Many people are not aware that Jehovah’s Witnesses actually disagree with the Scriptures. The key is knowing which Scriptures. Please realize, a Jehovah’s Witness will never say they disagree with the Bible. They actually don’t realize the Watchtower teaches them to reject what the Bible clearly says. Here is a list of the simplest Scriptures I like to use with them. (Considering we don’t want to get into an argument over the Greek, since most of them don’t know Greek anyway.)

Remember, they are taught that they are teachers, so they love to help people. If you present yourself as a poor confused Bible student, they will be happy to try and answer your question. They do love questions!

Here are some verses that Jehovah’s Witnesses have difficulty explaining. What makes this particularly helpful is these verses are taken from the New World Translation, so no arguing over translations is necessary.

1) Philippians 2:10 “so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground”

1. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses obey the Bible?

Follow up questions: Do you obey this command? Why not? (If you need another verse for your JW friend, Rev. 5:13,14 in the NWT shows Jesus being worshiped in heaven along with the Father, the word worship was not altered in this verse.)

8. We should worship only Jehovah. Psalm 83:18 says: “You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” Jesus wanted people to know exactly who the true God is, and he taught people God’s name. (Read John 17:6) Jesus said: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Matthew 4:10) So, as God’s servants, we follow Jesus’ example. We worship only Jehovah, we use his name, and we teach others God’s name and what he will do for us.–“What Can the Bible Teach Us?” Chapter 15, par 8.

The “great crowd in heaven” referred to at Revelation 19:1, 6 is not the same as the “great crowd” of Revelation 7:9. The ones in heaven are not described as being “out of all nations” or as ascribing their salvation to the Lamb; they are angels. The expression “great crowd” is used in a variety of contexts in the Bible.—Mark 5:24; 6:34; 12:37. –Reasoning Book Page 167-168, Do those of the “great crowd” referred to at Revelation 7:9,10 also go to heaven?

2) Revelation 19:1 “After this I heard what seemed to be a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven.”

1. Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses believe what the Bible says at Rev. 19:1, that the Great Crowd is in heaven?
2. At Revelation 7:8 the great crowd is not seen as being in heaven. Their “standing before the throne” of God does not require them to be in heaven. They are simply in the sight of God. (Psalm 11:4) The fact that the great crowd “which no man was able to number,” is not a heavenly class is shown by comparing its unspecified number with what is written at Revelation 7:4-8 and Revelation 14:1-4. There the number taken from the earth to heaven is revealed to be 144,000.” —Worship God, chapter 13 p. 121, par. 3, A Great Crowd Before Jehovah’s Throne

3) John 3:3 In response Jesus said to him: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3

1. Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses pray for and hope for the Kingdom of God to come? Why are you praying for a Kingdom you will never see? Jesus said you won’t see it unless you are born again. Are you born again? (Many attempt to use Theocratic Warfare at this point and claim they are born again, the following questions will force them to admit they are not.) Do you partake of the bread and wine? I thought Jehovah’s Witnesses believed only 144,000 are born again and will go to heaven?

(The NWT at 1John 5:1 cross references to this verse. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God, and everyone who loves the one who caused to be born loves him who has been born from that one. Notice it’s everyone who believes and not merely 144,000.)

1. Misconceptions about being born again

Misconception: A person must be born again to gain salvation or to be a Christian. –Wt. 4/14/2014

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/what-does-it-mean-to-be-born-again/

4) Isaiah 9:6 For a child has been born to us, A son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

1. Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the Archangel? Why don’t you believe Isaiah 9:6 which states He is Mighty God?
2. Our Readers Ask 

Is Jesus the Archangel Michael?

Put simply, the answer is yes. The custom of being called by more than one name is common in many cultures. –Wt. 4/1/2010 pg. 19

5) Acts 16:30-31 Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.

1. Follow up questions: Do you believe this verse? It doesn’t say we must study with Jehovah’s Witnesses, attend meetings, or place magazines. Can you explain? Where is the Bible verse that says I must belong to the Watchtower organization to be saved? (Scriptures to add to this include Acts 4:12 and Romans 10:9)
2. “The other sheep should never forget that their salvation depends on their active support of Christ’s anointed “brothers” still on earth.” —Wt. 3/15/2012 p. 20-24

Survival of individuals today depends on their faith and loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization.” —Wt. 5/15/06.

“They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation.” —Kingdom Ministry 1990 Nov p.1

“If we were to draw away from Jehovah’s organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation”. –Wt. 9/15/93 p. 22

“To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.” –Wt. 2/15/1983  

6) John 2:19-21 Jesus replied to them: “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said: “This temple was built in 46 years, and will you raise it up in three days?”  But he was talking about the temple of his body. When, though, he was raised up from the dead, his disciples recalled that he used to say this, and they believed the scripture and what Jesus had spoken.

1. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus? While Jesus said that he would raise himself from the dead, the Watchtower says otherwise. Follow up questions: Why is it the Apostles remembered and believed, yet Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t? Did Jesus lie?
2. “Jesus was using figurative speech, referring to “the temple of his body.” He was put to death and on the third day rose again. (Joh 2:21; Mt 16:21; Lu 24:7, 21, 46) He was resurrected by his Father Jehovah God in another body, not one made with hands like the temple of Jerusalem, but a spirit body made (built) by his Father. (Ac 2:24; 1Pe 3:18)” —Insight book, volume 1, pp. 273

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, although he knew that he would be put to death as the ransom sacrifice, his flesh ‘rested in hope.’ This was because of his knowledge that his Father would resurrect him, that his sacrifice would successfully serve the ransom purpose, and that his flesh would not see corruption. (Ac 2:26, 31) Jehovah God evidently disposed of Jesus’ fleshly body in his own way (possibly disintegrating it into the atoms of which it was constituted). (Lu 24:2, 3, 22, 23; Joh 20:2) Jesus did not take back his fleshly body and thereby cancel out the ransom for which it was given. The apostle Peter testifies that Christ went into heaven, the realm of spirits, not flesh, “he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit.” (1Pe 3:18) Before his ascension to heaven Christ, as a mighty, immortal spirit person, did materialize various fleshly bodies to suit the occasion, for the purpose of giving to his disciples visible, palpable evidence of his resurrection. —Joh 20:13-17, 25-27; 21:1, 4; Lu 24:15, 16. –Flesh, Insight, Volume 1, page 841, Watchtower Online Library

7) Revelation 5:13-14 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, saying: “To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.” The four living creatures were saying: “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

1. Why is it Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus should not be worshiped?

Are you saying Heaven is wrong?

1. “Though some claim that prayer may properly be addressed to others, such as to God’s Son, the evidence is emphatically to the contrary.” Insight on the Scriptures Volume 2 p.667

8) Hebrews 11:16 But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called on as their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

1. Hebrews says they are reaching out for a better place, one belonging to heaven, can you explain why the Watchtower disagrees with Hebrews 11:16? Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the ancient worthies of the Old Testament will be resurrected to paradise earth?
2. Why have our publications said that Jesus was probably talking about a resurrection on earth? There are mainly two reasons. First, it is likely that the Sadducees were referring to the resurrection on earth when they spoke to Jesus. So it seemed logical that Jesus would have answered them by speaking about a resurrection on earth. Second, Jesus ended his answer by referring to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These faithful men will receive a resurrection to life on earth. Luke 20:37, 38 –The Watchtower, Study Edition (Simplified) August 2014

9) John 6:48-50 “I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.

1. I’ve heard Jehovah’s Witnesses believe only 144,000 will go to heaven and only those who have this hope eat the bread and drink the wine. Can you please show me where Jesus instructs that only the 144,000 should obey this command?

“I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. John 6:48-50

Verse 53 So Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day;

1. When Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Lord’s Evening Meal, only a small fraction of us partake of the bread and wine. Why is that so?

Jesus’ shed blood established “a new covenant” that replaced the covenant between Jehovah God and the ancient nation of Israel. (Heb. 8:10-13) Those who are in that new covenant partake of the Memorial emblems. It includes, not all Christians, but only “those who have been called” in a special way by God. (Heb. 9:15; Luke 22:20) These ones will rule in heaven with Christ, and the Bible says that just 144,000 people receive that privilege.
https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/lords-supper

10) Luke 24:39-43 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and amazement, he said to them: “Do you have something there to eat?” So they handed him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it before their eyes.

1. Jesus said He was not a Spirit, yet Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe what Jesus said. Why? This is what Jesus taught, don’t you believe Jesus?

Jesus’ own words showed that he would not be resurrected with his flesh-and-blood body. He said that he would give his “flesh in behalf of the life of the world,” as a ransom for mankind. (John 6:51; Matthew 20:28) If he had taken back his flesh when he was resurrected, he would have canceled that ransom sacrifice. This could not have happened, though, for the Bible says that he sacrificed his flesh and blood “once for all time.”—Hebrews 9:11, 12.

16. Bible says that Jesus “was put to death in the flesh but made alive [resurrected] in the spirit.”—1 Peter 3:18; Acts 13:34; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 2 Corinthians 5:16.
    Jesus’ own words showed that he would not be resurrected with his flesh-and-blood body. He said that he would give his “flesh in behalf of the life of the world,” as a ransom for mankind. (John 6:51; Matthew 20:28) If he had taken back his flesh when he was resurrected, he would have canceled that ransom sacrifice. This could not have happened, though, for the Bible says that he sacrificed his flesh and blood “once for all time.”—Hebrews 9:11, 12.
    https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/jesus-body/