One or Three? The Witnesses and Me
by
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My first attempts at studying the Bible alone, didn't always go so well. There were a few things found along the way but, I seemed to spend more time getting myself confused. Looking back now, it's probably because I started with the 'solid food' in God's Word instead of the 'milk'. But, the good Lord made me with a stubborn streak cause I gnawed on that food for years till it finally went down. There were a few things here and there that were easy (I did drink some milk while chewing), and in this chapter I'd like to share some of the 'milk' found during those early days.
The Image of God
Colossians 1:15 - "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
How about we kick back, get comfy and relax while we take a sip of the first question a witness asked me after reading Colossians 1:15. How can Jesus be the image of God if He is God? This was a fair question and I had no answer. Solving this puzzle without help was my goal but this goal caused me a problem; I didn't know where or how to start.
Later, when speaking with Mum, she reminded me that if we see Jesus we see the Father (John 12:45; 14:9). Although useful, this didn't really seem to answer the question at hand. A bit clueless about what to do next I started kinda surfing through the New Testament. There were a few passages found here and there that helped, like Hebrews chapter 1, but it still wasn't enough. After a few weeks of this I put it all aside. Who was I kidding? I didn't know how to find answers on my own.
Not long after this dismal attempt to find answers, Mum and I went shopping and ran across 'The Amplified Bible'. This Bible "Unlocks Subtle Shades of Meaning". It looked interesting enough so we bought one each. Maybe this would give me the helping hand I needed.
Armed with my new Bible I went back to Colossians and started reading chapter one again. This time, when reading verse 15, "[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God (the visible representation of the invisible)", the penny dropped.
Jesus gave up all that He had to come in flesh but, He did not change what He was. As God He was still invisible and eternal, but as a man He was visible, created and mortal. When Jesus was made a man, it was in an exact image of the invisible God, so exact that those who saw Him saw the Father.
No Man Can See God and Live
Exodus 33:20 - "But He said, 'You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.'"
The witnesses had used this verse to prove to me Jesus was created. Their reasoning was, no one can see God and live, no one died when they saw Jesus; therefore He cannot be God so He must be created. The question this raised sounded logical. How could Jesus be seen and still be God? But it had to be answered about more than just Jesus, it had to be answered about the LORD too because He was also seen. He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob among others (Ex. 6:2-3; 24:9-10). There had to be a way for man to see God. While looking for an answer to this puzzle of opposites I kept missing the obvious, His body was what was seen. His body was created. Jesus was seen through creation. An example that might help is, kind of like we can speak and appear through a computer. On the one hand Tina could say, 'I saw Tom today and he's looking good.' because in fact she had seen him on the computer screen while sipping some milk and having a chat. On the other hand, the she could say, 'I haven't seen Tom since last year.' because he lives thousands of miles away.
Both of these statements can be accurate without making a lie of the other. It's just according to the perspective Tina has when she makes the statement. This same principle holds true with Scripture. The fact that no man can see God and live is correct, so is the fact that He's appeared to man.
The Beginning of God's Creation
Revelation 3:14 - "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God'"
In Revelation 3:14 Jesus is called 'the Beginning of the creation of God'. According to the witnesses speaking with me, the word 'beginning', translated from the Greek word 'arche', must mean 'a start'. They made it clear, there was no other meaning for 'arche' in this verse so, Jesus must be the beginning of God's creation. Simply put their interpretation means, before making angels, the universe or man, God created Jesus. This left me with a problem, my Bible dictionary didn't agree. Who was right?
The easiest way to solve the problem was to see if 'arche' was used in such a way that it had to have another definition. It didn't take long to find it again, translated as 'beginning’ in Revelation 22:13. Now by this time, I knew the witnesses insisted the word 'beginning’ in this verse is applied to Jehovah yet, they believe He's eternal. If they can accept the word 'beginning’ is applied to the eternal God then, it would have to mean something other than 'a start' even to them.
I was curious, what meaning do they have for 'arche' when they believe it's applied to Jehovah?
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I just stood there. Not only were their beliefs completely foreign to anything I'd heard before, but they had so much evidence. I had always heard that they don't have a leg to stand on, so why was I the legless one? Things they'd said and questions they'd asked were still circling around in my head days after their visit; round and round they went, looking for a place to rest. Wasn't I the one who was supposed to leave them with questions they couldn't answer?
Looking back now, it's clear what happened. While the Jehovah's Witnesses were well schooled by The Watchtower in what I was likely to say and how they should reply, I didn't have a clue what they would say much less how to reply. It's different now, though. The Witnesses seldom come to my home anymore, but when they do knock on the door, I'm prepared. Showing them one of the places where The Watchtower and Bible disagree is all it takes. They don't stay.
One or Three? The Witnesses and Me has been written to share what I've discovered over the years about the Trinity and how I found my way through the maze of information the Witnesses have on the subject. My hope and prayer is that this will help others prepare for their knocks.
Hopefully many will be able to come together and help the Witnesses see where The Watchtower and Bible disagree.
About the Author
The author is nobody in particular, living a quiet life in sunny Queensland, Australia.