.:YES, YOU SHOULD BELIEVE IN THE
TRINITY!!!
—A Page-by-Page Response To The Watchtower
Society’s Brochure: “Should
You Believe in the Trinity?”
**Click HERE
to view the Yes, You Should Believe in the Trinity Book
Table of Contents**
CHAPTER 8: “WORSHIP GOD ON HIS TERMS”
SHOULD WE WORSHIP JESUS?
“Therefore, if we want God’s
approval, we need to ask ourselves: What does God say
about himself? How does he want to be worshiped?
What are his purposes, and how should we fit in with them?
An accurate knowledge of the truth gives
us the right answers to such questions. Then we
can worship God on his terms.”—Should
You Believe in the Trinity?, p. 30
|
Another way Jesus indicated that He is God is by not rejecting
worship that was rendered to Him. At Revelation 22:8-9
we read of an incident where John “fell down to worship
at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And
he said to me, ‘Do not do that; I am a fellow servant
of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed
the words of this book; worship God.’ ”
If Jesus is merely a created being such as an angel, He would
have rejected worship. (Exodus 34:14)
- JOHN 5:23: “in order that all
may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who
sent Him.”
- HEBREWS 1:6: “And when He again
brings the first-born into the world, He says, ‘And let
all the angels of God worship Him.’
”1.
At Hebrews 1:6, we read that
angels are commanded to worship Christ. If Jesus is an angel,
this would have amounted to nothing less than creature worship.
Endeavoring to avoid the obvious condemnatory implication of this
passage with the Watchtower teaching that Jesus is the archangel
Michael, the Society cleverly distorted this passage in their
New World Translation. At Hebrews 1:6 and many other
passages where Jesus is said to receive “worship,”2.
the current edition of the New World Translation renders
proskuneo (the Greek word for “worship”)
as “do obeisance to.” The Society argues that “obeisance”
is not worship but is merely respectful honor which is rendered
to Christ because of his position as Jehovah God’s representative.
Is this a tenable argument? At Acts 10:25-26
in the New World Translation, we read of a incident where
Peter rejected “obeisance” because he realized that
it should be given only to God. Since Peter would not even accept
“obeisance,” Jesus cannot be a created being, for
He receives the same “worship” and “obeisance”
that Jehovah God receives.
THE FATHER RECEIVES
WORSHIP |
THE LAMB RECEIVES
WORSHIP |
| REVELATION
4:10-11: “the twenty-four elders
will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will
worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will
cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy
art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor
and power; for Thou didst create all things, and
because of Thy will they existed, and were created.’
” |
REVELATION
5:11-14: “And I looked, and I heard the
voice of many angels around the throne
and the living creatures and the elders;
and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands
of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and
riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory
and blessing.’ And every created thing which is in
heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea,
and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To
Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be
blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’
And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’
And the elders fell down and worshiped.” |
Since prayer is a form of worship, Jesus demonstrates
that He is God by the fact that He not only accepts prayer, but
He encourages His followers to pray to Him.
-
JOHN 14:14: “If
you ask Me anything in My name, I will do
it.”
-
ACTS 7:59: “And
they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and
said, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’
”
-
2 CORINTHIANS 12:8-9:
“Concerning this I entreated the Lord three
times that it might depart from me. And He has said
to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will
rather boast about my weakness, that the power of
Christ may dwell in me.”
-
ACTS 22:16: “And
now why do you delay? ‘Arise, and be baptized, and wash
away your sins, calling upon His name.’
”
-
1 CORINTHIANS 1:2, 9:
“…to those who have been sanctified in Christ
Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call
upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord
and ours....you were called into fellowship with His
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Not only did the martyr Steven call out to Jesus
in prayer (Acts 7:59), but at 1 Corinthians 1:2, 9, Paul admonishes
believers to not only “call upon” the name of Jesus
in prayer, but to have “fellowship” with Him. If prayer
should not be addressed to Jesus, as the Watchtower Society asserts,3.
how can a person have “fellowship” with Christ? How
can a person have “fellowship” with someone he never
talks to? At John 14:14, Jesus encourages His disciples to call
upon Him in prayer. In order to make this verse compatible with
Watchtower doctrine, the Society cleverly left out the “Me”
in their New World Translation. The deception of the
Society’s New World Translation is readily seen
when one compares this passage with the Society’s Greek-English
interlinear translation.
KINGDOM INTERLINEAR |
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION |
| JOHN
14:14: “If ever anything you should ask
me in the name of me this I shall do.” |
JOHN 14:14:
“If You ask anything in my name,
I will do it.” |
“…do not mention the name
of other gods, nor let them be heard from
your mouth.”—Exodus 23:13 |
WHO ARE WE TO SERVE?
2 KINGS 17:35 |
COLOSSIANS 3:24 |
| “with whom the
LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, ‘You
shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves
to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them.’
” |
“knowing that from
the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” |
IS
JESUS CHRIST THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL?
Although not directly stated in the
Watchtower Society’s brochure on the Trinity, the Society
officially teaches that Jesus Christ is the archangel Michael.
Asserting that Jesus existed as Michael prior to coming to earth
and that Jesus was “no more, no less” than a perfect
man when He was on earth, they claim that at His death, the “man”
Jesus ceased to exist,4.
being raised as a “spirit creature”—the archangel
Michael.5. Endeavoring
to prove that Jesus is Michael, Jehovah’s Witnesses often
point to passages like Daniel 10:13 where Michael
is seen as “one of the chief princes.” The fact that
Michael is “one of the chief princes,” however, indicates
that Michael is not unique. Jesus is more than just a prince or
ruler. The Bible calls Jesus “King of Kings” and “Lord
of Lords.” (Revelation 17:14; 19:16) This title indicates
absolute sovereignty and authority and is a far cry from being
“one of the chief princes” who is one among a group
of equals.
Daniel 10:5-9 describes the
person who is speaking to Daniel as “a certain man dressed
in linen.” Although it is not specifically stated in the
text, when the description of this “man” in linen
is compared with the description of Jesus Christ at Revelation
1:13-18, one could conclude that Jesus Christ is the
“man” in linen who is speaking to Daniel in this passage.
Verses 12-13 states that the man in linen (who may be Jesus Christ)
describes how “Michael one of the foremost princes came
to help” Him. Thus, one could ask the question that if Michael
the archangel helped Jesus, how can Jesus be Michael?
DANIEL 10:5-6, 8-10,
12-13 |
REVELATION 1:13-18 |
| “I lifted my eyes
and looked, and behold, there was a certain man
dressed in linen, whose waist was girded
with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also
was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning,
his eyes were like flaming torches, his
arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze,
and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult….no
strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to
a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.
But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard
the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep
on my face, with my face to the ground. Then
behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling
on my hands and knees….Then he said to me, ‘Do
not be afraid…I have come in response
to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of
Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then
behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help
me….’ ” |
“and in the middle
of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed
in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded
across His breast with a golden girdle. And His
head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow;
and His eyes were like a flame of fire;
and His feet were like burnished bronze,
when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice
was like the sound of many waters. And in His right
hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp
two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining
in its strength. And when I saw Him, I
fell at His feet as a dead man. And He
laid His right hand upon me, saying, ‘Do
not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and
the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am
alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death
and of Hades.’ ” |
1 Thessalonians 4:16 states,
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trumpet of God.…” Jehovah’s Witnesses use this
verse to try to prove that Jesus is Michael the archangel because
He comes “with the voice of the archangel.” However,
the fact that Jesus is coming with the archangel’s voice
doesn’t mean that He is an archangel. Notice that this verse
also says that Jesus is coming with God’s trumpet, but one
wouldn’t argue that Jesus is God simply because He is coming
with God’s trumpet.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:7, we read
that “the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels in flaming fire.…” Thus, it appears
that Jesus will come with the archangel who issues the shout.
In Zechariah 14:5-6, we read that Jehovah God
“will come, and all the holy ones with Him! And it will
come about in that day that there will be no light.” When
one compares this passage of Jehovah’s coming with the coming
of Christ as described in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and Matthew 24:29-31,
it is obvious that the Jehovah who is coming in Zechariah is the
Jesus who is coming with “His angels” in Matthew 24
and 2 Thessalonians.
JEHOVAH IS COMING |
CHRIST IS COMING |
ZECHARIAH 14:3-6:
“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against
those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives….Then
the LORD, my God, will come and all the holy ones with Him!
And it will come about in that day that there will
be no light; the luminaries will dwindle.” |
MATTHEW 24:3,
29-31: “And as He was sitting on the
Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying,
‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will
be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’…’But
immediately after the tribulation of those
days the sun will be darkened, and
the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall
from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken,
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky,
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they
will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
of the sky with power and great glory.
And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet….’
” |
| ISAIAH 60:19-20:
“No longer will you have the sun
for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon
give you light; But you will have the LORD
for an everlasting light, And your God for your
glory. Your sun will set no more, Neither will your moon
wane; For you will have the LORD for an everlasting
light, And the days of your mourning will be finished.” |
REVELATION
21:23, 25: “And the city has no
need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it,
for the glory of God has illumined it,
and its lamp is the Lamb….And in
the daytime (for there shall be no night there)….”
|
| REVELATION
1:7-8: “Look! He is coming
with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who
pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves
in grief because of him. Yes, Amen. ‘I am
the Al’pha and the O-me’ga,’ says Jehovah
God, ‘the One who is and who was and who
is coming, the Almighty.’ ”—New
World Translation |
REVELATION 22:12-13,
20: “ ‘Look! I am coming
quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to render
to each one as his work is. I am the Al’pha
and the O-me’ga, the first and the last, the beginning
and the end.’…He that bears witness
of these things says, ‘Yes; I am coming quickly.’
‘Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.’ ”—New
World Translation
|
In order to try to prove that when Jesus was
claiming to be the “Son of God,” He was claiming to
be one of God’s angels, Jehovah’s Witnesses point
to Job 38:7 where angels are called sons of God.
However, Hebrews 1:5 states, “For to which
of the angels did He ever say, ‘Thou art My Son, Today I
have begotten Thee’? And again, ‘I will be a Father
to Him and He shall be a Son to Me’?” Since the Bible
doesn’t contradict itself, it is obvious that Jesus is called
the “Son of God” in a different sense than angels
are called God’s sons. Indeed, Jesus was never Michael the
archangel before He came to earth, nor did He raise as “a
spirit creature”—the archangel Michael. The Bible
testifies: “For He did not subject to angels the world to
come, concerning which we are speaking”—Hebrews 2:5
TITLES
AND ATTRIBUTES OF JEHOVAH APPLIED TO JESUS
- Jehovah knows “all things.”
(1 John 3:20; Psalm 147:5) Jesus knows “all things.”
(John 16:30)
- Jehovah is the only one who knows
the hearts of all men. (1 Kings 8:39; Jeremiah 17:9-10)
Jesus knows the hearts of all men. (John 2:24-25; Rev. 2:18,
23)
- Jehovah is our sanctifier. (Exodus 31:13)
Jesus sanctifies us. (Hebrews 10:10)
- Jehovah is our peace. (Judges 6:23) Jesus
is our peace. (Ephesians 2:14)
- Jehovah is our righteousness. (Jeremiah
23:6) Jesus is our righteousness. ( 1 Corinthians 1:30)
- Jehovah is our healer. (Exodus 15:26) Jesus
heals us. (Acts 9:34)
- Jehovah God dwells in us. (2 Corinthians
6:16) Jesus is in us. (Romans 8:10)1.
- Jehovah is the giver of life who will not
allow His people to be “snatched” out of
His hand. (Deuteronomy 32:39) Jesus is the giver of
life who will not allow His people to be “snatched”
out of His hand. (John 10:28)
- Jehovah’s voice is “like the roar of
rushing waters.” (Ezekiel 43:2) Jesus’
“voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” (Revelation
1:15)
- Jehovah is present everywhere. (Proverbs
15:3; Jeremiah 23:24; I Kings 8:27) Jesus is omnipresent. (John
1:48; Matthew 18:20; 28:20)
- Jehovah’s nature does not change.
(Malachi 3:6) Jesus’ nature does not change. (Hebrews
13:8)2.
- Jehovah is the only God we are to “serve.”
(2 Kings 17:35) Jesus is to be served. (Col. 3:24)
- Jehovah is the only God to be “worshipped.”
(Exodus 34:14) Jesus receives the same honor and “worship”
that the Father receives. (John 5:23; Revelation 5:11-14 compare
with Rev. 4:10-11)3.
No angel can receive “worship.” (Revelation 22:8-9)
- Jehovah the Lord is to be set apart as holy.
(Isaiah 8:12b-13) Jesus as Jehovah is to be set apart as holy.
(1 Peter 3:14b-15a)4.
- Jehovah’s glory is not to be given
to another. (Isaiah 42:8) Jesus shares Jehovah’s glory.
(Jn. 17:5)
- God’s name is Jehovah (or Yahweh--YHWH).
(Isaiah 42:8) Jesus has Jehovah’s name. (John 17:11; John
16:14-15)
- Jehovah is the only God to be mentioned
in prayer. (Exodus 23:13) Christians are to
pray to Jesus. (John 14:14) 5.
- Calling upon Jehovah (Joel 2:32) is the
same as calling upon Jesus. (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9-13)6.
- Jehovah “the true God” is called “eternal
life.” (1 John 5:20) Jesus is called “the
eternal life.” (1 John 1:2)
- Jehovah is the “mighty God.”
(Jeremiah 32:17-18; Isaiah 10:20-21) Jesus is the “mighty
God” (Isaiah 9:6) who is “Almighty.” (Revelation
1:7-8)7.
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD. (1 Timothy 1:17; Isaiah 44:8)
- Jehovah is an “everlasting light.”
(Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19-20) Jesus is the light of men and
the everlasting light of the future city. (John 1:4-9; Revelation
21:23)
- Jehovah is “the first and the last.”
(Isaiah 44:6; 48:12) Jesus is the “first and
the last.” (Revelation 1:17-18; 22:12-13, 20)
- Jehovah is the “Alpha and the Omega.”
(Revelation 1:8; Revelation 21:6-7) Jesus is the “Alpha
and the Omega.” (Revelation 22:12-13, 20)
- Jehovah’s title is “the Holy One.”
(Isaiah 47:4) Jesus is “the Holy One.” (Acts 3:14;
John 6:69)
- Jehovah is the “stumbling stone” of Israel. (Isaiah
8:13-15) Jesus is the “stumbling stone”
of Israel. (1 Peter 2:6-8)
- John the Baptist was to prepare the way
for Jehovah. (Isaiah 40:3) The Jehovah who came was Jesus. (Mark
1:1-4; John 1:6-7, 23)
- Jehovah is the one who was “pierced.”
(Zechariah 12:10)8.
Jesus is the pierced Jehovah. (John 19:34; Revelation 1:7-8)
- The Jehovah who was sold for 30 pieces of silver
(Zechariah 11:13) is Jesus. (Matthew 27:2-6)
- Jehovah is Lord of the elements. (Psalm
89:8-9) Jesus is Lord of the elements. (Matthew 8:26-27; John
2:7-9)
- Jehovah is the great Judge who gives life
to whom he wishes and who renders to each man “according”
to his “deeds.” (Psalm 98:9; Deuteronomy 32:39;
Jeremiah 17:9-10) Jesus is the only judge who
gives life to whom he wishes and renders to each man “according”
to his “deeds.” (John 5:21-22; Revelation 2:18,
23)
- Jehovah is the only one who can forgive
sins. (Mark 2:7; Daniel 9:9) Jesus forgives sins. (Mark
2:10-11; Luke 24:46-47)
- Jehovah is the great “shepherd”
who leads his people to “the spring of the water
of life.” (Psalm 23:1-2; Revelation 21:6-7) Jesus
as the “shepherd” of His people, leads them “to
springs of the water of life.” (John 10:11-18; Revelation
7:17) THERE IS ONLY ONE SHEPHERD—John
10:16.
- Jehovah is “Lord of Lords.”
(Deuteronomy 10:17) Jesus is “Lord of Lords.” (Revelation
17:14; 19:16) The Father is Lord of all. (Matthew
11:25; Acts 17:24) Jesus is “Lord of all.” (Acts
10:36) THERE IS ONLY ONE LORD. (Jude 4)
- Jehovah is the Savior. (Isaiah 45:21-22)
Jesus is the Savior. (Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1) THERE
IS ONLY ONE SAVIOR. (Isaiah 43:11)
- Jehovah created the universe. (Psalm 102:25-27)
Jesus created the universe. (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-19;9.
Hebrews 1:10-12).10.
THERE IS ONLY ONE CREATOR. (Isaiah 44:24)
- Isaiah saw Jehovah. (Isaiah 6:1-5) The Jehovah
that Isaiah saw was Jesus. (John 12:41)
Could it be that Jehovah gave Jesus all these
qualities, and therefore, Jesus is a “lesser God”
under Jehovah? No! For Jehovah declares:
“For I am God, and there is no
other; I am God, and there is no one like Me.”—Isaiah
46:9
DISHONORING GOD
“Be very careful to be accurate in all
statement you make. Use evidence honestly. In quotations, do not
twist the meaning of a writer or speaker or use only partial quotations
to give a different thought than the person intended.…Avoid
the pitfalls of improper argumentation….When you make references
to the Scriptures or to any other authority, be definite. And
use reliable, capable authority….Quoting from official publications
of an organization to show what they believe is good. Also one
wants to use evidence from an authority that the hearers will
accept.”—Qualified to Be Ministers, 1955,
Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, p. 199
“We should want to speak the truth and
be absolutely accurate in every detail at all times. This should
be so not only as regards doctrine but also in our quotations,
what we say about others or how we represent them.…Wrong
statements delivered to an audience may be repeated and the error
magnified. Inaccuracies that are recognized by an audience raise
questions as to the authority of the speaker on other points,
perhaps even calling in question the truth of the message itself.”—Theocratic
Ministry School Guidebook, 1992, p. 110
“Knowing these things, what will you do?
It is obvious that the true God, who is himself ‘the God
of truth’ and who hates lies, will not look with favor on
persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. (Psalm
31:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8) And, really, would you
want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest
with you?”—Is This Life All There Is?, 1974,
Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, p. 46
2 CORINTHIANS 10:17 |
PHILIPPIANS 3:3 |
| “But he that boasts,
let him boast in Jehovah.”—New World Translation |
“For we are those…who
are rendering sacred service…and have our boasting
in Christ Jesus.…” —New World Translation |
 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
============
1.
Like many other Watchtower doctrines, the Society’s position
on this important doctrine has also changed over the years. Originally
they taught that Christ should receive worship. This teaching
was reflected in the editions of the New World Translation prior
to 1971. Since 1971, however, the Society no longer renders proskuneo
as “worship” when it is used of Christ. The only exception
to this is found at Revelation 5:14 where the New World Translation
describes an incident in which both Jesus and the Father receive
“worship.”
2. See Matthew
2:11; 14:33; 28:9, 17; John 9:38
3. Insight
on the Scriptures, vol. 2, 1998, p. 667
4. The Atonement
Between God and Man, Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 5, p.
454
5. See Reasoning
from the Scriptures, p. 218
FOOTNOTES FOR TITLES AND ATTRIBUTES OF
JEHOVAH APPLIED TO JESUS:
1.
Every place where Jesus is said to dwell “in” someone,
the Watchtower Society’s New World Translation of the
Holy Scriptures mistranslates it to read “Christ is
in union with you.” However, note that
the correct translation of “in you” can be found in
Romans 8:10 of the Society’s Greek/English Kingdom Interlinear
Translation of the Greek Scriptures.
2.
In the incarnation, Jesus took on an addition nature —
a human nature (John 1:14; Philippians 2:7-8), but he still possessed
and continues to posses God’s nature (Philippians 2:6) “For
in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily
form." —Colossians 2:9
3.
Also Compare Isaiah 45:23 with Philippians 2:10-11.
4.
Compare the Hebrew Scripture Greek Septuagint’s rendering
of Isaiah 8:12-13 with 1 Peter 3:14-15. Peter quotes this passage
of Jehovah and applies it directly to Jesus.
5.
The Society’s New World Translation mistranslates
this verse to read “ask anything” rather than “ask
me anything.” Note the correct rendering
can be found under John 14:14 in the Society’s Kingdom
Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures.
6.
The New World Translation inserts the word “Jehovah”
for “Lord” 237 times into their Christian Scriptures
without the support of a single Greek manuscript of the Christian
Scriptures. This is the case with Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13.
Note, however, the correct translation of “Lord” can
be found in the Society’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation
of the Greek Scriptures.
7.
The Society translates “Lord God” in Rev. 1:8 as “Jehovah
God.” Notice that in this verse, Jehovah the Lord is called
“Alpha and Omega.” At Revelation 22:12-13, 20, Jesus
is called the “Alpha and Omega,” therefore, Jesus
is the “Almighty” God of Revelation 1:8.
8.
While the best Hebrew manuscripts available render Zechariah 12:10
as, “look upon Me whom they have pierced,”
the New World Translation mistranslates it to read, “look
to the One whom they have pierced.”
9.
In this passage of Colossians, the New World Translation,
adds the word “other” four times against all Greek
manuscripts available. Note the correct translation of this passage
can be found in the Society’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation.
10.
Paul quotes Psalm 102:25-27 which speaks of Jehovah and applies
this passage directly to Christ in Hebrews 1:10-12. |
