Full teaching study
Groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals, Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and Christadelphians use Christian words like 'God,' 'Jesus,' 'Son of God,' and 'salvation' with very different meanings. Before discussing doctrine, define terms. Ask, 'When you say Jesus is the Son of God, what do you mean?' or 'Do you believe Jesus is eternal and uncreated?' Many conversations fail because both sides use the same words but mean different things.
Know the key differences. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus is a created being (Michael the archangel) and the Spirit is an impersonal force. Oneness Pentecostals teach that Father, Son, and Spirit are three modes of one person. Latter-day Saints teach that the Father, Son, and Spirit are three separate gods and that humans can become gods. Each view denies some part of the biblical teaching.
is central. The New World Translation (Jehovah's Witnesses) renders it 'the Word was a god.' This introduces a second, lesser god, which contradicts : 'Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.' Is Jesus a true god or a false god? Scripture allows only one true God. is also powerful: the Father says to the Son, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,' quoting . says all the angels worship the Son, so the Son cannot be an angel.
The tone of the conversation matters as much as the content. Many people in these groups are sincere, hardworking, and have been warned that Christians will attack them. calls us to be gentle, able to teach, and patient, hoping God will grant repentance. says to give an answer 'with meekness and fear.' Ask good questions, listen well, show kindness, and aim for the next conversation rather than winning an argument.
Why it matters: The issue is not just being right about a doctrine. It is about who Jesus is and whether a person trusts the true Christ for salvation (). Share your own testimony of grace, and offer to read the Gospel of John together. Scripture itself, applied by the Spirit, changes hearts.
Scripture context & word study
KEY WORDS:
• theos (Greek, θεός) — 'God.' In c ('theos ēn ho logos'), the missing article stresses the Word's nature (qualitative: 'what God was, the Word was'), not 'a god.' In , 13, and 18, theos also appears without the article for the Father, and the NWT does not translate those as 'a god.'
• ho theos (Greek, ὁ θεός) — 'the God' (b). The article here refers to the Father, showing distinction.
• thronos (Greek, θρόνος) — 'throne' (), a sign of royal and divine rule.
• aiōn (Greek, αἰών) — 'age, forever' (, 'forever and ever'), eternal rule.
• proskyneō (Greek, προσκυνέω) — 'to worship' (). All God's angels worship the Son, so He is not an angel.
• Elohim (Hebrew, אֱלֹהִים) — 'God' (, 'Your throne, O God'), the Hebrew text quotes.
• epieikēs / praütēs (Greek, ἐπιεικής / πραΰτης) — 'gentle' and 'meekness' (; ), the required attitude in defending the faith.
• apologia (Greek, ἀπολογία) — 'a reasoned defense' (), where we get 'apologetics.'
CONTEXT: Hebrews 1 shows the Son is superior to the angels. This answers any view that equates Jesus with an angel, such as the Jehovah's Witness teaching that He is Michael. Isaiah 43 is God's courtroom challenge against the idols of the nations: only YHWH is God and Savior.
Real-world use
Use when someone asks: 'How should we answer cult objections?' in a church discussion, workplace conversation, youth setting, online comment, family conversation, or apologetics setting.
Common objection
“Your Bible translation is corrupted; ours (NWT) corrects to say "a god."”
Response strategy
Ask whether they believe in one true God (). If Jesus is 'a god,' is He a true god or a false god? Show the inconsistent handling of theos in John 1. Use and . Share your own story of trusting Christ. Offer to read the Gospel of John together.
Cross-references
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Discussion questions & answers
1. Why must terms be defined before discussing doctrine with other groups?
Answer: Groups like Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter-day Saints use Christian words with different meanings. Without definitions, both people may think they agree when they actually believe very different things about God and Jesus.
2. What is the problem with translating as 'a god'?
Answer: It creates a second, lesser god, which contradicts and 44:6. It is also inconsistent, since the NWT does not translate theos without the article as 'a god' elsewhere in John 1 (vv. 6, 12, 18).
3. How does identify the Son?
Answer: The Father addresses the Son as 'O God,' with an eternal throne. Verse 6 has the angels worshiping Him and verses 10-12 call Him Creator. The Son is God, not an angel.
4. What attitude does require?
Answer: Not quarrelsome, but gentle, kind to all, able to teach, patient, and humble in correcting others, trusting God to grant repentance.
5. Role-play a respectful conversation with a Jehovah's Witness at the door.
Answer: Sample: Thank them for coming. Ask, 'Who do you believe Jesus is?' Listen. Read and ask, 'If all things were made through Jesus, could He be created?' Read and . Share how you came to trust Christ, and invite them back to read John together.
Faithful application
Speak truth without arrogance; use Scripture directly; invite the person to consider what the text actually says.