Paragraph 2 states:

…Others have distorted Jesus’ role, worshipping him as Almighty God…[1]

To avoid long page loads, I created another subdivision (in progress) to address this issue. See the link at the bottom of this page or the left menu bar. 

John 17:3 Revisited

Paragraph 3 states:

You may recall that Jesus said: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)…The Scriptures repeatedly emphasize the need for accurate knowledge of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 2:2; 2 Peter 1:8; 2:20)…Our knowledge of Jesus must be free of any distortions as to his nature and as to his role in God’s arrangement…[2]

Please see Chapter 1 of this site for a detailed analysis of John 17:3 and the word ginosko. Ginosko is knowing absolutely, understanding, perceiving and forming a relationship. Ginosko is used over 200 times in the New Testament and emphasizes an intimate, relational knowing.

An entirely different word, epignosis, emphasizes full and accurate knowledge. Epignosis occurs a scant 20 times in the New Testament (the WTBTS cites 4 of those occurrences above) – far less than the more intimate ginosko. Ginosko, in fact, appears 10 times more often.

As such, the WTBTS assertion that the Scriptures “repeatedly emphasize the need for accurate knowledge” is without merit. The New Testament overwhelmingly uses ginosko and therefore, repeatedly emphasizes forming a relationship with God.

Micah 5:2 Revisited

Paragraph 7 states:

In the eighth century B.C.E., the prophet Micah foretold that this great ruler would be born in the insignificant town of Bethlehem…[3]

Please see Chapter 2 of this site, where the prophecy of Micah 5:2 is addressed in detail. Micah did not merely prophesy the town in which the Messiah would be born. The language he used also indicated that the Messiah would be from eternity – or uncreated.

Rebuilding Jerusalem & Jesus, the Christ

Paragraph 8 states:

In the sixth century B.C.E., the prophet Daniel foretold that “Messiah the Leader” would appear 69 “weeks” after the order went forth to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:24, 25) Each one of these “weeks” was seven years long.# According to Bible and secular history, the order to rebuild Jerusalem was issued in 455 B.C.E. (Nehemiah 2:1-8) So the Messiah to appear 483 (69 times 7) years after 455 B.C.E. That brings us to 29 C.E., the very year that Jehovah anointed Jesus with holy spirit. Jesus thus became “the Christ” (meaning “anointed One”), or Messiah. – Luke 3:15, 16, 21, 22.[4]

The WTBTS asserts that Bible history states that the order to rebuild Jerusalem was issued in 455 B.C. No absolute dates are given in the Bible, however. None. The Scriptures date events relationally – for instance, a date may be given relative to a certain year of a king’s reign (And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams…Daniel 2:1, KJV). But you will not find a verse that explicitly says Artaxerxes (the king reigning at that time) ordered Jerusalem rebuilt in 455 B.C. – or any other date for that matter.

I don’t know what Bible or secular histories the WTBTS consulted in its chronology, but references I’ve consulted agree that the order to rebuild Jerusalem occurred in 444/445 B.C. The 444/445 B.C. date is found in the following: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible[5], Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible[6], Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament,[7] Smith’s Bible Dictionary[8], Harper’s Bible Dictionary,[9] Easton’s Bible Dictionary[10], American Tract Society Bible Dictionary[11], Catholic Encyclopedia[12], International Standard Bible Encyclopedia[13], Columbia Encyclopedia[14], and the Encyclopedia Britannica[15]. To name but a few.

The 445 B.C. date isn’t just supported by Bible and secular history, but also by the archeological evidence:

The decisive evidence for the length of Artaxerxes’ rule is the astronomical information found on a number of tablets dated to his reign. One such text is the astronomical “diary” “VAT 5047”, clearly dated to the 11^th year of Artaxerxes. Although the text is damaged, it preserves information about the lunar positions relative to planets and the positions of Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. This information suffices to identify the date of the text as 454 B.C. As this was the 11^th year of Artaxerxes, the preceding year, 455 BC, cannot have been his 20^th year, as the Watch Tower Society claims, but this 10^th year. His 20^th year, then, must have been 445/44 BC. (See Sachs/Hunger, Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Vol. 1, Wien 1988, pp. 56-59.)

There are also some tablets dated to the 21^st and last year of Xerxes. One of them, BM 32234, which is dated to day 14 or 18 of the 5^th month of Xerxes’ 21^st year, belongs to the group of astronomical texts called “18-year texts” or “Saros texts”. The astronomical information preserved on this tablet fixes it to the year 465 BC. The text includes the following interesting information: “Month V 14 (+x) Xerxes was murdered by his son.” This text alone not only shows that Xerxes ruled for 21 years, but also that his last year was 465 BC, not 475 as the Society holds!

There are several “Saros texts” of this type covering the reigns of Xerxes and Artaxerxes. The many detailed and dated descriptions of lunar eclipses from different years of their reigns establish the chronology of this period as an absolute chronology.

Two other astronomical tablets from the reigns of Xerxes and Artaxerxes, BM 45674 and BM 32299, contain dated observations of the planet Venus. Again, these observations establish the chronology of this period as an absolute chronology.

Thus we have numerous astronomical observations dated to different parts of the reigns of Xerxes and Artaxerxes preserved on cuneiform tablets. In many cases, only one or two of these observations would suffice to establish the beginning and end of their reigns. The total number of astronomical observations dated to their reigns, however, are about 40 or more. It is impossible, therefore, to change their reigns even one year! The Society’s dating of Artaxerxes’ 20^th year to 455 BC is demonstrably wrong…[16] (Bold emphasis mine.)

And also the Elephantine Papyri:

Jewish scribes living in Egypt often recorded two distinct dates on legal records such as marriage papers or land purchases. If you were to get married at the Jewish colony in 5th century BC Egypt, the scribe would record on your marriage papers the Egyptian calendar date, the Hebrew calendar date, and the year in which the Persian king was ruling… A total of eleven scientifically dated papyri provide the evidence that King Artaxerxes issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem on Sunday, March 16, 445 BC.[17] (Emphasis mine.)

The order to rebuild Jerusalem was issued in 445 – not 455 – B.C.

The WTBTS further asserts that the fallacious 455 B.C. date points to 29 B.C., the year the WTBTS states that Jesus “became” the Christ. KNOWLEDGE cites:

Luke 3:15, 16, 21, 22

[15] And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; [16] John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [21] Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, [22] And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (KJV)

[15] Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, [16] John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [21] Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened [22] and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." (NASB)

[15] The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. [16] John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [21] When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened [22] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (NIV)

[15] Now as the people were in expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts about John: “May he perhaps be the Christ?” [16] John gave the answer, saying to all: “I, for my part, baptize YOU with water; but the one stronger than I am is coming, the lace of whose sandals I am not fit to untie. He will baptize YOU people with holy spirit and fire. [21] Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized and, as he was praying, the heaven was opened up [22] and the holy spirit in bodily shape like a dove came down upon him, and a voice came out of heaven: “You are my Son, the beloved; I have approved you.” (NWT)

Although the text certainly shows the events of Jesus’ baptism, nothing indicates that Jesus became the Christ, the Messiah, at that moment.

The New Testament, however, clearly shows that Jesus was the Christ at his birth:

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (KJV)

for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (NASB)

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (NIV)

because there was born to YOU today a Savior, who is Christ [the] Lord, in David’s city. (NWT)

The angels declared Jesus as the Christ to the shepherds in the field when Jesus was born.

Luke 2:25-31

[25]  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. [26] And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. [27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, [28] Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, [29] Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: [30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, [31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; (KJV)

[25] And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  [27] And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, [28] then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, [29] "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; [30] For my eyes have seen Your salvation, [31] Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, (NASB)

[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. [27] Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, [28] Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: [29] "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  [30] For my eyes have seen your salvation, [31] which you have prepared in the sight of all people, (NIV)

[25] And, look! there was a man in Jerusalem named Sim´e·on, and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting for Israel’s consolation, and holy spirit was upon him. [26] Furthermore, it had been divinely revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of Jehovah. [27] Under the power of the spirit he now came into the temple; and as the parents brought the young child Jesus in to do for it according to the customary practice of the law, [28] he himself received it into his arms and blessed God and said: [29] “Now, Sovereign Lord, you are letting your slave go free in peace according to your declaration; [30] because my eyes have seen your means of saving [31] that you have made ready in the sight of all the peoples, (NWT)

The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would see the Christ before he died. He declared Jesus to be that Savior when the infant Jesus was brought to the temple by Mary and Joseph.

The JW I studied with indicated that Jesus was born the Messiah, but did not officially become the Christ until his baptism. Please note, however, that Luke 2:11 states that Jesus “is Christ the Lord.” (Emphasis mine.) It does not say Jesus will be Christ the Lord. It says he is Christ the Lord, from the moment of his birth and Simeon in Luke 2:25-31, saw Jesus and thereby said the Holy Spirit’s promise that Simeon would see the Christ before Simeon’s death was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit hadn’t revealed to Simeon that he’d see the one who would one day become the Christ. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would see the Christ. Period.

Therefore, Jesus did not “become” the Messiah at his baptism. Luke 2:11 and Luke 2:25-31 quite clearly show that Jesus was born the Christ.

Zechariah’s Prophesies Revisited

The chart on p. 37 of Chapter 4, KNOWLEDGE, addresses Zechariah 11:12 (Jesus betrayal for 30 pieces of silver) and Zechariah 12:10 (Jesus was pierced). Please see Chapter 2 of this site, which addressed both prophesies in detail.

Was Jesus Created?

Paragraph 13 states:

Jesus was called God’s “only-begotten Son” because Jehovah created him directly. (John 3:16) As “the firstborn of all creation,” Jesus was then used by God to create all other things. (Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14) John 1:1 says that “the Word” (Jesus in his prehuman existence) was with God “in the beginning.” So the Word was with Jehovah when “the heavens and the earth” were created. God was addressing the Word when he said: “Let us make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:1, 26) Likewise, the Word must have been God’s beloved “master worker,” described in Proverbs 8:22-31 as wisdom personified, laboring at Jehovah’s side in the making of all things. After Jehovah brought him into existence, the Word spent ages with God in heaven before becoming a man on earth.[18]

To avoid long page loads, I created another subdivision to address this issue. See the link at the bottom of this page or the left menu bar. COMING SOON.

The Holy Spirit Revisited

Paragraph 15 states:

…Jehovah’s powerful holy spirit, or active force…[19]

Please see the Holy Spirit section of this site for an extensive study in regards to the personality of the Holy Spirit and refutation of the WTBTS Holy Spirit dogma.

King Jesus

***UNDER CONSTRUCTION***

Paragraph 18 states:

…As prophesied, he thereafter sat at his Father’s right hand and waited to receive kingly power in heaven. (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 10:12, 13) So how should we envision Jesus today? Should we think of him as a helpless baby in a manger? Or as a suffering man being put to death? No. He is a mighty, reigning King! And very soon now, he will manifest his rulership over our troubled earth.[20]

Psalm 110:1

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (KJV)

The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." (NASB)

Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." (NIV)

The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: “Sit at my right hand Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.” (NWT)

Hebrews 10:12, 13

[12] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (KJV)

[12] waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. [13] waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. (NASB)

[12] Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, [13] Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, (NIV)

[12] But this [man] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, [13] from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet. (NWT)

***UNDER CONSTRUCTION***