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The
Deity of Jesus
Redi-Answers
on Jehovah's Witness Doctrine
The Current Teaching Of The Watchtower Society:
In
His Pre-existence, Jesus Christ was the angelic being described in the
Bible as Michael the Archangel. He has only the power and nature of a
created angelic being. The Society has drawn this conclusion and teaches
this as a doctrine as a result of their understanding of certain Scripture
references (Col
1:15-17 and Jhn
1:1. Also see Rev
3:14).
What
the Bible Says about The DEITY OF JESUS:
In
order to understand the Society's position on this issue and in order to
be able to see the way in which they have deviated from and even
deliberately changed the plain teaching of the Scriptures, we examine
their translation of two key passages (as found in the 1984 edition of the
Society's New World Translation):
He is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all
[other] things were created in heavens and upon the earth, the
thing visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are
thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other]
things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is
before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things
were made to exist.Colossians
1:15 NWT
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Who is the image of the
invisible God, the first-born of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all
things, and by him all things consist. Colossians
1:15-17 KJV
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In [the] beginning the Word was,
and the Word was with God, and the word was a god.John
1:1 NWT
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In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John
1:1 KJV
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1.
The Society Alters Bible Words & Their Meanings To Conform To Their
Particular Views About The Deity Of Jesus Christ:
a.
Words That Are Misunderstood...
The
Meaning Of: "Beginning"
The Society understands the word
to mean "that which comes at the start of something,"
but the Bible also uses this word to mean "the origin,
source, and first cause, or, that which stands in the prime
position."
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See Rev
3:14
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The
Meaning Of: "Firstborn"
Priority, pre-eminence, prime
position
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Col
1:15
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Although Esau was the firstborn,
he could legitimately sell that position (his birthright) to his
brother
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Gen
24:31
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Birthright transferred
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1Ch
5:1
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Firstborn Manasseh, second
Ephraim -- yet the reverse order is spoken of in terms of
birthright
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Gen
41:51-52
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Ephraim is my
"firstborn"
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Jer
31:9
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David is firstborn, even though
David was actually the youngest son in his family
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Psa
89:27
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b.
Words That Have Been Altered...
2.
FACT: The Bible Reveals That There Is Only One God...
3.
FACT: The Bible Reveals That Jesus Is Called God...
4.
FACT: The Bible Teaches That Jesus Is Deity...
5.
FACT: The Bible Teaches That Jesus Has The Attributes Of God The Father...
6.
FACT: The Bible Teaches That Jesus Is Worshipped By...
7.
FACT: The Bible Teaches That Jesus Is Not An Angel...
No angel is or can ever be
called God's son
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Hbr
1:5, 6
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World not in subjection to any
angel
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Hbr
2:5
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He did not take on the nature of
angels
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Hbr
2:16
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Glorified with God -- not the
angels
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Jhn
17:5
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All power given to Him, in
heaven and earth
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Mat
28:18
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He has a name that is above all
names
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Phl
2:9, 10
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God will not share His glory
with any other
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Isa
42:8
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Source:
Grieshaber, Erich, and Jean
Grieshaber.
"Trinity," Redi-Answers on Jehovah's Witness Doctrine.
Blue Letter Bible. 1 Jul 2002.
12 Sep 2004.
<http://blueletterbible.org/study/cults/rajwd/rajwd31.html>.
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