Doctrine/Belief

JW Support

Christian Response

Only the Watchtower Society can interpret the Bible.  Individuals cannot.

"...the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless or how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible...the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind" (Watchtower, October 1, 1997, p. 587).

Ephesians 1:17, 18 states that the Spirit will provide wisdom and illumination to the revelation of God in the Bible.  According to the belief espoused by JW's, all people that lived until the JWs were Founded by Charles Russell must have been doomed to failure, not being able interpret the Bible. 

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (the JW Bible version) is the best translation of the Bible, and should be used over any other version.

"Outstanding among Bibles is the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures...Accuracy, uniformity, clarity, and up-to-date language mark this excellent work.  Bible study aids without equal make this an indispensable help to sincere searching students of God's Word" (What Has Religion Done For Mankind, 1951, p. 351.

The JW Bible actually is plagued with errors.  Greek scholar Bruce Metzger said that "the Jehovah's Witnesses have incorporated in their translation of the New Testament several quite erroneous renderings of the Greek." ("Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ," Theology Today, April, 1953).

The Trinity does not exist, and is an evil doctrine that teaches the existence of 3 gods.

"Never was there a more deceptive doctrine advanced than that of the trinity" (Reconciliation, 1928 )

"...sincere persons who want to know the true God and serve him find it a bit difficult to love and worship a complicated, freakish-looking, three-headed God" (Let God Be True, 1946)

"Satan is the originator of the trinity doctrine" (Ibid.)

Many religions have difficulty with an infinite God, and try to put Him in a box - to define Him in terms they can understand.  While the word "trinity" does not appear in the Bible as a description of God, the scriptures definitely indicate one God with a triune nature - existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Jesus Christ was Michael the Archangel before becoming a man.

"...the Son of God was known as Michael before he came to earth" (Reasoning from the Scriptures, p. 218).

There is no basis for this anywhere in the Bible.

After Jesus died, he was resurrected with His original identity as Michael the Archangel.

"Read carefully the following Bible account: 'War broke out in heaven: Michael [who is the resurrected Jesus Christ] and his angels battled with the dragon'" (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, 1982, p. 21).

Michael, on his own, could not rebuke Satan (Jude 1:9), yet in Mark 9:25 Jesus Himself rebukes Satan.  Hebrews 2:5 says an angel can't rule the world, but Luke 1:32-33 and Revelation 19:16 show Jesus Christ to be the one who will reign.  Therefore, Jesus and Michael can't be one and the same. 

Jesus is "a god", and lesser than Jehovah God.

In the JW version of the Bible, John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word.  The Word was with God, and the Word was a god." [emphasis added]  "...that is the Word was a powerful godlike one.  Clearly, Jesus is not Almighty God."  (Ibid., p. 40).

The JW Bible did not provide an accurate or legitimate translation of this verse. 

Salvation must be earned through works

"To get one's name written in that book of life will depend on one's works, whether they are in fulfillment of God's will and approved by his Judge and King." (Watchtower, August 15, 1972).

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."  (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV) (Emphasis added).

There are two classes of Christians: A "little flock" who are born-again children of God, and the "great crowd" or "other sheep", who will live in "Paradise" on earth after the destruction of the unbelievers.  Only the "little flock" will go to heaven.

"The Bible shows that only a limited number of persons, a 'little flock,' will go to heaven...The rest of faithful humankind will live on earth as the subjects of these rulers" (Watchtower, February 15, 1984)

There is not a caste system in Christianity.  All are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).  The "other sheep" Jesus referred to are Gentile believers who will one day join Jewish believers to form one body of Christians. 

We will be gods when we join Christ in heaven.

"...we are begotten of a divine nature...Jehovah is thus our father...we are divine beings - hence all such are Gods...Now we appear like men, and all die naturally as men, but in the resurrection we will rise in our true character as Gods" (Watchtower, December 1881, 1919 repr.).

This obviously flies in the face of the JW claim that they are monotheistic.  Isaiah 43:10 and 1 Timothy 2:5 are but two of many verses that confirm there is only One God.  To claim we will become gods is blasphemy.

There is no eternal hell for the wicked.  All "unbelievers" will be annihilated, and simply cease to exist.

"The fiendish concepts associated with a hell of torment slander God and originate with the chief slanderer of God (the Devil)" (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985).

Oops!  The "fiendish" concept of hell actually comes from the Bible, not from a slanderer. (Matthew 25:46, Revelations 14:11, 19:20, and 20:10).

JW's are forbidden from saluting the flag or engaging in political activities

"..we view the flag salute as an act of worship" (School and Jehovah's Witnesses, 1983)

"...Jehovah's Witnesses take no part whatsoever in political activities" (United in Worship of the Only True God, 1983).

There is nothing in the Bible to keep us from being politically active or saluting our flag.  In fact, the Bible commands us to have respect and reverence for the government because it is an authority that God has allowed to be placed over us (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:13-14)

JW's do not celebrate birthday parties, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or other unbiblical celebrations.  Even Christmas and Easter are not celebrated as they are pagan holidays. 

"...birthday celebrations tend to give excessive importance to an individual...Jehovah's Witnesses do not share in birthday festivities (parties, singing, gift giving, and so forth)...." (School and Jehovah's Witnesses, 1983).

"...nowhere in the Bible do we find that parents are to be worshiped, or that there should be a Father's Day and a Mother's Day kept in their honor." (Awake!, May 8, 1956).

"Christendom's chief holiday, Easter, therefore finds no support at all in the Bible.  It is of pagan origin." (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, 1968).

These celebrations are harmless, and not contrary to Biblical Christianity.  To say that Mother's Day or Father's Day is a worship of parents is absurd.  It is a show of respect and appreciation.

The Christmas and Easter holidays are very Christian holidays that coincide with pagan holidays.  They were set on these dates to divert attention from the pagan holidays to the truths of God. 

Blood transfusions are strictly prohibited.

Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, and Blood, Medicine and the Law of God, 1961, claim Acts 15:29 as a prohibition against receiving blood transfusions.

Acts 15:28-29 addresses EATING blood - not having blood transfused into your body to replenish your life-sustaining fluids.

Christ returned invisibly in 1914 and began setting up His Kingdom.  World War I was a sign He'd arrived.

"...Bible evidence shows that in the year 1914 C.E. God's time arrived for Christ to return and begin ruling...Christ's return invisible...Christ himself gave a visible 'sign' by which we may know that he is invisibly present...'NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION'...Surely you have seen this part of the 'sign' being fulfilled since 1914!  In that year World War I began" (You Can Live Forever In Paradise on Earth )

Revelations 1:7 makes it clear that when Jesus returns, we'll know it!!  He won't do so invisibly.   This is one of many false prophecies the JW organization has had regarding the end of the world/2nd coming of Christ.