I am interacting with a JW. Nice guy. Please keep Randolph in prayer. I highly recommend Walter Martin's book "Kingdom of the Cults". I don't have the book but I have two of his tapes from MT. ZION www.mtzion.org I think.
Walter Martin was (I think he's with the Lord) one of the best Chrsitians in defending orthodoxy against the cults. Fantastic stuff.
He recommends the following order to deal with a JW. He says if you just start rattling off Trinity texts (ex. where all the Persons of the Godhead are mentioned in the same passage) it won't work.
Here's the order:
1) Show that you and the JW have common ground (the Bible).
2) Define what you mean by Trinity
3) Ask them that if the Bible taught the doctrine of the Trinity would they submit to that teaching. You may have to say it several different ways, but the average JW loves his/her Bible and will submit (it is their ultimate authority). Eventually, although they will say it can't teach the doctrine, they will probably say that they will submit (because they don't think we can prove the doctrine).
4) Are there three Persons in the New Testament, and are they each called God? Let's look:
Is there a Person called the Father, and is He identified as God? 2 Pet. 1:17
At this point the JW will wholeheartedly agree.
Is there a Person called the Son? Yes, the JW will agree. Is He identified as God? Exodus 3:10-14. Then show John 8:51-58. Then show John 10:29ff. Now I highly recommend that you get the tapes to deal with the JW's objection of John 8:58. Jesus reached into the common translation (the Septuagint) and took the Divine Name. The Jews, who understood the context and the culture, knew exactly what He meant. They accused Him of blasphemy and wanted Him dead.
Either Christ was deluded, hallucinating, insane, a deceiver, or He was Who He said He was.
The JW'S love the book of the "Revealtion of Jesus Christ". So turn to Rev. 1:8 God is identified as Alpha and Omega. The JW'S will agree. Then turn to Rev. 22: 7, 12, 13. Ask the JW Who is speaking? Whoever it is says that He is the Alpha and the Omega and that He is coming quickly. This is Jesus! Look at 22:16 It reads: "'I Jesus...'" He is the Alpha and Omega.
Now go to 22:20. Jesus says that He is coming quickly. This is exactly what 22:7, 12 and 1:8 syas. He is the One Who is, was, and is to come.
Go to Rev. 22:13 It reads that Jesus is the "first and the last". Go to 1:12-18. Jesus is the Son of man spoken of in Daniel. And this Son of man in 1:17 is the "first and the last". Then (just for a bit of fun), go to Isa. 44:6 (the JW'S love this verse-so do we!) It says that Jehova is the "first and the last". Now, how many firsts and lasts can there be? How many Alphas and Omegas can there be? To posit that there can be more than one is linguistic and exegetical suicide.
Now, just for kicks and giggles, (and by the way, this next line of argument was admitted by a converted JW to have given him a lot of trouble when he was high up in the "organization" He said that when he asked his superiors about it, they ran for cover).
Look at Hebrews 1:5-8. Herein we find that Jehova is commanding the angels to worship the Son. Moreover, Jehova calls the Son "God". Now flip over to Matt. 4:10. Jesus says that only God is to be worshipped! Look at Matt. 2:11. The wise men worshipped the Baby. The angels worshipped Christ too. Yet, only God can be worshipped.
So, is there a Person called the Son and is He identified as Jehova? Yes.
Is there a Person called the Holy Spirit and is He identified as God? Look at Acts 5:3-4. Herein we find that Annanias has lied to the Holy Spirit. Then Peter says that Annanias has "not lied to men but to God". You cannot lie to an inanimate object. You can only lie to personality. Look at Acts 13:1:2 Herein the Holy Spirit is speaking. Luke actually quotes the Holy Spirit's words. This is the ist person singular.
To summarize: Is there a Person called the Father and is He identified as Jehova? Yes. Is there a Person called the Son and is He identified as Jehova? Yes. Is there a Person called the Holy Spirit and is He identified as Jehova? Yes.
Now, how many Gods are there? Look at 1 Tim. 2:5 There is only one God.
Conclusion: The doctrine of the Trinity is proven.
Now, once you've done that (amidst the JW'S many objections), you are in a position to go to other "proof texts".
Here's something new I learned. Check this out: Who raised Jesus from the dead?.....Look at Acts 3:26 (The Father raised the Son). Look at John 2:19-22 (Jesus raised Himself). Look at Romans 8:11 (the Holy Spirit raised Jesus). Now look at Acts 17:31 (God the Trinity raised Jesus from the dead).
May this be an encouragement and strenghtening of our faith. And may God employ the argument as a means of salvation for so many that are "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death".
Walter Martin was (I think he's with the Lord) one of the best Chrsitians in defending orthodoxy against the cults. Fantastic stuff.
He recommends the following order to deal with a JW. He says if you just start rattling off Trinity texts (ex. where all the Persons of the Godhead are mentioned in the same passage) it won't work.
Here's the order:
1) Show that you and the JW have common ground (the Bible).
2) Define what you mean by Trinity
3) Ask them that if the Bible taught the doctrine of the Trinity would they submit to that teaching. You may have to say it several different ways, but the average JW loves his/her Bible and will submit (it is their ultimate authority). Eventually, although they will say it can't teach the doctrine, they will probably say that they will submit (because they don't think we can prove the doctrine).
4) Are there three Persons in the New Testament, and are they each called God? Let's look:
Is there a Person called the Father, and is He identified as God? 2 Pet. 1:17
At this point the JW will wholeheartedly agree.
Is there a Person called the Son? Yes, the JW will agree. Is He identified as God? Exodus 3:10-14. Then show John 8:51-58. Then show John 10:29ff. Now I highly recommend that you get the tapes to deal with the JW's objection of John 8:58. Jesus reached into the common translation (the Septuagint) and took the Divine Name. The Jews, who understood the context and the culture, knew exactly what He meant. They accused Him of blasphemy and wanted Him dead.
Either Christ was deluded, hallucinating, insane, a deceiver, or He was Who He said He was.
The JW'S love the book of the "Revealtion of Jesus Christ". So turn to Rev. 1:8 God is identified as Alpha and Omega. The JW'S will agree. Then turn to Rev. 22: 7, 12, 13. Ask the JW Who is speaking? Whoever it is says that He is the Alpha and the Omega and that He is coming quickly. This is Jesus! Look at 22:16 It reads: "'I Jesus...'" He is the Alpha and Omega.
Now go to 22:20. Jesus says that He is coming quickly. This is exactly what 22:7, 12 and 1:8 syas. He is the One Who is, was, and is to come.
Go to Rev. 22:13 It reads that Jesus is the "first and the last". Go to 1:12-18. Jesus is the Son of man spoken of in Daniel. And this Son of man in 1:17 is the "first and the last". Then (just for a bit of fun), go to Isa. 44:6 (the JW'S love this verse-so do we!) It says that Jehova is the "first and the last". Now, how many firsts and lasts can there be? How many Alphas and Omegas can there be? To posit that there can be more than one is linguistic and exegetical suicide.
Now, just for kicks and giggles, (and by the way, this next line of argument was admitted by a converted JW to have given him a lot of trouble when he was high up in the "organization" He said that when he asked his superiors about it, they ran for cover).
Look at Hebrews 1:5-8. Herein we find that Jehova is commanding the angels to worship the Son. Moreover, Jehova calls the Son "God". Now flip over to Matt. 4:10. Jesus says that only God is to be worshipped! Look at Matt. 2:11. The wise men worshipped the Baby. The angels worshipped Christ too. Yet, only God can be worshipped.
So, is there a Person called the Son and is He identified as Jehova? Yes.
Is there a Person called the Holy Spirit and is He identified as God? Look at Acts 5:3-4. Herein we find that Annanias has lied to the Holy Spirit. Then Peter says that Annanias has "not lied to men but to God". You cannot lie to an inanimate object. You can only lie to personality. Look at Acts 13:1:2 Herein the Holy Spirit is speaking. Luke actually quotes the Holy Spirit's words. This is the ist person singular.
To summarize: Is there a Person called the Father and is He identified as Jehova? Yes. Is there a Person called the Son and is He identified as Jehova? Yes. Is there a Person called the Holy Spirit and is He identified as Jehova? Yes.
Now, how many Gods are there? Look at 1 Tim. 2:5 There is only one God.
Conclusion: The doctrine of the Trinity is proven.
Now, once you've done that (amidst the JW'S many objections), you are in a position to go to other "proof texts".
Here's something new I learned. Check this out: Who raised Jesus from the dead?.....Look at Acts 3:26 (The Father raised the Son). Look at John 2:19-22 (Jesus raised Himself). Look at Romans 8:11 (the Holy Spirit raised Jesus). Now look at Acts 17:31 (God the Trinity raised Jesus from the dead).
May this be an encouragement and strenghtening of our faith. And may God employ the argument as a means of salvation for so many that are "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death".