Biblical Proof Text of the Trinity: All Christian Apologists welcome to join.

[Daniel_Marsh]

G. Jesus is “equal with God”

1. John 5:18: Although John is relating what the Jews understood Jesus to be claiming, the context shows they were basically right: In v. 17 claimed to be exempt from the Sabbath along with His Father, and in 5:19-29 Jesus claimed to do all of the world of the Father and to deserve the same honor as the Father
2. Phil. 2:6: Jesus did not attempt to seize recognition by the world as being equal with God, but attained that recognition by humbling himself and being exalted by the Father (vv. 7-11)

H. Jesus is the Son of God

1. “Son” in Scripture can mean simply one possessing the nature of something, whether literal or figurative (e.g. “Son of man,” “sons of thunder,” “sons of disobedience,” cf. Mark 3:7; Eph. 2:1).
2. Usually when “son of” is used in relation to a person (son of man, son of Abraham, son of David, etc.) the son possesses the nature of his father.
3. Jesus is clearly not the literal Son of God, i.e., He was not physically procreated by God.
4. On the other hand, Jesus is clearly the Son of God in a unique sense (cf. “only-begotten son,” John 1:14; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9) and in a preeminent sense (i.e. the term is more fitting for Him than for anyone else).
5. Scripture is explicit that the Son possesses God’s essence or nature (cf. F. above).
6. Jesus’ repeated claim to be the Son of God was consistently understood by the Jewish leaders as a blasphemous claim to equality with God, an understanding Jesus never denied: John 5:17-23; 8:58-59; 10:30-39; 19:7; Matt. 26:63-65.
7. Jesus is therefore by nature God’s Son, not God’s creation or God’s servant; Jesus is God’s Son who became a servant for our sake and for the Father’s glory (John 13:13-15; 17:4; Phil. 2:6-11; Heb. 1:4-13; 3:1-6; 5:8; etc.).

I. Objections

1. Prov. 8:22: This text is not a literal description of Christ, but a poetic personification of wisdom (cf. all of Prov. 1-9, esp. 8:12-21; 9:1-6), poetically saying that God “got” His wisdom before He did anything - i.e., that God has always had wisdom.
2. Col. 1:15: Does not mean that Christ is the first creature, since He is here presented as the Son and principal heir of the Father (cf. vv. 12-44); thus “firstborn” here means “heir” (cf. Gen. 43:33; 48;14-20; Ex. 4:22; 1 Chron. 5:1-3; Psa. 89:27; Jer. 31:9); note that v. 16 speaks of the Son as the Creator, nor creature (cf. E.1. above).
3. Rev. 3:14: “Beginning” (archê) in Rev. as a title means source or one who begins, i.e. Creator (cf. Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13); elsewhere Christ is called the archê in the sense of “ruler,” Col. 1:18, cf. plural archai, “rulers,” in Col. 1:16; 2:10, 15, also Luke 12:11; Rom. 8:38; Eph. 3:10; 6:12; Tit. 3:1; cf. Luke 20:20; Jude 6; 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21.
4. 1 Cor. 11:3; 15:28: Jesus is still subordinate to God, but as the Son to the Father; i.e., they are equal in nature, but the Son is subordinate relationally to God.
5. John 20:17; Rom. 15:6; 1 Cor. 15:24; 2 Cor. 1:3; Rev. 1:6; 3:12: Jesus calls the Father “My God” because He is still man as well as God; note the distinction between “My God” and “your God” in John 20:17 (i.e., Jesus never speaks of “our God” including Himself with the disciples).
6. Mark 13:32: Jesus’ statement that He did not know the time of His return is to be explained by His voluntary acceptance of the humble form and likeness of a man (Phil. 2:7); in fact Jesus, as God, did know all things (John 16:30), and after His resurrection He does not including Himself as not knowing (Acts 1:6-7).
7. Mark 10:17-18: Jesus does not deny being God, but simply tells the man that he has no business calling anyone “good” in an unqualified sense except God.
8. Heb. 5:14: Jesus was tempted, cf. James 1:13; but note that Jesus could not sin, John 5:19.
9. John 1:18: No one has seen God, but men have seen Jesus, e.g. 1 John 1:1-2; but note that no man can see the glorified Jesus either, 1 Tim. 6:16, and to see Jesus is to see the Father, John 14:9.
10. 1 Tim. 1:17: God cannot die, but Jesus did, e.g. Phil. 2:8; but note that no one could take Jesus’ life from Him, He could not remain dead, and He raised Himself: John 10:18; Acts 2:24; John 2:19-22.
11. 1 Cor. 8:6: Father called God, Jesus called Lord: but here “God” and “Lord” are synonymous (cf. v. 5; cf. also Rom. 14:3-12 for a good example of “God” and “Lord” as interchangeable); moreover, this text no more denies that Jesus is God than it does that the Father is Lord (Matt. 11:25); cf. Jude 4, where Jesus is the only Lord.
12. 1 Tim. 2:5: Jesus here supposedly distinct from God; but Jesus is also distinct from (fallen) men, yet is Himself a man; likewise Jesus is distinct from God (the Father), but is also God.
13. Deut. 4:12, 15-25; God not appear in a human form to Israel, lest they fall into idolatry; but this does not rule out His appearing in human form later after they had learned to abhor idolatry.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

1. In many texts Jesus is distinguished from God: He is the Son of God, was sent by God, etc.; in all these texts “God” is used as a name for the person most commonly called God, i.e., the Father.

VII. The Holy Spirit Is God

A. Equated with God: Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 3:17-18

B. Has the incommunicable attributes of God

1. Eternal: Heb. 9:14
2. Omnipresent: Psa. 139:7
3. Omniscient: 1 Cor. 2:10-11

C. Involved in all the works of God

1. Creation: Gen. 1:2; Psa. 104:30
2. Incarnation: Matt. 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35
3. Resurrection: Rom. 1:4; 8:11
4. Salvation: Rom. 8:1-27

D. Is a person

1. Has a name: Matt. 28:19; note that even though “name” might be used of a nonperson, here, in conjunction with the Father and the Son, it must be used of a person
2. Is the “Helper”

a. Is another Helper: John 14:16, cf. 1 John 2:1; note also that “Helper” (paraklêtos) was used in Greek always or almost always of persons.

b. Is sent in Jesus’ name, to teach: John 14:26.

c. Will arrive, and then bear witness: John 15:26-27.

d. Is sent by Christ to convict of sin, will speak not on his own but on behalf of Christ, will glorify Christ, thus exhibiting humility: John 16:7-14.

1. Is the Holy Spirit, in contrast to unholy spirits: Mark 3:22-30, cf. Matt. 12:32; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 3:24-4:6.
2. Speaks, is quoted as speaking: John 16:13; Acts 1:16; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 16:6; 20:23; 21:11: 28:25-27; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:7-11; 10:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13,22.
3. Can be lied to: Acts 5:3
4. Can make decisions, judgments: Acts 15:28
5. Intercedes for Christians with the Father: Rom. 8:26
6. “Impersonal” language used of the Spirit paralled by language used of other persons

a. The Holy Spirit as fire: Matt. 3:11; Luke 3:16; cf. Ex. 3:2-4; Deut. 4:24; 9:3; Heb. 12:29

b. The Holy Spirit poured out: Acts 2:17, 33; cf. Isa. 53:12; Phil. 2:17; 2 Tim. 4:6

c. Being filled with the Holy Spirit: Eph. 5:18, etc.; cf. Eph. 3:17, 19; 14:10

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

VIII. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Are Distinct Persons

A. Matt. 28:19

1. “the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”: use of definite article before each personal noun indicates distinct persons unless explicitly stated otherwise; compare Rev. 1:17; 2:8, 26
2. The views that “Father” and “Son” are distinct persons but not the Holy Spirit, or that the Holy Spirit is not a person at all, or that all three are different offices or roles of one person, are impossible in view of the grammar (together with the fact that in Scripture a “spirit” is a person unless context shows otherwise).
3. Does singular “name” prove that the three are one person? No; cf. Gen. 5:2; 11:14; 48:6; and esp. 48:16
4. “Name” need not be personal name, may be title: Isa. 9:6; Matt. 1:23. If a single personal name is sought, the name shared by all three persons is “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.”

B. Acts 2:38 and Matt. 28:19

1. Neither passage specifies that certain words are to be spoken during baptism; nor does the Bible ever record someone saying, “I baptize you in the name of…”
2. Those said to be baptized in the name of Jesus (whether or not the formula “in the name of Jesus” was used) were people already familiar with the God of the OT:

a. Jews: Acts 2:5, 38; 22:16

b. Samaritans: Acts 8:5, 12, 16

c. God-fearing Gentiles: Acts 10:1-2, 22, 48

d. Disciples of John the Baptist: Acts 19:1-5

e. The first Christians in Corinth were Jews and God-fearing Gentiles: Acts 18:1-8; 1 Cor. 1:13

1. Trinitarian formula for baptism (if that is what Matt. 28:19 is) was given in context of commissioning apostles to take the gospel to “all the nations,” including people who did not know of the biblical God

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

C. God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ are two persons

1. The salutations: Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; 6:23; Phil. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Tit. 1:4; Phm. 3; James 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:2; 2 John 3
2. Two witnesses: John 5:31-32; 8:16-18; cf. Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15
3. The Father sent the Son: John 3:16-17; Gal. 4:4; 1 John 4:10; etc.; cf. John 1:6; 17:18; 20:21
4. The Father and the Son love each other: John 3:35; 5:20; 14:31; 15:9; 17-23-26; cf. Matt. 3:17 par.; 17:5 par.; 2 Pet. 1:17
5. The Father speaks to the Son, and the Son speaks to the Father: John 11:41-42; 12:28; 17:1-26; etc.
6. The Father knows the Son, and the Son knows the Father: Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 7:29; 8:55; 10:15
7. Jesus our Advocate with the Father: 1 John 2:1

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

D. Jesus is not God the Father

1. Isa. 9:6: “Father of eternity” means eternal; compare other names formed with word “father”: Abialbon, “father of strength” = strong (2 Sam. 23:31); Abiasaph, “father of gathering” = gatherer (Ex. 6:24); Abigail, a woman’s name(!), “father of exultation” = exulting (1 Chron. 2:16).
2. John 10:30

a. Jesus did not say, “I am the Father,” nor did He say, “the Son and the Father are one person.”

b. The first person plural esmen (“we are”) implies two persons.

c. The neuter word for “one” (hen) is used, implying essential unity but not personal unity (compare John 17:21-23).

1. John 5:43: Jesus’ coming in His Father’s name means not that He was the Father because He had the Father’s name, but that, while others come in their own name (or their own authority), Jesus does not; He comes in His Father’s name (on His Father’s authority).
2. John 8:19; 16:3: Ignorance of Jesus is indeed ignorance of the Father, but that does not prove that Jesus is the one He calls “My Father.”
3. John 14:6-11

a. Jesus and the Father are one being, not one person.

b. Jesus said, “I am in the Father,” not “I am the Father.”

c. The statement, “the Father is in Me,” does not mean Jesus is the Father; compare John 14:20; 17:21-23.

1. John 14:18: An older adult brother can care for his younger siblings, thus preventing them from being “orphans,” without being their father.
2. Colossians 2:9: Does not mean that Jesus is the Father, or that Jesus is an incarnation of the Father; rather, since “Godhead” (theotês) means Deity, the state of being God, the nature of God, Jesus is fully God, but not the only person who is God. “The Godhead” here does not = the Father (note that Jesus is in the Father, John 10:38; 14:10, 11; 17:21), but the nature of the Father.
3. The Father and the Son are both involved in various activities: raising Jesus (Gal. 1:1; John 2:19-22), raising the dead (John 5:21); 6:39-40, 44, 54, 1 Cor. 6:14), answering prayer (John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23), sending the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7), drawing people to Jesus (John 6:44; 12:32), etc. These common works do prove that the two persons are both God, but not that Jesus is the Father

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

E. The Son existed before his Incarnation, even before creation

1. Prov. 30:4: This is not predictive prophecy; “prophecy” in 30:1 translates massa, which is rendered elsewhere as “burden.”
2. The Son created all things: See VI.E.1
3. Jesus was “with” (pros or para) God the Father before creation: John 1:1; 17:5; pros in John 1:1 does not mean “pertaining to,” although it does in Hebrews 2:17; 5:1 (which use pros with ta).
4. Jesus, the Son of God, existed before John the Baptist (who was born before Jesus): John 1:15, cf. 1:14-18, 29-34
5. Jesus, the Son, came down from heaven, sent from the Father, and went back to heaven, back to the Father: John 3:13, 31; 6:33; 38, 41, 46, 51, 56-58, 62; 8:23, 42; 13:3; 16:27-28; cf. Acts 1:10-11; cf. the sending of the Holy Spirit, John 16:5-7; 1 Pet. 1:12
6. Jesus, speaking as the Son (John 8:54-56), asserts His eternal preexistence before Abraham: John 8:58
7. The Son explicitly said to exist “before all things”: Col. 1:17, cf. 1:12-20
8. These statements cannot be dismissed as true only in God’s foreknowledge

a. We are all “in God’s mind” before creation; yet such passages as John 1:1 and John 17:5 clearly mean to say something unusual about Christ.

b. To say that all things were created through Christ means that He must have existed at creation.

c. No one else in Scripture is ever said to have been with God before creation.

1. Texts which speak of the Son being begotten “today” do not mean He became the Son on a certain day, since they refer to His exaltation at the resurrection (Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:3-5; 5:5; cf. Psa. 2:7; cf. also Rom. 1:4).

 

[b_justb]

Daniel Marsh, dude you have to stop already …

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

F. Jesus is not the Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit is “another Comforter”: John 14:16; compare 1 John 2:1.
2. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit: John 15:26; 16:7.
3. The Holy Spirit exhibits humility in relation to, and seeks to glorify, Jesus (John 16:13-14).
4. The Son and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as two persons in Matt. 28:19.
5. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus: Luke 3:22.
6. Is Jesus the Holy Spirit?

a. 2 Cor. 3:17: the Spirit is here called “Lord” in the sense of being Yahweh or God, not Jesus (cf. v. 16, citing Ex. 34:34; cf. v. 17 in the Revised English Bible); note Acts 28:25-27, cf. Isa. 6:8-10.

b. 1 Cor. 15:45: Jesus is “a life-giving Spirit,” not in the sense that He is the Holy Spirit whom He sent at Pentecost, but in the sense that He is the glorified God-man; and as God He is Spirit by nature. All three persons of the Trinity are Spirit, though there are not three divine Spirits; and only one person is designated “the Holy Spirit.”

c. Rom. 8:27, 34: the fact that two persons intercede for us is consistent with the fact that we have two Advocates (John 14:16; Rom. 8:26; 1 John 2:1).

d. John 14:18: Jesus here refers to His appearances to the disciples after the resurrection (compare 14:19), not to the coming of the Spirit.

e. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are both involved in various activities: raising Jesus (John 2:19-19-22); Rom. 8:9-11), raising the dead (John 5:21; 6:39-40, 44, 54, Rom. 8:9-11), dwelling in the believer (John 14:16; 2 Cor. 13:5; Col. 1:27), interceding for the believer (Rom. 8:26; Heb. 7:25), sanctifying believers (Eph. 5:26; 1 Pet. 1:2), etc. These works prove that the two persons are both God, but not that Jesus is the Holy Spirit.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

G. The Father is not the Holy Spirit

1. The Father sent the Holy Spirit: John 14:15; 15:26.
2. The Holy Spirit intercedes with the Father for us: Rom. 8:26-27.
3. The Father and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as two persons in Matt. 28:19.
4. Is the Father the Holy Spirit?

a. Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:35: It is argued that the Holy Spirit is the Father of the incarnate Son of God; this argument ignores the fact that the “conception” is not a product of physical union between a man and a woman!

b. The Father and the Holy Spirit are both said to be active in various activities; the resurrection of Jesus (Gal. 1:1; Rom. 8:11), comforting Christians (2 Cor. 1:3-4; John 14:26), sanctifying Christians (Jude 1; 1 Pet. 1:2), etc. The most these facts prove is that the two work together; they do not prove the two are one person.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

IX. Conclusion: The Bible teaches the Trinity

A. All the elements of the doctrine are taught in Scripture.

1. One God
2. The Father is God.
3. The Son is God.
4. The Holy Spirit is God.
5. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three persons (i.e., they are not each other, nor are they impersonal; they relate to one another personally).

B. The New Testament presents a consistent triad of Father, Son, Holy Spirit (God, Christ, Spirit): Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:34; also Luke 1:35; 3:21-22 par.; 4:1-12; John 4:10-25; 7:37-39; 14-16; 20:21-22; Acts 1:4-8; 2:33, 38-39; 5:3-4, 9, 30-32; 7:55-56; 10:36-38, 44-48; 11:15-18; 15:8-11; 20:38; 28:25-31; Rom. 1:1-4; 5:5-10; 8:2-4, 9-11, 14-17; 1 Cor. 6:11; 12:4-6, 11-12, 18; 2 Cor. 1:19-22; 3:6-8, 14-18; Gal. 3:8-14; 4:4-7; Eph. 1:3-17; 2:18, 21-22; 3:14-19; 4:4-6, 29-32; 5:18-20; Phil. 3:3; 1 Thess. 1:3-6; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Tit. 3:4-6; Heb. 2:3-4; 9:14; 10:28-31; 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 John 3:21-24; 4:13-14; Jude 20-21; Rev. 2:18, 27-29.

C. Therefore, the Bible does teach the Trinity.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

X. What Difference Does the Doctrine of the Trinity Make?

A. Sovereignty: Because the three persons have each other, we can be assured that God created us only to share the love they have and not as a means to His own end: Acts 17:25; John 17:21-26.

B. Mystery: The triune God is totally unlike anything in our world, and therefore greater than anything we can comprehend: Rom. 11:33-36; Isa. 40:18.

C. Salvation: God alone planned our salvation, came to save us, and dwells in us to complete our salvation: 1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:3-18; etc.

D. Prayer: We pray to the Father through the Son, and also pray to the Son directly, in the Spirit: John 14:13-14; Eph. 2:18; etc.

E. Worship: We worship Father and Son in the Spirit: John 4:23-24; Phil. 3:3; Heb. 1:8; etc.

F. Love: The love among the three persons is the basis and model for our love for one another: John 17:26.

G. Unity: The unity of the three persons is the basis and model for the unity of the church: John 17:21-23.

H. Humility: As the persons of the Trinity seek the glory of each other, so we should seek the interests of others above our own: Phil. 2:5-11; John 16:13-14.

I. Sonship: We are “sons of God” as we are united with the Son of God by the work of the Holy Spirit and the adoption of the Father: John 1:12-23; Rom. 8:14-17.

J. Truth: All those who wish to worship and love God must seek to know Him as He is in truth, for God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is truth: John 4:24; 14:6, 17; 15:26; 16:13.

spotlightministries.org.uk/bowmanonthetrinity.htm

 

[AgnosTheist]

The triune God is totally unlike anything in our world, and therefore greater than anything we can comprehend

sounds like AMD’s new triple-core CPU:

tgdaily.com/content/view/33895/135/

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

You have also ignored, Alpha and Omega being Jesus and being Almighty God in Rev 1. You have failed to explain when God as First and Last or Alpha and Omega died.

biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=alpha

In fact, even a watchtower book called the Finish Mystry recognised that Jesus is almighty God alpha omega, first and last.

Is it true that the Watchtower Society once taught:

• Against vaccinations? - Golden Age, Feb 4, 1931, pg. 293
  Golden Age, Jan 5, 1929, pg. 502
• Against organ transplants? - Watchtower, 11/15/67, pg. 702
• That it was okay to celebrate Christmas and birthdays?
• That Christ is the almighty of Rev 1:8? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 15
• That Christ established a “Church”? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg 17
• That Christ returned invisibly in 1874? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 54, 60, 68- That the Holy Spirit has a personality? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg 57
• That the pyramid of Gizah was God’s witness and was used to predict the year of
  Armageddon? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 60
• That Armageddon would definitely occur in the spring of 1918? - The Finished Mystery
  1917, pg 62
• That Christ was crucified? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 68
• That Leviathan of the Bible refers to the steam locomotive? - The Finished Mystery,
  1917, pg 85
• That Michael is the Pope of Rome and his angels are the Catholic bishops? - The
  Finished Mystery, 1917, pg 188

towerwatch.com/Witnessing/more_questions.htm

Worship

What about the worship of God certainly this would be clear to have one make up their mind from the Bible, right?, wrong !“To worship Christ in any form cannot be wrong”(W.T. pg.83 3/1880)

“…And the disciples worshipped him.”(W.T. pg.410 5/15/1892)

…“Yes we believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshipped, and properly so.” (W.T.pg.216 7/15/1898)

…“All creatures in heaven and on earth will worship Jesus as he worships the father.”(W.T. pg.252 8/15/1941)

…“You must worship and bow down to Jehovah’ chief one, namely, Jesus Christ.”(W.T. pg.313 10/15/1945)

“Christ to be worshipped.”(make sure of all things pg.53,85)

“‘Let all the angels of God worship him’ [that must include Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God.”(WT 11/1879, p. 48 )

What about who Jesus was before he was changed to an angel?

"Michael in Revelation 12:7 is the pope of Rome. (Studies in the Scriptures vol.7 p.188)

Rom.10:14 refers to Jesus (WT 12/1/1903 p.3282)

Speaking of Jesus “He being the creator, existed before any other gods. And all these gods will be wiped out so that there will be none existing after him (Isa.43:10) As the Alpha and Omega (Rev.22:13)…”(Aid to Bible Understanding 1971 p.666)

[Say] saying even so, lord God almighty.- the Lord Jesus Rev.1:8; Jn.5:22; Mt.28:18.(the Finished Mystery pg. 240 1917)

They then changed it to;

letusreason.org/JW18.htm

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

From the online edition of the Finished Mystry, and yes I have verified these quotes in my copy of that book.

page 15

And they also which pierced Him. — “And I will pour upon the House of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem [the Jewish people], the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son.” — Zech. 12:10.
And all kindreds of the earth shall [wail because of] BEWAIL Him. — “At the time of our Lord’s Second Advent the world will be far from converted to God; for ‘all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.’ Christ comes before the conversion of the world and for the very purpose of converting all mankind.” — Z.'16-344.
**Even so, Amen. — We cannot stop the clouds of the Time of Trouble, or the tears of disappointment, and later, of repentance; and we would not if we could. The trouble and the tears are a necessary preparation for the blessings which follow.
1:8. I am THE Alpha and I AM ALSO THE Omega. — Alpha is the first letter, and Omega the last letter, of the Greek alphabet.
The Beginning and the Ending. — “Our Lord’s great honor is shown in that He was not only the first of God’s creation, but the last. From this we are to understand that the great Jehovah did not directly employ His own power in creating either men or angels; but that He delegated His power to His Only-begotten Son.” — Z.'93-115.**Saith the Lord GOD. — But not the clergy; they will have none of this doctrine.
Which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. — “It is since His resurrection that the message has gone forth — ‘All power in Heaven and in earth is given unto Me.’ (Matt. 28:18.) Consequently it is only since then that He could be called the Almighty.” — Z.'93-115; Rev. 1:4; 16:5-7.
1:9. I John, who [also] am your brother. — "Instead of adding titles to his name, as Reverend, Bishop, Overseer of all the Churches in Asia Minor, we find John introducing himself as ‘your brother.’ " — Z. '01-187.
And companion in tribulation. — “He was sharer with Christ, as a member of His Body, in His afflictions, in His endurance; and the brother of all fellow-disciples, sharers of the same sufferings, and prospectively of the same glory.” — Z. '01-187; Matt. 20:23.
And [in] the kingdom. — Now, while “the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence;” and later, when “the Kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” — Matt. 11:12; Dan. 7:27.

strictlygenteel.co.uk/finishedmystery/fmr1.html

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

page 240

Volume III of the Scripture Studies had contaminated the Scriptures, the Waters of Life, at their very source, by extending the call to people to come out of Babylon while they were busy trying to get people in.
And they became blood. — Seemed repulsive, undesirable, bloody. — Z.'07-279; Ex. 7:20; Rev. 14:20.
Another view of how Volume III appears to the worshipers of the beast and his image is shown by the plague of boils described in Ex. 9:8-12. “The boil was a scab or pustule, which might or might not break out into an ulcerous sore (Lev. 13:18). With this, in one of its worst forms, Job was afflicted (2:7), and by this Hezekiah was brought to the verge of the grave. (2 Kings 20:7; Isa. 38:21.) It was an eruption of a very painful kind accompanied with a burning itch, tending to produce a permanent state of foul and wasteful disease. One form of this disease which seized upon the legs and knees, and was regarded as incurable, was peculiar to Egypt, and was hence called ‘the botch of Egypt’ (Deut 28:27, 35.) In the case before us, this eruption had a tendency to break out into larger swellings and became probably the disease called elephantiasis, a disease said to be peculiar to Egypt, or the black leprosy, a disease which also affects cattle.” (McC.) It was “ashes of the furnace,” loyalty to the memory of the bullock, the one perfect Sacrifice for all, Christ Jesus, that caused the bolls; and it is particularly noted that the magicians (clergy) could not withstand this plague, the message, “Come out of her. My People.”
16:5. And I heard the angel of the waters. — Volume III. Scripture Studies. Say, thou art righteous, [O Lord] which art, and wast. — See Rev. 1:4; 15:3; 19:2.
[And Shalt be], THE HOLY. — The Lord, the Holy One, was present, at the time Volume III was written.
Because Thou hast judged thus. — Made the beautiful Harvest truths appear “bloody” to those not consecrated.
16:6. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets. — Literally and figuratively. — Matt 23:34, 35; Rev. 13:15; 18-24.
And thou hast given them blood to drink; [for] THAT WHEREOF they are worthy. — See Rev. 14:20; Isa. 49:26.
16:7. And I heard [another out of] the altar. — The “Altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt” (Isa. 19:19) at the time these plagues are being poured out upon the antitypical Egyptians, is the Great Pyramid discussed in a separate section of Volume III.**
[Say] Saying Even so, Lord God Almighty. — The Lord Jesus — Rev. 1:8;** John 5:22; Matt 28:18.

strictlygenteel.co.uk/finishedmystery/fmr16.html

C.A.R.E.S offers a $500 reward to any Jehovah’s Witness who can correctly answer the following questions after following the Watchtower’s own words “If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination”.

tektonics.org/guest/500cares.html

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Christian Apologetics Research & Education Service
$500 for Jehovah’s Witnesses

C.A.R.E.S offers a $500 reward to any Jehovah’s Witness who can correctly answer the following questions after following the Watchtower’s own words “If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination”.

1: Is Jehovah or Yahweh the more correct way to render the God’s name?

2: Did you know the name “Jehovah” is an “erroneous form of the name of the God of Israel” (Encyclopedia Americana), which is “grammatically impossible” (The Jewish Encyclopedia) and “for which there is no warrant and makes no sense in Hebrew” (The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia). The name “Jehovah” is of Catholic origin and was NEVER used before 1270 AD. Can you find one time it was used before 1270 AD? Why then has the Watchtower Society elevated a tradition of men and made this “false reading of Hebrew YAHWEH” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary), into a salvation issue by declaring that people should be using this “artificial” name (The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible)?

3: According to Acts 1:11 did the disciples SEE Jesus ascend into heaven? Was he to return the same way?

4: Does Revelation 1:7 say that upon his return “every eye will see him, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM”? Does this mean that those nations who didn’t understand who Jesus was when he was on earth (Jews & Romans) will see him return?

5: According to the Watchtower Society (now) Jesus returned invisible in 1914 and only they recognized it because as God’s modern day prophet only they had “eyes of understanding” and could spiritually discern it. Did the Jews and the Romans, the ones who pierced him, have “eyes of understanding”?

6: Do Jehovah Witness presidents and leaders have “eyes of understanding”?

7: Did you know that the Watchtower’s first two presidents, Charles Taze Russell and Judge Rutherford, who were alive in 1914 never taught that Jesus returned in 1914. Did you know that Russell taught Jesus returned in 1874 and that Rutherford taught the same up until 1929 when he changed the second coming to 1914. Why did they not have these “eyes of understanding”? Did the disciples in Acts 1:11 recognize that Jesus was ascending to heaven on that day or did they figure it out 16 years later? Why did the Watchtower leaders teach for over 50 years of their history what they now consider to be a false date (1874) for Christ’s return?

How come all the Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders who were supposed to have “eyes of understanding” in 1914 not see Jesus return in 1914 but insisted he returned in 1874?

8: In Matthew 24:23-27 Jesus says “If someone then tells you ‘Look! Here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is’, DO NOT BELIEVE HIM, for false Messiahs and false prophets will arise …I have forewarned you, so if they say to you ‘he is in the desert!’ do not go out. If they say ‘in these rooms here!’ do not believe it. For as LIGHTNING that FLASHES from the East and SHINES to the West so shall the coming of the Son of Man be…”. Can you think of anything more visible that flashing lightning against a dark sky?

Isn’t Jesus warning us in these verses about following those who predict a return in a invisible manner?

9: Matthew 25: 31, 32 says that when Christ returns in his glory all the angels will be with him and he will gather all nations before him. Luke 21:27 affirms he will return in power and great glory. I Timothy 6:14-15 says that he will be shown at his appearing as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Revelation 22:12 says he will reward his followers when he returns. Did all these things happen in 1914?

10: The Watchtower magazine of April 1, 1972 carried a full article which clearly stated that the Watchtower Society is God’s modern day prophet. This article says that they make their declarations under “angelic direction and support” (p.200). The Book “The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah” (p.56-70), the Divine Will 1958 International Assembly of JWs Report, and the Watchtower magazine Jan. 15, 1969 (p.40,41) say they are Ezekiel’s and Jeremiah’s modern day counterparts commissioned to speak in Jehovah’s name. Do you agree?

Did Ezekiel and Jeremiah every declare false prophecies?

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

11: According to Deuteronomy 18:20-22 “When a prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptousness the prophet spoke it. You must not be frightened of him”. What was the punishment for a false prophet in these verses? Jesus also warned against false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20 and told us that we will know them by their false prophecies. Isn’t the fruit of a false prophet false prophecies? Would you agree with the tests in Deuteronomy and Matthew?

12: In light of the above claim by the Watchtower (#10) and the Bible tests (#11), what would an unbiased examination of the Watchtower “prophet” in history reveal? Did you know that past Watchtower presidents predicted Armageddon for the years 1874, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941 (just months away), and 1975? Have you read what was said in some of the older publications such as The Time is At Hand, The Finished Mystery, and Millions Now Living Will Never Die? Would it be a good idea to find out the truth? Why are millions now dead who were told they would never die?

13: Is a person or group who admits they made a mistake, after the fact, no longer a false prophet? Is a person who admits they committed a murder no longer a murderer? Is a person who admits they lied no longer a liar?

14: Why have there been so many changes on interpretations and doctrine in the Watchtower Society’s history? For example, it was once taught that the “superior powers” spoken of in Romans 13:1-7 referred to earthly governments

(The Divine Plan of the Ages, p.266), later it was taught that the verse referred to Jehovah God and Jesus Christ (Riches, p. 219, 1938 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 19, Let God Be True, 1952, p. 248). Now the Society has reverted back to the pre-1929 teaching that the verse refers to earthly governments (Babylon the Great Has Fallen, l963, p. 548). Is this an example of the “light” getting brighter or is this a case of the light going on and off? Can something that is true today be false tomorrow and then true again later? Who mades these kind of errors, God or men? For a list of over 25 more doctrinal changes write C.A.R.E.S.

15: Do you trust the Watchtower publications without question? Do you assume that the quotes they make from other sources are accurate? Have you ever checked out any of these quotes from the actual sources?

16: Is the Watchtower honest? If so why do they portray Johannes Greber as a Greek Scholar (Greek grammar makes the meaning clear) on page 489 of “Make Sure of All Things” to support their translation of John 1:1 “the Word was a god”? Did you know that in addition to his New Testament translation Johannes Greber published another book title “Communication With God’s Spirit World”? Did you know that Greber translated his New Testament version not from Greek manuscripts but from information given him by spirits? Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses agree that communication from the spirit world is communication from demons? Why does the JW Bible, the New World Translation, agree in many places with the teachings of these demons?

17: When they were caught and challenged about this the WT responded in an April 1, 1983 WT "Questions from the Readers” that they did not know the spiritism nature of Greber’s books. However that is not true, as can be seen by the Feb. 15, 1956, Watchtower, p. 110-111 where they identify Greber as a spiritist. Why did the Society not tell the truth?

18: While on the subject of John 1:1 why does the NWT translation committee quote Dana & Mantey’s Greek grammar and A.T. Robinson’s Greek grammar in the appendix of the Kingdom Interlinear Translation (1969, p.1158-1160) when every quotation is out of context and actually teaches the opposite of what the WT is trying to make it say? Both Dana & Mantey as well as Robinson, believed in and taught the full Deity of Jesus Christ and translated John 1:1 as “the Word was God”. Julius Mantey (who was the only one of the three alive at the time) wrote a letter to the Watchtower Society condemning their organization’s misrepresentation of his Grammar. (write CARES if you want a copy of this letter). Mantey later wrote a tract title “ A Grossly Misleading Translation” concerning the New World Translation of John 1:1. Since none of these Greek scholars agrees with and in fact repudiate the Watchtower’s translation then why has the Society attempted to look like they have scholarly support for their mistranslation? Do you think they think JWs would never check the sources they quoted? Do you check the sources the Watchtower quotes or do you just believe whatever they say?

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

19: WHO translated the New World Translation??? Would you go to a doctor that had no credentials and degree in medicine? Would you have a lawyer represent you in court on a false murder charge if he never went to law school?

Isn’t the accurate translation of the Bible, the Word of God, even more important that these worldly examples? If so then what were the credentials of the translators of the NWT? What Greek and Hebrew scholars were on the translation committee? What schools did they received their training in? Were there any Greek and Hebrew scholars on this committee??? Can you tell us their names? Jesus said “I spoke nothing in secret” (John 18:20). Peter and Paul signed their letters to the New Testament churches. Since this is so very important (the credentials of the “scholars”) please tell us who they were? Write the WTS if you need to. According to two sources who were at Bethel when the translating was being done, there were no Greek and Hebrew scholars on the committee! Can you prove this is not so? In fact the head of the translation committee was Fred Franz who was the only one with any college education (he dropped out of the University of Cincinnati after 2 years). If this is true would you want to reveal the names of the NWT translation committee if you were the Watchtower leaders?

21: Why didn’t Jesus correct Thomas for calling him “My Lord and My God”?? (John 20:28) Instead Christ says “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe”. Did you know the DEFINITE ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN THE GREEK HERE BEFORE THE GREEK WORD ‘THEOS’ (GOD)? The WTS John 1:1 argument just collapsed in John 20:28. The literal rendering in Greek has Thomas saying “The Lord of me and the God of me”. Did you know that?

22: Who did Stephen pray to when he was being stoned? (Acts 7:59)?

Who did the early Christians call upon? (I Corinthians 1:2)? Who did Paul pray to? (II Corinthians 12:7-10)? Did Jesus say we could pray to him? (John 14:14 – see Greek KIL interlinear translation)? Do you understand Romans 10:9-13 in the light of these scriptures?

23: What is the name above every name, Jesus or Jehovah? (Philippians 2:10-11)? Cross -reference this with Isaiah 45:23, why doesn’t the NWT translate these verses “and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Jehovah, to the glory of God the Father”? In light of their own rule for putting “Jehovah” back in the New Testament (when there is a quote from the Old Testament in the New Testament) they should have done this.

24: What is the name for salvation? (Acts 4:10-12) Who did the apostles tell you to believe in for salvation (Acts 16:31 – Romans 10:9-13)? Who did the Father draw all men to (John 6:44)? Who does the Father want honored the same as Himself (John 5:23)? Will Yahweh share his glory with any creature (Isaiah 42:8)?

Who have you called on for salvation (Acts 22:16)?

25: According to the Watchtower teaching Jesus is a little god created by Jehovah (the big God) who Jehovah used to create everything else. However if that is true why does Jehovah know nothing of this??? He says “ I Jehovah, am doing EVERYTHING, STRETCHING OUT THE HEAVENS BY MYSELF, LAYING OUT THE EARTH. WHO WAS WITH ME? (NWT) Doesn’t John 1:3 say of Jesus “ALL THINGS CAME INTO EXISTENCE THROUGH HIM AND APART FROM HIM NOT EVEN ONE THING (including Michael) CAME INTO EXISTENCE”? Does the Father say of the Son “You at the beginning, O Lord laid the foundations of the earth itself, the heavens are the works of your hands.” (Hebrews 1:10)? Is this a direct quote from Psalm 102:25? Does Psalm 102:25 speak of Jehovah? Do God and Jesus share the same worship and praise (Revelation 4:11 – Revelation 5:11-14)? Do they share the same throne, same name, same face (Revelation 22:1-6)? How many First and Lasts are there (Revelation 1:17,18 – Isaiah 44:6)? How many Alpha and Omegas (Rev. 1:8 – Rev. 22:12-16, 20)? Do you now understand why the inspired apostle John wrote “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1-1)? Do you see why historic Christianity believes that the name “Yahweh” (Jehovah) can be applied to either the Father or the Son?

26: In Isaiah 48:12-16 who is speaking in verse 12? How is it the speaker says Jehovah “has sent me, with his SPIRIT” in verse 16? How is it Jehovah can send Jehovah? And who is the Spirit? Who are these three? How did Jehovah appear to Abraham in Genesis 18:1-2? How does Jehovah (on earth) rain down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah from Jehovah out of heaven (Genesis 19:24)? Who is Jehovah speaking to in Genesis 1:26, 11:7, in the light of Isaiah 44:24 and John 1:3?? Why in Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is ONE” is the Hebrew word for “one” mean a composite unity, not a singular unity? Who inspired that it be written this way?

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

27: In John 2:19 Jesus said “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days”. What was he referring to (John 2:21-22)? Did Jesus say he was raised a spirit (Luke 24:39)? Does a spirit have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)?

Did the body Jesus was raised in still have the nail marks from his crucifixion (John 20:27)? Did Peter preach that Christ’s flesh would not see decay and he would be resurrected (Acts 2:31)? Does the Watchtower teach Jesus was raised a spirit and materialized other bodies? Doesn’t this logically mean that Jesus lied when he said he was not raised a spirit (“it is I MYSELF”) if he materialized a fake body, with fake nail prints, to fake his disciples into believing it was really him? If this is so where was the body of Jesus since it was not in the tomb??? Did Jesus therefore not raise his body as evidence that he was who he said he was (John 2:21-22)? Does the Greek word “soma” mean literally a body? Is Jesus now a glorified MAN in heaven (Acts 17:31, I Timothy 2:5, Acts 7:56-59, Acts 1:11)?

28: The Watchtower teaches that man does not have a spirit that exists apart from the body. The WTS compares spirit to breath. The WTS also teaches that man does not process a soul which is separate from the body. But claims the body is the soul. Now since the WTS says the body of Jesus was not raised and at his death his breath stopped and if soul and body are the same, what was resurrected from the dead?? Think this through. The WTS does not teach a resurrection of Jesus since NOTHING was resurrected. At best the WTS teaches a re-creation for Jesus and for Christians. The Bible however clearly teaches a resurrection (“the redemption of our bodies” Romans 8:23). Do you believe the WTS or the Bible?

29: While on the subject of Romans 8:23. The WTS says the 144,000 “anointed” Christians are to be “resurrected” as spirit creatures, not with physical bodies. They also teach the Bible was written directly only to the “anointed”?

How is it in Romans 8:23 Paul writes to his readers of the “redemption of our BODIES”?

30: Does Matthew 10:28 show a difference between the body and the soul?

“Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body BUT CANNOT kill the soul”.

31: Is the Bible to everyone? Or is it written only to the 144,000 “anointed class”? Do you know what the Watchtower teaching is on this?

32: Who is YOUR MEDIATOR? Jesus (I Timothy 2:5) or the “anointed”?

Which does the Bible say?

33: Produce one Bible verse that says Jesus is Michael? Produce one Bible verse that says we are created in the image of an angel? Produce one Bible verse that would show Jesus not daring to rebuke Satan, as Michael did not dare to (Jude 1:9)? Why does Jude distinguish between Jesus and Michael? Why does John do the same in Revelation?

34: Hebrews 1:5 says “For unto which of the angels said HE at any time, Thou are my Son, this day I have begotten thee?” Hebrews 1:13 says “But with reference to which one of the angels has He ever said ‘Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet ‘”? Isn’t the entire purpose of Hebrew chapter one written to show the Son is superior to ANY angel (Hebrew 1:4)? Who do the angels worship (Hebrew 1:6, Revelation 5:11-13)?

Can you see why historic Christianity has never concluded Jesus is Michael?

35: How many true gods are there? Is Jesus a true god (John 1:1-3)? Or if Jehovah is the only true God then Jesus must logically be a false god? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses polytheists (believe in more than one god)?

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

36: The Watchtower says that John 3 refers only to the 144,000 “anointed”. Only they have to be “Born again”. Jesus however said unless a man is born again he CANNOT see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Do you hope to see the Kingdom of God? Isn’t the message JWs claim to preach house to house about the Kingdom of God? What good is preaching about a Kingdom that you cannot even see (let alone live in) unless you obey Jesus and are born again? Doesn’t the Bible say that ANYONE (no exceptions) who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (I John 5:1)? Which do you believe the Bible or the WTS? Wouldn’t it be Satan’s greatest trick if he could let you learn all about the Kingdom and then succeed in deceiving you on how to get in?

37: Regarding the 144,000 doctrine. Who are they? They are mentioned in only in Revelation chapter 7 & 14. Is the 144,000 a literal number or a symbolic number (representing a greater number)? Does Revelation 7:4-8 show that the 144,000 are Jews? Does Revelation 14:4 show they virgins? Does Revelation 14:9 show they are honest? (See #s 10-20) What type of logic allows you to switch back and froth between literal and symbolic in the same context or even the same verse as the WTS does in claiming the 144,000 is a symbolic number and yet the other references to the 144,000 are not symbolic?

38: In regards to the “Great Crowd”, are they on heaven or earth? The WTS claims they are on earth but have you ever looked closely at what the Bible says? Where is the throne of God? Revelation chapter four makes it clear it is in heaven. Revelation 7:9 says the great crowd is where? (before the throne and the Lamb). Revelation 14:3 uses the SAME language to say the 144,000 are before the throne. They are in the same place! Does Revelation 19:1 say “After these things I heard what was a loud voice of a great crowd in HEAVEN”?

Which do you believe the Bible or the Watchtower?

39: What makes you think the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 is a parable? Does Jesus say it is a parable? In the book of Luke 16 times we find the word “parable” refering to stories told by Jesus (“and he spoke a parable to them”). This is NOT said of Luke 16:19-31 is it? Is it possible that it is not called a parable because it was a true account of which Jesus, as the Son of God, knew about (or because it used true information to illustrate a point)?

40: Did you know that Watchtower first president Charles Taze Russell believed the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was a vast storehouse of prophetic truth built by Melchizedek under the direction of Almighty God? That in the same way other occultic pyramidologist groups sought “hidden truths” in it, Russell claimed that by measuring the passageways from a variety of angles and then converting inches into years, we are able to confirm the absolute accuracy of what the Bible teaches about 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, and 1914 (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 3, Thy Kingdom Come, p. 313, 1903 edition). Why was the President and founder of the Watchtower Society involved in an occultic practice?

41: What is the gospel? Is the Gospel preached house to house by Jehovah’s Witnesses the gospel preached by the apostle Paul and other apostles? Write down what your gospel is, then turn to I Corinthians 15:1-4 and see if you passed the test?

42: Does Paul say that Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers? “If our gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God?” (II Corinthians 4:3-4)

43: Does Paul say that if anyone preaches ANY OTHER GOSPEL “let him be eternally condemned”? (Galatians 1:8-9) Do JWs go door to door with the central message of the gospel “that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures.” (I Corinthians 15:1-4)? Or do they need Jesus to “open their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them “This is what is written: “The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name, beginning at Jerusalem.” You are my witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:45-48) Is this the message of Jehovah’s Witnesses? Why not?

44: Does the WTS preach “Christ crucified” (I Corinthians 1:23) like Paul did?

Do they proclaim the testimony of God? Do they resolve to know nothing “except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:1-2)? Can they say with the apostle Paul “May I never boast EXCEPT in the CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 6:14)? Can you say “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)?