CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: The Watchtower Society
FALSE TEACHINGS
"If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)
Watchtower.teaching |
Teaching of Scripture |
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THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST |
Jesus was an angel who became a man (Watchtower, 5/15/63, p 307). He was just a man, however -- not God in the flesh (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p 306). | Jesus is/was fully God and fully man. See The Deity of Jesus Christ |
THE RESURRECTION |
Jesus was only 'spiritually' raised, not physically (Awake, 7/22/73, p 4; Let God be True, p 276). | Jesus was physically raised. In fact, Scripture teaches Jesus even raised himself from the dead. See The Resurrection of Jesus Christ |
ETERNAL JUDGMENT |
The doctrine of eternal torment (hell) is not valid. (Let God be True, p.90-90, and p. 94-95) The soul becomes extinct (nonexistent) after death (Let God be True, p. 74, 75 and p. 99). | Scripture, in both the Old and New Testament, teaches that the wicked will be eternally tormented in hell. See The After-life |
SALVATION |
Salvation is by works (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 150, 152), through membership in the organization (Watchtower, 2/15/79, p 30). | Salvation by grace through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. See Salvation |
THE TRINITY |
The doctrine of the "trinity" is an invention of man. (Let God be True, p 100, 101) | Although the word "trinity" is not in the Bible, the concept of the
three-in-one is throughout the Old and New Testaments. See The Godhead |
THE HOLY SPIRIT |
The Holy Spirit is an inanimate force or power. (Watchtower, 6/1/52, p 24; Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp 406, 407) | The Holy Spirit is a Person. See The Holy Spirit |
What does Scripture say about false teachers?
A. It is the personal responsibility of the individual believer to test doctrine (Ephesians 4:14) and see if it is "the doctrine of the Lord" (Acts 13:12), "sound" (I Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1) and "good" (Proverbs 4:2; I Timothy 4:6).
B. Scripture repeatedly warns of the coming of false teachers.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Matthew 5:19; 7:15; 15:2-20; 16:12; 23:2-33; 24:23-26; Mark 8:15; 13:21-23; Luke 11:38-52; Acts 15:11 24; 20:28; Galatians 1:7 ; I Timothy 1:3-7;6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:13-14; 4:34; Titus 1:10-11; 3:10-11; Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 John 7-10; Jude 1:4; Revelation 2:14-15
1. They teach the "doctrines of men" (Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7; Colossians 2:22) and devils (I Timothy 4:1), not the "doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9).
2. If it is the "doctrine of God" (Titus 2:10), it will in every aspect correspond with the written Word of God (Isaiah 8:20).
3. Teachers of "divers and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9), who use the scriptures but twist their meaning (2 Peter 3:16), make no distinction between right and wrong (Ezekiel 22:26). Often their motive in ministry is one of monetary gain (Micah 3:11).
4. Because people without a solid foundation in the Word can so easily be led astray (Matthew 24:24), "handling the Word of God deceitfully" (2 Corinthians 4:2) will be met with severe punishment (James 3:1).
(From "The Teaching Ministry," in The Holy Spirit:
Gifts & Ministries,
copyright ©
1979 by Diane S. Dew, available
at cost)