I have one more quote to demonstrate the deceitfulness of the Watchtower Organization. Again it will show how they twist the meaning of the writer.
Quote from “Should You Believe in the Trinity?”
- Jesuit Fortman states: “The New Testament writers…give us no formal or formulated doctrine of the Trinity, no explicit teaching that in one God there are three co-equal persons…Nowhere do we find any Trinitarian doctrine of three distinct subjects of divine life and activity in the same Godhead.”
Actual quotes from James Fortman:
- “They [NT writers] give us no formal or formulated doctrine of the Trinity, no explicit teaching that in one God there are three co-equal divine persons. But they do give us an elemental Trinitarianism, the data from which such a formal doctrine of the Triune God may be formulated.”
- “The clearest expression of this pattern is found in the baptismal formula where Matthew presents the three together as at once a triad and a unity. But nowhere do we find any Trinitarian doctrine of three distinct subjects of divine life and activity in the same Godhead. And when the three are coordinated on the same divine level in a triadic pattern there seems to be no realization of the problem of the relationship between the three and of the three to the same Godhead[1].”
This time the Watchtower Organization quotes Fortman from two different parts of his book. Notice how they utilize the “…” to make the two sections fit together. All the words that support the doctrine of the Trinity have been removed. Fortman says the New Testament has the data to support a doctrine like the Trinity. He goes on to say the clearest formula is found in Matthew 28:18-19 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’” Matthew places all three persons of the Trinity on an equal level. The disciple was to be baptized in “the name,” singular, indicating one being. Remember the Trinity can be defined as one God subsisting in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-equal and co-eternal. Fortman contends, “…there seems to be no realization of the problem of the relationship between the three and of the three to the same Godhead.” This baptism formula is clearly Trinitarian. However, the Watchtower Organization twists Fortman’s words to make him sound like he is anti-Trinitarian. Intentionally, they also leave off the title of his book, “Triune God.” They are trying to hide the truth. Fortman is a committed Catholic who believes strongly in the doctrine of the Trinity.
They say they are an organization of truth. Jesus had some words to the Jehovah’s Witnesses concerning truth. Speaking to the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus said the following: John 8:43-45 “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.” The Watchtower Organization in their lies, are following Satan’s lead. They cannot speak the truth because it would condemn their false teachings.
I am only going to post three misquotes (see part 3); there are many others. I have made my case and shown the Watchtower is a deceitful organization. On the internet there are sites that further expose the lies of this booklet. One particular site that I have found useful is “4witness.org.” You can find a page by page refutation of the booklet.
My teacher friend, who I showed these false quotes, chose to stand by the lies of the organization. I walked out of his house frustrated but with joy because I had shared the truth. My sense was he really didn’t believe what he was telling me. My only hope was this information shook the foundation of his beliefs. Don’t be surprised when you use these quotes, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will act as if they don’t care. Over time exposed to enough false information and deceitful quotes of the Watchtower Organization, they may walk away; many have. God can use you to help them see the truth.
[1] Edmund J. Fortman, Triune God: A Historical Study of the doctrine of the Trinity, (Philadelphia: Westminster Press 1972), pp. xv-xvi
