Gairney Bridge

I discovered the Department of Christian Defense website a couple of years ago, and I toyed with the idea of having the guy who runs the site (Edward Dalcour) come and speak at a church conference. The site specializes in anti-Trinitarian heresies (Mormonims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals); Oneness tended to be a problem in northern Mississippi.

Two recommendations: if you go to the site, be sure to register for the free newsletter. Also, check out Eddie’s book on Oneness Pentecostalism, a topic rarely addressed within the Christian church today.

Here’s helpful topic that can be found on the website, a witnessing tip aimed at Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Deity of Christ:

Note on Romans 10:13:

“Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved” (NWT).

In v. 9, Jesus is called “Lord.” And from vv. 9-14, all pronouns refer grammatically to Jesus (i.e., “Him” in vv. 9, 11, 13, and 14 refer to the closest named person: “Jesus”).

Therefore, Paul in v. 13 sees Jesus as the Yahweh of Joel 2:32 (“whoever calls on the name of the LORD [YHWH] will be delivered”; NASB) whereby those confessing Jesus as Yahweh will be saved (cf. v. 9). This is one of many places where the NT authors cite OT passages referring to Yahweh and apply them to Christ (e.g., compare Ps. 45:6-7 with Heb. 1:8-9; Ps. 102:25-27 with Heb. 1:10-12; Isa. 6:1, 10 with John 12:40-41; Isa. 8:12-13 with 1 Pet. 3:14-15; Isa. 43:10 with John 8:24 and 13:19; Isa. 45:23 with Phil. 2:10; etc.).

When using this way of showing that Jesus is the “Jehovah” (properly rendered “Yahweh”) of the OT (distinct from the Father, though) have the JW read the OT passage first. Then, after agreeing that “Jehovah” is being referred to, have he or she read the NT passage in which the NT author applies the OT passage to Christ Jesus.