God / a god (Countess)

The fact that Jesus (and even faithful prophets, kings, judges, and angels) can be (and were) called "gods" by the inspired Bible writers in no way makes those Bible writers "polytheistic" as Countess, in effect, claims! The term in those days merely meant someone who was considered by God's people to be a "mighty person" in some respect. It did not necessarily imply an equality with or a challenger to the Most High God! The fact that the term has come to mean only "false gods" today has nothing to do with the meaning as used by the ancient inspired Bible writers, and Countess and most Bible scholars know this fact very well! (E.g., see Ps. 82:1, 6 and John 10:33 footnotes in the NIV Study Bible; Ps. 8:6; Ps. 45:7; and John 10:34 footnotes in the New American Bible, St. Joseph ed., 1970; and pp. 1133, 1134 in the New Bible Dictionary, Tyndale House, 1982. Also see the TRUE and BOWGOD studies.)

It is completely untrue to say, as do some trinitarians, that the words for "god" or "gods" in scripture are applied only to either the one true God or false gods (p. 44, Countess). To also say that the NWT is guilty of promoting polytheism because it has rendered "a god" at Jn 1:1 (as Countess tells us on pp. 45, 58, 90) is incredibly dishonest!

What Countess has done is play on the ignorance of the vast majority of Christendom. He distorts and lies about what Jehovah's Witnesses have said and taught. He lies and distorts what knowledgeable NT scholars know about the actual language used by the inspired NT writers. All this is done in a manner that seems scholarly and proper to those who have little knowledge of the NT grammar and principles involved. Not only is this writer in extremely grave danger when God's judgment arrives (Rev. 21:8; 22:15), but so are the many trinitarian scholars, pastors, churches, etc. who should know better but still promote his dishonest work (and others like it)!

There is one common uniting bond among those who claim to have basic scholarly knowledge of the Bible languages (including those whose backgrounds really do attest to such knowledge) and who write popular books defending the Trinity doctrine and attacking the JWs on this knowledge: deceit.

It comes in all forms, e.g., distortion, dishonesty, and outright lies. This includes such admired trinity-defenders as Dr. Walter Martin (Baptist minister and "anti-cult expert" - Kingdom of the Cults and many others), Robert M. Bowman (Martin's successor - Why You Should Believe in the Trinity, Baker Book House, 1993 and others), Prof. Arthur M. Bowser (Born-Again minister and college professor - What Every Jehovah's Witness Should Know), Robert H. Countess (Ph.D. in New Testament Text, Presbyterian Minister, Congregational Church minister, college professor and instructor in NT Greek - The Jehovah's Witnesses' New Testament), and others. - See the following study papers: MINOR (pp. 7-16); I AM (pp. 9-11); NWT (pp. 6-19); MARTIN; BOWGOD; BOWHS; BOWQT; BWF (footnote #1); I AM (footnotes #1, 2); HEB (f.n. #1); MINOR (p. 20); and NWT-B (this paper).

There are two important points to consider concerning the common, uniting bonds of dishonesty and lies found in most (if not all) popular books defending the trinity.

(1) An American should strongly resent this disavowal of the American tradition of truth and fair play.

Even more important, a Christian must detest willing liars who purposely defame others and knowingly distort God's word (Jn 4:24; Eph. 4:25; 5:6-11; Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:15; Rev. 14:5 [the NIVSB footnote says: "14:5 No lie. Contrast Ro 1:25; see Isa 53:9."]; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; 2:9-13; Ex. 20:16; Prov. 6:16-19; 19:5; Is. 28:15-18). Just who is following the guidance of the Spirit of Truth concerning the knowledge of God? (Jn 16:13) Popular trinitarian defenders like Countess - - or JW's?

True Christians: "In fact, in everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. .... We have been truthful ... We stand true to the Lord whether others honor us or despise, whether they criticize us or commend us. We are honest, but they call us liars. The world ignores us, but we are known to God" - 2 Cor. 6:4, 7, 8, 9, Living Bible. "Enter in through the narrow gate.... small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it." - Matt. 7:13, 14, New International Version.

False Christians: "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." - "Not every one who says to me [Jesus], `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy [NIVSB footnote: "7:22 prophesy. In the NT this verb primarily means to give a message from God, not necessarily to predict." This includes, of course proclaiming the truth of the scriptures, God's inspired message.] in your name...and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" - Matt. 7:13, 21-23, The NIV Study Bible.

"But the...idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second [final, everlasting] death." - "One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls....showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. .... Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful .... Outside are the ... idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." Aren't those who promote, support, and teach the "knowledge" of those popular trinitarian teachers such as Countess actually ones who practice falsehood? - Rev. 21:8,9,10,27; 22:15, NIV.

It is imperative that everyone who loves God and desires salvation very carefully examine both sides of this issue. This cannot be done by trusting Countess, Bowman, Martin, etc. to truthfully, honestly, wholly reveal both sides!

(2) IF the trinity doctrine is true (and JW's are wrong), why would anyone (especially a Christian) have to lie about its "proofs"?? Think very carefully about this. There simply is no clear, undisputed evidence to support the trinity doctrine. All "evidence" is either ambiguous (also capable of a more probable non-trinitarian interpretation) or outright lies disputed by even other (usually more reputable) trinitarian scholars. This could not be if this extremely important knowledge of God and Christ were true! (Jn 17:1, 3; 2 Thess. 1:8, 9)

Also see:
NWT - Criticism by Zondervan's So Many Versions? - "God/a god" (DNWT)

For a more complete list of John 1:1, see:
John 1:1