Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 21
May 8, 1968
NUMBER 2, PAGE 3b,5b

"Dear Jehovah Witness"

Robert Harkrider

Surely you do not mind people knowing that you deny Jesus Christ is co-eternal and co-equal with God the Father since this is the basis of much of your doctrine. Your denial of the eternal nature of Jesus Christ is necessary to your doctrine that He is a "lesser god." Both are assumptions without scriptural justification, and like most errors, the assumption of one false premise leads to another. This open letter is addressed with kindness and in the interest of salvation that all men might examine and believe the whole truth on this vital subject.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was "in the beginning" with God, hence, co-eternal. He was neither "created" (as you affirm) nor did He "develop" into Godhood, but like His Father, Jesus Christ is described as existing before all things. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3(. He is called the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Rev. 22:13). Though human minds cannot comprehend eternity we do believe the Scriptures which affirm Jesus Christ as "I AM" (John 8:58: "before the world was" (John 17:5); "which is, and which was, and which is to come" (Rev. 1:8, 17-18).

His prophetic name testifies Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name "Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). The key to this verse is the Divine Name "Emmanuel," which can only be rightly rendered "God with us:" and since there is no other God but Jehovah (Isa. 43:10-11), therefore Jesus Christ and Jehovah are of the same substance in power and eternity, hence equal. By divine inspiration, this name is interpreted for us in Matthew 1:21 where the prophecy was quoted and applied to Jesus, "...and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us." (See also Micah 5:2: Isa. 9:6) Colossians 2:9 further affirms "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

This is not to say there are "three gods in one" but rather than there are three Persons of Godhead who are of the same substance, co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal, in forever. The Bible states that God is one. The same Bible reveals that Jesus prayed to His Father that all believers be "one" even as He and His Father are "one" (John 17:20-23). The idea is unity; all Christians should be one, thou a plurality exists (Read I Cor. 12:12-27). Husband and wife become "one flesh" (Matt. 19:5) i.e., two people become as one in aim, purpose, and work. Likewise the three persons of Father, Son. and Holy Ghost are "one God." Christ affirmed this unity in plurality of Godhead when He commissioned His apostles, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19).

The deity of Jesus Christ is one of the cornerstones of Christianity, and as such your rejection of this scriptural truth allies you with the antichrist of the first century (1 John 3:3). Please give serious reconsideration to your belief.

— 98 Wyrall Rd.. Miranda, Sydney, N. S. W., Australia, 2228