Studying with "Jehovah's Witnesses" Regarding the Trinity

[John317]

After studying with Jehovah's Witnesses for years, I've learned to love them as a people. They are actually a lot like SDAs, but there are also some major differences. There are some historical connections between JW's and SDAs, but nothing direct. Their leader, Russell, read tracts by a former Millerite preacher. This Millerite preacher was not an SDA, but he was one of the first Millerite preachers to write on the topic of the non-immortality of the soul.

After over a year of studying with a Jehovah's Witness about the Trinity and the Sabbath, he told me, "You might be right according to the Bible, but we're still right." He said, "Even if we're wrong, we're right.'

He meant that even if the Bible seems to teach different from what JW's teach, they are right because they know better. Their leaders in Brooklyn have special guidance. They are believed to be guided by angels. ( Jehovah's Witnesses are convinced that they're angels from heaven. These "angels" helped the original "translators" translate the New World Translation.)

They will not tell you this, but it is written in a number of their official publications.

They will ask that you study the NWT with them, and I did this for years, but I now believe it is a mistake. You should study with them using the American Standard Bible (1901) or the New American Standard. They respect these translations because they are based on the same text as the NWT. The Watchtower organization actually publishes their own very good edition of the American Standard Bible (1901), an excellent translation for the most part. They also like this translation because it uses the personal name, Jehovah. If you ask them, they may get you a copy. They don't sell literature, but they will accept a small offering of thanks for it-- say, $10.00.

When it comes to discussing the Bible evidence regarding the Trinity, stay away from John 1: 1 unless you know Koine Greek and can explain the grammar. Also stay away from 1 Tim. 3: 16; Hebrews 1: 6, 8; 1 John 5: 7. If you use those texts as evidence, they will have a good time with you.

The best verse to begin with and stay with is John 8: 58, where Jesus said, "Before Abraham existed, I am."

Another good verse is Hebrews 1: 10, where it shows that the Son is called "the Lord" who in the beginning laid the foundations of the earth. That is a quotation from Ps. 102 where the original is referring to Jehovah.

Also, Col. 1: 17, where Jesus is said to have existed before all things (not all other things). It also says clearly that in Christ all things cohere or are held together. (Continuous present, meaning Jesus has always held the universe together by His power. Compare Hebrews 1: 3.) Verse 16 should be considered together with v. 17.

Next verse is Col. 1: 9, where it says clearly that Jesus was and is Deity. This has reference to essence, not quality or attribute. It is different from divinity. Angels are divine. Christ is deity. Not Godship, but Godhead. Study carefully the Greek word, theotes, in Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, p. 288.

There's a lot of bad, inaccurate books about Jehovah's Witnesses, so be careful about choosing material.

I suggest that you ask a Jehovah's Witness for a book the organization publishes, called Reasoning From the Scriptures. There's an entire section in that book on the Trinity. You can practice answering their objections. They have answers ready for most of the things the average person would bring up. They practice among each other, so they are ready for the simple questions, especially John 1: 1 and 1 John 5: 7.

Next, go to a large Christian book store and get a book by Walter Martin called The Kingdom of the Cults. It contains quite a few pages about the Trinity, and covers the topic fairly well.

Another book is called How to Answer a Jehovah's Witness; How To Successfully Take the Initiative When They Come To Your Door. It is by Robert A. Morey, published by Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota. It might be in your large Christian book store. If not, you should be able to order it. A small book of 105 pages, it does contain some errors, so look up texts before you use it. This book is mainly helpful because of the many pages from old books published by the Watchtower organization.

Lastly, and perhaps most important, is Reasoning From the Scriptures With the Jehovah's Witnesses, by Ron Rhodes, by Harvest House Publishers,Eugene, Oregon. It is the best book on the topic of talking to JW's regarding the Trinity. It helps answer all of the things in the previously mentoned book, Reasoning From the Scriptures,

Do not be surprised if Jehovah's Witnesses never read books you give them. They will almost never do that. If they do take it and read it, they can "get in trouble." They're told not to accept or read literature from other religious groups because they believe the devil is trying to trick them with false teachings. Once in a while, however, you can persuade very long-time members to read a little.

Be sure to pray much before you study with them, and pray particularly that God will open their minds and give you wisdom to speak the right words. It's best to pray before meeting them as they will probably not want you to pray for them in their company unless you use the personal name "Jehovah."

[guibox]

I'm not sure why you're wasting time trying to convince the JWs about the Trinity. There is a good chunk of conservative, traditional SDAs in our church that deny it too, believe that EGW never believed the Trinity as is traditionally taught, and feel that unless we get back to the semi-Arianism of our pioneers, we can't truly be the remnant. Time might be better spent convincing them of that truth.

You're right..There are many similarities between JWs and SDAs. I've argued and discussed with many of them and it is akin to arguing with a historic SDA. Same one track mind, same 'We're right and you're wrong' and same stubborness to hold on to sectarianism instead of Sola Scriptura.

[John317]

I was studying with Jehovah's Witnesses in order to understand them and their beliefs. I simply asked him tons of questions and read as much of their publications-- both new and old-- as I could get my hands on.

I enjoyed my time studying the Bible with him. I got a spiritual blessing from my association with him, and I don't feel that my time was wasted at all.

[Gail]

Did it work for you?

[John317]

They believe close to what we believe on a number doctrines. The state of the dead is just one of these, but they believe a little differently than we do on it.

There's an interesting connection between the Jehovah's Witnesses and SDAs.

George Storrs was a Millerite preacher who wrote about the non-immortality of the soul. Storrs' writings greatly influenced James White, Joseph Bates, and Charles Taze Russell the founder of the "Jehovah's Witnesses."

Russell also studied the Second Coming with Sunday-keeping Adventists, and eventually came to the conclusion that Jesus would return invisibly as a spirit-being in 1874. Later that date was changed to 1914, based on a calculation of Daniel 4: 16, 25. Interestingly enough, William Miller also gave a symbolic interpretation to that time prophecy but with a different beginning and ending date.

Back in the early years of the organization, the Jehovah's Witnesses used to believe in the 1260 day prophecy, only their starting date for it was 539 A.D. and the ending date was 1799. They changed their belief in the 1940s, and so very few of them are even aware that they once held this teaching.

[John317]

I got a great spiritual blessing from studying with this Jehovah's Witness gentleman because during our Bible study the Holy Spirit convicted me of the necessity of making some major changes in my life.

[John317]

Sometimes you will hear or read that the connection was direct, that Charles Russell was an early SDA or Millerite, but that part isn't true.

Both SDAs and JWs were anti-Trinitarian in the 1800s, but the Jehovah's Witnesses continued with that idea while SDAs changed their view because of the influence of Ellen White.