Last week, we noted that nowhere does the Bible identify Jesus Christ as being Michael the archangel. Today, we make two more points which refute the Watchtower’s “Jesus is Michael” teaching.

Point #2: Watchtower teachings about Jesus contradict each other (pp. 153-154)

Two Watchtower teachings about Jesus’ identity contradict each other. The Watchtower does claim that Jesus is the archangel Michael, but it also teaches that because what Adam’s sin lost was a perfect human life, it took “a ransom equal in value to what was lost” in order to buy back what was lost. The Watchtower concludes, therefore, that Jesus was “a perfect man—nothing more, nothing less—and the exact counterpart of the once-perfect Adam…”

Ask, “Do you believe that Jesus was Michael the archangel in human flesh or that when he was on earth he was just a man?”

This question puts them on the horns of a dilemma. If they tell you that Jesus was Michael in human flesh, then ask, “If Jesus was Michael on earth as a man, wouldn’t that mean that Jesus was far more than just a perfect man like Adam?” They should realize that this contradicts what the Watchtower teaches about the “ransom sacrifice.”

More likely, they will tell you that Jesus was just a perfect man when he was on earth because Michael gave up his heavenly life in order to become human. Likewise, Jesus gave up his human life in order to return to heaven as Michael.

They may cite you Hebrews 2:17-18: “For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

If that is what they tell you, say, “It sounds like you are saying that Michael was an archangel and not a man and that Jesus wasn’t an archangel but only a man like Adam. So then Jesus really wasn’t the archangel Michael, was he? Do you see why I’m confused?”

Point #3: The book of Hebrews shows that Jesus is superior to any angel (pp. 154-156)

The entire first chapter of the book of Hebrews is written to show the superiority of Christ to the prophets and to the angels. Have the Witnesses read each of these passages aloud, one at a time.

Hebrews 1:2-3: Hebrews 1:2 says that God has appointed his Son “heir of all things” and tells us that it was through his Son that God created the world. Hebrews 1:3 proclaims Christ as the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” It also says that Christ is “sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

  • Ask, “How could an angel create and sustain the universe?” (pp. 154-155)

Hebrews 1:4-5: says of Christ, “So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?”

Request that they answer the question set out in verse 5. Clearly, God never called any angel his Son. Christ has a more excellent name than the angels. Jehovah’s Witnesses may try to get around this by saying that Jesus was an archangel, not just an angel, but an archangel is an angel just as the Chief of Police is a police officer, and this passage tells us that God never called any angel his Son. (p. 155)

Hebrews 1:13-14 finishes the chapter, once again demonstrating that Christ is not an angel: “To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

  • Ask, “Doesn’t this passage show that Christ is not any sort of angel?” (p. 155)

Hebrews 2:5 says, “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.”

  • Ask, “Doesn’t this verse show that Christ the king is not any kind of angel?” (pp. 155-156)

 Conclusion (p. 156)

In summary, you can tell the Witnesses that you find the Watchtower’s claim that Jesus is Michael the archangel to be confusing. The Bible doesn’t identify Jesus as Michael, and the Watchtower’s teaching that he is Michael contradicts its teaching that while he was on earth he was only a man like Adam. In addition, the Bible shows that Jesus is greater than Adam and all of the angels.

Remember that you are trying to open their eyes to the possibility that Jesus is far more than the Watchtower teaches, not trying to win an argument. Take your time with this. Don’t allow them jump into their proof texts for Jesus not being God before you have finished discussing whether or not he is Michael. When you do think the time is right, you can continue on to discuss Jesus as being both fully human and fully God.

Study Questions

  1. How might you make use of the following Watchtower teachings to show Jehovah’s Witnesses that its teachings about the identity of Jesus contradict each other? (pp. 153-154)
  • In order to make the “ransom sacrifice,” Jesus had to be the perfect counterpart to Adam—a perfect man—nothing more, nothing less.
  • The spirit of an angel or a man does not have personality; it is an impersonal, animating force analogous to electricity.
  1. How would you use these scriptures to get Jehovah’s Witnesses to question the Watchtower’s “Jesus is Michael the archangel” teaching? (pp. 154-156)
  • Hebrews 1:2 says that God has appointed his Son “heir of all things” and tells us that it was through his Son that God created the world. Hebrews 1:3 proclaims Christ as the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” It also says that Christ is “sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
  • Hebrews 1:4-5 says of Christ, “So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?”
  • Hebrews 1:13-14 asks, “To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
  • Hebrews 2:5 states: “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.”
  1. Why shouldn’t you let the Witnesses present their proof texts against the deity of Christ at this point in your discussions? (p. 156)