The Word: Mighty, or Almighty?

Jehovah's Witnesses struggle with the idea of one God in three person's. Who doesn’t? How do they resolve this to their own satisfaction?

They reason:

'The statement “the Word was with God” indicates that two separate persons are discussed in the verse. It is not possible for the Word to be “with God” and at the same time be God Almighty. The context also confirms that the Word is not Almighty God. John 1:18 states that “no man has seen God at any time.” However, people did see the Word, Jesus, for John 1:14 states that “the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory.”

Is there a difference between 'God' and 'Almighty God,' as they insist? If 'no man has seen God at any time' how is it possible for Jesus to be seen and be God?

Revelation 3:14

I ended my last post without addressing the question, ‘Is the NWT accurate and reliable when it translates Revelation 3:14, 'the beginning of the creation by God'?’ I want to address that here and demonstrate the ‘Mighty’ and Almighty’ are not only not biblical categories but the distinction doesn’t make sense in light of what Revelation says about Jesus.

‘To the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write: ‘These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God.’’ Revelation 3:14 NWT

‘And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.’’ Revelation 3:14 ESV

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach ‘the beginning of the creation by God’ means the first thing to be created, making Jesus a creature. The New World mistranslation inserts ‘by’ where the Greek gives ‘of’, making the verse bend to Watch Tower eisegesis. ‘By God’ makes God the agent of creation, and Christ the first created. ‘Of God’ makes Christ the creator, as clearly taught in John’s gospel:

‘All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.’ John 1:3 NWT

Even the New World Translation confesses, ‘apart from him not even one thing came into existence.’

Two Gods, one Mighty, one Almighty

Is Jesus ‘Mighty’ and is the Father ‘Almighty’?

Doug Harris explains:

‘The Watchtower argues that because the first ‘God’ in John 1:1 is preceded by the Greek definite article ‘the’ it must have a big ‘G’ and refer to Jehovah. However the second ‘god’ does not have the definite article and so is translated ‘a god’, and refers to the ‘little god’, Jesus.

‘What most Jehovah’s Witnesses have not seen, however, is that in John 1:18 there is no definite

article connected with the first theontranslated ‘God’, but the second theosis followed by the definite article ‘the one’ and yet it is translated ‘god’. Add to this the meaning of the term ‘only-begotten’ (see p.82) and this verse says no man has ever seen God but now God the unique Son, clothed in flesh, reveals God in a way that can be seen by men..

‘The Society also uses an argument that speaks of Jesus being ‘with’ God and then asks ‘how can He also be God?’ This does not stand the test of comparing Scripture with Scripture.

‘The Father is God, and Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus the Word was with God, but that does not make Him any less part of the Godhead. To check this out look at Heb.1:3.’

The text in John 1:18 reads:

‘ No man has seen God at anytime, the only-begotten god who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained him.’ John 1:18 NWT

‘No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.’ John 1:18 ESV

The word translated ‘explained’ in the NWT, and ‘made him known,’ in the ESV is exēgēsato which translates, ‘declared.’ Jesus declaration of God amounts to much more than an explanation. He said to Philip, ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father’ ESV.

The NWT adds ‘also’ making it sound as though Jesus is saying, ‘In addition to seeing me you have seen the Father,’ but the text goes on to say, ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in me’ ESV. Again, the NWT adds to the text, ‘I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me.’ This makes it sound like unity of purpose, but Jesus is God the Son, making them unified in essence, the Trinity doctrine.

Mormon Christians? Whats in a Name?

The Mormon Church, disturbed by the continuing identifying of polygamus sects in the news with the name Mormon, recently issued a press statement aimed at "clarifying" issues. It is interesting to note that if you substitute the name "Christian" where they use the name "Mormon" it makes a very good argument for us against the claims of the Mormon Church. The full press release is reproduced below in italics with each paragraph rewritten in ordinary text to present it from a Christian perspective. SALT LAKE CITY 10 July 2008 On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attent...

Cheers!

In their latest update #4, the Jehovah’s Witnesses' Governing Body has announced that toasting and ‘ clinking glasses’ is now allowed at the individual Jehovah’s Witness’s ‘ bible trained conscience’ . This, Governing Body member Stephen Lett tells us, is due to ‘ prayerful consideration’ by the Governing Body. This doesn’t sound unreasonable; who could possibly object to toasting, it’s such an innocuous custom? The answer to that is the Governing Body itself, until now. Ever since 1952, and possibly earlier, the Watchtower has roundly condemned this practice due to its ‘ pagan roots’ in ‘ false religion’ . The 15 May 1952 Watchtower (page 319), has this to say on the matter Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are not honored by having pagan customs of toasting switched to them, or to human s In 1968, in an answer to Questions from Readers, the 1 Jan Watchtower states If a Christian is going to make a request f...

The Mormon God’s Dysfunctional Family

You know those moments when you look at something you’ve looked at a thousand times before and suddenly see something new? I was looking at a blog I found via the Google Blog Alerts service and it told the familiar story of the Mormon “ Plan of Salvation”; you can read it here. There really was nothing surprising until I started thinking about what people might think if a family they knew conducted themselves the way the Mormon “family of God” do in this story. People from abusive backgrounds have problems enough with the idea of God as a Father but this story would put anyone off the idea forever! As I recount this story think about what the typical dad would do as his kids are growing up and compare it with this “exalted man.” According to Mormonism “ God created our spirits” and we lived with him in a pre-mortal existence (Mormons say “pre-existence” but it is not possible to pre-exist, i.e. to exist before you exist. The noun “existence” has to be have the prefix “pre” othe...

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