Jehovah's Witnesses Bible has Truth?

How to prove Jesus is Jehovah (YHWH) even in the NWT

 By Timothy D. Oliver

“Knock, knock, knock….” Now, who hasn’t received those untimely knocks at the door on a Saturday or Sunday, perhaps even on a weekday for those at home during the daytime.  Yes, it’s the Jehovah’s Witnesses (hereafter JW’s) warning about the coming of Armageddon, one only has to look at all the war and destruction in the news.  “Will there ever be peace on earth?” they may ask.  O, they have a plan for you though, “to live forever on paradise earth.”  Not in heaven of course, that is only for the “anointed class,” the 144,000 spoken of in Revelations 7 & 14, which spots are all taken, those at your door are only a part of the “other sheep.”  Well, at least in their so-called theology.

These folks are sharing what they believe to be the “truth,” and are very sincere and devoted, yet they are sincerely wrong and deceived.  In fact, all their so-called good works are for the devil and his work, rather than for the God of the Bible.  It would be nice to see true Biblical Christians zealous for the real truth found in Scripture…sadly, most are not.  With that said, it should be noted, many, if not all the cultist’s such as JW’s that I have dealt with are usually very nice people.  But they’re deceived.  Thus, making them “Deceived Deceiver’s,” therefore lost, and in need of the true Jesus. 

Sadly, and all too often, when the JW’s show up at the door of the average Christian’s home they haven’t any answers for them.  Commonly, they rudely slam the door in their faces, which only confirms their belief that they are being persecuted for their faith, so-called.  The Christian, as the late Dr. Walter Martin put it, “is turned into a doctrine pretzel in 30 seconds.”  My plan here is to help equip you with some Bible answers to defend the faith, which the JW’s are not prepared to respond to.  The Bible commands in I Peter 3:15 that all Christians are “to be ready to have an answer for the hope they have.”  And, of course, Jude 3 commands that we “contend earnestly (fight/struggle) for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints.”  So let’s get some Biblical answers to back up the truth.

First, it will help to understand that the Bible the JW’s carry with them is a cleverly deceptive translation of the Bible.  This perverted translation has tried very hard to take out and blur all the reverences to the deity of Christ and make Him a created being rather than the Creator (Col. 1:15-17).  But even in the JW’s New World Translation (hereafter NWT) they can’t hide the fact that Jesus is God.

All cults error because of a false and misunderstanding of the true nature of God.  Thus, there is a snowball effect that continues to grow as it rolls down hill, and results in numerous errors and heresies—error begets error, and heresy begets heresy.

How to prove Jesus is Jehovah (YHWH), even in the NWT

It’s important, I believe, that at the very least, when we have an encounter with the JW’s we leave them with some Bible verses that will get them to think for themselves.  By politely allowing them to share their message; you can therefore share with them a few Bible passages after words, texts, which they are not ready (programmed) to address.  By persuading them away from their regimented cultic indoctrinations (brainwashing) that they are able to answer in a comatose state, this, we hope, will get them to think for themselves.  “…If perhaps God will grant them repentance…” (II Tim. 2:24-26).  We are called to graciously provide answers from the Bible, and God does “all” the work in salvation.  But we must always be ready (I Peter 3:15).

Four extremely important texts the JW’s are not prepared for, which you need to commit to memory:

In Hebrews chapter 1 and verses 10-12 the writer is quoting the Old Testament from Psalms 102:25-27, which is clearly about Jehovah God, and it’s clear that the context in Hebrews 1 is about Jesus.  Even the perverted JW’s bible will confirm this.  Ask the JW to read Psalm 102:25-27 from their Bible, you may want to even have them go back further in the context to assure them that this is unquestionably speaking of Jehovah.  Then have them read Hebrews 1:10-12 to compare.  Here are the verses for comparison (be aware that the NWT is notorious for being confusing when reading a good number of it’s texts):

Psalm 102:25-27
New World Translation	New King James Version
25 Long ago you [Jehovah] laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They themselves will perish, but you yourself will keep standing; and just like a garment they will all of them wear out.  Just like clothing you will replace them, and they will finish their turn. 27 But you are the same, and your own years will not be completed.	25 Of old You [Jehovah] laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. 27 But You are the same, and Your years will have no end

Hebrews 1:10-12
New World Translation	New King James Version
10 And:  You at [the] beginning, O Lord, laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are [the] works of your hands. 11 They themselves will perish, but you yourself are to remain continually; and just like an outer garment they will all grow old, 12 and you will wrap them up just as a cloak, as an outer garment; and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will never run out.	10 And: You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed.  But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.

John 12:37-41
New World Translation	New King James Version
37 But although he had performed so many signs before them, they were not putting faith in him, 38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled which he said:  “Jehovah, who has put faith in the thing heard by us?”  And as for the arm of Jehovah, to whom has it been revealed? 39 The reason why they were notable to believe is that again Isaiah said:  40 He has blinded their eyes and he has made their hearts hard, that they should not see with their eyes and get the thoughts with their hearts and turn around and I should heal them. 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory, and he spoke about him.	37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:  "Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:  40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

Who’s glory did Isaiah see?  Jehovah’s.  Who’s glory did John say Isaiah saw? Jesus.  There you have it; Jesus is clearly Jehovah, even in the NWT.  Also notice that the center column in the NWT of John 12:41 (if you have one, or point that out to them in theirs) has a cross-reference to Isaiah 6:1.  And in Isaiah 6:1, as noted above, the NWT uses “Jehovah” so that’s a more powerful point.

Don’t worry if they don’t see it right away and be very patient.  By their reading it, and seeing it, they will have to wrestle with these passages that even in the NWT proves Jesus is Jehovah.  Make sure that you go over the context with them to establish what is being communicated in the texts.  Also mention they should study the matter out further when time permits, and that you would appreciate information on what their studies produced.  Also pray that God will remove the rose color lenses of the WatchTower Bible & Tract Society’s (JW’s) and open their eyes and ear’s to the real truth, and that they won’t stop wrestling with these facts until God blesses them.  Normally, it will take some time for those JW’s who do come to true saving faith in Jesus.  You see, usually they have to consider losing all their family and friends.  This is a difficult situation for JW’s and other cultists, but if the triune God of Scripture has truly transformed them, you will eventually see a new creature in Christ (II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10 et al.).  And for those JW’s you share these passages with, whom you’ll never see again, well, it’s in God’s hands (Isaiah 55:11).  You’ll have done what God has called us all to do—having Biblical answers for everyone.

There are many verses in the Bible that prove Jesus is God (YHWH), second person of the Trinity, the eternal Son, but these are some of the best when dealing with the JW’s.  So this shall suffice for this piece.  Now you have your marching orders, so get equipped, and do what God commands all believers:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you (I Tim. 4:16).

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (I Peter 3:15).

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world (I John 4:1).

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly (fight/struggle) for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

A Few Brief Recommend Resources:

The Forgotten Trinity, by Dr. James R. White, Bethany House Publishers, Alpha & Omega Ministries, P.O. Box 37106, Phoenix, AZ 85069, Ph# (602)-937-0318. www.aomin.org

The King James Only Controversy:  Can you trust the Modern Translations?, by Dr. James R. White, Bethany House Publishers, pages 199, 205 et al.

Hiding The Divine Name, (tract) by Dr. James R. White.

Evidence That Jesus Is God, (video 1995) by Christian Answers, P.O. Box 144441, Austin, TX 78714, Ph.# (512)-218-8022.  Larry Wessels, Director of Christian Answers & Dr. James R. White, Director of Alpha & Omega Ministries engage this discussion.

A Summary Critique:  Jehovah’s Witnesses Defended:  An Answers to Scholars and Critics—Greg Stafford (Elihu Books 1998), article by Dr. James R. White, Christian Research Institute Journal, Volume 21 / Number 2 www.equip.org 800-7000-CRI

A Critical Analysis Of The New World Translation Of The Christian Greek Scriptures:  The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New Testament, by Robert H. Countess, Ph. D., Presbyterian And Reformed Publishing Co.

Note:  Numerous resources could be recommended for this subject, but these will suffice for their relevance to this piece.