Jehovah Witness NWT Question?

Question

I've spoken with a few different Witnesses and read through the NWT extensively. I've even spoken with a Witness that was convinced the NWT was essentially similar to other translations used within Orthodoxy. Really? Either this individual has never read through another translation or they've been grossly misinformed. I think even a casual observer could spot the differences in the NWT translation (erroneous or otherwise).

So here's my question - In the NWT, why does the Messiah have an "identity crises" ? Honestly, those who have studied with the JW's (or looked on Google), know that JW's believe that Jesus is somehow the Archangel Michael in disguise. No really, it get's deeper - which is why I had to ask the question.

Scripture is always deliberate when it identifies the appearance of angels. It's never vague or obscure. One example is Gabriel in the books of Matthew & Luke. He's called an "Angel of the Lord" the moment he appears in the text. He even identifies himself in Luke 1:19.

Ok then, so where is the Scriptural reference directly identifying Jesus as this "angel" according to the WBTS? Point in fact, Jesus never said He was an angel, the Gospel never writes that He was, and the NT seems loaded with references that evidence the opposite.

So to sum up, the Biblical Jesus has the same titles as God. He has the same character as God, along with the same glory, power and authority as God. But according to the WBTS, this individual could never be God?

Answer 1

I was raised a witness. You're absolutely correct. The NWT is so full of errors that it would take a year to list them all. They have changed it to fit the doctrine. I can look at the 1980s version and compare it to the 2013 revision and find where they've caught their mistakes and have changed it. As far as Jesus being a created angel, I keep telling them to re-read Hebrews chapter 1 over and over until it sinks in. It plainly says Jesus is not an angel. Proverbs 8:22, they use the word produced instead of possessed like other Bibles because they 1) believe Jesus is Wisdom and 2) it makes it appear as though Jesus is created. First, Proverbs is poetry and personification. Second, if Jehovah "produced" wisdom, how did that happen? You have to have wisdom already to create something. :) It also says wisdom dwells with prudence. If Jesus is wisdom, who is prudence? John 1:1 makes them look polytheistic. There are errors throughout the NWT.

Answer 2

Their whole Jesus is Michael the archangel teaching rests on a rather weak foundation. To support their teaching, they actually use similar arguments that they condemn trinitarians for using to identify Jesus with God.



JWs make a big fuss about Michael being called *the* archangel, claiming the definite article "the" proves there's only one. Well if there's only one why is his name always mentioned before "the archangel" as in "Michael the archangel"? If he's one of a kind scripture could just say "The Archangel" without having to give his name to specify. Why doesn't scripture just say "the archangel" period? Here's what I think:



There are more than one archangels. Daniel describes Michael as being "one of the foremost princes". This designation certainly implies that there are others like him - other archangels. That would explain why the name Michael often precedes "the archangel", to identify which archangel is being referred to.



Also, given that the bible is rather reluctant to divulge the names of angels, that two are given - Michael and Gabriel - could indicate that they are both of the same very high rank. Since we know that Michael is an archangel it is therefore possible that Gabriel is too, although he is never explicitly identified as such.

Answer 3

Let's put it this way; Why do you think Jesus himself said "let the young children come to me". It was their humble attitude and willingness to learn. That is not what you want to do, so naturally you will not understand the importance of the New World Translation. How sad for you. That too was foretold in all the translations...



You see, the truth is "the truth"...



Matthew 7:13-20

Names of God Bible (NOG)

The Narrow Gate



13 “Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. 14 But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.



False Prophets



15 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves. 16 You will know them by what they produce.



“People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? 17 In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. 19 Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire. 20 So you will know them by what they produce.

Answer 4

First it is important to point out that Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is *just* an angel. Scripture suggests that he is *the* ARCHangel.



The Bible refers to Michael as “the ARCHangel.” (Jude 9) This term means “chief angel.” Notice that Michael is called THE archangel. Not only does this suggest that there is only *one* such angel, but also the term “archangel” occurs in the Bible only in the singular, never in the plural. So when 1 Thessalonians 4:16 states: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel”, (ASV) the voice of Jesus is described as being that of the archangel. This Scripture therefore suggests that the name 'Michael' applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return.

For more, see: Who Is Michael the Archangel?

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/who-is-michael-the-archangel/



and



Michael (Insight on the Scriptures)

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200003035



Jehovah's Witnesses today are not (and have not been) the only ones to understand Michael to be the archangel who came to be known as Jesus on earth. From early Christian writings until now there have been many who have believed this:

Quotes From Scholars Concerning Jesus as Michael the Archangel

http://examiningthetrinity.blogspot.com/2011/06/scholars-quotes-concerning-jesus-as.html



Trinitarians obviously have problems with this because an "angel" to them is a subordinate term thereby reducing Jesus to a status lower than God Himself.



A large problem is that many do not have the proper understanding of what the literal definition of "angel" in the Bible is. Both the Hebrew mal·´akh´ and the Greek ag´ge·los literally mean “messenger.” When spirit messengers are indicated, the words are translated “angels,” but if the reference definitely is to humans, the rendering is “messengers.” (Gen. 16:7; 32:3; Jas. 2:25; Rev. 22:8) Whether human or angelic messengers are meant can be determined by the context.



When Jesus was on earth, he was God's foremost messenger. He was called the "Word" because he was God's Spokesman:



“I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak. . . . Therefore the things I speak, just as the Father has told me them, so I speak them.” (John 12:49, 50; 14:10; 7:16, 17)



The Bible clearly shows that Jesus is not God in hundreds of different ways. So the over-the-top persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses by trinitarians over whether or not Jesus is Michael the Archangel is really an overreaction and demonstrates a clear ignorance of Scripture and History.

Answer 5

No where within Scripture does it identify Jesus as being St. Michael the Archangel rather it's based on the assumption made by the Jehovah Witnesses leaders. Like for instance it states within Scripture that Jesus has the command of an archangel they assume this makes Him an Archangel. Again they say there is only one Archangel which means "chief angel" but of course there were many Chief Priests of the Priesthood of Aaron. If an angel is mentioned by name in Scripture that angel has importance to God like St. Gabriel the Archangel was sent to the Blessed Virgin Mary to inform her that she would conceive and give birth to a Son (Jesus). And of course St. Raphael the Archangel from the Book of Tobit which was included in the original Christian Bible Codex Sinaiticus St. Raphael the Archangel petitions God on behalf of Tobit and Sarah in which God sends him to heal Tobit of his blindness and to arrange Tobit's son Tobiah to marry the widower Sarah. If angels are mentioned by name in Scripture they are Archangels. As for St. Michael the Archangel he is one of the seven Seraphim that stand at the throne of God in which four Seraphim are always present. St. Michael the Archangel is the head Seraph which is why he is called the Prince of the heavenly host. Jesus is the King and His Kingdom is the Kingdom of Heaven and the seed of His Church here on earth. A King is not a Prince.

This also brings up another matter the Jehovah Witnesses claim that Jesus shares the Kingdom of Heaven with His Father in which Jesus is a Prince and His Father is King but when Jesus returned He became King. Again this conflicts with Scripture about a kingdom being divided, when Jesus was accused of casting out demons with demons Jesus said, "A kingdom divided will not stand".

Answer 6

The Watchtower's official website says that there is no Bible verse that categorically identifies Michael the Archangel as Jesus. ..

But as with most of their teachings, they go ahead to link unrelated scriptures to draw

the conclusion that Jesus is Michael.



JWs are known to change their doctrines often.....they once taught that Archangel Michael was the Pope of Rome

Answer 7

Keep up the research. You have identified an error. Now its time to ask yourself if you want to continue to study error or continue to find the truth. I rejected the Jw religion as a child the moment I found them teaching something false. I recommend the same for you.



Its very liberating.

Answer 8

It's not an authentic translation. In fact a medium translated it. We are saved through the blood of Jesus but they don't believe that. Eph. 1:7, Rev. 1:5, John 6:53-56, Hebrews 9:11-22.

Answer 9

As one of Jehovah's witnesses I can answer that. Jesus Christ is Jehovah God's only begotten son. Jehovah is one Jehovah not part of a trinity of God's.



Jehovah's word says, in Psalms that "Jehovah produced him from the beginning of days..." So we clearly believe Jesus is God's son, and was created by Jehovah God.



Why Study the Bible?



http://www.jw.org/finder?locale=en&docid=502013341

Answer 10

I respect the Judeo-Christian ethic as well as the eastern philosophies and of course the teachings of Mohammed. I find that organized religion has corrupted those beliefs to justify cower less atrocities throughout history. Were I to attend church, I would be a hypocrite.