10 Apologetics Points Against Jehovah’s Witnesses

10 Apologetics Points Against Jehovah’s Witnesses

From a Biblical Orthodox Christian View

1. Jesus is not Michael the Archangel

• Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel.
• This is one of the biggest differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and historic Christianity.
• The Bible never says, “Jesus is Michael.”
• The Bible never says, “The Son of God is an archangel.”
• Michael is described as one of the chief angels.
• Jesus is described as the eternal Son of God.
• Angels are created servants.
• Jesus is the Creator, Lord, Son, and Saviour.
• The book of Hebrews strongly separates Jesus from angels.
• The main argument of Hebrews 1 is that Jesus is greater than all angels.
• God does not speak to angels in the same way He speaks to the Son.
• God commands the angels to worship the Son.
• This would be impossible if Jesus were only an angel.
• In the Bible, worship belongs to God alone.
• Therefore, if angels worship Jesus, Jesus cannot be a created angel.

Bible support:

“For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’?”
Hebrews 1:5 NIV

“And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’”
Hebrews 1:6 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask the Jehovah’s Witness:
  • “Where does the Bible clearly say Jesus is Michael?”
  • “If Jesus is an angel, why does God command angels to worship Him?”
  • “Why does Hebrews 1 separate the Son from all angels?”

2. Jesus is directly called God

• Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus is truly God by nature.
• They say Jesus is “a god” or a mighty created being.
• But the New Testament directly calls Jesus God.
• Thomas saw the risen Christ and confessed Him as Lord and God.
• Jesus did not rebuke Thomas.
• Jesus did not say, “Do not call me God.”
• Jesus accepted the confession.
• This is very important because Jews were strict monotheists.
• A faithful Jew would never call a mere creature “my God.”
• Thomas was not using careless language.
• He was making a worshipful confession after seeing the risen Jesus.
• The resurrection revealed Jesus’ true identity.
• He is not only alive.
• He is Lord and God.

Bible support:

“Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
John 20:28 NIV

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:31 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “Why did Jesus accept Thomas calling Him ‘my God’?”
  • “If Thomas was wrong, why did Jesus not correct him?”
  • “Would a Jewish disciple call a created being ‘my God’?”

3. John 1:1 teaches that the Word is God

• Jehovah’s Witnesses translate John 1:1 as “the Word was a god.”
• This translation supports their doctrine.
• But the historic Christian understanding is that the Word is truly God.
• John begins his Gospel by taking us back before creation.
• “In the beginning” echoes Genesis 1:1.
• Before creation existed, the Word already existed.
• The Word was not created in the beginning.
• The Word already “was.”
• The Word was with God.
• The Word was God.
• Then John says the Word became flesh.
• This means Jesus is the eternal Word who entered history.
• Jesus did not begin to exist at Bethlehem.
• At Bethlehem, the eternal Word became man.
• This is the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation.
• The Son did not stop being God.
• He became truly man while remaining truly God.

Bible support:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:1 NIV

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
John 1:14 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “Was the Word created, or did the Word already exist in the beginning?”
  • “If the Word made all things, how can He be one of the things made?”
  • “Why does John say the Word was God?”

4. Jesus receives worship

• Jehovah’s Witnesses rightly say that only Jehovah should be worshipped.
• Christians agree that worship belongs to God alone.
• But the Bible shows Jesus receiving worship.
• The disciples worshipped Jesus after He calmed the storm.
• The women worshipped Jesus after the resurrection.
• The disciples worshipped Jesus before the Great Commission.
• Jesus never refused their worship.
• This is very different from angels and apostles.
• Angels refuse worship.
• Apostles refuse worship.
• God alone receives worship.
• If Jesus were a created being, He should have refused worship immediately.
• But He accepted worship because He is divine.
• The worship of Jesus is not idolatry.
• It is the proper worship of God the Son.

Bible support:

“Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
Matthew 14:33 NIV

“When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
Matthew 28:17 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “Why did Jesus accept worship?”
  • “Why do angels refuse worship, but Jesus accepts it?”
  • “If worship belongs to God alone, what does the worship of Jesus mean?”

5. Jesus forgives sins as God

• Jehovah’s Witnesses may say Jesus forgave sins only as God’s representative.
• But the Gospel story shows something deeper.
• Jesus directly said to the paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven.”
• The teachers of the law understood the issue clearly.
• They said only God can forgive sins.
• Jesus did not deny the principle.
• Instead, He proved His authority by healing the man.
• He showed that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
• Sin is ultimately against God.
• Therefore, full forgiveness of sin belongs to God.
• Jesus forgives sins with divine authority.
• This reveals who He is.
• He is not only a prophet announcing forgiveness.
• He is the divine Lord who grants forgiveness.

Bible support:

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
Mark 2:5 NIV

“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:7 NIV

“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Mark 2:10 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “Why did the Jewish leaders understand this as a divine claim?”
  • “Why did Jesus prove His authority instead of denying it?”
  • “Can a creature forgive sins committed against God?”

6. Jesus is Creator, not created

• Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was the first created being.
• But the Bible teaches that all things were created through Him.
• John says that without Him nothing was made that has been made.
• This is a powerful statement.
• Everything that belongs to the category of “made things” was made through Jesus.
• If Jesus made all made things, He cannot be one of the made things.
• Paul says all things were created in Him, through Him, and for Him.
• This includes things in heaven and on earth.
• This includes visible and invisible powers.
• Angels are invisible heavenly beings.
• Therefore angels were created through Christ.
• If Christ created angels, He cannot be Michael the Archangel.
• The Creator is not part of creation.
• Jesus is before all things.
• In Him all things hold together.
• Creation depends on Him.

Bible support:

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:3 NIV

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things have been created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:16 NIV

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:17 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “If all created things were made through Jesus, how can Jesus be created?”
  • “If angels were created through Jesus, how can Jesus be an angel?”
  • “Why does creation exist ‘for Him’ if He is only a creature?”

7. The Holy Spirit is not merely an active force

• Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the Holy Spirit is God’s active force.
• Historic Christianity teaches that the Holy Spirit is personal and divine.
• The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power like electricity.
• The Holy Spirit speaks.
• The Holy Spirit teaches.
• The Holy Spirit guides.
• The Holy Spirit can be grieved.
• The Holy Spirit can be lied to.
• The Holy Spirit calls people into ministry.
• In Acts, the Holy Spirit says, “Set apart for me.”
• A force does not say “me.”
• A force does not appoint missionaries.
• A force does not have will and speech.
• The Bible uses personal language for the Spirit.
• The Spirit is the Lord and giver of life.
• The Spirit works in the Church, the sacraments, and the life of believers.

Bible support:

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”
Acts 13:2 NIV

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Ephesians 4:30 NIV

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?’”
Acts 5:3 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “How can a force speak and say ‘me’?”
  • “How can a force be grieved?”
  • “Why does lying to the Holy Spirit count as lying to God?”

8. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is denied or weakened

• Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was raised as a spirit creature.
• They deny the full bodily resurrection as historic Christianity teaches it.
• But Jesus Himself said He was not a ghost.
• He showed His hands and feet.
• He invited the disciples to touch Him.
• He said He had flesh and bones.
• He ate fish in front of them.
• These details are not accidental.
• They are apologetic evidence.
• Luke wants us to know the resurrection was real and physical.
• The same Jesus who was crucified was raised.
• His body was glorified, but it was still truly His body.
• The tomb was empty because the body was raised.
• The Christian hope is not escape from the body.
• The Christian hope is resurrection and new creation.
• This is why the bodily resurrection is essential.

Bible support:

“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Luke 24:39 NIV

“He took it and ate it in their presence.”
Luke 24:43 NIV

“He was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:4 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “Why did Jesus say He was not a ghost?”
  • “Why did He show His hands and feet?”
  • “Why did He eat in front of them?”
  • “If His body was not raised, why was the tomb empty?”

9. Salvation is in Christ, not in an organisation

• Jehovah’s Witnesses strongly connect salvation with loyalty to their organisation.
• They often teach that their organisation is God’s true channel on earth.
• But the New Testament places salvation in Jesus Christ.
• The Church is the body of Christ and the pillar of truth.
• But no human organisation replaces Christ as Saviour.
• Salvation is not earned by door-to-door work.
• Salvation is not earned by belonging to one modern group.
• Salvation is the gift of God’s grace through faith.
• Good works matter, but they are the fruit of grace.
• They are not the price of salvation.
• Christians obey because they have been saved.
• They do not obey in order to buy salvation.
• The centre of Christianity is not a publishing organisation.
• The centre is the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible support:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 NIV

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Ephesians 2:8 NIV

“Not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:9 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “Where does the Bible say salvation depends on loyalty to the Watchtower organisation?”
  • “Why does Acts 4:12 place salvation in the name of Jesus, not in an organisation?”
  • “Are good works the fruit of salvation or the foundation of salvation?”

10. Their history of failed predictions weakens their claim to divine authority

• Jehovah’s Witnesses have made strong claims about dates and end-time expectations.
• Their organisation has had repeated failed expectations about the end.
• This is serious because they claim to be God’s special channel.
• In the Bible, false prophecy is a serious matter.
• God’s word does not fail.
• If a religious organisation repeatedly speaks with authority about dates and is wrong, Christians must be careful.
• Jesus warned His followers not to follow date-setting movements.
• Jesus said no one knows the day or hour.
• The apostles taught Christians to be ready always.
• They did not command believers to follow a changing timetable from a modern organisation.
• True Christian faith is built on Christ, Scripture, the apostles, and the historic Church.
• It is not built on changing predictions.

Bible support:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Matthew 24:36 NIV

“Watch out that no one deceives you.”
Matthew 24:4 NIV

“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded… is to be put to death.”
Deuteronomy 18:20 NIV

Apologetic answer:

• Ask:
  • “If Jesus said no one knows the day or hour, why follow date-setting claims?”
  • “Can God’s true prophetic message fail?”
  • “Should Christian faith depend on changing organisational predictions?”