how to engage jehovah’s witnesses on the deity of jesus christ justin w. bass, ph.d

How to Engage Jehovah’s Witnesses on the Deity of Jesus Christ

Justin W. Bass, Ph.D.

“But if one must reason with a Greek, the discussion should not begin with this; but whether Christ be God, and the Son of God; whether those gods of theirs be demons. If these points be established, all the others follow; but, before making good the beginning, it is vain to dispute about the end; before learning the first elements, it is superfluous and unprofitable to come to the conclusion.” John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 1:9-14

“At that time, as well as subsequently, he was properly known as "a god"--a mighty one. As chief of the angels and next to the Father, he was known as the Archangel (highest angel or messenger), whose name, Michael, signifies, "Who as God," or God's representative. As he was the highest of all Jehovah's creation, so also he was the first, the direct creation of God, the "Only Begotten," and then he, as Jehovah's representative, and in the exercise of Jehovah's power, and in his name, created all things--angels, principalities and powers, as well as the earthly creation.

CT Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, 5:84

• Joseph Smith (1820)

• William Miller (1843)

• Mary Baker Eddy (1870)

• Charles Taze Russell (1870)

• Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)

• Watchtower Society Publications (1881)

• Studies in the Scriptures (1886-1904)

• Joseph Rutherford (1869-1942) “Jehovah’s Witnesses”

• Jesus’ Invisible Return in 1914

• 236—Lands where Jehovah’s Witnesses preach• 540—Languages in which we publish Bibles and

Bible-based literature• 109,403—Congregations• 7,395,672—Ministers who teach the Bible• 19,000,000—People who attend our meetings or

conventions• 166,000,000—Bibles published by Jehovah’s

Witnesses in 108 languages

• 20,000,000,000—Pieces of Bible-based literature

published by Jehovah’s Witnesses over the past ten

years http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/

• Jehovah’s Witnesses grew 4.7% in 2011

• Largest single denomination growth in America

• Door to door evangelism and Bible study

• (Source: National Council of Churches)

• http://abcnews.go.com/US/american-religion-natio

nal-council-churches-reports-pentacostalism-gains

/story?id

=12931023

• “Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of [the] watery deep; and God’s active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters” (Gen 1:2 NWT)

• “THE Bible’s use of ‘holy spirit’ indicates that it is a controlled force…it can be likened to electricity, a force that can be adapted to perform a great variety of operations.…On one occasion the holy spirit appeared as a dove. On another occasion it appeared as tongues of fire—never as a person.…some Bible texts say that the spirit speaks.…The action of the spirit in such instances is like that of radio waves….” Should You Believe in the Trinity?, 20-22

• In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. John 1:1 NWT

• Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” John 8:58 NWT

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist” Colossians 1:15-17 NWT

• “…while we wait for the happy hope and glorious manifestation of the great God and of [the] Savior of us, Christ Jesus” Titus 2:13 NWT

• Jesus our Savior Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6

• God our Savior 1 Tim 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4

• See also 2 Peter 1:1 NWT

• Then he said: “I do put faith [in him], Lord.” And he did obeisance to him. John 9:38 NWT

• “Jesus said to her: “Believe me, woman, The hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the Father” John 4:21

• Obeisance: Matt 2:2, 8, 11; 14:33; 28:9; Luke 5:8; 24:52

• Worship: Matt 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 4:23, 24; 1 Cor 14:25; Rev 4:10; 14:7; 15:4; 19:10; 22:9

• “But when he again brings his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says, ‘And let all God’s angels worship him” Heb 1:6 NWT 1971

• “But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him” Hebrews 1:6 NWT 1984

• “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6 NWT

• “A mere remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. For although your people, O Israel, would prove to be like the grains of sand of the sea, a mere remnant among them will return” Isaiah 10:21 NWT

• “This is what Jehovah has said, the King of Israel and the Repurchaser of him, Jehovah of armies, ‘I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God” Isaiah 44:6 NWT

• “And he laid his right hand upon me and said: “Do not be fearful. I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Ha′des” Revelation 1:17 NWT

• I am the Alpha and Omega (God the Father) Rev 1:8; 21:6

• I am the Alpha and Omega (Christ) Rev 22:13

• I am the Beginning and the End (God the Father) Rev 21:6

• I am the Beginning and the End (Christ) Rev 22:13

• I am the First and the Last (Christ) Rev 1:17; 2:8; 22:13

• I am the First and the Last (God the Father) Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12

• “In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.” John 20:28 NWT

• “And He did give Himself for a time to be handled by the hands of men, who always gives Himself to be seen by the sight of the angels; and that disciple did handle, and exclaimed, “My Lord, and my God!” Because he touched the Man, he confessed the God” (St. Augustine on 1 John Hom. 1.3)

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15)

1042 Lead Pastor| 214-460-5872 | justin@1042church.com