Does the Watchtower say the Bible teaches the Trinity?

Question

The Watchtower organization claims to be the Faithful and Discreet Slave spoken of in Matthew 24:45.

"We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave' organization." (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981.) (See the quote in context.)

All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave. The Watchtower; 10/1/1994; p. 8.
This Watchtower organization, the faithful and discreet slave, claims to the means by which God communicates His truth to us in this world. Therefore, by deduction, what the Watchtower says is truth. Alright, let's take a look at one quote from the Watchtower.

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." (The Watchtower, August 15, 1981, p. 29). (See the quote in context.)

The Watchtower says that the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the physical resurrection of Christ are all false doctrines. Yet, the Watchtower says that if you read the Bible by itself you will end up believing these doctrines. In other words, if you read the Bible by itself, then you will become a Trinitarian, believe that Jesus is God, and believe that Jesus rose from the dead physically. Why is that? Could it be because the Bible teaches these things? So I ask the Jehovah's Witnesses, what is it in the Bible that would lead someone to this conclusion? Again, what is in the Bible that reading it by itself would lead you to believe in the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and His physical resurrection?
This quote from the Watchtower is proof that it is teaching contrary to the natural reading of the Bible and that it is controlling the beliefs of those who follow it.

Answer 1

To realise that the trinity is a false doctrine you only have to use logic. The Bible does not contain the word "trinity" or even an idea of trinity. The Israelites believed in only one God, Jehovah.

It is hard to understand what the Bible really teaches if we read it by ourselves. Let's consider what the Scriptures say about an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading a passage from Isaiah:

"Philip ran alongside and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet, and he said: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” He said: “Really, how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?” And he entreated Philip to get on and sit down with him." -- Acts 8:30,31

"In answer the eunuch said to Philip: “I beg you, About whom does the prophet say this? About himself or about some other man?” Philip opened his mouth and, starting with this Scripture, he declared to him the GOOD NEWS about Jesus." -- Acts 8:34,35

This is exactly what Jehovah's Witnesses do. They spread the good news about the Kingdom.

"And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." -- Matthew 24:14


http://www.watchtower.org/e/ti/article_03.htm

Answer 2

That is not what it said no matter how much you want to read into it. The quote never mentioned the word trinity, yet that is in your question. Your generalization that the Watchtower is contrary to the Bible is also wrong derived from your expectation and desire for it to be wrong.

That is a problem with going it on your own. Your own fears and fables enter into your study. This is why primitive people worship objects like a Coke bottle dropped from a plane as an old documentary film told. Also why educated people believe in an actual trinity, something that makes absolutely no sense and would be rejected out of hand if applied to any other subject. Because it has been taught for so long with such respect, it is accepted.

Don't believe me? Try to define and explain it to yourself. Don't let up until you have defined and explained every part reasonably. You will fail. All of God's deeds are logical and orderly. That trinity is not is a strong indication it is not from God. That the Bible scriptures say the opposite is another.

Watchtower publications are different in that they contain none of the fables and doctrines from men that ruin other publications on Bible subjects. Every statement made is backed up by scripture references listed. They are listed to be looked up in your own Bible so that readers may learn truthfully what the Bible says on matters.

Answer 3

The Watchtower does not teach anything that is true so why would they teach something that will prove they are liars once and for all and sure they do not want anyone to read the Bible alone so that they will not find the truth.

Answer 4

“But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..."


Notice, that “Bible reading” is in quotes, that is an IRONY. Do you know what an irony is?

JWs are told everytime to read the Bible EVERYDAY. So do you think they will tell us that if they think that we’ll “revert right back to the apostate doctrines”?

And do these apostates and anti-JWs really read the Bible EXCLUSIVELY?
Definitely NOT. They read a lot of stuffs (literatures) from their own religion, websites etc.

If you read the Bible EXCLUSIVELY, please tell me, can you find these terms in the Bible?

TRIUNE God, Three persons in One God, TRINITY, Triune Characters of God, God-Man, and others. IF those are NOT FOUND in the Bible, where do these anti-JWs found it?

Answer 5

I grew up a Catholic and never did understand or believe the Trinity. I wasn't kicked out of the church either. But I did study and become a Witness. To all you who have not become a baptised withness, you will not understand their beliefs even if it is explained to you. When you are a Witness it is comforting to know that God is working through a faithful and discreet slave providing you with spiritual food at the proper time. But what happens when you find out that one of those "slaves" (governing body members) is ejected? That's the basis for the watchtower often quoted from 1981.
When you study and when you are a witness, you are cautioned not to read any material that an ex witness writes, for they have become "apostates". Reading or associating with them is grounds for Disfellowshipping". Especially if you agree or if what they say makes sense and you want to share it with others.
Well, I've began reading another version of the Bible other than the Witnesses Bible and I have yet to get any idea that there is a trinity. If it was of such great importance I'm sure God would make it understandable. But there are well known scholars to simple humble men who do not accept the trinity belief. I've waisted way too much time researching it. I've decided that I'll accept Jesus as my ransomer and follow his example. Love is the greatest command of all.
I have read Raymond Franz book: "Crisis of Conscience" and "The Search for Christian Freedom". And since then I've read and talked to ex-witnesses. I'm a down to earth guy and never believed in God talking personally to anyone, miracle cures or speaking in tongues. But as a Witness I felt God didn't mind if I looked down on those beliefs, but it was hard to seperate those people from their beliefs so in effect i was looking down on them. I'll no longer be that way. I'll wait on God to reveal what's true. Wouldn't it be something if God held us to our beliefs. if you believed you were an unrepentent sinner and you burned in a real hell or if you believed you were going to live on a paradise earth and you did. And you wonder why Muslims will be suicide bombers. Wouldn't you guys if you knew there were what, 16 virgins wating for you. Oh, by the way, I doubt I'll ever set foot in a Kingdom Hall again. Read Ray's book.

Answer 6

Sensible question and gracious people. Pleasant surprise.

Just don't forget that the Bible itself says that it has potholes that it's possible to stumble over. Remember 2 Peter 3:15 & 16?

."15 Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given him also wrote YOU, 16 speaking about these things as he does also in all [his] letters. In them, however, are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unsteady are twisting, as [they do] also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." Wasn't he saying that those people were reading the Scriptures, both Paul's words and "the rest?"

"Untaught"? By whom? According to Acts, chapter fifteen, and chapter 16 verse 4, by the central governing body of the Christians at that time and ones they had sent or authorized.

Was Peter trying to brainwash his listeners? Were the apostles "cultists?" Not likely. So why did they want their listeners to be "taught" what to believe from the Bible?

Just look around you. The current estimate is that there are over 10,000 religions in this country alone that all claim to be Christian, but who teach opposite things. We want to be tolerant, of course, but the simple fact is that they cannot all be teaching the truth if they conflict like this. Doesn't Galatians 5:19-21 clearly disapprove of being divided into sects like this? Didn't Jesus himself tell the Samaritan woman at the well that "God is a spirit, and those that worship him must worship with spirit and truth?" (John 4:23, 24)

Experience bears this out. Many will jump to conclusions based on one or two scriptures without researching or knowing all the scriptures that bear on the subject. Somebody today quoted what Jesus said about "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched" saying that that meant that peoples' souls would be tormented forever, blithely unaware that the last few verses of Isaiah plainly apply that phrase to carcasses, not to live people or to "souls." There are a hundred things like that.
Humble people will consider the teaching of ones who have dedicated their lives to researching the Bible and unselfishly sharing it with others without pay, rather than simply clinging to their own personal conclusions. They don't want to be "untaught."

Best regards,
Mike

*******************Later edit*********************
Sorry, I missed part of your question. If you just read John 17:1-3, you will note that, as he was praying to the Father only, Jesus said that the Father was "the only true God," not himself, and not the holy spirit, nor any combination of the three. And we have to believe what Jesus said, don't we?

***************LATER edit**************

Sorry, but Jeffersonian73 should check Acts chapter 15 and 16:1-4 in his Bible reading, (where the "tyrannical" apostles and elders in Jerusalem taught the other congregations what to believe with scriptures, and Galatians 5:20, which clearly condemns eveybody getting their own individual interpretation of the scriptures and forming a separate religion, a "sect.". And talk about the Boereans, each Watchtower has, last time I counted, over 100 scripture references to be checked. Wish him the best in continuing his studies, that's what Jefferson did...

Answer 7

verbose, huh!

no, if you read the bible by yourself, you will NEVER come up with a trinity.

that teaching never came around to the churches of the 300;s until the 'smart ones' wanted in inject/ infest it with the so called brilliance of the greeks, like plato.

they were heathen, but because they could ask bizarre questions that no one could answer, people thought such men were smart, even brilliant.
nope, just hucksters.

if you read the bible in those days, you would never have a priest/ laity class, no trinity, no burning hades, no baby baptism, no xmas, no easter, no war, no alcoholism.

but, most do not rea the bible on their own.
they use a translation that has been tinkered with and think it must be right.

translators have a LOT of explaining if they are resurrected.

adios

gramps

Answer 8

That does not mean those people find the trinity in the Bible.

People who leave the JWs and join another "Christian" religion accept the Trinity teaching, since those churches hold to that doctrine (except the Mormons I guess)

They know the teaching is not there, but because they do not want to feed at the table of truth, they REVERT to things they had earlier discarded.

Answer 9

It's funny because when you read certain verses of the Bible, an idea of a Trinity sounds logical. The watchtower society wants you to read the bible through the lens they give you, you interpret the scripture as they want you to interpret it. They're basically claiming that the Bible is misleading. What a piece of crap. I don't need an organization telling me how to read the Bible. Reading the Bible by yourself may actually be more helpful, the watchtower society brainwashes those people.

Answer 10

"We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave' organization." (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981.) (See the quote in context.)"

Hmmm...so, if we all need help to understand the Bible, who helps the Watchtower organization to understand it in order that they may help others? God Himself, I suppose. What makes them so special that God communicates His truth directly to them, and how do they claim exclusivity when the Apostle Paul taught:

2 Timothy 2:15 - "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

And Peter added:

2 Peter 2:1 - "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."

Clearly, the scriptures warn us that there will be false teachers in the church, and that we are to beware of them. But how are we to do this if we place ourselves under the authority of an organization that claims exclusive access to God and the truth of His word? The teachings of the Watchtower organization clearly violate the apostles' command to be wary of false teachers. Indeed, the 1st century Bereans are complimented in the book of Acts because they didn't accept the Apostles' word on blind faith, but studied the scriptures to verify their teachings:

Acts 17:11 - "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

The first thing that any tyrannical organization (political, social or religious) does to enslave people is to make itself the sole source of truth and authority. Beware of anyone who does this. The Bible and the Holy Spirit's guidance are the sole authority for the Christian, not the teachings of men.

Edit - From Juggernaut - "They try to sow doubts and to separate unsuspecting ones from the bounteous “table” of spiritual food spread at the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where truly there is ‘nothing lacking.’ (Ps. 23:1-6)"

I find it interesting that you insert the "Kingdom Halls of Jehovah's Witnesses" into Psalm 23, once again attempting to assert that your organization is the sole source of truth. Oddly enough, I don't see that in those verses. The "table" that David mentions in this Psalm is a table prepared for him by God, not some human organization.