Churches of Christ and Jehovah's Witnesses differ on one of Christianity's most important questions: Who is Jesus Christ? Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus was God's first creation. Churches of Christ believe Jesus is eternal, fully divine, and the Creator of all things.
Both groups study the Bible, teach others about God, and encourage moral living. Yet their differences extend to Jesus' resurrection, the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and religious authority. If Jehovah's Witnesses have visited your home or someone you love has joined them, these are beliefs worth understanding.
Is Jesus God or Was He Created?
Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus existed in heaven before His earthly life as Michael the archangel. They identify Him as God's first creation, through whom everything else was made.
Churches of Christ understand Scripture differently. John begins his Gospel:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" ().
John later identifies the Word as Jesus (). He also writes that everything came into existence through Him and that nothing created came into existence apart from Him ().
Consider John's reasoning. If everything created came through Jesus, then Jesus Himself cannot belong to the created things John describes.
Jehovah's Witnesses understand Jesus as the exception, God's first creation through whom He made everything else. That interpretation requires us to consider whether John actually identifies such an exception.
Paul likewise describes Jesus as the One through whom all things were created ().
Why Does Their Bible Say Jesus Was “a god”?
Jehovah's Witnesses use the New World Translation, which renders the end of as "the Word was a god." Most English translations say "the Word was God."
Jehovah's Witnesses appeal to the Greek wording to distinguish the Word from Almighty God. Other translators understand the same Greek construction as describing the Word's divine nature while distinguishing Him from the Father.
John's Gospel provides further evidence. When Thomas encountered the resurrected Jesus, he exclaimed:
"My Lord and my God!" ().
Jesus received Thomas's confession and spoke approvingly of his belief. Paul also declared that the fullness of deity dwells bodily in Christ ().
Together, these passages form the biblical foundation for believing Jesus is fully God.
Did Jesus Physically Rise From the Dead?
Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus was resurrected as a spirit being and appeared to His disciples in physical bodies He temporarily assumed.
Churches of Christ believe Jesus rose bodily from the grave.
When His disciples thought they were seeing a spirit, Jesus invited them to examine His hands and feet:
"For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" ().
He then ate in their presence ().
Jehovah's Witnesses understand this as Jesus providing physical evidence through a temporary body. Churches of Christ understand His words and actions as identifying the risen Jesus Himself as bodily present. The account invites careful consideration of what Jesus intended His disciples to believe.
What Do They Believe About the Holy Spirit?
Jehovah's Witnesses describe the Holy Spirit as God's active force.
Churches of Christ believe the Holy Spirit is divine and possesses personal attributes. Jesus called Him another Helper who would teach the apostles (, ).
In , the Holy Spirit speaks and directs Christians. Paul also describes the Spirit as knowing the things of God ().
These passages help explain why churches of Christ understand the Spirit as more than an impersonal power.
Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe Everyone Can Go to Heaven?
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that 144,000 Christians will reign with Christ in heaven, while other faithful people will enjoy everlasting life on a restored earth (; ).
Churches of Christ generally reject this division into two classes of saved people.
Revelation also describes an innumerable multitude standing before God's throne (). Later, John sees God dwelling with His redeemed people in the new heaven and new earth ().
The Christian hope centers upon eternal life in God's presence.
Who Determines What Each Group Teaches?
Jehovah's Witnesses receive worldwide doctrinal direction from a Governing Body.
Churches of Christ generally have independent congregations overseen by local elders (; ). They recognize Christ as the church's head and Scripture as the authoritative standard for teaching (; ).
Every teaching deserves examination, regardless of who presents it.
Where Should You Begin?
Begin with Jesus Himself. Read , , and . Consider what these passages tell us about who He is and what happened when He rose from the dead.
Jehovah's Witnesses deserve respectful treatment and a fair explanation of their beliefs. Their teachings, like those of churches of Christ, should be tested against Scripture ().
Knowing Jesus as He has revealed Himself is essential to knowing the Savior in whom we place our trust.
At Memorial Church of Christ in Port Arthur, Texas, we'd be glad to study these passages with you.
Plan your visit and you’ll know what to expect before you arrive.
To read what the Bible says about becoming a Christian, start here.
When we meet:
- Sunday: Bible Class 9am, Worship 10am, Worship 6pm
- Wednesday: Bible Class 7pm