An Examination of An Examination of The Jehovah’s The Jehovah’s

Witnesses Witnesses

by Prof. Dennis M. Swansonby Prof. Dennis M. Swanson

The Master’s SeminaryThe Master’s Seminary

Importance of this StudyImportance of this Study

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have over 6 The Jehovah’s Witnesses have over 6 million followers in 234 Countries.million followers in 234 Countries.

Their “door to door” witnessing Their “door to door” witnessing accounts for nearly 1.1 billion man-accounts for nearly 1.1 billion man-hours of labor annually.hours of labor annually.

They have aggressive and extensive They have aggressive and extensive training programs for all their training programs for all their members.members.

They are absolutely convinced that They are absolutely convinced that they are “The Only True Church.”they are “The Only True Church.”

Background of the GroupBackground of the Group Their services are conducted in “Kingdom Their services are conducted in “Kingdom

Halls” generally three times a week.Halls” generally three times a week. They have no official pastors.They have no official pastors. Their Headquarters is in Brooklyn, New Their Headquarters is in Brooklyn, New

York.York. Their Official name is the Their Official name is the Watchtower Bible Watchtower Bible

and Tract Societyand Tract Society.. They publish an enormous amount of They publish an enormous amount of

material including two magazines material including two magazines AWAKE!AWAKE! and and The WatchtowerThe Watchtower..

They have produced their own version of They have produced their own version of the Bible: the Bible: The New World TranslationThe New World Translation..

History of the Jehovah WitnessesHistory of the Jehovah Witnesses Began as a “Bible Study” led by Charles Taze Began as a “Bible Study” led by Charles Taze

Russell in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (USA) in Russell in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (USA) in 1870.1870.

Officially organized in 1884 as the Officially organized in 1884 as the Watchtower Bible and Tract SocietyWatchtower Bible and Tract Society with with Russell as the President.Russell as the President.

Since 1884 there have been only six Since 1884 there have been only six Presidents: Presidents: Charles Taze Russell (1884-1916)Charles Taze Russell (1884-1916) Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1916-42)Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1916-42) Nathan H. Knorr (1942-77)Nathan H. Knorr (1942-77) Frederick William Franz (1977-92)Frederick William Franz (1977-92) Milton G. Henschel (1992-2002)Milton G. Henschel (1992-2002) Don Alden Adams (2002 to present)Don Alden Adams (2002 to present)

Russell and Rutherford are the most Russell and Rutherford are the most important of the six.important of the six.

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)

Russell came from a wealthy family, Russell came from a wealthy family, was a member of the Presbyterian was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and himself a successful Church, and himself a successful businessman and writer.businessman and writer.

He began the group in 1884.He began the group in 1884. He was not trained in either theology He was not trained in either theology

or biblical studies.or biblical studies. His personal life was littered with His personal life was littered with

controversies.controversies. His theology was largely contained in His theology was largely contained in

his six volume work: his six volume work: Studies in the Studies in the ScripturesScriptures..

A significant portion of his teachings A significant portion of his teachings have either been modified or have either been modified or abandoned by subsequent leadersabandoned by subsequent leaders..

““Judge” Rutherford (1869-1942)Judge” Rutherford (1869-1942) Joseph Rutherford was able to become the Joseph Rutherford was able to become the

President of the President of the Watchtower SocietyWatchtower Society after after the death of Russell.the death of Russell.

There was a significant schism between There was a significant schism between Rutherford and others in the group.Rutherford and others in the group.

Rutherford named his group Rutherford named his group Jehovah’s Jehovah’s WitnessesWitnesses in 1931. in 1931.

He was a successful attorney and a He was a successful attorney and a “substitute Judge” in the US Circuit Court.“substitute Judge” in the US Circuit Court.

He continued to practice law, arguing 14 He continued to practice law, arguing 14 cases before the Supreme Court until just cases before the Supreme Court until just before he died.before he died.

Most of the foundational principles of the Most of the foundational principles of the group were formulated by Rutherford, group were formulated by Rutherford, including the “door to door” witnessing, including the “door to door” witnessing, and the publication of the and the publication of the AWAKE!AWAKE! magazine.magazine.

New World Translation of the BibleNew World Translation of the Bible Published in serial form in the 1950’s and Published in serial form in the 1950’s and

as a single volume in 1961.as a single volume in 1961. The translators names have never been The translators names have never been

released and no one has ever admitted to released and no one has ever admitted to being involved in the project. However, it being involved in the project. However, it is known that three of the Watchtower is known that three of the Watchtower presidents were instrumental in the presidents were instrumental in the “translation.”“translation.”

None of those known to have worked on the None of those known to have worked on the NWT had any training in the Biblical NWT had any training in the Biblical languages, and none of the presidents had a languages, and none of the presidents had a college degree in any subject.college degree in any subject.

In a court hearing Franz was forced to admit In a court hearing Franz was forced to admit that he could not translate a simple passage that he could not translate a simple passage (Gen 2:4) from Hebrew into English.(Gen 2:4) from Hebrew into English.

In English, the style is often turgid and In English, the style is often turgid and forced. The translation of important forced. The translation of important passages is trumped by their doctrinal passages is trumped by their doctrinal considerations. considerations.

Bruce Metzger, one of the outstanding Bruce Metzger, one of the outstanding New Testament scholars of this generation New Testament scholars of this generation stated that they “incorporated several stated that they “incorporated several quite erroneous renderings of the Greek” quite erroneous renderings of the Greek” into their version.into their version.

What Do They Believe?What Do They Believe?

It is perhaps simpler to begin with what It is perhaps simpler to begin with what the Jehovah’s Witnesses DO NOT believe:the Jehovah’s Witnesses DO NOT believe: They reject the Doctrine of the Trinity.They reject the Doctrine of the Trinity. They reject the Deity of Christ and affirm the They reject the Deity of Christ and affirm the

early heretic Arius, as a “Great Christian early heretic Arius, as a “Great Christian Leader” and place him in their line of Leader” and place him in their line of teachers.teachers.

They reject the bodily resurrection of Christ.They reject the bodily resurrection of Christ. They reject the personality of The Holy Spirit. They reject the personality of The Holy Spirit.

He is viewed as a “force” or “activating He is viewed as a “force” or “activating power,” not an individual member of the power,” not an individual member of the Trinity.Trinity.

They reject the idea of eternal punishment.They reject the idea of eternal punishment.

Jehovah Witnesses and SalvationJehovah Witnesses and Salvation

The KEY issue with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, The KEY issue with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or any cult, after their view of God and or any cult, after their view of God and Christ, is their position on the doctrine of Christ, is their position on the doctrine of salvation.salvation.

Jehovah Witnesses teach salvation by works:Jehovah Witnesses teach salvation by works: ““It is for the reward of eternal life that every last It is for the reward of eternal life that every last

person on earth should be working for” person on earth should be working for” ((Watchtower 15 Oct 1972Watchtower 15 Oct 1972, p. 492)., p. 492).

““Jehovah God will justify, declare righteous, on the Jehovah God will justify, declare righteous, on the basis of their own merit all perfected humans who basis of their own merit all perfected humans who have withstood that final, decisive test of mankind have withstood that final, decisive test of mankind [the release of Satan from bondage after the 1,000-[the release of Satan from bondage after the 1,000-year reign of Christ]” (year reign of Christ]” (Life Everlasting-In Freedom Life Everlasting-In Freedom of the Sons of Godof the Sons of God, 1966, p. 400)., 1966, p. 400).

Some Oddities of Some Oddities of Jehovah Witnesses’ TheologyJehovah Witnesses’ Theology

The Jehovah Witnesses have more than a few oddities in The Jehovah Witnesses have more than a few oddities in their theology. Items which do not matter as far as their theology. Items which do not matter as far as salvation is concerned, but are interesting:salvation is concerned, but are interesting:

Only the best 144,000 Jehovah Witnesses Go to Heaven, the Only the best 144,000 Jehovah Witnesses Go to Heaven, the rest remain in a “millennial” earth.rest remain in a “millennial” earth.

When Jesus went to heaven He became who He had previously When Jesus went to heaven He became who He had previously been, The Archangel Michael.been, The Archangel Michael.

While begun as a “Bible study” the Witnesses believe that only While begun as a “Bible study” the Witnesses believe that only the organization can correctly interpret the Bible. “the Bible…the organization can correctly interpret the Bible. “the Bible…belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe they can interpret the Bible” (Watchtower, 1 Oct 1967, p. 587).they can interpret the Bible” (Watchtower, 1 Oct 1967, p. 587).

They teach that Christ returned in 1914. He is currently They teach that Christ returned in 1914. He is currently administering His “still invisible kingdom” from Watchtower administering His “still invisible kingdom” from Watchtower headquarters in Brooklyn.headquarters in Brooklyn.

They teach that to accept a blood transfusion would cause one They teach that to accept a blood transfusion would cause one to lose their salvation.to lose their salvation.

They reject all holidays regardless of the type. Do not vote, They reject all holidays regardless of the type. Do not vote, hold political office, serve in the military, salute a national flag.hold political office, serve in the military, salute a national flag.

In the first edition of the In the first edition of the New World TranslationNew World Translation, a note , a note explains why a particularly Greek phrase explains why a particularly Greek phrase egw. eimiegw. eimi (John (John 8:58) as “I have been” on the basis of the word being in the 8:58) as “I have been” on the basis of the word being in the “Perfect Indefinite Tense.” The problem is, there is no such “Perfect Indefinite Tense.” The problem is, there is no such tense in any language. The phrase is universally translated as tense in any language. The phrase is universally translated as “I Am.”“I Am.”

Witnessing to WitnessesWitnessing to Witnesses It must be remembered that Jehovah’s It must be remembered that Jehovah’s

Witnesses are highly trained in their Witnesses are highly trained in their doctrines before they go out.doctrines before they go out. They are well versed in their They are well versed in their New World New World

TranslationTranslation and will use Greek and Hebrew and will use Greek and Hebrew grammatical terminology although none grammatical terminology although none that I have ever encountered are trained that I have ever encountered are trained in either language.in either language.

It also must be remembered that this It also must be remembered that this group is not Christian. A person group is not Christian. A person cannotcannot believe the Witness’ doctrines believe the Witness’ doctrines and be saved.and be saved.

It is vital to Major on Major Issues!It is vital to Major on Major Issues!

Witnessing to WitnessesWitnessing to Witnesses The Major Issues to emphasize are the The Major Issues to emphasize are the

Deity of Christ and Justification by Deity of Christ and Justification by Faith.Faith.

Demonstrating that your know your Demonstrating that your know your Bible is important.Bible is important.

Do not allow yourself to be side tracked Do not allow yourself to be side tracked by unimportant issues.by unimportant issues.

Be polite and courteous (they are Be polite and courteous (they are taught that unbelievers will persecute taught that unbelievers will persecute and ridicule them).and ridicule them).

Make a deal with them: Allow them to Make a deal with them: Allow them to speak for 15 minutes, uninterrupted; as speak for 15 minutes, uninterrupted; as long as they will allow you do the same. long as they will allow you do the same.