If Jesus is not God, and the Holy Spirit is not God, and there is no Trinity, then none of the concepts of the New Testament are worth any study. Give the NT an apocryphal status, good for reading and a nice way to live your life, but 2 out of 3 aren't deity anyway. Back to the YHVH of the old Testament, toss the New.
2007-09-28 03:30:39 · 19 answers · asked by ccrider 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That is a much better solution than adopting the JW view that Jesus is only an angel.
2007-09-28 14:25:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses do not separate 'old' and 'new' in regards with God's Word.
We have the inspired 'Hebrew Scriptures' and the inspired 'Christian Greek Scriptures'
Neither one is worthless.
Of the Hebrew Scriptures only the 'Law' consisting of the decrees has been fulfilled by the blood of Christ.
Even though Christians are not under law, the law provides many principles that help us to come to know Jehovah better.
The vast majority of the Hebrew Scriptures still apply to today, and many of the prophecies are still coming true today.
If you don't understand the Hebrew Scriptures you can not understand the book of Hebrews, which explains why it is better to be a Christian and not a Jew today.
As to the trinity, honest bible scholars admit that the trinity is not taught in either the Hebrew or the Greek Scriptures.
Historians show that the first and second century Christians did not believe in the trinity, and even John Calvin taught that Jesus was the same as Michael, an angel of the LORD.
Can we become brothers to God?
Christians become brothers of Jesus.
When did the High Priest become equal to the God he worships?
2 Cor 4:4 states that the glory of the Christ is that of being God's image.
If we believe that Jesus is more or less than that image we are an unbeliever and are blinded by Satan.
Jesus told Mary that they had and worshiped the same God, at
John 28:17Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"
Why did John write his Gospel?
John 28:31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
As one person on Yahoo answers likes to say,
God can not lie. So when Jehovah says this is my Son,
I believe him.
As to the holy spirit, poetically many things from boats to cars are given human traits, but that does not make them alive.
When anointed Christians are baptised they are baptised with 'water', 'fire', and 'spirit', None of these things are alive.
.
2007-09-28 19:34:20 · answer #2 · answered by TeeM 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses believe the entire Bible, and use it.
Have you ever thought about the fact that the Holy spirit is not a person? It doesn't have a name like Jehovah and Jesus have a name. Jesus spoke to his father, he prayed to him. If Jesus was God, then was he talking to himself? At 1 Corinthians 11:3 in the New Testament we are told that Christ has a head, just as Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of the woman, God is the head of Christ. If God and Christ are the same, why would Christ have a head (or in other words, someone to tell him what to do?) And why didn't it mention the holy spirit here? What is it's head? Think about it.
2007-09-28 10:43:17 · answer #3 · answered by SisterCF 4 · 9⤊ 1⤋
Well what about 1 Timothy 3:16, which says:
All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness.
If God didn't think the New Testament, or Christian Greek scriptures, were worthy, He surely wouldn't have included them in His word, the Bible.
And not only that, but how do you explain the harmony between the Hebrew and Greek scriptures (or old and new testament)???
2007-09-28 10:35:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
No.
Literally zero Jehovah's Witnesses will agree with the suggestion that 'the New Testament is worthless'. The teachings of Christ are the foundations of Christianity, and are only found in the so-called "New" Testament.
Interestingly, Jehovah's Witnesses refer to the "New Testament" as the "Christian Scriptures" or as the "Christian Greek Scriptures".
2007-09-28 10:34:47 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 12⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses believe the whole bible is inspired of God. We follow the whole bible. If you read the whole bible, you will see that the Trinity doctrine was not taught by the Israelites, the Jews, Jesus or any of his followers.
The Trinity doctrine was did not start until 400 years after the Jesus was on earth.
The New Encyclopoedia Britannica says: "Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.' (Deut 6:4)...The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies...By the end of the 4th century...the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since." (1976), Micropaedia, Vol. X, p. 126
The Encyclopedia Americana states: "Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian (believing that God is one person). The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it wason the contrary, a deviation from this teaching." (1956), Vol XXVII, p. 294L
The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: "The formulation 'one God in three Persons' was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or prespective." (1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.
According to the Nouveau Dictionnaire Universel, " The Platonic trinity, itself merely a rearrangement of the older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypostases or divine persons taught by the Christian churches...This Greek philosopher's (Plate, fourth century B.C.E.) conception of the divine trinity...can be found in all the ancient (pagan) religions." (Paris, 1865-1870), edited by M. Lachatre, Vol. 2, p. 1467
What does the Greek Scriptures say? What did Jesus say?
Jesus said "the Father is greater than I am" John 14:28
Yes, he said "the Father and I are one" at John 10: 30, but goes on to explain what he meant at John 17: 21 & 22 when speaking of his followers "in order that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me forth."
John 6:38 "because I have come down from heaven to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me."
John 7: 16 "What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me."
Matt. 3: 16 & 17 "This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved."
John 17:3 "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you the only true God, and the one whom you sent forth Jesus Christ."
1 John 4:9 "By this the love of God was made manifest in our case, because God sent forth his only-begotten Son into the world that we might gain life through him."
Matt. 24:36-39 " Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels in the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father."
Matt. 26: 39 "Going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will."
Acts 7: 55 & 56 "Look I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God's right hand."
1 Cor. 11: 3 "the head of Christ is God."
1 Pet. 1: 3 "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Who was Jesus God? Who was the God of the Jews, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the God of Moses, David?
Ps 83:18 "That nations shall know that you whose name is Jehovah, you alone are most high over all the earth."
2007-09-28 11:33:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
No it is not worthless.
The Christian-Greek Scriptures are in harmony w/ the Hebrew Scriptures.
You cannot count 'in or out' 1 part, and not thee other.
(Some ppl do this)
Either it is inspired by God...God breathed or it isn't.
The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
Do Believe the Entire Bible to be Inspired by God.
In it's Entirety.
The message is the same.
Jehovah pronouced sentence upon Satan in Genesis.
And it was accomplished in A Revelation to John.
God's purpose for mankind was announced in Genesis.
And it was accomplished in A Revelation to John.
The entire Bible is in harmony w/ itself.
It did have but 1 Author, Jehovah.
2007-09-28 11:14:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
"Christianity...[has become] the most perverted system that ever shone on man....Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and imposters led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus." --- Thomas Jefferson
“The son-ship of Jesus Christ is the greatest fiction of human history.” (Lord Bishop of Canterbury Commission, the Spiritual Head of England, 1910.)
“The son-ship of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the blood sacrifice of the lamb of God, atonement are not the teachings of Jesus. These are all inventions of Saint Paul who never really met Jesus.” (Hastings Rashdall, The Theory of Good and Evil)
"Initially there were 34 gospels that were compiled by word of mouth. Four were chosen for unclear reasons and 30 were left behind [burned]. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
“There is strong reason to believe that St. Paul fabricated the belief system of Christianity from Zoroastrian mythology. In order to hide Paul’s plaigerism… Christians burned the library of Alexandria in 390 A.D. Books in that library kept Mithra’s original story of what Pauline Doctrine is an almost exact copy. (George Sarton , Introduction to History of Sciences) ,
Although Nontrinitarian beliefs continued to multiply, and among some people (such as the Lombards in the West) it was dominant for hundreds of years afterward, the Trinitarians gained the immense power of the Roman Empire. Nontrinitarians typically argue that the primitive beliefs of the Christianity were systematically suppressed (often to the point of death), and that the historical record, perhaps also including the Scriptures of the New Testament, was altered as a consequence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism
…..
2007-09-28 10:39:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
As infralapsarians, the JW's grant God much more of a unified and totally in control identity. Christianity, the rise of the trinity, arguably devalue God.
Finally the idea of Christ as God morphs God to man and paves the way for atheism.
Thumb me down. I'm sure these thoughts are too deep for the 'faithful'...
2007-09-28 10:34:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
Um, well honestly, I think that is rather one sided. From my reading of the Bible, there is nothing to support such beliefs as the Trinity, so it seems that not believing in the Trinity in no way invalidates the Bible.
2007-09-28 15:49:33 · answer #10 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'm GLAD that you Recognize that Jehovah's CHRISTIAN Witnesses PUT (MUCH) EFFORT into Understanding the OT !
Your Question IS REALLY a Recognition of THAT FACT ! ! !
p.s. YOUR PREMISE of "Out with the Old(OT); and In With the New(NT) has MAJOR FLAWS because 2 Timothy 3:16 says :
"(ALL) Scripture is Inspired by God" ! ! ! and Beneficial 4 Teaching" ! ! !
2007-09-28 11:38:14 · answer #11 · answered by . 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋