{"id":35850,"date":"2025-05-14T01:05:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T01:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/?p=35850"},"modified":"2025-07-15T12:07:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:07:49","slug":"are-jehovahs-witnesses-blasphemy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/are-jehovahs-witnesses-blasphemy\/","title":{"rendered":"\u042f\u0432\u043b\u044f\u044e\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043b\u0438 \u0421\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0438 \u0418\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0432\u044b \u0438\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0445\u0440\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0432\u0435\u0440\u043e\u0439 \u0438\u043b\u0438 \u044d\u0442\u043e \u0431\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0445\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e?"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 32 of 38 in the series \u041f\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0421\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439 \u0418\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0432\u044b<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

God wants you to walk in clarity and understanding! Maybe you\u2019ve encountered Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses, perhaps seen their writings, or simply felt a nudge in your spirit wondering how their path compares to the beautiful Christian faith you cherish. It\u2019s a wonderful thing to seek wisdom! Many people ask, \u201cIs Jehovah\u2019s Witness a true religion?\u201d from a heart rooted in Christ, what we\u2019re often asking is, \u201cDo their deepest beliefs line up with the powerful, life-giving truths found in God\u2019s Word and treasured by believers down through the ages?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re going to explore this together, looking at 10 important questions. Imagine comparing two maps \u201d seeing where the roads run side-by-side and where they take different turns. We\u2019ll look at information from Jehovah\u2019s Witness sources to understand their perspective fairly 1 and compare it with the broad Christian understanding that flows from the Scriptures and the faith journey of countless believers.\u00b2\u00b2 Our purpose isn\u2019t to find fault to bring light and understanding with a spirit full of love and truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses believe in the same God as Christians?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It might seem at first that Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses and mainstream Christians are talking about the same God \u201d the God of the Bible. But when we look closer, we find a very deep difference in how they understand \u0441 \u043a\u0435\u043c<\/em> God truly is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The One God, Jehovah:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses feel very strongly about worshipping the \u201cone true and Almighty God,\u201d the Creator. They insist on using His personal name, Jehovah.\u00b9 They believe this name is incredibly important, identifying Him as the God revealed in the Old Testament \u201d the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.\u00b9 You can see this commitment in their \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0434 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043c\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/em> (NWT) of the Bible. They\u2019ve put the name \u201cJehovah\u201d back into the text thousands of times, in both the Old and New Testaments, because they believe other translations wrongly took it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saying No to the Trinity:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is probably the biggest difference in belief. Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses firmly reject the doctrine of the Trinity.\u00b9 They teach that the Trinity \u201d the belief that there\u2019s one God who exists as three equal Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) \u201d isn\u2019t taught in the Bible.\u00b2 They see it as a \u201cmystery\u201d idea that Jesus and his apostles didn\u2019t teach, maybe even influenced by non-Christian beliefs.\u00b2 For Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses, God is absolutely one Person: Jehovah, the Father.\u00b2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mainstream Christian View \u201d The Trinity:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

contrast that with the vast majority of Christians \u201d Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants. They all affirm the doctrine of the Trinity.\u00b2\u00b2 This beautiful truth holds that there is only \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e<\/em> God He exists forever in three<\/em> distinct, equally divine Persons who share the very same divine nature: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.\u00b2\u00b2 This isn\u2019t about believing in three gods in one amazing God who is wonderfully complex within Himself.\u00b2\u00b2 Christians believe God revealed this truth in Scripture (think of Matthew 28:19 or 2 Corinthians 13:14) 22 and that the early Church leaders carefully explained it.\u00b3\u0081\u00b7 It was formally defined at important church gatherings like the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and the Council of Constantinople (381 AD).\u00b2\u00b2 These councils specifically addressed and rejected ideas (like Arianism) that denied Jesus Christ was fully God \u201d ideas that have some similarities to how Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses see Jesus.\u00b2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the heart of the difference is in the very definition of God. Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses believe God is one single person named Jehovah.\u00b9 Mainstream Christianity believes God is a three-person Being \u201d one God in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.\u00b2\u00b2 This isn\u2019t just about words; it comes from different ways of reading the Bible and understanding how God has shown Himself to us. Because Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses believe God is \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e<\/em> one person, they must reject the Trinity, seeing it as a later confusion.\u00b2 Mainstream Christianity sees the Trinity not as a contradiction as the necessary way to understand how the Bible talks about the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as distinct, yet all equally divine.\u00b2\u00b2 This foundational disagreement naturally leads to very different views about Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses believe about Jesus Christ? Is He God?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Who Jesus Christ is stands as a major point where the paths of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses and mainstream Christianity diverge. This difference flows right out of their different understandings of God Himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jehovah\u2019s Witness View: The Honored Son, Not Almighty God:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses deeply respect Jesus Christ. They see him as the Son of God, the Savior, the King of God\u2019s Kingdom, and the key figure in God\u2019s amazing plan.\u00b9 They believe he existed in heaven long before he was born on earth, as God\u2019s very first creation \u201d a mighty spirit being.\u00b3 God then miraculously transferred his life into the womb of the virgin Mary.\u00b3 But here\u2019s the crucial point: they strongly teach that Jesus is \u043d\u0435<\/em> Almighty God (Jehovah).\u00b9 They point to scriptures where Jesus talks about being under the Father, like John 14:28: \u201cThe Father is greater than I am\u201d.\u00b9 They don\u2019t worship Jesus, because they believe worship should only go to Almighty God, Jehovah.\u0081 \u0443\u0431\u0435\u0436\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0421\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439 \u0418\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0432\u044b \u043e \u0411\u043e\u0433\u0435<\/a> emphasize that He is a distinct individual from Jesus Christ. They assert that Jehovah is the Creator of all things and that Jesus, while honored and respected, serves as His agent and representative. This distinction is fundamental to their faith and helps shape their understanding of both divine roles within the framework of their worship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Translating John 1:1 \u201ca god\u201d:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A key part of their view involves how they translate John 1:1 in their \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0434 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043c\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/em> (NWT). Most Bibles say, \u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d But the NWT reads, \u201c\u2026and the Word was a god<\/em>\u201c.\u00b2 They interpret this to mean Jesus, the Word, is divine, like a god, a \u201cmighty one,\u201d but separate from and less than Almighty God.\u00b2 Many scholars disagree, saying this translation choice isn\u2019t supported by the grammar and isn\u2019t consistent with how similar phrases are translated elsewhere. They suggest it might be influenced by their existing beliefs.\u00b2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus as the First Creation:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Because they believe Jesus isn\u2019t the eternal God, they teach he is a created being \u201d the very \u0432 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u0443\u044e \u043e\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044c<\/em> and highest being Jehovah ever created.\u00b3 They understand Colossians 1:15 (\u201cthe firstborn of all creation\u201d) this way. In their NWT version of Colossians 1:16-17, they add the word \u201cother\u201d several times (\u201cby means of him all other things were created\u2026 All other things have been created through him\u201d). They do this to support the idea that Jesus created everything else<\/em> after he himself was created. But the word \u201cother\u201d isn\u2019t actually in the original Greek text. Some Jehovah\u2019s Witness writings also say Jesus\u2019 pre-human identity was Michael the Archangel, further emphasizing that he was created.\u00b2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mainstream Christian View: Fully God, Fully Man:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Historic Christianity universally declares that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity.\u00b2\u00b2 He wasn\u2019t created; He is eternally \u201cbegotten, not made.\u201d This means He shares the exact same divine nature as the Father \u201d He is \u201cGod from God, Light from Light, true God from true God\u2026 Consubstantial with the Father\u201d (as the Nicene Creed beautifully states).\u0081 Through the miracle of the Incarnation, this eternal divine Son took on a complete human nature. He became fully man while remaining fully God.\u00b2\u0081 Christians point to many scriptures that affirm His divinity, like John 1:1 (\u201c\u2026the Word was God\u201d) 22, John 1:3 (\u201cAll things were made through him\u201d) 65, John 20:28 (Thomas declaring, \u201cMy Lord and my God!\u201d) 71, Philippians 2:6-11 (having the very \u201cform of God\u201d and receiving worship due only to God) 26, Colossians 1:16-17 (Creator of \u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/em>) 66, Titus 2:13 (\u201cour great God and Savior, Christ Jesus\u201d) 69, and Hebrews 1:8 (where the Father Himself calls the Son \u201cGod\u201d). The early Church leaders strongly defended this understanding against teachings that tried to lessen Christ\u2019s full divinity.\u00b3\u0081\u00b7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jehovah\u2019s Witness view of Jesus as a created being, no matter how honored, is fundamentally different from the historic Christian declaration of Jesus as the uncreated, eternal God the Son. This difference isn\u2019t just a small detail; it\u2019s a direct result of rejecting the Trinity.\u00b9 If God is only one person (the Father), then Jesus \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u0436\u0435\u0442<\/em> be that same God. So, scriptures that point to Jesus\u2019 divinity have to be understood in a way that keeps him subordinate and created 1, leading to translation choices like \u201ca god\u201d in John 1:1 2 and adding \u201cother\u201d in Colossians 1. Mainstream Christianity, working within the Trinitarian understanding of God revealed in Scripture, sees Jesus as the eternal Word, the uncreated Creator Himself, who became one of us.\u00b2\u00b2 This powerful difference in understanding who Jesus is impacts everything \u201d how we worship, how we understand salvation, and the very heart of our Christian faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Jehovah\u2019s Witness view of the Holy Spirit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just as their view of Jesus is quite different, the way Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses understand the Holy Spirit also takes a separate path from mainstream Christian belief. Again, this difference is rooted in their understanding of God without the Trinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jehovah\u2019s Witness View: God\u2019s Impersonal Active Force:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses teach that the Holy Spirit is not a divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son.\u00b9 Instead, they describe the Holy Spirit as God\u2019s \u201cactive force\u201d \u201d like an invisible power or energy that Jehovah uses to get things done. They might compare it to electricity, or wind, or even God\u2019s \u201cfinger\u201d \u201d a force He directs.\u0081 They believe God used this force in creation (Genesis 1:2 talks about \u201cGod\u2019s active force\u2026 Moving to and fro\u201d) 6, to empower prophets and Bible writers 6, to perform miracles 6, and to strengthen and guide believers today.\u0081\u00b7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explaining Personal Language:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

What about when the Bible uses words that make the Holy Spirit sound like a person? For example, Jesus called the Spirit a \u201chelper\u201d (Paraclete) who teaches, guides, speaks, and hears (John 14:16, 26; John 16:13).\u0081 Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses explain this as personification \u201d like giving human qualities to something that isn\u2019t human.\u0081\u00b9 They point out that the Bible sometimes talks about wisdom (Proverbs 8), sin (Romans 6:12), or death (Romans 5:14) as if they were people that doesn\u2019t mean they are literal persons.\u0081\u00b9 They also mention scriptures where people are \u201cfilled with\u201d holy spirit (Luke 1:41; Acts 2:4) or \u201cbaptized with\u201d holy spirit (Matthew 3:11), arguing you can\u2019t be \u201cfilled with\u201d or \u201cbaptized with\u201d another person.\u0081<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mainstream Christian View: The Divine Third Person:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In beautiful contrast, Christianity teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity \u201d fully God, distinct from the Father and the Son absolutely equal with Them in divine nature.\u00b2\u00b2 Christians believe the Bible clearly shows the Holy Spirit having personal qualities and doing personal things: He teaches (John 14:26), testifies (John 15:26), guides into truth (John 16:13), speaks (Acts 13:2), prays for us (Romans 8:26-27), has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11), can be saddened (Ephesians 4:30), and can be blasphemed (Matthew 12:31-32). The Nicene Creed powerfully calls the Holy Spirit \u201cthe Lord, the giver of life,\u201d who \u201cwith the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified\u201d.\u00b2\u0081 The early Church leaders consistently spoke of the Spirit as a distinct divine Person alongside the Father and the Son.\u00b3\u0081\u00b7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This difference, like the view of Jesus, comes directly from the Jehovah\u2019s Witness rejection of the Trinity.\u0081 If you believe God is strictly one person (the Father), then there\u2019s no place for the Holy Spirit to be another divine Person. So, all the Bible verses that point to the Spirit\u2019s personality and divinity have to be re-explained as talking about God\u2019s impersonal power. Mainstream Christianity, embracing the wonderful Trinitarian truth found in Scripture, understands the Holy Spirit as a distinct, divine Person who interacts personally with us.\u00b2\u0081 This changes how we see the Christian life \u201d is it a relationship with the living Person of the Holy Spirit inside us, or is it being energized by an impersonal force from God? It also fundamentally changes worship, because Christians worship the Holy Spirit as God, right alongside the Father and the Son.\u0081<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses believe someone is saved?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The journey to salvation is another area where the teachings of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses take a different route compared to the understanding held by most Christians. While both groups talk about Jesus\u2019 sacrifice, the steps involved and what\u2019s required look quite different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jehovah\u2019s Witness View: A Path of Requirements:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses believe that salvation \u201d being saved from sin and death \u201d is possible because of the incredible ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.\u00b9 But they teach that just believing isn\u2019t enough to receive the benefits of this sacrifice.\u00b9 Their understanding involves several important steps and ongoing dedication:<\/p>\n\n\n\n