Jesus = Michael the Archangel

Jehovah's Witnesses — Claim Examined

What Jehovah's Witnesses Claims

Watchtower teaches Jesus is Michael the Archangel — denying His full deity.

The Claim — In Their Own Framing

The Watchtower Society, the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses, asserts that Jesus Christ is not God incarnate, but rather Michael the Archangel in his pre-human existence. This teaching posits that Jesus, as Michael, is a created spirit being, the first creation of God, and thus subordinate to God. According to Watchtower theology, Michael, meaning "Who Is Like God?", is presented as a powerful angelic leader, the chief of all angels, identifying him as the same entity as Jesus, both before his human birth and after his resurrection. This perspective fundamentally redefines the traditional Christian understanding of Jesus' divine nature, his relationship with God the Father, and his role in creation and redemption. They argue that scriptural references to Jesus as "the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15) and an archangel support this identification.

Where This Fails

Contradicts Divine Prerogatives

The Watchtower's identification of Jesus with Michael contradicts the unique divine prerogatives and worship afforded to Jesus in scripture. For example, Hebrews 1:6 commands angels to do obeisance to Jesus, a command which would be nonsensical if Jesus himself were an angel. Furthermore, the New Testament consistently depicts Jesus as the recipient of worship (Matthew 2:11, 14:33; John 9:38), a practice explicitly forbidden for angels (Revelation 19:10, 22:8-9). The Watchtower attempts to reconcile this by redefining 'worship' (proskuneo) when applied to Jesus, diminishing its theological significance (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, p. 1166).

Ignores Unique Sonship

The scriptural portrayal of Jesus as the 'only-begotten Son' (John 3:16) and 'Son of God' refers to a unique relationship of divine origin, not a created being. Hebrews 1:5 directly contrasts Jesus with angels, stating, 'For to which of the angels did He ever say, "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"?' This distinction is crucial and undermines the Watchtower's claim that Jesus is merely an angelic being. The Watchtower interprets 'begotten' as 'created' in this context, effectively nullifying the unique divine generation implied by the term (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1989, p. 212).

Misinterprets 'Firstborn'

The Watchtower’s interpretation of Colossians 1:15, where Jesus is called 'the firstborn of all creation,' as evidence for his creation, misapprehends the term's biblical usage. In biblical thought, 'firstborn' often denotes preeminence or priority in rank, rather than chronological creation. For instance, Psalm 89:27 refers to David as 'firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth,' despite him not being the first chronologically. The Watchtower, however, insists on a literal chronological interpretation, arguing it proves Jesus' created nature (Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II, 1988, p. 50).

Subverts Christ's Deity

The core consequence of identifying Jesus as Michael is the denial of Jesus' inherent deity. This directly contradicts numerous scriptures affirming Jesus' divine attributes and identification with Yahweh (e.g., John 1:1, Philippians 2:6, Titus 2:13). By demoting Jesus to a created archangel, the Watchtower fundamentally alters the nature of God, the efficacy of the atonement, and the object of Christian faith. This teaching necessitates altering translations of key biblical texts to support their non-Trinitarian theology, as seen in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (New World Translation Reference Bible, 1984, John 1:1 footnote).

Primary Source Evidence

The Watchtower Society explicitly states their position on Jesus' identity in numerous publications. In "Reasoning from the Scriptures," a foundational apologetic work, it is written, "The evidence indicates that Michael is the name applied to Jesus Christ since his resurrection to heaven... Since Michael is called 'the archangel' (Jude 9), meaning 'chief angel,' it is logical to conclude that he is the highest of all angels, and we believe that this is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role" (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1989, p. 218). This statement directly equates Jesus with Michael and positions him as a created, albeit chief, angelic being. The publication further elaborates on this, asserting that Jesus' pre-human existence as Michael the Archangel aligns with texts such as Colossians 1:15 which refers to him as "the firstborn of all creation," interpreted by the Watchtower to mean the first being created by God. This interpretation underpins their entire Christology, maintaining a strict monotheistic view that Jehovah God alone is uncreated and supreme.

The Watchtower's "Insight on the Scriptures" delves deeper into the etymology and scriptural occurrences of the name Michael to support their theological conclusions. It states, "The name Michael (Hebrew: Mîkhāʼēl), meaning 'Who Is Like God?,' is fittingly applied to Jesus Christ, who zealously vindicates God’s sovereignty over those who defy it. The consistent application of 'archangel' to Michael (Jude 9; Revelation 12:7) implies there is only one archangel, and Jesus is identified as the chief angel" (Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II, 1988, p. 393). This work extensively marshals biblical passages where Michael is mentioned, arguing that his actions and titles are consistent with those attributed to Jesus Christ. For instance, Michael's role in fighting against Satan and his demons (Revelation 12:7) is paralleled with Jesus' victory over Satan, thereby reinforcing the identification. The text meticulously avoids any language that would suggest inherent deity for Michael or Jesus, consistently portraying both as subordinate to Jehovah.

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the Watchtower's unique Bible translation, reflects their theological stance on this issue. While it does not overtly change verses to explicitly say "Jesus is Michael," its interpretative choices and textual renderings support this underlying doctrine. For example, at John 1:1, it translates "and the Word was a god" instead of "and the Word was God," distinguishing Jesus (the Word) as a powerful, divine-like being but not God himself. This rendering harmonizes with the view of Jesus as a created angel, albeit a powerful one. Furthermore, footnotes and marginal references within the New World Translation often cross-reference passages pertaining to Michael with those concerning Jesus, subtly guiding the reader to the Watchtower's specific theological conclusion (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Reference Bible, 1984, John 1:1 footnote, Colossians 1:15 footnote).

The Watchtower publication "The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom" frequently reiterates and reinforces the teaching that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. A specific article explicitly states, "Jesus' prehuman name was Michael, the archangel. After his resurrection and ascension to heaven, he resumed that name and role. He is the chief angel, a mighty spirit creature who carries out God's will" (The Watchtower, February 15, 2010, p. 11). This statement is a concise and direct affirmation of the doctrine, leaving no ambiguity about their position. Such articles serve to regularly educate and remind Jehovah's Witnesses of this core belief, ensuring its consistent adoption throughout the worldwide congregation. The consistent messaging across various publications emphasizes the centrality of this doctrine to their overall understanding of Christology and the nature of God.

The Watchtower's book "Aid to Bible Understanding" further clarifies the relationship between Jesus and Michael. It asserts, "The fact that Jesus is called 'archangel' (Jude 9), and 'Michael the archangel' in Revelation 12:7 clearly identifies him as the chief angel, the head of all angels. There is no mention of other archangels besides Michael in inspired scripture, strongly suggesting that there is only one archangel, Michael, and that he is the Son of God himself in his prehuman existence" (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, p. 1150). This detailed explanation attempts to demonstrate biblical consistency for their identification by appealing to the singular use of 'archangel' in reference to Michael, thereby equating him with the pre-human Jesus. The argument seeks to establish this as the sole scriptural interpretation, overlooking alternative interpretations of these passages.

The Watchtower's "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth" also addresses the identity of Jesus Christ, albeit in a more accessible format for new adherents. It states, "Before Jesus came to earth, he was a powerful spirit creature in heaven. His name was Michael the archangel. He was the first one Jehovah created" (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, 1982, p. 39). This simplified explanation, designed for basic instruction, clearly presents Jesus' pre-existence as Michael and emphasizes his created nature as the first of God's creations. This consistent messaging across different levels of Watchtower literature underscores the doctrine's fundamental importance to their theological framework and their persistent effort to disseminate it to all their followers, from new converts to long-standing members.

Citations

  1. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Reasoning from the Scriptures. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1989, p. 218.
  2. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Reasoning from the Scriptures. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1989, p. 212.
  3. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1988, p. 50.
  4. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. II. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1988, p. 393.
  5. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Reference Bible. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1984, John 1:1 footnote.
  6. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, February 15, 2010, p. 11.
  7. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Aid to Bible Understanding. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1971, p. 1166.
  8. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Aid to Bible Understanding. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1971, p. 1150.
  9. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1982, p. 39.
  10. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Reference Bible. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1984, Colossians 1:15 footnote.

Related Reading

Key Scripture References

ReProof.AI Verdict

Hebrews 1 explicitly distinguishes the Son from any angel.