Should You Believe in the Trinity?

by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

Answers such questions What is the Trinity? Does the Bible teach it? Is Jesus Christ the Almighty God and part of the Trinity? What is the holy spirit, and how does it function?

Genres: Religion, Spirituality

Brochure

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit corporation formed in 1884 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. It is used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to support their worldwide work, which includes publishing Bibles and Bible-based literature.

According to its charter, the corporation’s purposes are “religious, educational, and charitable,” in particular, to “preach and teach the gospel of God’s Kingdom under Christ Jesus.” Membership in the corporation is by invitation only and is not based on how much a person has donated. The corporation members and directors assist the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am SHOCKED at the misquotes in this book. I didn't know someone could legally do that... I feel pretty jaded about what I thought this said. When I looked up the 'references', most of them were clearly--clearly-- misquoted. Had I been in college, I would have lost my scholarship, maybe been fined, and kicked out had I done on a research assignment like what they did in this brochure. Reader beware of the authenticity.

[Carlos Galvan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this booklet, one gets the sense of being taught by those who are level headed thinkers concerned with distribution of truth & facts. However, after also looking at the full text from which the writers have quoted portions, it is plain to see that the writers are using deceptive techniques to make their case.

I have discovered many sites that list the misquotations. These are some of them:
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/tri...

This one was written with a hateful spirit but the facts are correct.
Please use them with a spirit of love.
http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-j...

Readers should check these out for themselves prior or do their own research of the quotes prior to making a judgement.

If the writers of this booklet were to see my statement here, I can't imagine they would think that I am giving the work accolades. However, if they use the same methods as used in the creation of this booklet, they would just use the first sentence of my review to lead others to think that which I obviously do not.

It is one thing to have an opinion; Quite another to deceive.

[Tkaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very excellent fiction! Severely lacking in true theology.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very dubious theology - the jehovahs witnesses do not believe in the trinity.
I read this with an open mind & an open bible & I have to say I still firmly believe in the trinity. The watchtowers arguments are very unconvincing.

[Bobby Brooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I recently received a copy of this document, "Should You Believe in the Trinity", from a coworker after we had eaten lunch. Over lunch we had briefly discussed the trinity. I plan to give this apostasy back to him after one reading.

The claims of this document are evidentially and historically incorrect. More than that, I find the authors use of source documentation intellectually dishonest. The use of misquotes. It uses ellipses to hide words like "however", "but", and "therefore" to present a completely different point from that being made by the source document. For example, it quotes the Encyclopedia Americana as stating that the doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be 'beyond the grasp of human reason (p.4). However, here is the full quote from the source: "It is held that although the doctrine is beyond the grasp of human reason, it is, like many of the formulations of physical science, not contrary to reason, and may be apprehended (though it may not be comprehended) by the human mind."

"Should you believe it?" –Yes, because it is implicit throughout the Bible. Like the word trinity, the words omniscient and omnipresent are not explicit in the Bible either. But no one claims that means the Bible says God isn’t omniscient and omnipresent. Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (New American Standard)"

[TheSnarkyApologist · Rating 1 out of 5]

Highly Deceptive little book. Totally MISREPRESENTS the Early Church Fathers on page 7. As for the remainder of it....when let's just say, this small booklet is as corrupt as you can imagine!
Check out this evidence regarding the MISREPRESENTATION of the Early Church Fathers on page 7.
http://thesnarkyapologist.blogspot.co...

More proof of other deceptive quotes....
http://thesnarkyapologist.blogspot.co...

Self verifiable!

[Char · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I don't subscribe to a trinity doctrine, this brochure (as Jehovah's Witnesses refer to it) has a dishonest approach to research on the subject. The authors have made misquotes and have taken quotes out of context from other religious publications.

Shame on the authors and publisher.

[Steve Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my research on this subject I found it very informative & truthful as to the background and history of this teaching. When I was a young person reading the Bible this teaching never came to my mind at all. I do not recall this ever being taught in my church as a Baptist. I actually learned about this teaching through JW's. I also talked about this with my mother who also grew up as a Baptist and she was never taught this either and so she never believed or read anything about Jesus was God. She believed him to be just as it states ... the Son of God. I highly recommend to all person that want to know the truth about God! This brochure tells the truth!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative publication that examines what the Trinity doctrine is and whether or not the Bible teaches it.

[Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to the trinity doctrine. I personally was not raised in either a JW household or a trinitarian one so when I looked into this I had very little skin in the game. So this brochure helped me on my way to understand the trinity doctrine and why it is unbiblical. For further resources I recommend the "Reasoning from the Scriptures" book and additionally there are heaps of articles on wol.jw.org that refute so-called trinity proof texts.

A lot of trinitarians don't like this brochure and I can agree minimally with a few points. For example, there are some instances of cherry-picking quotes which I think aren't in context (I think that is why the brochure doesn't feature as prominently in our offers to the public anymore). I don't consider the quotes to factor in as a serious component of the argument so it's quite a superfluous point. However I think the rest of what they say is highly debatable - such as the historical argument. I would agree that the truth of the trinity being from a pagan origin ultimately hinges on whether it is unbiblical. But the brochure leaves absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the trinity is unbiblical and so the historical argument of its pagan origin holds up on that basis.

[Vigilante · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brochure is an excellent inquiry into the history and background of a doctrine central to most of today's major religions. A must read!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want the truth about the Trinity teaching .....here it is!!

[Jacob W. Hall · Rating 1 out of 5]

This booklet is deceptive and dishonest! They misquote their sources to a ridiculous degree. For example, they quote "The origin of the [Trinity] is entirely pagan." This is quoted from the book The Paganism in Our Christianity by Arthur Weigall. What this booklet won't tell you is that this whole book is claiming almost all of Christianity is pagan in origin (including what JWs believe).

Here are some examples of what The Paganism in Our Christianity by Arthur Weigall says:
- The Twelve Disciples Derived from the Zodiac (p 25)
- The name Mary is of pagan origin (p 31)
- The virgin birth is of pagan origin (p 44, 47, 60)
- Jesus side pierced is of pagan origin (p 83, 84)
and many more.

You can view the rest of what Weigall's book says and the other sources that this booklet used to try and convince people of why they don't believe in the trinity:

http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-j...

This booklet is actually using sources that if were quoted entirely and in context would be against what the JWs believe.

I would only recommend this booklet to people who want to see how deceptive and dishonest the people of Watchtower and Tract Society really are.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice overview of the trinity doctrine. It puts in logical terms, how Jesus cannot be God by everything he said about his relationship with God. It started out with an interesting historical overview of the trinity then went into how Jesus nor the Holy Spirit can be God almighty Himself. It lastly goes over some common scripture mistaken to teach Jesus’ equality with God. It got a little technical explaining John 1:1 but gives good supporting examples of other places in scripture where the article “a” is used. Even though I’m not a Jehovah’s Witness, I studied with them decades ago. This was a nice refresher and nostalgia for me to read this. I really enjoyed all the other reviews of trinitarians blanketing this brochure with 1 star reviews because it offends their long held cherished and wrong beliefs that God is made up of three persons. It’s so sad when people will not use logic to understand God. When something is total nonsense but people will go down with the ship because of their egos. Jesus said God is greater than him! How could this be any more clear? Yet these trinitarians will justify anything and defend it with their last breath.

[Lee Attema · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is a great example of scholastic deception. Quotes are torn from original context and in the original context mean the opposite of what the Watchtower is trying to convey. Authors quoted as experts are often non-Christian or very liberal. Those authors would trash all of Christianity but the Watchtower selectively uses them to trash the trinity. The arguments concerning paganism are unconvincing. A very deceptive book.

I don't have a problem with authors trying to make a point that I disagree with, sometimes people have a different opinion and, in the end, it is necessary to agree to disagree. I do have a problem with authors being disingenuous and dishonest while making their arguments. When reading a book or article with footnotes it is really important to check the accuracy of the quotes and their original context. It makes for more work but is essential. This is even true of footnotes that cite Scriptures. Often quoted Scripture does not support the argument being made.

[Geraldine Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brochure with the use of your own bible, clearly proves by the scriptures alone, that there is definitely NO TRINITY and that Jesus is definitely not God but God’s only begotten son and not part of any trinity god head. The scriptures quoted are from the bible and show that Jesus loved, prayed and obeyed his Heavenly Father on earth and in heaven before he was born on our earth to sacrifice himself for our sins to be forgiven. This brochure is a real scanner in the woodworks for false religions that teach lies. Jesus himself said in John 17:3 we only need to learn about his father the true God and Jesus, NO mention of a third deity or person. Lastly, in Revelation John only saw 2 divine persons being praised in Rev 7:9,10 God Almighty on his throne and the Lamb, Christ Jesus on his right hand side, again, NO third person. This brochure is a must for those seeking and searching for TRUTH.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Brochure that clearly shows the pagan origin of the Trinity. It clearly explains the reason and intent of those who created and promoted this pagan doctrine. It is clear that Satan has been using this doctrine as a means to undermine his enemy, our God and Father the only one and true God, the Almighty Creator. His son, the first born of all creation, Jesus Christ, fully supported his Father, in all areas, even giving his life, never claiming to be equal, but always doing his fathers will, praying to him for his spirit and support. It was his heavenly father that resurrected him, as he was dead in the grave for 3 days. Thank you so much for soundly exposing this false and pagan doctrine.

[Shawn Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's honest and to the point. It also provides some historical context. Very well done in only 30 pages or so.
Also very detailed in its scriptural approach. However it may upset some that may have belief in the trinity.
But after reading this brochure, the Bible gives no evidence of anything about the Trinity. An unbiased reader will appreciate this Bible dig.

[Kelly Ventress · Rating 1 out of 5]

To call this "sloppy research" is being generous. The mangling of quoted material is clearly intended to mislead. If you read this, do yourself a favour and look up the quotes in the original sources and see what was REALLY said.

[I D]

I think this booklet is written by someones who do not understand even the simplest verses in the Holy Bible. If they contact me, I can give them some simplest verses to explain me and thereby know their capacity to understand the Bible verses.

[Jona · Rating 1 out of 5]

How can I write a review if there is nothing to read? I can not open it to read it Goodread! What gives? Why is it here, if you don't provide the information? Sigh...!🙄

[Cyndi]

Only if the Bible can prove it - history archaeology and the Bible disprove it for sure

[Melissa Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be used with your Bible.

[Sean Forfar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accurate in its use of the scriptures. Uses Bible verse not human philosophy to accurately portray Jesus relationship to God.