JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: FALSE TEACHINGS

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
THE DEITY OF JESUSCHRIST	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 OF JESUS	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)

Watch Tower False Prophecies