Do you dread conversations with Jehovah’s Witnesses? They are well trained with prepared responses to common questions we ask around Jesus’ deity, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, and others. This can be frustrating so it’s important we prepare too so we can ask questions that will challenge a Jehovah’s Witness.
We don’t want to spend hours in discussions and it’s highly unlikely any JW will change their beliefs on your doorstep. The main aim is to get them thinking or ‘putting a stone in their shoe’. Below are a couple of simple tactics to get your visitors thinking.
You can get into many topics with Jehovah Witnesses, but the most important question is, who is Jesus? Keep this question in mind during your discussion to avoid being side-tracked. They need to know the true gospel as much as another other unsaved person.
Your visitors need to understand that Jesus is Jehovah. There are good verses showing this, like John 1:1 or John 20:28, but it’s important not to start with them. Use verses they probably haven’t rehearsed to get them to think first.
Who is Jesus?
Your visitors will always have their New World Translation (NWT) Bible with them so get them to use it.
With the first tactic, get them to turn to Psalms 102:25-27. Their translation says:
Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain.
Just like a garment they will all wear out.
Just like clothing you will replace them, and they will pass away.
But you are the same, and your years will never end. (NWT)
Confirm with your visitors who the text is about, they should easily agree it’s about Jehovah. Repeat some of the descriptions of Jehovah in the passage – created heaven and earth; immutable; eternal.
Then ask them to turn to Hebrews and share that Hebrews 1-3 is all about the superiority of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:8 is key, showing who this passage is about – “But and the Son…”.
Hebrews 1:10-12:
And: “At the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; and just like a garment, they will all wear out, and you will wrap them up just as a cloak, as a garment, and they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never come to an end,” (NWT)
Do they recognise the description? Taken directly from the previous Psalm 102 passage. It clearly shows the same attributes given to God and also given to the Son. The straightforward conclusion is that Jesus is being identified at Jehovah because Jesus is Jehovah.
Tim Barnett covers this approach in more detail in – Ready for the Knock on Your Door – and also shares some of the typical responses from JWs.
Two true Gods
This is another tactic also centres on who Jesus is. Ultimately, there is one main question with a few preceding ones to set the context and agree on our understanding.
The first questions should be straightforward and quick:
- You believe Jehovah is Almighty God right? Their answer: Yes
- Is Jehovah a true God or a false God? Their answer: a true God
- Jesus isn’t Jehovah right? They would answer: No
There shouldn’t be any disagreement with these.
Then confirm what their NWT Bible says about Jesus:
- John 1:1 says – “In the beginning the Word was and the Word with God, and the Word was a god.“
- Isaiah 9:6 – “…And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Again, there shouldn’t be any disagreements.
Then, another quick question:
- Is Jesus a true God or a false God? They will say Jesus is a true God.
Now for the main question:
- So you have two true God’s – how can this be when Isaiah 43:10 says there is only one?
“You are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and have faith in me, and that you may understand that I am same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. (Isaiah 43:10 NWT)
You cannot have two true God’s when the Bible says there’s only one!
As Clay Jones covers in video below of this tactic, don’t let them change the subject. If they cannot answer the question, end the conversation there. It’s always best to end the discussion with a stone in their shoe.
Comparison between God and Jesus
As Jesus’ deity is the most important issue, the following are a few comparisons between God and Jesus:
Shephard
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1 NIV)
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11 NIV)
Judge
It is God who judges: he brings one down, he exalts another. (Psalm 75:7 NIV)
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22 NIV)
First and Last
‘This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6 NIV)
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. (Revelation 1:17 NIV)
Light
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12 NIV)
Saviour
I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11 NIV)
They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.’ (John 4:42 NIV)
God’s Glory
‘I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. (Isaiah 42:8 NIV)
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:5 NIV)
Other resources
Stand to Reason covers many challenges from Jehovah’s Witnesses, this article below is a great resource as it collates these into one place:
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