How can I best witness to Jehovah's Witnesses?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament doesn’t address Jehovah’s Witnesses specifically, of course, but it provides foundational truths about God, His plan for salvation, and His identity that are crucial when witnessing to anyone with altered views of Scripture. Regarding the nature of God, the Old Testament repeatedly emphasizes God’s unity and sovereignty (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:6), but it also shows God’s relational and covenantal nature, which foreshadows the fullness of His revelation in Christ. This counters the idea that God is a distant, impersonal force or that Jesus is a created being.
• The Old Testament foretells a coming Savior who will redeem God’s people and who is called, among other names, “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2). These passages support the Christian understanding of Jesus’ identity as God incarnate, not merely an angelic being.
• The Old Testament consistently demonstrates that God’s plan for redemption relies on His covenant faithfulness, not human works alone (Genesis 15:6). This contrasts with the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ emphasis on works and organizational obedience.
• God’s Word must be interpreted in the context of His promises and covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 53). This challenges the Jehovah’s Witnesses approach of selective translation or interpretation apart from God’s overall redemptive plan.

from the new testament

• The Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrine significantly differs from biblical Christian theology. Any effective witnessing must focus on Jesus Christ, His identity as the Son of God (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15-20) and His propitiation of sins for our salvation (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2).
• The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes that Jesus is fully God and fully human (John 1:1-3, 14; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3). This counters the JW teaching that Jesus is merely a created being (Michael the Archangel).
• Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, not by works or organizational loyalty (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-25). This challenges the JW focus on works, baptism, and association with the Watchtower organization.
• The Holy Spirit is God, active in believers’ lives to teach, guide, and empower (John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4). This opposes the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ view that the Holy Spirit is only God’s impersonal force.
• God’s Word points to Christ as the fulfillment of God’s promises (Luke 24:44-47; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Scripture must be interpreted in its redemptive context rather than according to human traditions or selective readings.
• As when witnessing to anyone, we must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and use the Bible as the basis of our faith (Hebrews 4:12).

implications for today

Understanding a Jehovah’s Witnesses’ theology is important in witnessing to them. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses believe the idea of the Trinity is pagan. They misrepresent the doctrine as tri-theism. They do agree that the Father and Son are two Persons but do not understand how three Persons can be One God. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus was created (Arianism) by God and is a little god. So in their view, there are two gods—a Big God and a little god. According to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus was once Michael the archangel and when He died on the cross He was not resurrected bodily, but as a spirit creature. They say the Holy Spirit is not a Person but is Jehovah's force or energy.

Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jesus' death atoned only for Adam's sin and that our deaths pay the penalty for our sins. Only some of those living today can claim to have a heavenly hope with Jesus as their mediator as part of a "remnant" of the 144,000. The others say they want to live forever on a paradise earth (Restorationism). If they can live obediently until the end of the Millennial Reign of Jesus, they believe they will earn the right to be declared righteous. To survive Armageddon, they must obey the Watchtower Society and its Governing Body, who they say is appointed by Jehovah. The JW Governing Body says that Jesus began to rule Earth from heaven in 1914 as an invisible "second presence." They know this due to their "spiritual eyes of discernment." They teach that Jesus will not return to Earth, but will rule with 144,000 from heaven. Jehovah's Witnesses have no assurance of salvation, yet continue to strive in hopes that they will earn life on a paradise earth.

Foundational to orthodox Christianity is the divinity of Jesus. His divinity is what makes His death on the cross the atonement for everyone who calls on His Name and believes. Those who do—Christians—have the assurance of salvation (Romans 10:9) and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit—the third member of the Trinity. They do not have to keep striving for salvation or some future hope of acceptance by God.

As with anyone Christians share the gospel with, an attitude of love and compassion must be maintained. Share your personal testimony and help Jehovah's Witnesses to understand the deception they are under. Be careful, though: Jehovah's Witnesses often invite people to participate in their "Bible study." For such studies, they use the New World Translation of what they call the Bible, which has been altered to parallel their theology, including removal of any passage referencing the deity of Jesus. They generally will not read extrabiblical content not produced by Watchtower, nor will they easily agree to attend a church service. Productive conversations about doctrine might not be possible until a Jehovah's Witness begins to doubt his faith in The Watchtower Society. Show them that you care about their eternal destiny and direct conversation to the person of Christ and the need for faith in Him.

Jehovah's Witnesses are usually surprised to find those who genuinely love the Lord, demonstrate the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and use the Bible as the basis of faith. We must continue to stress our reliance upon Jesus for salvation. Most importantly, we must pray for Jehovah's Witnesses.