Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in Jesus?

The Divinity of Jesus and the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Claims

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in Jesus? Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the full divinity of Jesus Christ. Their official publications teach that Jesus is not Almighty God but a created angel-specifically, Michael the archangel. This belief leads them to refuse to worship Jesus, viewing Him instead as a lesser, subordinate being. However, Scripture presents a different and far more glorious picture of Jesus. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is eternal, divine, uncreated, and worthy of worship alongside the Father. To understand this, we must examine what the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach and then study the biblical evidence supporting Jesus’ divinity.

This article explores the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses regarding Jesus and contrasts them with biblical teachings. By examining key scriptures and theological implications, we can gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ identity and significance.

What Jehovah’s Witnesses Teach About Jesus

Jesus Is a Created Being in JW Theology

According to Watchtower doctrine, Jesus existed before coming to earth but was created by God. They assert that “Jesus had a beginning and could never be coequal with God in power or eternity.” This belief is outlined in their publication What Does God Require of Us?. They further claim that Jesus is the archangel Michael, stating that “the foremost angel… is the archangel, Jesus Christ” (The Truth About Angels, Watchtower, 1995).

In their theology, Jesus is powerful but not divine in the same way as the Father. Therefore, they do not worship Jesus, which raises significant theological questions about their understanding of His nature. This perspective not only diminishes Jesus’ role but also alters the understanding of the relationship between God and humanity.

The JW Position Contradicts Scripture

While Jehovah’s Witnesses speak respectfully about Jesus, their teaching denies His eternal nature, His divine equality with the Father, and His right to receive worship. This places their Christology in direct contradiction to both the Old and New Testaments. The Bible presents Jesus not merely as a prophet or a teacher but as the very embodiment of God’s presence on earth. For instance, in John 14:9, Jesus states, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” indicating His divine nature and unity with God.

The Divinity of Jesus in the Old Testament

The Messiah Is Called Mighty God

Centuries before Jesus was born, the Old Testament predicted the coming of the Messiah and described Him using divine titles. Isaiah prophesied:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6).

Jehovah’s Witnesses affirm that Jesus is the Messiah, yet Isaiah calls the Messiah “The mighty God.” This is unmistakable. No created angel, no matter how exalted, can rightfully bear this divine name. The implications of this title are profound, indicating that the Messiah possesses attributes that belong solely to God. This title emphasizes the divine authority and power that the Messiah would embody.

The Messiah Is Eternal

Micah 5:2 also foretells Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and adds:

“Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

The Hebrew word means “from eternity.” A being who is from everlasting cannot be created. Only God is eternal, and this prophecy reinforces the understanding that the Messiah is divine. This eternal nature of the Messiah is crucial for understanding His role in salvation history.

The Divinity of Jesus in the New Testament

Jesus Is Equal With the Father

Paul writes clearly in Philippians 2:5-6:

“Christ Jesus… being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.”

This phrase indicates that Jesus already possessed equality with God before His incarnation. This refutes the idea that Jesus is merely a created angel and emphasizes His divine status. The equality of Jesus with God is a foundational doctrine in Christianity, affirming that He is fully God and fully man.

Jesus Is Called God

John opens his Gospel with a direct affirmation:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

Jehovah’s Witnesses alter this verse in their translation, but the Greek text does not allow for their interpretation. John continues:

“And the Word became flesh” (John 1:14).

Therefore:
The Word = Jesus
Jesus = God

Hebrews 1:8 also quotes God the Father addressing Jesus:

“But unto the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”

This is God the Father calling the Son God, further affirming Jesus’ divine nature. Such direct references to Jesus as God are pivotal in understanding His identity within the Trinity.

The Apostles Testified to Jesus’ Divinity

The Disciples Worshiped Jesus

The New Testament records multiple occasions where Jesus was worshiped by His followers:

• “They worshiped Him” (Matthew 14:33)
• “The blind man… said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and worshiped Him” (John 9:38)
• “They held Him by the feet and worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:9)
• “They worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52)

In every case, Jesus accepted their worship. Angels refuse worship (Revelation 22:9), but Jesus received it as His rightful honor, which underscores His divine identity. This acceptance of worship is a clear indication of His unique status as the Son of God.

The Apostles Identified Jesus as God

The apostles consistently referred to Jesus using divine language:

• Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
• Paul called Jesus “our great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13)
• Peter referred to Him as “our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1)
• John said Jesus is “the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20)

These statements cannot be reconciled with the claim that Jesus is a created angel. The consistent testimony of the apostles affirms Jesus’ divine nature and authority. Their declarations highlight the centrality of Jesus in the Christian faith.

Jesus Claimed Divinity Himself

Jesus Equated Himself With God

Jesus plainly declared:

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

The Jews understood this as a claim to full divinity and attempted to stone Him (John 10:33). Jesus made another profound statement:

“Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).

“I AM” is the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. Jesus was not merely claiming preexistence but identifying Himself with Yahweh, the eternal God. This assertion of divinity is a cornerstone of His teachings.

Jesus Taught That He Should Be Honored Like the Father

Jesus said:

“That all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23).

This command is impossible unless Jesus shares the full nature and glory of God. No angel could make such a claim without committing blasphemy, highlighting the uniqueness of Jesus’ position. His call for equal honor reinforces His divine status and authority.

God the Father Testified to Jesus’ Divinity

At key moments in Jesus’ ministry, the Father openly identified Him as His divine Son:

• At His baptism: “This is My beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17)
• At the Transfiguration: “This is My Son… listen to Him” (Luke 9:35)
• Through prophecy: “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6)

The Father’s repeated affirmation leaves no doubt: Jesus is divine. This divine endorsement from the Father reinforces the understanding of Jesus’ unique status in the Godhead. The acknowledgment of Jesus by the Father is a significant aspect of His identity.

Jesus Receives Worship From All Creation

God Commands All to Worship Jesus

Paul describes Jesus’ exaltation:

“God has highly exalted Him… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Only God deserves universal worship (Exodus 20:3-5), yet the Father commands creation to bow to Jesus. This would be idolatry unless Jesus is God, further affirming His divine status. The universal acknowledgment of Jesus’ lordship is a testament to His divine authority.

Heaven Worships the Lamb

In Revelation 5:11-14, all beings in heaven and earth worship Jesus:

“Worthy is the Lamb… Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

The worship directed to “Him who sits on the throne” (the Father) is also given to “the Lamb” (Jesus). Revelation leaves no room for division: Jesus receives the same worship as the Father, highlighting His equality in the divine hierarchy. This collective worship underscores the unity of purpose within the Godhead.

Scripture overwhelmingly teaches that Jesus is divine, eternal, and worthy of worship. He is not an angel, not a created being, and not Michael. He is the eternal Word made flesh, the image of the invisible God, and the One in whom “all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Jehovah’s Witnesses honor Jesus as a great figure, but not as God. Yet the Bible teaches that honoring the Son is essential to honoring the Father (John 5:23). Denying Jesus’ divinity ultimately denies the full revelation of God. Jesus is not a created angel-He is the eternal Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the One before whom every knee shall bow.