AGAINST THE WATCHTOWER    The Holy Spirit - God's Active Force  
Page 20: ACCORDING to the Trinity doctrine, the holy spirit is the third person of a Godhead, equal to the Father and to the Son. As the book Our Orthodox Christian Faith says: "The Holy Spirit is totally God." In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word most frequently used for "spirit" is ru'ach, meaning "breath; wind; spirit." In the Greek Scriptures, the word is pneu'ma, having a similar meaning. Do these words indicate that the holy spirit is part of a Trinity?
Note: The book Our Orthodox Christian Faith is correct.
2 Samuel 23:2-3 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.'"
 
Page 20: THE Bible's use of "holy spirit" indicates that it is a controlled force that Jehovah God uses to accomplish a variety of his purposes. To a certain extent, it can be likened to electricity, a force that can be adapted to perform a great variety of operations.
Note: The Watch Tower is testing God.
Psalm 95:7-9 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work.
Hebrews 3:7-9 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 20: At Genesis 1:2 the Bible states that "God's active force ("spirit" (Hebrew, ru'ach)) was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters." Here, God's spirit was his active force working to shape the earth.
Note: The Hebrew word ru'ach can also refer to a person.
7307. ru'ach, roo'-akh; from H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; fig. life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y). Strong's Concordance.
Note: A force did not create the universe.
Genesis 1:21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 20: God uses his spirit to enlighten those who serve him. David prayed: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your spirit (ru'ach) is good; may it lead me in the land of uprightness." (Psalm 143:10) When 70 capable men were appointed to help Moses, God said to him: "I shall to take away some of the spirit (ru'ach) that is upon you and place it upon them."
Note: The Watch Tower is blaspheming God.
2 Kings 19:6 And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: "Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me."'"
Matthew 12:31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men."
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 20: Bible prophecy was recorded when men of God were "borne along by holy spirit (Greek, from pneu'ma)." (2 Peter 1:20, 21) In this way the Bible was "inspired of God," the Greek word for which is Theo'pneustos, meaning "God-breathed." (2 Timothy 3:16) And holy spirit guided certain people to see visions or to have prophetic dreams.
Note: The Greek word pneu'ma can also refer to a person.
4151. pneu'ma, pnyoo'-mah; from G4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figurative a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Strong's Concordance.
Note: Christians have been inspired by God through the tutelage of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:12 "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 20: The holy spirit impelled Jesus to go into the wilderness after his baptism. (Mark 1:12) The spirit was like a fire within God's servants, causing them to be energized by that force. And it enabled them to speak out boldly and courageously.
Note: Are you praising the power of God? Are you praising the Holy Spirit?
Psalm 21:13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.
Luke 4:14-15 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Note: Are you glorifying God? Are you glorifying Jesus Christ?
 
Page 21: By his spirit, God carries out his judgments on men and nations. (Isaiah 30:27, 28; 59:18, 19) And God's spirit can reach everywhere, acting for people or against them.
Note: You cannot run away from the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit. (Omnipresence of God)
Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
 
Page 21: GOD'S spirit can also supply "power beyond what is normal" to those who serve him. (2 Corinthians 4:7) This enables them to endure trials of faith or to do things they could not otherwise do.
Note: God enables His servants to be His witnesses.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Romans 1:1-4 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
 
Page 21: For example, regarding Samson, Judges 14:6 relates: "The spirit of Yahweh seized on him, and though he had no weapon in his hand he tore the lion in pieces." (JB) Did a divine person actually enter or seize Samson, manipulating his body to do what he did? No, it was really "the power of the LORD (that) made Samson strong." - TEV.
Note: God enables His servants to be His witnesses.
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 21: The Bible says that when Jesus was baptized, holy spirit came down upon him appearing like a dove, not like a human form. (Mark 1:10) This active force of God enabled Jesus to heal the sick and raise the dead. As Luke 5:17 says: "The Power of the Lord (God) was behind his (Jesus') works of healing." - JB.
Note: God enables His servants to be His witnesses.
Psalm 18:1-2 I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 21: God's spirit also empowered the disciples of Jesus to do miraculous things. Acts 2:1-4 relates that the disciples were assembled together at Pentecost when "suddenly there occurred from heaven a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze, ... and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance." So the holy spirit gave Jesus and other servants of God the power to do what humans ordinarily could not do.
Note: The Holy Spirit enables Christians to give thanks to the Father in the name of the Son.
Ephesians 5:18-21 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
 
Page 21: ARE there not, however, Bible verses that speak of the holy spirit in personal terms? Yes, but note what Catholic theologian Edmund Fortman says about this in The Triune God: "Although this spirit is often described in personal terms, it seems quite clear that the sacred writers (of the Hebrew Scriptures) never conceived or presented this spirit as a distinct person."
Note: The "new light" or "progressive revelation" of the New Testament personalizes the Spirit.
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 21: In the Scriptures it is not unusual for something to be personified. Wisdom is said to have children. (Luke 7:35) Sin and death are called kings. (Romans 5:14, 21) At Genesis 4:7 The New English Bible (NE) says: "Sin is a demon crouching at the door," personifying sin as a wicked spirit crouching at Cain's door. But, of course, sin is not a spirit person; nor does personifying the holy spirit make it a spirit person.
Note: Using Watch Tower logic, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are not persons.
Romans 8:9-10 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 22: Similarly, at 1 John 5:6-8 (NE) not only the spirit but also "the water, and the blood" are said to be "witnesses." But water and blood are obviously not persons, and neither is the holy spirit a person.
Note: Determined Jehovah's Witnesses will be without excuse on Judgment Day.
Romans 1:20-21 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 22: In harmony with this is the Bible's general usage of "holy spirit" in an impersonal way, such as paralleling it with water and fire. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8) People are urged to become filled with holy spirit instead of with wine. (Ephesians 5:18)
Note: Determined Jehovah's Witnesses will be without excuse on Judgment Day.
Luke 3:16-17 John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."
Note: You are baptized by the person of the Holy Spirit or with unquenchable judgment fire.
 
Page 22: They are spoken of as being filled with holy spirit in the same way they are filled with such qualities as wisdom, faith, and joy. (Acts 6:3; 11:24; 13:52) And at 2 Corinthians 6:6 holy spirit is included among a number of qualities. Such expressions would not be so common if the holy spirit were actually a person.
Note: A Christian is prepared for the ministry by the person of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 22: Then, too, while some Bible texts say that the spirit speaks, other texts show that this was actually done through humans or angels. (Matthew 10:19, 20; Acts 4:24, 25; 28:25; Hebrews 2:2) The action of the spirit in such instances is like that of radio waves transmitting messages from one person to another far away.
Note: God is not impersonal radio waves transmitting messages.
Isaiah 6:8-10 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed."
Acts 28:25-27 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, 'Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."'"
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 22: At Matthew 28:19 reference is made to "the name ... Of the holy spirit." But the word "name" does not always mean a personal name, either in Greek or in English. When we say "in the name of the law," we are not referring to a person. We mean that which the law stands for, its authority. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testamentonoma) here is a common one in the Septuagint and the papyri for power or authority." So baptism 'in the name of the holy spirit' recognizes the authority of the spirit, that it is from God and functions by divine will. says: "The use of name (
Note: Using interpretation consistency, the Father's authority is being hallowed in prayer.
Luke 11:2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name (onoma). Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 22: JESUS spoke of the holy spirit as a "helper," and he said it would teach, guide, and speak. (John 14:16, 26; 16:13) The Greek word he used for helper (para'kletos) is in the masculine gender. So when Jesus referred to what the helper would do, he used masculine personal pronouns. (John 16:7, 8) On the other hand, when the neuter Greek word for spirit (pneu'ma) is used, the neuter pronoun "it" is properly employed.
Note: The Watch Tower never uses masculine personal pronouns for the Holy Spirit.
3875. para'kletos, par-ak'-lay-tos; an intercessor, consoler:--advocate, comforter. Strong's.
Note: Masculine personal pronouns are used with the Greek word pneu'ma in the Greek.
John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit (pneu'ma) of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His (heautou) own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Page 22: Most Trinitarian translators hide this fact, as the Catholic New American Bible admits regarding John 14:17: "The Greek word for 'Spirit' is neuter, and while we use personal pronouns in English ('he,' 'his,' 'him'), most Greek MSS (manuscripts) employ 'it.'" So when the Bible uses masculine personal pronouns in connection with para'kletos at John 16:7, 8, it is conforming to rules of grammar, not expressing a doctrine.
Note: Using Watch Tower logic, demons are evil forces of electricity.
Luke 11:26 "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits (pneu'ma) more wicked than himself (heautou), and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
1438. heautou, heh-ow-too' (including all the other cases); from a reflex. pronoun otherwise obsol. and the gen. (dat. or acc.) of G846; him- (her-, it-, them-, also [in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons] my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc.: -alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own (-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them (-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves). Strong's Concordance.
 
Page 22: The New Catholic Encyclopedia: "The O(ld) T(estament) clearly does not envisage God's spirit as a person ... God's spirit is simply God's power. If it is sometimes represented as being distinct from God, it is because the breath of Yahweh acts exteriorly." It also says: "The Majority of N(ew) T(estament) texts reveal God's spirit as something, not someone; this is especially seen in the parallelism between the spirit and the power of God." - Italics ours.
Note: God is not impersonal radio waves transmitting messages.
Jeremiah 31:33-34 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Hebrews 10:15-17 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".
 
Pages 22-23: A Catholic Dictionary: "On the whole, the New Testament, like the Old, speaks of the spirit as a divine energy or power." Hence, neither the Jews nor the early Christians viewed the holy spirit as part of a Trinity. That teaching came centuries later. As A Catholic Dictionary notes: "The third Person was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362 ... And finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381" - some three and a half centuries after holy spirit filled the disciples at Pentecost!
Note: The Watch Tower quoted A Catholic Dictionary out of context.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Note: God is not impersonal radio waves transmitting messages.
 
Page 23: No, the holy spirit is not a person and it is not part of a Trinity. The holy spirit is God's active force that he uses to accomplish his will. It is not equal to God but is always at his disposition and subordinate to him.
Note: Determined Jehovah's Witnesses will be without excuse on Judgment Day.
Luke 12:10 "And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven."
1 Peter 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
Note: The Watch Tower is promoting the fictional Hollywood saying "the force be with you".