And the Word Was God dialoguing with JWs

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I saw you on the Journey Home and really enjoyed the show! I enjoy your website, too. I am not a former JW, but I do like to learn about how to effectively dialogue with people of other faiths. Your work truly is a blessing to many people.

Yours,
Jessica
 
Jeff, (or any one else)

Questions:
“In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This
one was in [the] beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart
from him not even one thing came into existence.” John 1:1-3 New World Translation
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How do they reply to this? I read it on your page. After reading this the John1:1 only dispute should be over after reading verses 2-3.

2)I dont understand Modalism. Is that saying that The Father “dressed up” as Jesus and came to earth? I dont get what it is.
 
Catholic Dude said:
1)
How do they reply to this? I read it on your page. After reading this the John1:1 only dispute should be over after reading verses 2-3.
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Read verse 1 of the NWT again, carefully. “The Word was a god.” By using the indefinite article (i.e., “a”), the New World Translation states that there is more than one god. JW’s differentiate between Jesus (“the Word”) and God the Father. They believe that Jesus and God the Father are not one being, not of one essence. According to JW doctrine, Jesus Son of God is not eternally begotten, in other words, they believe that Jesus was created.

In the Catholic (and Orthodox and Protestant) Bible, the definite article (i.e. “the”) is implied. Hence, John 1:1 could be translated as, “The Word was the God,” meaning that there is only one God.

Catholic Dude said:
2)I dont understand Modalism. Is that saying that The Father “dressed up” as Jesus and came to earth? I dont get what it is.
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Modalism is a little more complicated than that. They believe that when God the Father entered the rôle of God the Son, this one person God incarnated Himself in human flesh while retaining all the qualities of God (similar in theory to the trinitarian concept of Jesus being fully God yet fully man). Modalism presents an interesting theory, until one comes to the scriptural passages in which Jesus prays to the Father. Why would a person in one rôle have a conversation with himself in another rôle?

God bless you all!
 
Why would a person in one rôle have a conversation with himself in another rôle?

That is often a question that the JWs will ask a Trinitarian thinking that it disproves the Trinity when in reality it is an argument against Modalism.

The JWs often get Modalism and the Trinity doctrine confused. If you ever dialog with a JW make sure that you tell them your believe in the Trinity and not Modalism.

As far as what Modalism is it is the belief that God is one person but has revealed himself in different modes. Some refer to this as the belief in “God the actor”. It is a heresy and certain so-called “oneness” and “Jesus-only” Pentecostal groups are Modalists.

Jeff Schwehm

www.catholicxjw.com
 
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jschwehm:
Why would a person in one rôle have a conversation with himself in another rôle?

That is often a question that the JWs will ask a Trinitarian thinking that it disproves the Trinity when in reality it is an argument against Modalism.

The JWs often get Modalism and the Trinity doctrine confused. If you ever dialog with a JW make sure that you tell them your believe in the Trinity and not Modalism.

As far as what Modalism is it is the belief that God is one person but has revealed himself in different modes. Some refer to this as the belief in “God the actor”. It is a heresy and certain so-called “oneness” and “Jesus-only” Pentecostal groups are Modalists.

Jeff Schwehm

www.catholicxjw.com
Click to expand...
Many LDS have the same misconception regarding Trinitarian belief.
 
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