some of his entitlements as God to become a man. However, he never relinquished His nature. Cults and skeptics use these verses to “prove” that Jesus wasn’t God. But then they have to ignore the vast weight of biblical evidence (e.g., John 1:1) that He is God: Jn 14:28; Phil 2:7; Lk 23:34, 46; Jn 11:41, 17:1; Heb 2:9; 5:7; Mk 13:32; Gal 4:4-5 “Jesus never said ‘I am God’” Jn 8:58 (“ego emi”) – NWT changes to “I have been” for no reason; furthermore there is no past perfect Gr. tense. No Greek scholar agrees with this rendering. Jn 14:9

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It would have been nonsense to a Hebrew if Jesus said that He was JHWH because JHWH is spirit and has no physical form (Jn 4:24). Furthermore, they would think of God as the Father, which the Son isn’t. The Father called the Son “O God” in Heb 1:10 – it doesn’t get any clearer The ‘Invisible’ return of Christ is not so invisible Mt 24:30-31; Acts 1:10-11; Mt 24:36; Rev 1:7 Artificially separating God and Jesus in a passage Jn 17:3; 1 Pet 1:1; Jas 1:1; 1 Cor 8:6; Tit 2:13 (3:4, 6); Jude 4.

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