- As mentioned last week, the theology of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is essentially a theology of denial. Jehovah’s Witnesses deny or redefine all of the fundamental doctrines of biblical Christianity. The doctrine of the person and work of Jesus Christ is no exception.
- As to the person of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught by the Watchtower organization that Jesus is really Michael the Archangel, the first creation of God. They believe he was only a man when on earth, possessing no divine nature.
- The biblical doctrine of the person of Jesus Christ is far different though. For one, as we saw last week, Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ is God and part of the Trinity (Revelation 1:8; 21:5-7; 22:13-16; also Luke 1:35; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 13:14).
- Furthermore, the Bible nowhere implies that Michael the Archangel is Jesus Christ. In fact, the testimony of Scripture is clear that Michael does not possess the same authority as Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God (see Jude v. 9 as compared to Matthew 4:10-11).
- The Bible also reveals that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is superior to the angels and is to be worshipped by them (Hebrews 1:4-6).
- Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the biblical doctrine of the person of Jesus Christ because they have been taught by the Watchtower organization that Jehovah alone is God. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not worship Jesus Christ. They have denied his deity and have turned him into a mere creation of Jehovah. Thus, they believe to worship Jesus is idolatry.
- Interestingly though, and unbeknownst to most Jehovah’s Witnesses today, prior to 1954 the Watchtower did promote the worship of Jesus Christ. However, they became fiercely anti-Trinitarian during the 1950’s with the release of their false, man-made Bible, The New World Translation.
For more information on refuting the false theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, please check out Dr. Carlson’s lecture, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Trinity, available in MP3, CD, or DVD in our online store.