Defend Jehovah's Witnesses: February 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe Lent?

What is Lent?

Lent (Latin: Quadragesima, "fortieth") is an observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations, lasting for a period of approximately six weeks leading up to Easter. In most Western denominations Lent is taken to run from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) or to Easter Eve.

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe Lent?

No, Jehovah's Witnesses do not observe Lent or Easter. Jehovah's Witnesses only formally celebrate the one event that Jesus commanded his followers. The memorial of his death (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

Notice the following excerpt from the article, Fasting—Does It Draw You Closer to God? (w09 4/1 pp. 27-29; Watchtower Online Library):

"The 40-day fast of Lent is said to commemorate the 40-day fast of Christ. Yet, Jesus never commanded his disciples to commemorate his fast, nor is there any evidence that they did so. The first reliable mention of the 40-day fast before Easter is thought to be in letters of Athanasius, dated 330 C.E.

"Since Jesus fasted following his baptism and not before his death, the fact that some religions observe Lent in the weeks preceding Easter may seem strange. However, a 40-day fast in the early part of the year was common among ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks. The “Christian” custom was evidently borrowed from them."

For more, see:

Lent (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Fasting - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Do Jehovah Witness give up stuff for Lent like Catholics do? (Y/A)

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Easter? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

The Lord’s Evening Meal - Links to Information

Click on any of the following to view:

MEMORIAL (Lord’s Evening Meal) (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Lord’s Evening Meal (Insight-2 pp. 268-271; Watchtower Online Library)

An Occasion You Should Not Miss - 2014 Invitation to the Memorial of Jesus' Death (JW.ORG)

The Lord’s Evening Meal—An Observance That Honors God (bh; JW.ORG)

‘Do This in Remembrance of Me’ (THE WATCHTOWER (STUDY EDITION) DECEMBER 2013; JW.ORG)

‘This Is to Be a Memorial for You’ (THE WATCHTOWER (SIMPLIFIED EDITION) DECEMBER 2013; JW.ORG)

Why Observe the Lord’s Evening Meal? (w03 2/15 pp. 12-16; Watchtower Online Library)

The Lord’s Evening Meal—How Observed? (w04 3/15 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)

What Does the Lord’s Evening Meal Mean to You? (w03 2/15 pp. 17-22; Watchtower Online Library)

The Ransom—God’s Greatest Gift (bh chap. 5 pp. 47-56; Watchtower Online Library)
How can you demonstrate that you appreciate God’s gift of the ransom? Attend the annual observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal.

The Eucharist—The Facts Behind the Ritual (w08 4/1 pp. 26-29; Watchtower Online Library)
What was the original observance that Jesus instituted like?

The Memorial of Christ’s Death - Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe it Annually? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Why did Jesus have to sacrifice his life? What is the Ransom? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Who Are to Partake of the Bread and the Wine and How Does One Know if They Are of the Anointed Or Called to Heavenly Life? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

VIDEO: Invitation to the Memorial of Jesus Christ's Death - April 14th 2014 - Jehovah's Witnesses

This video is also available in: Spanish (español) Italian (italiano) Portuguese (Português) Russian (русский) Ukrainian (українська) German (Deutsch) Polish (polski) Greek (Ελληνική) French (Français) Arabic (العربية) Dutch (Nederlands) Filipino (Tagalog).
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On the night before he surrendered his life, Jesus instructed his faithful followers to remember, or commemorate, his sacrifice. Using the unleavened bread and the red wine before them, he instituted what has been called the Last Supper or the Lord’s Evening Meal and commanded: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

Each year, Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide gather to commemorate Jesus’ death on its anniversary. In 2014, the Memorial falls on Monday, April 14, after sundown.

You are cordially invited to attend this meeting, during which further information on the significance of Jesus’ sacrificial death will be presented. Attendance at this event is completely free. No collections will be taken. Contact your local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses for the time and location of the Memorial that will be held in your area, or you may consult our Web site, www.jw.org. More information regarding the Lord's Evening Meal can be found by clicking this link.

Find a Location Near You

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Is the Number 144,000 Mentioned in Revelation Meant to be Taken Literally?

[It is conflicting] when someone criticizes the view that the number 144,000 is not literal but at the same time THEY
want to view the *12* tribes as a literal number and as literal Jews and virgins!

Those who claim that the number 144,000 is symbolic and yet still view the number 12 and the names of the tribes as literal cannot honestly maintain their claim that literal and symbolic numbers cannot appear together.

Claiming that the number 144,000 cannot be a literal number because it appears in context with other numbers and terms which are symbolic is an unreasonable argument. If that were the case then everything in Revelation would have to be symbolic or everything literal. Yet, every one knows that Revelation contains both symbolic and literal terms. Sometimes they appear right next to each other. For example, John speaks of "the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev.21:14). Clearly, the number 12 mentioned in this verse is literal, not symbolic, yet it is surrounded by obviously symbolic numbers and terms. Revelation mentions "the thousand years" of Christ's reign. Most recognize that number as a literal, but it is mentioned in context with many symbolic terms (Rev.20:3-7). Many Protestants understand the seven mountains to be literal (Rome) even though it appears in context with symbols. Hence, whether a number in Revelation is to be taken literally or symbolically depends on the scriptural context, the setting and sometimes grammar. Do such literalists also believe a literal city comes down from Heaven and marries a literal lamb?!!

Obviously, John was not referring to literal virginity, otherwise even Peter and other Apostles would not qualify to rule in heaven and Jesus would have lied when he said they would rule with him (1Co 9:5; Mk 1:29-31; Mt 19:28; Lk 22:29-30; Jn.14:1-3).

While many feel that the number 144,000 is symbolic, the contextual evidence is that it is a literal number.

First, it is contrasted with an unnumberable "great crowd." If it were not literal the number 144,000 would be senseless, it would mean nothing. It might as well have no number at all, for there would be no contrast between it and the "great crowd," which is numberless.

Robert L. Thomas Jr., professor of New Testament at The Master's Seminary wrote: "The case for symbolism is exegetically weak...It is a definite number in contrast with the indefinite number of 7:9. If it is taken symbolically, no number in the book can be taken literally."--Revelation: An Exegetical Commentary, Vol.1 pg 474.

The 144,000 are also described as "firstfruits" (Rev.14:1, 4) The expression "firstfruits" refers to a small representative selection so it cannot be referring to ALL those who gain salvation.

A literal and limited number also fits Christ's other statements such as Luke 12:32 where Jesus calls his disciples a "little flock" that will obtain the Kingdom. In John 10:1-5 Jesus discussed the same ones but then mentions "other sheep" not in the first "fold" (Jn.10:16) and they would both would be united as "one flock" following him (Christians). The picture here is a "little flock" compared to "other sheep."

So there are logical reasons to conclude that the number 144,000 cannot be a symbol of a large indeterminate number but must be literal.

Next, the 12 tribes of Rev. 7:4-8 cannot be natural Jews. The list in Revelation diverges from the usual tribal listing found at Num. 1:4-17, 47. There never was a tribe of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are not included in Revelation and the Levites were not reckoned as one of the 12 tribes.

John had explicitly stated that those who were to rule as kings and priests over the earth would be from "every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Re 5:9-10). Interpreting Rev.7:4 to mean literal Israel would cause John to contradict himself.

The "12 tribes" here must refer to the spiritual "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16; 1Pt. 2:9; Mt.3:9). Gal. 3:26-29 says: "There is neither Jew nor Greek...if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham's seed."

Jesus said: "The kingdom of God will be taken from YOU and be given to a nation producing its fruits (Mt.21:42-43). Replacing natural Israel as God's nation, it becomes a new "Israel" that is "really 'Israel'" (Rm.2:28-29; 9:6-9).

John's vision of those standing on the heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb revealed the number of this spiritual Israel of God to be 144,000 "bought from among mankind" not "from among the Jews (Rev. 7:4; 14:1, 4; 5:9,10; James 1:1).

Source: This is the Best Answer given by Bar_Anerges to a question from Yahoo! Answers.

Also see:

144,000 - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe That the Number 144,000 in Revelation is a Literal Number Instead of a Symbolic Number? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses take the number 144,000 mentioned in the book of Revelation literally and not symbolically? (w04 9/1 pp. 30-31; Questions From Readers; Watchtower Online Library)

Are the 144,000 only natural Jews? Is the number 144,000 merely symbolic? (rs p. 161-p. 168; Watchtower Online Library)

Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses take the number 144,000 literally? (w04 12/15 p. 30; Watchtower Online Library)

144,000 - Links to Information (Watchtower Online Library)

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Quotes - Holy Spirit is a Force from God, Trinitarians Admit

In the Old Testament (OT) it is clear that the inspired Bible writers intended holy spirit (ruah or ruach in Hebrew) to be understood as an invisible, powerful force from God. Even many trinitarian scholars will admit that.

For example, The Catholic Encyclopedia, p. 269, 1976, admits: "In the OT the Holy Spirit means a divine power..."

And the New Bible Dictionary, Tyndale House Publishers, 1984, pp. 1136,1137, says:
"Spirit, Holy Spirit. OT, Heb. ruah 378 times ...; NT, Gk. pneuma 379 times." And "Divine power, where ruah is used to describe ... a supernatural force...." And "At its [the Old Testament's concept of ruah, God's spirit] heart is the experience of a mysterious, awesome power - the mighty invisible force of the wind, the mystery of its vitality, the otherly power that transforms - all ruah, all manifestations of divine energy." And "at this early stage [pre-Christian] of understanding, God's ruah was thought of simply as a supernatural power (under God's authority) exerting force in some direction."

The Encyclopedia Americana tells us:

"The doctrine of the Holy Spirit [as a person who is God] is a distinctly Christian [?] one.... the Spirit of Jehovah [in the OT] is the active divine principle in nature. .... But it is in the New Testament [NT] that we find the bases of the doctrine of the Spirit's personality." And "Yet the early Church did not forthwith attain to a complete doctrine; nor was it, in fact, until after the essential divinity of Jesus had received full ecclesiastical sanction [in 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea] that the personality of the Spirit was explicitly recognized, and the doctrine of the Trinity formulated." Also, "It is better to regard the Spirit as the agency which, proceeding from the Father and the Son, dwells in the church as the witness and power of the life therein." - Vol. 14, p. 326, 1957 ed.

And the Encyclopedia Britannica Micropaedia, 1985 ed., Vol. 6, p. 22 says:

"The Hebrew word ruah (usually translated `spirit') is often found in texts referring to the free and unhindered activity of God, .... There was, however, no explicit belief in a separate divine person in Biblical Judaism; in fact, the New Testament itself is not entirely clear in this regard....

"The definition that the Holy Spirit was a distinct divine Person equal in substance to the Father and the Son and not subordinate to them came at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381...."

Many historians and Bible scholars (most of them trinitarians) freely admit the above truth. For example: "On the whole, the New Testament, like the Old, speaks of the Spirit as a divine energy or power." - A Catholic Dictionary.

An Encyclopedia of Religion agrees:

"In the New Testament there is no direct suggestion of the Trinity. The Spirit is conceived as an impersonal power by which God effects his will through Christ." - p. 344, Virgilius Ferm, 1945 ed.

Even the trinitarian New Bible Dictionary tells us:

"It is important to realize that for the first Christians the Spirit was thought of in terms of divine power." - p. 1139, Tyndale House Publishers, 1984.

And the respected (and trinitarian) New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology confirms:

"As in earlier Jewish thought, pneuma [`spirit'] denotes that power which man experiences as relating him to the spiritual realm of reality which lies beyond ordinary observation and human control. Within this broad definition pneuma has a fairly wide range of meaning. But by far the most frequent use of pneuma in the NT (more than 250 times) is as a reference to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, that power which is most immediately of God as to source and nature." - p. 693.

"The Spirit in the earliest Christian Communities and in Acts. `Holy Spirit' denotes supernatural power, altering, working through, directing the believer .... This is nowhere more clearly evident than in Acts where the Spirit is presented as an almost tangible force, visible if not in itself, certainly in its effects. This power of the Spirit manifests itself in three main areas in Luke's account of the early church [Acts]. (a) The Spirit as a transforming power in conversion. [p. 698] .... (b) The Spirit of prophecy. For the first Christians, the Spirit was most characteristically a divine power manifesting itself in inspired utterance. The same power that had inspired David and the prophets in the old age (Acts 1:16; 3:18; 4:25; 28:25) [p. 699] .... (c) The Spirit was evidently experienced as a numinous power pervading the early community ....

"The Spirit in the Pauline Letters. [p. 700] .... It is important to realize that for Paul too the Spirit is a divine power whose impact upon or entrance into a life is discernible by its
effects." - pp. 693-701, Vol. 3, Zondervan, 1986.

"The emergence of Trinitarian speculations in early church theology led to great difficulties in the article about the Holy Spirit. For the being-as-person of the Holy Spirit, which is evident in the New Testament as divine power ..., could not be clearly grasped.... The Holy Spirit was viewed NOT AS A PERSONAL FIGURE BUT RATHER AS A POWER
" - The New Encyclopedia Britannica.

For more, see:

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

How Do Jehovah's Witnesses View Paying Taxes?

How do Jehovah's Witnesses view paying taxes? Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible. So when it comes to the issue of paying taxes, Jehovah's Witnesses look to the Bible for the answer. The Bible shows that Christians are to pay taxes. But with taxes increasingly becoming burdensome, some may wonder, 'Must Christians really pay all taxes—including those some may consider unreasonable or unjust?'

Well, consider what Jesus told his disciples. He knew that his Jewish countrymen bitterly resented the taxes imposed by Rome. Regardless of this, Jesus urged: "Pay back Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God." (Mark 12:17) Interestingly, Jesus advocated paying tax to the very regime that would shortly execute him.

Also, a few years later, Paul plainly stated this at Romans 13:7:

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." (New International Version)

Despite the fact that large sums of tax money were used to fund Rome's military and to support the immoral and excessive life-style of the Roman emperors, he still urged the paying of taxes. Why? The answer lies in the context of Paul's words. At Romans 13:1, he wrote: "Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God." When the nation of Israel had God-fearing rulers, it was easy to view supporting the nation financially as a civic and religious duty. But Christians also have a similar responsibility when the rulers were unbelieving idol worshipers because God had granted rulers the "authority" to rule.

Three Reasons For Paying Taxes

Because governments can do a great deal to maintain order, this allows Christians to carry on their various spiritual activities. (Matthew 24:14; Hebrews 10:24, 25) Paul said this when mentioning the superior governmental authority: "It is God's minister to you for your good." (Romans 13:4) Paul himself took advantage of the protection the Roman government offered. For example, when he found himself the victim of a mob, he was saved by Roman soldiers. Later he appealed to the Roman judicial system so that he could continue serving as a missionary. (Acts 22:22-29; 25:11, 12)

At Romans 13:1-6, Paul mentioned three reasons for paying taxes. First, he spoke about the "wrath" of the governments in punishing lawbreakers. Second, he explained that a godly individual's conscience would be adversely affected if he cheated on his taxes. Finally, he indicated that taxes are simply compensation for the services governments perform as "public servants."

True Christians Obey Tax Laws

It is clear that Paul's fellow Christians took his words seriously because Justin Martyr, the second-century Christian writer (about 110 to 165 C.E.), said that Christians paid their taxes "more readily than all men." True Christians who heed these words continue to do so clear down to today. (Matthew 5:41)

Christians are free to take advantage of any legal tax deductions if applicable. However, in keeping with Jesus' and Paul's urgings, true Christians do not engage in tax evasion or fraud. They pay their taxes and let the authorities take full responsibility for how they use the money.

The Bible promises that soon God’s Kingdom will be the only government over mankind. (Daniel 2:44) Justice will prevail for all under God's government—a government that will never burden people with unjust taxes. (Psalm 72:12, 13; Isaiah 9:7)

Additional Reading:

Should You Pay Your Taxes?
Must Christians really pay all taxes--including those some may consider unreasonable or unjust? (Jehovah's Witnesses Publication g03 12/8 pp. 10-11; Watchtower Online Library)

Growing Resentment Against Taxes?
Why are taxes so complicated--and so high? Are you obliged to pay them? (g03 12/8 pp. 3-4; Watchtower Online Library)

Taxes—Price of a "Civilized Society"?
Why are tax systems often so complex?

(To those who are not Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs), please remember that if you are looking for the authoritative information on beliefs, practices and news releases you should look to the source at www.jw.org.)

Monday, February 17, 2014

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Creationists?

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe That the Earth Was Created in Six 24-hour Days Some 10,000 Years Ago?

A careful study of the Creation account in Genesis reveals no conflict with established scientific facts. For that reason, Jehovah’s Witnesses disagree with “Christian” Fundamentalists and many Young Earth Creationists. (Also see: The Bible’s Viewpoint - Does Science Contradict the Genesis Account? g 9/06 pp. 18-20; Watchtower Online Library)

The following is an excerpt from the g 9/06 p. 3 "Whom Should You Believe?":

ARE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES CREATIONISTS?

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the creation account as recorded in the Bible book of Genesis. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not what you might think of as creationists. Why not? First, many creationists believe that the universe and the earth and all life on it were created in six 24-hour days some 10,000 years ago. This, however, is not what the Bible teaches. Also, creationists have embraced many doctrines that lack support in the Bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses base their religious teachings solely on God’s Word.

Furthermore, in some lands the term “creationist” is synonymous with Fundamentalist groups that actively engage in politics. These groups attempt to pressure politicians, judges, and educators into adopting laws and teachings that conform to the creationists’ religious code.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are politically neutral. They respect the right of governments to make and enforce laws. (Romans 13:1-7) However, they take seriously Jesus’ statement that they are “no part of the world.” (John 17:14-16) In their public ministry, they offer people the chance to learn the benefits of living by God’s standards. But they do not violate their Christian neutrality by supporting the efforts of Fundamentalist groups that try to establish civil laws that would force others to adopt Bible standards.—John 18:36.

For more, see:

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe in Creationism? (JW.ORG)

Did God create the earth in just six 24-hour days, as some creationists claim? (AWAKE! JANUARY 2014; JW.ORG)

Does Science Contradict the Genesis Account? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

The Creative 'Days' - How Long Was Each 'Day' and Were All 'Days' Uniform in Length? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

How Does the Bible Show That the Creative Days Were Longer Than 24 Hours Each? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Genesis - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Day - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Exposing the False Reasoning Behind Trinity Proof Texts

Many who believe that Jesus is God or in the Trinity rely only on a few selected, so-called 'proof-texts'.

The following links lead to research showing how the most frequently used so-called 'Proof Texts' are not proof of the Trinity in any way.

(Links to more guides can be found at the bottom of this list.)

Gen. 1:26
Gen. 1:26 - "Let Us Make Man in Our Image" (Search For Bible Truths);   This scripture prove Trinity? (Search For Bible Truths);    Image (Examining the Trinity);   How is Man Made in God's Image? (Gen. 1:26) (Search For Bible Truths);   ("Let us make man in our image") - ELOHIM 3-6; I-AM 5; (Examining the Trinity)

Gen. 19:24
Gen. 19:24 ("Jehovah rained down fire ... from Jehovah") (Examining the Trinity)

Ps. 45:6
"Your throne, O God" - HEB (Examining the Trinity);   God and gods (Search For Bible Truths); How is Jesus a god? (Search For Bible Truths)

Isa. 6:3
"Holy, Holy, Holy" - Is. 6:3 (Search For Bible Truths)

Isa. 9:6
Isa. 9:6 "Mighty God, Eternal Father" (Examining the Trinity);   Isa. 9:6 - NWT (DNWT);   NAME - “Jesus,” “Immanuel,” and Is. 9:6 (Examining the Trinity);   BOWGOD (God and gods) (Examining the Trinity);   Does Isa. 9:6 prove that Jesus is God? (Search For Bible Truths);   Why is Jesus called "Mighty God" at Isa. 9:6? (Search For Bible Truths);   One God in Three? (Pastor Russell; Heading: "No Trinity in the “Old Testament”');   How does the Codex Sinaiticus render Is. 9:6? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers);   How is translated Isaiah 9:6 in old Aramaic Targums? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Isa. 42:8
Heb. 1:3 / Isa. 42:8 Does Jesus really share Jehovah's Glory? (Examining the Trinity)

Isa. 43:11
Isa. 43:11 / 2 Pet. 3:18 Jehovah only Savior; Jesus Savior (Search For Bible Truths);   Title Confusion Trick "Saviour" (Examining the Trinity); A short exchange on "savior" and Isaiah 43:11 (IN Defense of the NWT)

Isa. 44:6
Isa. 44:6 "pronoun confusion trick" (Examining the Trinity); Isa. 44:6 / Rev. 1:17 "First and the Last" (Search For Bible Truths)

Isa. 48:16
Isa. 48:16; Trinitarian "speaker confusion" trick (Search For Bible Truths)

Jer. 23:6
"Jehovah Is Our Righteousness" - NAME 4 (Examining the Trinity);   Why is Jesus called Mighty God? (Search For Bible Truths)

Micah 5:2
Micah 5:2 (Examining the Trinity);   BWF - 'Beginning,' 'Wisdom,' and 'Firstborn' (6th par. down; Examining the Trinity);   Is Micah 5:2 saying that Jesus' ORIGIN was “from early times”? (Search For Bible Truths);   Who created Jesus? (Search For Bible Truths); Micah 5:2 (JW Stand Firm)

Hab. 1:12
Habakkuk 1:12 (INDNWT); Why does the NWT render Habakkuk 1:12 "Are you not from long ago, O Jehovah? O my God, my Holy One, you do not die", when many other Bibles render it as "O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die."? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); Scribal notes (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); "King of Eternity" did not die, but His Son did (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Zech. 12:10
Zech 12:10 / John 19:37 (Defending the NWT);   Zech. 12:10 "...they shall look upon me whom they have pierced." (DNWT);   Zechariah 12:10 (INDNWT)

Mt. 1:22,23
Matt. 1:23 ("Immanuel") - NAME 2 (Examining the Trinity);   How was it that "all things were made through (Jesus)"? (Vs. 22) (SFBT);   How and why did Jesus come to Earth? (Search For Bible Truths);  Jesus merely a man? (Search For Bible Truths); Should Jesus really be considered to be God because he was symbolically “named” Immanuel (Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:23) which means “God is with us”? (Search For Bible Truths)

Mt. 12:32

Blasphemy to Christ: forgiven; to HS: not - HS (Last 20 par.) (and f.n.#10 &11);(Examining the Trinity); BOWHS (f.n.) (Examining the Trinity); Matthew 12:32 "whoever says something against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven" (Examining the Trinity)

Mt. 28:19

What does Mt. 28:19 mean? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers; Quote from WT 2002 April 1st); Mt. 28:19 "...in the NAME of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit" (Examining the Trinity); Mt. 28:19 - NWT (DNWT); Does Mt. 28:19 prove that the Holy Spirit is God? (Search For Bible Truths); Concerning Mt. 28:19... (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); 2 Cor.13:14 "Jesus", "God", "and the...Holy Spirit" (Search For Bible Truths); Shem Tov's Hebrew Matthew 14th century manuscripts (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); Some comments by scholars and translators (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); Online references that discuss the possible spurious origins of Matt. 28:19 (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

John 1:1

John 2:19-22

RU - Jesus Raised Himself? (Examining the Trinity); The Trinity and John 2:19-22 (JW United)

John 5:18

John 5:18 "...making himself equal to God" (Examining the Trinity); John 5:18 - What is this scripture saying? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

John 5:23

John 5:23 - "That all may honor the Son JUST AS [kathos] they honor the Father." - NIV (Examining the Trinity)

John 6:7-15
John 6:7-15 Holy Spirit as a "he" (Examining the Trinity); Why, in John 16:7, is the holy spirit spoken of as a "helper"? (Examining the Trinity)

John 8:19

How is John 8:19 to be explained? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

John 8:58
What did Jesus actually say at John 8:58? (SFBT); John 8:58 "I AM"; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4 (Endnotes) (Examining the Trinity); In Defense of the New World Translation. John 8:58 files (INDNWT); Stafford's "'ANI HU and the LXX of Isaiah" (INDNWT); Sahidic Coptic John 8:58 and Sahidic Coptic Exodus 3:14 (Sahidic Coptic Insight on NT Verses); What About...John 8:58? (From God's Word); John 8:58 (Bible Translation and Study; Scroll down to First Scriptural Heading); Miscellaneous Questions about the New World Translation (Jn 8:58) (Bible Translation and Study; Scroll down to Fifth Heading); How do we know that 'I Am' at Ex. 3:14 in KJV is incorrect? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); Jesus' reply had to do with the length of his existence...not his identity (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); Luke 23:43 and the New World Translation (SFBT)

John 10:17,18

Did Jesus raise himself up from the dead (John 10:17-18)? (SFBT); RU - Jesus Raised Himself? (Examining the Trinity)

John 10:30

ONE - John 10:30 (Examining the Trinity); In John 10:30, does Jesus say that he and his Father are one person? (SFBT);

John 10:33

John 10:33 "a god" or "God"? (Examining the Trinity); THEON (Examining the Trinity); MY GOD 8-9; (Examining the Trinity); How is Jesus a god? (SFBT); John 1:1c - English Translation: "The Word was a god." (vs. 33) (SFBT); How is John 10:33 translated in the coptic? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

John 14:7-9

Seen Me: Seen Father - John 14:7-9 (Examining the Trinity)

John 14:14

John 14:14 (DNWT); Words Omitted (John 14:14) (DNWT); What kind of prayers are heard by God? (SFBT); John 14:14: To "me" or not to "me", that is the question (Sahidic Coptic Insight on NT Verses); The Sahidic Coptic of John 14:14 (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

John 20:28

John 20:28 "My God" (DNWT); MY GOD (Examining the Trinity); Why did Thomas say "My Lord and my God" at John 20:28? (SFBT); Why did the apostle Thomas exclaim "My Lord and my God!" at John 20:28? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); John 20:28 - Is Jesus Given the Title 'ho theos'? (Bible Translation and Study; Scroll down to 3rd Scriptural Heading); God and gods (SFBT); How is Jesus a god? (SFBT)

Acts 5:3,4

Acts 5:3, 4 Lied to the Holy Spirit...lied to God? (Examining the Trinity); Acts 5:3 "play false" (INDNWT); The Doctrine of the Trinity and Acts 5:3, 4 (JW United); The Holy Spirit - God's Active Force (JW United)

Acts 8:29

Does Acts 8:29 prove that the Holy Spirit is a person? (SFBT)

Acts 10:38

"Anointed with Holy Spirit" (Examining the Trinity)

Acts 13:2

Acts 13:2 "The holy spirit said: “...for the work to which I have called them.'” (Examining the Trinity); The Holy Spirit "speaks" at Acts 13:2 ('Reasoning From Scripture' Archive)

Acts 20:28

Acts 20:28 ("God...with his own blood") (DNWT); ACTS 20:28 (In Defense of the NWT); Does Acts 20:28 really say that God bought the church with his "own" blood? (SFBT); Acts 20:28 ("God...with his own blood") (Examining the Trinity); A Response to Alleged New World Translation "Errors" (Jehovah's Witnesses United); "The Sahidic Coptic version...does not speak of 'the church of God which he purchased with his own blood,' (Acts 20:28) (NWT and Coptic); God bought church with His own blood?; (SFBT); How does the 2nd/3rd century Sahidic Coptic version translate this text? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers);

Acts 28:25

Acts 28:25 "The holy spirit aptly spoke through Isaiah" (Examining the Trinity)

Rom. 8:27

Rom. 8:27 (phronema) (INDNWT); Rom. 8:27 - Why is the Greek word translated differently in the NWT? (Jehovah's Witnesses United); Rom. 8:27 "Mind of the Spirit" (Examining the Trinity)

Rom. 9:5

ROM. 9:5 - " ... Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." - KJV (DNWT); AO - Speaker Confusion (Listing #6) (Examining the Trinity); Is Rom. 9:5 really proof that Jesus is God? - " ... Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." - KJV (SFBT); ROMANS 9:5: Is the Christ here "God"? (IDNWT); "God Over All" in Romans 9:5: Translation Issues and Theological Import (JW United); "The Coptic text of Romans 9:5 has some ambiguity, it appears to be less so than the Greek, and points clearly to two entities -- Christ and God" (Sahidic Coptic Insight on NT Verses)

1 Cor. 8:5,6

How was it that "all things were made through (Jesus)"? (Vs. 6) (SFBT); 'Unitized Title' Vs. 'Title with Identifiers' (1 Cor. 8:6) (Examining the Trinity); 1 Cor. 8:5,6 ("To us one God, the Father") - TC 6-7 (and f.n.'s #4, 6); BWF 3-4 ("source")

1 Cor. 12:11

1 Cor. 12:11 "The holy spirit wills" (Examining the Trinity); Do scriptures personifying the "Holy Spirit" mean that it is a person? (SFBT)

2 Cor. 3:17

2 Cor. 3:17 "The Lord is the Spirit." (Examining the Trinity)

2 Cor. 4:4

2 Cor. 4:4 "Christ, who is the image of God" (Examining the Trinity); Image (Examining the Trinity); Does Gen. 1:26 prove Trinity? (SFBT)

2 Cor. 13:14

2 Cor. 13:14 "the sharing in" (INDNWT); 2 Cor.13:14 "Jesus", "God", "and the...Holy Spirit" (SFBT); HS fn. #13 (Examining the Trinity); 2 Cor. 13:14 "Jesus", "God", "and the...Holy Spirit" (Examining the Trinity); 2 Cor.13:14 "Jesus", "God", "and the...Holy Spirit" (Examining the Trinity)

Eph. 4:30

Eph. 4:30 "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit" (Examining the Trinity); How can the Holy Spirit be "grieved"? (SFBT); What about scriptures that seem to show the Holy Spirit being personified? (SFBT)

Eph. 5:5

Eph. 5:5 (Examining the Trinity); SHARP'S RULE - Pt 1 (Examining the Trinity); SHARP'S Rule - Pt 2 (Endnotes) (Examining the Trinity); 'Sharp's Rule' Primer (Examining the Trinity); Sharp's Rule (A response to a major accusation made by Robert H. Countess) (DNWT); Titus 2:13 "Sharp's Rule" (DNWT); Trinitarian Apologetics: A Case Study Involving Rob Bowman and Granville Sharp (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

Phil. 2:6

PHIL 2:6; Part 2 - Notes (Examining the Trinity); NWT - Criticism by Zondervan's So Many Versions? - "[Other]" and Phil. 2:6 (DNWT); New World Translation and Philippians 2:6 (INDNWT); What does it mean when Phil. 2:6 says that Jesus was in God's form? (SFBT); Huparchon (or `Uparchon') - Does the word `being' in Philippians 2:6 [KJV], really literally mean `remaining or not ceasing to be'? (SFBT); God and gods (SFBT)

Col. 2:9

Why does the NWT at Col. 2:9 state that in Jesus "all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily," where as other translations state that in Jesus "dwells the fullness of Deity or the Godhead?'"; (DNWT) Does Col. 2:9 prove that Jesus is God? (SFBT); Col. 2:9 - "Fulness of Deity" (Examining the Trinity); "Theotes simply does not literally mean "godhead," and the use of "godhead" by the KJV translators was not intended as some would understand it today..." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); "The Fullness of the Divine Quality" in Colossians 2:9 (Bible Translation and Study)

2 Thess. 1:12

SHARP'S RULE - Pt 1 (Examining the Trinity); SHARP'S Rule - Pt 2 (Endnotes) (Examining the Trinity); 'Sharp's Rule' Primer (Examining the Trinity); Sharp's Rule (A response to a major accusation made by Robert H. Countess) (DNWT); Titus 2:13 "Sharp's Rule" (DNWT); Trinitarian Apologetics: A Case Study Involving Rob Bowman and Granville Sharp (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

1 Tim. 3:16

1 Tim. 3:16 God "manifest in the flesh" KJV (Examining the Trinity); How does the 2nd/3rd century Sahidic Coptic version translate this text? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers);

1 Tim. 5:21

Titus 2:13

SHARP'S RULE - Pt 1 (Examining the Trinity); SHARP'S Rule - Pt 2 (Endnotes) (Examining the Trinity); 'Sharp's Rule' Primer (Examining the Trinity); Sharp's Rule (A response to a major accusation made by Robert H. Countess) (DNWT); Titus 2:13 "Sharp's Rule"; (DNWT); Trinitarian Apologetics: A Case Study Involving Rob Bowman and Granville Sharp (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

Heb. 1:3

Heb. 1:3 `He [Jesus] is the reflection of his [God's] glory' (Examining the Trinity); Heb. 1:3 / Isa. 42:8 Does Jesus really share Jehovah's Glory? (Examining the Trinity)

Heb. 1:6

Heb. 1:6 "All angels of God worship him" KJV (Examining the Trinity) Worship (as used in Scripture) (Examining the Trinity); Worship or Obeisance? (Bible Translation and Study); PROSKYNEO-Always "Worship"? (In Defense of The New World Translation); Heb. 1:6 - "Let all the angels of God worship him [Jesus]." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); Heb. 1:6 "All angels of God worship him" KJV (SFB); Instance of prototokos in NT (SFBT)

Heb. 1:8

Heb. 1:8 "Thy Throne O God" (Examining the Trinity); Hebrews 1:8 "Thy throne, O God" (DNWT); Heb. 1:8 (INDNWT); George Wesley Buchanan and Hebrews 1 (INDNWT)

2 Pet. 1:1

Trinity "Proof Texts"SHARP'S RULE - Pt 1 (Examining the Trinity); SHARP'S Rule - Pt 2 (Endnotes) (Examining the Trinity); 'Sharp's Rule' Primer (Examining the Trinity); Sharp's Rule (A response to a major accusation made by Robert H. Countess) (DNWT); Trinitarian Apologetics: A Case Study Involving Rob Bowman and Granville Sharp (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

2 Pet. 3:18

Isa. 43:11 / 2 Pet. 3:18 Jehovah only Savior; Jesus Savior; (SFBT); Title Confusion Trick "Saviour" (Examining the Trinity)

1 John 5:7

The 'Johannine Comma' - 1 John 5:7 (INDNWT); But Your Bible's Been Changed! (From God's Word); Newton proved that the words in 1 John 5:7 were spurious... (Pastor Russell); 1 John 5:7 (KJV) (Examining the Trinity); How does the accuracy of the New World Translation Bible compare to other translations? (SFBT); 1 John 5:7 proof of the Trinity? (SFBT); "Word" and 1 John 5:7, KJV ("Oneness") (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers); "Jehovah" in the New Testament (end notes) (SFBT, 10th par. end note #1, 10th par. "Zondervan")

1 John 5:8

1 John 5:8 (Examining the Trinity); Trinitarian reasoning - water and blood persons too? (SFBT); How can the Holy Spirit be "grieved"? (SFBT); What about scriptures that seem to show the Holy Spirit being personified? (SFBT)

1 John 5:20

Translating "In" (DNWT); 1 John 5:20 "True God" (DNWT); 1 John 5:20 "We are in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." - KJV (Examining the Trinity); 1 John 5:20 (INDNWT); "The Only True God" (Examining the Trinity) If the Father is the "only true God" (John 17:3), does that mean that Jesus is a false god? (SFBT);

Rev. 1:8

Rev. 1:8 "Alpha and Omega" (Examining the Trinity);

Rev. 1:17

Isa. 44:6 / Rev. 1:17 "First and the Last" (SFBT); Title Confusion Trick - "First and Last" (Is. 44:6; Rev. 1:17) (Examining the Trinity)

Rev. 5:6

Throne (Rev. 22:1) (Examining the Trinity); Rev. 5:6 and Rev. 5:13 "Throne" (Examining the Trinity); "Jehovah" in the New Testament; "Holy, Holy, Holy" - Is. 6:3 (SFBT)

Rev. 5:13

Rev. 5:6 and Rev. 5:13 "Throne" (Examining the Trinity)

Rev. 22:1

Throne (Rev. 22:1) (Examining the Trinity)

Rev. 22:13

Alpha and Omega (AO) - Speaker Confusion Trick (Examining the Trinity);

More material:

Trinity 'Proof' Texts Refuted (From In Defense of The New World Translation of The Holy Scriptures)

What About Trinity "Proof Texts"? (rs p. 405-p. 426; Watchtower Online Library)
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