The doctrine of the Trinity stands at the heart of Christian orthodoxy. Yet, it is precisely this doctrine that Jehovah’s Witnesses reject most vehemently. Their denial of Jesus’ deity and the personhood of the Holy Spirit presents a theological challenge that calls for a robust apologetic response. In an age of religious pluralism and doctrinal confusion, defending the triune nature of God is not merely an academic exercise—it is a gospel imperative.
Understanding the Challenge: Jehovah’s Witness Theology
Jehovah’s Witnesses, founded by Charles Taze Russell in the late 19th century, reject the Trinity as a pagan invention.¹ They assert that Jesus is a created being—Michael the Archangel—and that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force.² Their literature, particularly The Watchtower and Awake!, consistently argues against the deity of Christ and the co-equality of the divine persons.³
This theological framework is rooted in a selective reading of Scripture and a rejection of historic Christian creeds. As M.J. Penton notes, the movement’s eschatological urgency and anti-creedal stance have shaped its doctrinal rigidity.⁴ To engage Jehovah’s Witnesses effectively, apologists must understand their sources, interpretive methods, and theological presuppositions.
A Strategic Apologetic: Emphasizing Jesus’ Deity
A fruitful apologetic begins with the person of Christ. The New Testament presents Jesus not merely as a moral teacher or exalted prophet, but as God incarnate. John 1:1 declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jehovah’s Witnesses mistranslate this verse in their New World Translation, rendering it “a god” to support their theology.⁵ However, Greek scholars overwhelmingly affirm the traditional rendering.⁶
Jesus’ divine identity is further affirmed in passages such as John 8:58 (“Before Abraham was, I am”), where He claims the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14.⁷ The apostle Thomas’s confession—“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)—is a direct affirmation of Jesus’ deity. Early church fathers like Irenaeus and Justin Martyr defended this truth against heresies that resemble modern-day Arianism.⁸
The Trinity in Scripture and Church History
While the word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout Scripture. The baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19—“in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”—reflects the triune nature of God. The apostolic benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14 likewise affirms the co-equality and co-eternity of the three persons.
The early Church recognized and defended this doctrine. The Council of Nicaea (AD 325) affirmed the full divinity of the Son, countering Arianism, which denied it.⁹ Church fathers such as Augustine and Cyril of Alexandria articulated the Trinity as one essence in three persons.¹⁰ Their writings remain vital resources for contemporary apologetics.
Engaging Primary Sources: A Balanced Approach
A strong apologetic must engage both Christian and Jehovah’s Witness primary sources. Reading The Watchtower and Russell’s writings provides insight into their doctrinal framework.¹¹ At the same time, consulting Scripture and patristic texts—such as Augustine’s On the Trinity and Polycarp’s epistles—grounds the defense in historic orthodoxy.¹²
This dual engagement fosters objectivity and equips apologists to respond with clarity and charity. As Paul exhorts, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). The goal is not merely to win arguments but to bear witness to the truth in love.
Conclusion: Contending for the Faith
Defending the Trinity against Jehovah’s Witness theology requires more than doctrinal precision—it demands spiritual discernment, historical awareness, and pastoral sensitivity. As Jude 3 urges, we are to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” This includes affirming that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the eternal Trinity.
In a world where heresy often masquerades as truth, the Church must stand firm on the foundation of Scripture and the witness of the historic faith. Christ is not a created being—He is the eternal Word made flesh, the radiance of the Father’s glory, and the hope of our salvation.
References
- George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2008), 41–55.
- “Should You Believe in the Trinity?” Awake!, Watch Tower Society, August 8, 2013.
- “What Do the Scriptures Say About ‘the Divinity of Christ’?” The Watchtower, January 15, 1992.
- M. J. Penton, Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2015), 112–115.
- Ibid., 98.
- Bruce M. Metzger, The Text of the New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 136.
- Paul M. Gould et al., Stand Firm (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018), 90.
- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, trans. James R. Payton (Cambridge: James Clarke & Co., 2012), 45–50.
- David E. Henderson and Frank G. Kirkpatrick, Constantine and the Council of Nicaea (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2016), 77–80.
- Augustine, On the Trinity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002), 1–3.
- Charles Taze Russell, Studies in the Scriptures (Brooklyn: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1917).
- Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians, in Paul Hartog, Polycarp’s Epistle and the Martyrdom of Polycarp (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), 22–25.
Bibliography
Augustine. On the Trinity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
Chryssides, George D. Historical Dictionary of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2008.
Gould, Paul M., Travis Dickinson, and R. Keith Loftin. Stand Firm. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018.
Hartog, Paul. Polycarp’s Epistle to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Henderson, David E., and Frank G. Kirkpatrick. Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2016.
Irenaeus. Against Heresies. Translated by James R. Payton. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co., 2012.
Metzger, Bruce M. The Text of the New Testament. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Penton, M. J. Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2015.
Russell, Charles Taze. Studies in the Scriptures. Brooklyn: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1917.
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. “Should You Believe in the Trinity?” Awake!, August 8, 2013.
———. “What Do the Scriptures Say About ‘the Divinity of Christ’?” The Watchtower, January 15, 1992.
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