COMMENTARY ON

Practices & Beliefs

OF THE WATCHTOWER

Watchtower's Reasonging Book

vs.

The Bible

"The Watchtower Society is God's visible representative on earth, and should be obeyed as the voice of God." (RFTS page 205)

vs.

The "voice of God" is found only in the Scriptures (see 2 Timothy 3:16 & 1 Corinthians 2:13). Obedience should be rendered to God and His Word, not to an eighteent-century organization (read Psalm 119)

"Scripture alone is insufficient in learning the things of God." (RFTS pages 328, 332-333)

vs.

Scripture is COMPLETELY sufficient to provide the knowledge that leads to salvation through faith in Christ and to grow spiritually. (see Timothy 3:15-17

"Without the Watchtower Society and its vast literature, people are incapable of ascertaining the true meaning of the Scripture." (RFTS page 328)

vs.

Every person has the ability to understand Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15-17). The Holy Spirit helps believers to understand and apply God's Word (John 16:12-15 & 1 Corinthians 2:9-12).

"People are not to think for themselves in interpreting Scripture. They are to submit their minds to the Watchtower Society." (RFTS page 328)

vs.

Believers are called to test all truth-claims with the measuring stick of Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21), just as Berean Christians did (Acts 17:11). Jesus, by example, showed us how to use the Scripture as the final court of appeal (Matthew 4:4,7,10)

"The proper use of God's "correct" name (Jehovah) is essential to salvation." (RFTS pages 149,196-197)

vs.

The forgiveness of sins is found in the name of JESUS (John 1:12 & 3:16 & Acts 10:43 & 1 John 3:23-24) Jesus is the ONLY way of salvation (John 14:6 & Acts 4:12 & 1 John 5:13)

"References to the Father in the New Testament Should be denoted as "Jehovah" (RFTS pages 194-195)

vs.

The New Testament (in Greek manuscripts) always uses the word "Lord", never "Jehovah" - even in quotations from the Old Testament.

"Christ was the "firstborn of all creation" and was created billions of years ago." (RFTS pages 408-409)

vs.

Christ wasn't created, but did act as Creator (Isaiah 44:24 & Colossians 1:16).

"Christ was created as the Archangel Michael." (RFTS page 218)

vs.

Christ was not Michael because: He created the angels (Colossians 1:16); no angel can be called God's Son (Hebrews 1:15); and no angel can rule the world (Hebrews 2:5). Christ rules all (Revelation 19:16)

"It was through this angel (Christ) that all other things in the universe were created." (RFTS 408-409)

vs.

God Almighty all by Himself directly created everything in the universe (Isaiah 44:24). Since the New Testament portrays Christ as the creator (Colossians 1:16), this points to His identity as God Almighty.