I’m very close to my cousin who is a JW, and his favourite subject to talk about is the Bible… Recently I asked him if he believed that Catholics are Christians, and eventually he answered ‘no’. I asked him why, and he said because of our works and actions. He said he had talked with other Catholics before, only to hear stories of drinking and partying. This turned into a long conversation about our faiths, and for every single thing I said or asked about his faith, he gives me a Bible verse. Even when I thought I had stumped him, he throws another verse at me. I know a lot about Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I know quite a bit about Catholicism. But I don’t know how to prove my faith to him, all he wants are Bible verses, and I’ve rarely studied the Bible at all… And I must admit he has some pretty good points sometimes, but I just don’t know how to respond. How can I talk with him about our faiths without him ‘winning’ all the time? (Btw, he’s 26 and I’m 16).
I am not Catholic but I think we are in agreement that Jesus Christ is divine and that He is Jehovah who appeared to the prophets of the Old Testament. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe this, but here are a few Bible verses from the KJV that show this is true:
The divinity of Jesus Christ is unquestionable: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God” (John 1:1) (emphasis added)
Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament: “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Exo. 6:3)
Jesus Christ is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob told his son Joseph in a blessing: “His hands were made strong by the hand of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel).” (Gen. 49:24)
Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of Israel: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 15:24)
Paul taught us that the Rock who provided the spiritual drink received by the children of Israel was Christ: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Cor. 10:1-4)
Jesus Christ was named as the God of Moses in the book of Hebrews:“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” (Heb. 11:24-26)
When God appeared unto Moses, he asked God to tell him his name so he could tell the children of Israel who had sent him to them: “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exod. 3:13-14)
Who was the God known to Moses as “I AM?” Jesus identified himself as this God in a conversation with the Jews: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him.” (John 8:56-59)
The Jews scoffed at the idea that Jesus, who was not yet fifty, had seen Abraham. Jesus then told them that he was that I AM. It is clear that the Jews understood exactly what he meant, for they immediately picked up stones to throw at him.