Why do Jehovah's witnesses not believe Jesus was God himself?

Question

Colossians 1:15-18 KJV. have a few questions for you. Who is your prophet? Did the Jehovah's Witnesses predict that the Battle of Armageddon would be fought in 1914, followed by the end of the world? Did, in 1954, J.W. president Frederick Franz become exposed as a fraud as the most learned Hebrew scholar? Under oath in a court of law, he proved incapable of handling even the most basic Hebrew. Is Jesus God? Did Jesus' death accomplish everything needed to save us? Why is the NWT not recognized by Greek and Hebrew scholars? Is salvation received by faith? (Titus 3:5), Eph. 2:8-9. ) Is Christ God? (John 5:18, and John 20:28) Is the Holy Spirit God? (Acts 5:3) Do you recognize the KJV or the 1901 American Standard Bible?

Answer 1

Good question, Brad.

I think the answer can be found in Luke 24:16.
"But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him."

I know that the verse is describing the disciples but the Good News is that they DID see Jesus when they sought for Him. So my prayer is that the jws will stop blindly following blind guides and seek Jesus before it is too late!

An excellent place to see Jesus is in the chart One Truth Exposes a Thousand Lies - Traits Shared Between Jehovah and Jesus at http://www.soulright.com

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 2

Well there is Jesus' words found at John 20: 17.

"17 Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me. For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But be on your way to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and YOUR Father and to my God and YOUR God.’”

Jesus himself acknowledges that he has a GOD!

"Do you recognize the KJV or the 1901 American Standard Bible?"

Sure do. In fact I have copies of both.

Answer 3

Why record in the Bible instances where Jesus prayed to himself, sent himself, loved himself, died and resurrected himself? Does that really make good sense to you? Jesus said that at the testimony of two witnesses a thing could be considered true and he cited the fact that he and his Father agreed. How ridiculous is that if there is only one of them?? He even prayed that we would be one with them as they were one--does that mean we will be absorbed into a godhead or that we will reach the point where we agree with them? We are directed to read the scriptures and use our power of reason. Jehovah's Witnesses are very reasonable and study the Bible in it's entirety on a regular basis.

Answer 4

1. The bible doesn't teach that Jesus is God, but the Beginning of the Creation by God. (Rev 3:14)

2. The apostle John was the last know 'prophet' of God, when he wrote the book of Revelation.

3. Brother Franz wasn't exposed as a fraud, many misquote the court records to lie about him.

4. Salvation comes only through faith in the shed blood of Jesus.

5. Many honest Hebrew and Greek scholars praise the NWT.

How accurate is the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures:

Old Testament:
In fact, the New World Translation is a scholarly work. In 1989, Professor Benjamin Kedar of Israel said:
"In my linguistic research in connection with the Hebrew Bible and translation, I often refer to the English edition as what is known as the New World Translation. In doing so, I find my feeling repeatedly confirmed that this kind of work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible. Giving evidence of a broad command of the original language, it renders the original words into a second language understandably without deviating unnecessarily from the specific structure of the Hebrew....Every statement of language allows for a certain latitude in interpreting or translating. So the linguistic solution in any given case may be open to debate. But I have never discovered in the New World Translation any biased intent to read something into the text that it does not contain."

New Testament:

While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.

“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:

King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Amplified Bible, Today's English Version (Good News Bible), Living Bible, and the New World Translation.

The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:

John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1

Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University

(Please note that according to Dr. Jason BeDuhn, only the NWT translated John 1:1 correctly)

6. God's spirit or Spirit of God, is part of God but not God himself. Just like the finger of God.

The New Encyclopædia 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), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.

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 perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.

In The Encyclopedia Americana we read: “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 was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.

(Romans 15:3-6) . . .” 4 For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant YOU to have among yourselves the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had, 6 that with one accord YOU may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. Yes I recognized both bibles, but I prefer the accuracy and honesty of the NWT.

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Answer 5

Could you limit that to just one question? You actually asked more than ten.

As to your first question:

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God almighty himself because neither Jesus, nor the apostles, nor the Holy Scriptures teach such a thing.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 6

I will answer your first question: Why we don't believe that Jesus is God. First, the Bible states that. It is not our belief or interpretation of the scriptures, the Bible clearly shows that Jesus cannot be God.

Let’s start at the beginning. (Let's be logical) Forget everything about Jesus on earth and let’s focus in heaven. Who has superiority in Heaven? Considering that Jesus is God, then it would be Jesus. However, if we take a look at Matthew 28:18 it says something of great interest. Here Jesus has been resurrected and is speaking to his disciples before he ascends into heaven to live. Here he says to the disciples that “all authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth”. Since he said “ALL authority” had been given to him, then that would conclude that somebody gave him that authority. Who could that person be, if Jesus was himself God? Why would Jesus now have this authority when he should of already have had it? Let’s go to Philippians 2:9 to find this answer. It says here that “God exalted him to a superior position”. Well, if Jesus is not God, then who is this God? The bible does not leave us wondering. His very personal name is found at Psalms 83:18. Also take a look at
Proverbs 8: 22-31; 30:4 and John 20:17, 31; Acts 7:56 then Acts 17:31 for further scriptural proof.

Colossians 1:15-18. (Notice what the bible states about death. One is unconscious, conscious of nothing. So how can God resurrect himself if he alone is dead and had written in the bible what happens to one who dies. Is he lying about death or is Jesus really not God?)

This is what someone had to say about the Trinity who someone who is studying with the Witnesses:

"People think Jesus is God. They even pray to Jesus. But he gives so much evidence to prove wrong this theory. God Cannot Lie. When Jesus teaches people to pray, he says in Matthew 6:6 but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Did you catch that? Pray to the Father who is "Unseen"! If Jesus is God, how could you pray to the Father who is Unseen, if he is right there telling you to do it? Also in Habakkuk 2:18 it says, of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Yet People today have statues in their houses of religious figures and pray to them when Jesus himself said to pray only to the Father. I know a lot of people tell me why have I become religious? I believe in God and that is enough. But James 2:19 says that even the demons believe in God and they shudder. So does that make us any better than demons because they believe as well? In no way am I here to make people feel bad for what they think is right. God gave us a wonderful gift called Free Will. I am just going by what I have read in the bible and I am using my free will to live my life that way. Isaiah 29:13 says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. I have to give this my full devotion because anything less is wrong."


Trinity...that word is not found in the bible, though I am familiar with the popular belief in our time. However, no, I do not believe in it, because there are Bible texts that I could never fit in with that belief. (a few mentioned above). Let's take a look also at Matt. 24:36. Perhaps you can explain this scripture to me? Maybe you might tell me that the Son is equal to the Father, so they both are the same person.

I do appreciate that explanation. However, if the Son is equal to the Father and is the same person, how is it that the Father knows things that the Son does not? Then you might tell me that it’s only true regarding his human nature.

But I ask you, why does the holy spirit not know? Are not all 3 persons suppose to be 1? Here's what the Bible DOES say about God:

First of all, at Psalms 83:18 here it shows that God has a personal name. In your bible you’ll notice it has God’s name in it also. The next scripture is found here at John 4:23, 24. Maybe you would like to read it for yourself?

So you notice here that the scriptures point out that God’s name is Jehovah and that he is the Father. Secondly, he is a Spirit who wants us to worship him with spirit and truth. Reasonably, if Jesus were God, then he would have said that he wanted people to worship him. However, instead, Jesus never claimed to be equal to God. And there’s a scripture that points this fact out. It’s found at John 14:28.

We believe in Christ but not the Trinity. Notice what Simon Peter said who Jesus Christ was. Found at Matthew 16:16.

Just where did the Trinity come from? Well-known encyclopedias have said some things about the Trinity. One of them being by The New Encyclopedia Britannica said that the word Trinity does not appear in the New Testament. In the Bible at Deut. 6:4 it says, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord’ …This doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies…by the end of the 4th century…thus the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since, "that the three are one".

Other encyclopedia’s have numerous things to say but if you’re interested in learning more about who Jehovah is and what Jesus’ role here on earth was, Jehovah's Witnesses, voluntarily, would be more than glad to assist you in your spiritual endeavors.

Answer 7

I see a lot of line dancing...Good questions.

Answer 8

they made MISTAKES!!!! mistakes, I tell you. don't you make mistakes about end of world prophecy?? why won't you forgive them?? are you persecuting them?