Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the true nature of Jesus Christ

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Jehovah’s Witnesses are a well-known religious group. However, their doctrine requires a closer look to recognize its fundamentally unbiblical nature. This is despite the fact that this religious community is not that far removed from the “mainstream gospel.”

The Nature of Jesus Christ is Denied

As many differences as there may be between the written Word of God and the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW), one of the most decisive characteristics is the denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ. While He is “divine” in the sense of the position assigned to Him by God, He is nevertheless a literally generated or created being. Thus, in principle, only a particularly high-ranking angel. Just as Luciver is.

To support this thesis, however, adjustments to the Bible are necessary; otherwise, one would quickly stumble upon numerous discrepancies. Indeed, the Watchtower Society has published its own Bible, the “New World Translation” (NWT). This is the exclusive source strongly recommended by Jehovah’s Witnesses. A comparison of key Bible passages reveals several changes that immediately reveal the motive to reduce Jesus Christ to something much less than He actually is.

Comparison of the Bibles

The following sample verses are taken from the King James Version and the New World Translation (NWT – Study Bible, translated from the German) published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Philippians 2:5-6:

King James Version:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:“

NWT:
“Maintain this inner attitude that Christ Jesus also had. Although he existed in the form of God, he did not think of usurpingthat which was not his due, namely, being equal to God.“

This is a rather bold alteration of the true statement. An entire clause that doesn’t even exist in the original text has been inserted in order to obscure the true nature of Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:35:

King James Version:
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.“

NWT:
“The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will rest on you. Therefore, he who is born will be holy and will be called the Son of God.“

While the King James Version clearly states that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is THAT HOLY THING (noun), the New World Translation constructs an attribute from this which should be used to describe Jesus as such.

John 1:1-3:

King James Version:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

NWT:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God. This Word was in the beginning with God. Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. That which came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light of men.“

“The Word was God” versus “the Word was a god.” The inclusion of the indefinite article is regularly justified by the fact that there is no article before the Greek word “theos” (“God”) in this position. Therefore, it cannot be “the” God, but only “a” God. This is not valid, however, because just a few verses later (verse 18) the same constellation is contained. Here, however, the NWT omits the definition “a god.”.

Furthermore, Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe in one and only God. This would create a second “God-unity” in their “one God” constellation, meaning two gods. Furthermore, the NWT also clearly states: “Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being.” Therefore, without the Word (=Jesus), NOTHING came into being. Logically, therefore, Jesus could not have been created. This also applies if Jesus were claimed to be God’s “first creation.” Thus, a true contradiction in the NWT.

Hebrews 1:7-9:

King James Version:
“And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.“

NWT:
“He also says of the angels: ‘He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.’ But of the Son he says: ‘God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is the scepter of justice. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.’“

Here, God the Father also calls His Son “O God.” In the NWT, this is rephrased to say that God the Father is the God of the created Jesus.

Psalm 2:7:

King James Version:
“I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.«”

NWT:
“I hereby declare the decree of Jehovah. He said to me: “You are my son. Today I have become your father.“

“Begetting” has nothing to do with literal conception in the traditional sense. Moreover, God the Father has always been God the Father, not just at a specific point in time, and certainly not in the midst of world events. Acts 13:32-33 explains what “generation” means in this context.

Acts 13:32-33:

King James Version:
“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.“

NWT:
“So we bring you the good news of the promise made to our ancestors. God has fully fulfilled it for us, their children, by raising Jesus from the dead, just as it says in the second Psalm: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’“

Consequently, this passage, along with Psalm 2:7, also had to be adapted in the NWT to obscure the true nature of Jesus. It is finally quoted. Here it becomes clear that “begetting” refers to the resurrection and the supreme exaltation of Jesus Christ and His enthronement at the right hand of God.

Matthew 28:17:

King James Version:
“And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.”

NWT:
“When they saw him, they bowed down, but some had doubts.“

One may only worship God. Therefore, the NWT quickly changed the statement that the disciples bowed down before Jesus Christ to worship Him. “Worship” was simply translated as “bowing.”

Luke 24:51-52:

King James Version:
“ And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:”

NWT:
“While he was blessing them, he was taken away from them and lifted up into heaven. They bowed down before him and then returned to Jerusalem full of joy.“

As in the previous verse, worship is simply deleted and replaced with bowing.

John 9:37-38:

King James Version:
“And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”

NWT:
“‘You have seen him,’ said Jesus, ‘yes, he is speaking to you right now.’ Then the man said, ‘I believe in him, Lord,’ and bowed down before him.“

Another place where worship of Jesus was replaced with bowing.

John 10:17:

King James Version:
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.”

NWT:
“This is why the Father loves me: because I lay down my life in order to receive it back.“

Jesus Christ has the nature of God. Life is within Himself. Therefore, He has the ability to revive life Himself. This is out of the question for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Therefore, this verse is used to construct a formulation in which Jesus is supposed to sustain life externally.

1 Timothy 3:16:

King James Version:
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.“

NWT:
“Yes, the sacred mystery of this devotion to God is undeniably great: He was revealed as a man and justified as a spirit. He appeared to angels and was preached among the Gentiles. He was believed in throughout the world and taken up into glory.“

This verse is such a clear and therefore important statement that a look at the original text (Textus Receptus 1550) is particularly worthwhile. The phrase “God” is not to be confused with anything, while “He” could also be anyone. It reads clearly: “Θεὸς ἐφανερώθη” (“theos efanerothay”), meaning “God manifested.”

However, the New World Translation is not the only version with this statement. The so-called new Bible translations generally refer to the original text edited by Nestlé and Aland. More recent Bibles have long displayed the same ambitions as the NWT: to diminish Jesus Christ (Info).

Colossians 1:15-16:

King James Version:
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn 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:“

NWT:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him everything else was created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible – whether thrones or dominions or governments or authorities. All things were created through him and for him.“

As can be seen in John 1, even in the New World Translation, NOTHING was created without the Word. This verse confirms this again. But not in the NWT. According to its amendment, “everything else” was created. So, first, Jesus was created by God the Father, so that Jesus could then create “everything else.”

Luke 23:46:

King James Version:
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

NWT:
“And Jesus cried out and said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” After these words he died.“

The Greek word for “command” is “παρατιθεμαι” (“paratithemai”), which clearly means “to command” and not “to entrust.” According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, a “created Jesus” does not have the ability to give up his own life, let alone take it up again.

John 20:28:

However, there are also passages in the New World Translation that seem to have been “overlooked” and adapted accordingly.

King James Version:
“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

NWT:
“Then Thomas exclaimed: ‘My Lord and my God!’“

A verbal inquiry with a Jehovah’s Witness regarding this statement revealed that Thomas was “very surprised” in this instance and had therefore exclaimed in a sort of “oh, my God” out of emotion. However, given the sequence of events, this explanation seems surreal.

As Bible Students, Even Closer to the Gospel

It is interesting to note that, during the time when Jehovah’s Witnesses still called themselves “Bible Students,” under the leadership of Charles Taze Russell, they advocated a doctrine that was much closer to the written word. This is especially evident in their interpretations of prophecies. For example, the textbook “The Time is at Hand” (1889) still contains many of the insights of mainstream Protestantism regarding the “Whore of Babylon.” In the textbook, too, this is clearly identified as the Roman Catholic papacy (Info). This is no longer the case today.

It wasn’t until Joseph Franklin Rutherford took over leadership on January 6, 1917, that a completely different wind blew within Jehovah’s Witnesses. Doctrinal changes were made, including those related to the Watchtower Society, of which Rutherford was chairman. The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation was first published in English in 1950. Previously, the King James Version or America Standard had been the norm.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Close to the Mainstream

In principle, Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t that far removed from the “mainstream.” They believe in the return of Jesus, who will establish a kingdom of peace on earth (Info). For this reason, all laws were nailed to the cross (JW – “stake”). Furthermore, Sunday is the day of rest and not the biblical Sabbath (Info).

What Jehovah’s Witnesses oppose—their abstinence from Christmas and Easter celebrations (bunnies and eggs, etc.)—are elements of the labeling of this religious group as a cult. Indeed, these “Christian traditional” festivals are pagan events. However, the essence of their denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ, their assertion of abolished laws, and thus their concomitant disregard for the Fourth Commandment, the Sabbath on the 7th day of the week.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)