Should Jehovah

Should Jehovah’s Witnesses Pray to Jesus?

One topic that arises repeatedly in discussion with Jehovah's Witnesses is prayer. There are many aspects that can be explored concerning prayer, but in this brief article we will focus on one question. Should Jehovah's Witnesses pray to Jesus? Why focus on this question, since there are so many facets to prayer? For two reasons. First, Jehovah's Witnesses view prayer as an act of worship, insisting that it should only be directed to Jehovah. Second, the New World Translation (the Bible translation produced by the Jehovah's Witnesses and considered by them to be authoritative) contains interesting (some would say shocking) accounts of prayer directed to Jesus. This places the individual Jehovah's Witness in a conundrum. They receive teaching from an organization that clearly contradicts the Bible translation produced by that same organization. Many Jehovah's Witnesses have paused when shown this and are left wondering, "What should I do? Should I follow what the Watchtower says or what the Bible says?"

First, let us establish the Watchtower view of prayer and its relationship to worship. The following excerpt is taken from the two-volume Insight on the Scriptures, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This publication is one of their primary reference works.

PRAYER: Worshipful address to the true God, or to false gods. Mere speech to God is not necessarily prayer, as is seen in the judgment in Eden and in the case of Cain. (Ge 3:8-13; 4:9-14) Prayer involves devotion, trust, respect, and a sense of dependence on the one to whom the prayer is directed. The various Hebrew and Greek words relating to prayer convey such ideas as to ask, make request, petition, entreat, supplicate, plead, beseech, beg, implore favor, seek, inquire of, as well as to praise, thank, and bless. (Insight on the Scriptures, 1988, Volume 2, p.667)

As you can see, prayer in Watchtower theology is "worshipful address", whether directed to the true God or to false gods. This sentiment is echoed numerous times in the publications of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. It should come as no surprise that the Watchtower organization stresses prayer be offered only to Jehovah God. One example of this will suffice.

To whom should prayers be addressed?
The Bible book of Hebrews speaks of a person that "approaches God." (Hebrews 11:6) Who is this God? There is but one almighty God, though there are many man-made and false gods. (1 Corinthians 8:5, 6) The almighty God of the Bible is named Jehovah. (Psalm 83:18) He is the Creator of all things, and for this reason prayer should be directed only to him. (The Watchtower; March 15, 1988; p.6)

Knowing these things, let us turn to the New World Translation and return to our original question. Should Jehovah's Witnesses pray to Jesus? The account of Stephen, first martyr of the church, is found in Acts 6-7. At the conclusion of Stephen's address to the Jews, their anger is at a fever-pitch. They proceed to stone him to death. As the rocks are flying, Stephen's final words shine true. Do his actions at the end of his life agree with the Watchtower's instruction regarding prayer or does Stephen worship Jesus at the conclusion of his life? The following quotes are taken from various editions and translations of the Bible published by the Watchtower Society. Take note of the alternative English renderings provided in the footnotes in each of the versions/editions.

New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures (1950)
(Acts 7:59) And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he made appeal* and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

* Or, “invocation; prayer”

New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures (1950, second edition revised May 1, 1951)
(Acts 7:59) And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he made appeal* and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

* Or, “invocation; prayer”

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1961, revised 1971)
(Acts 7:59) And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he made appeal* and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

* Or, “invocation; prayer.”

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures with References (1961, revised 1984)
(Acts 7:59) And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he made appeal* and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

*Or, “invocation; prayer.”

The Emphatic Diaglott (1942 edition, published by IBSA and WTBTS)
(Acts 7:59) And they stoned Stephen, as he was invoking and saying, “Lord Jesus, * receive my spirit.”

*Dexai may also be rendered sustain or support. Booth, in his Lexicon of Primitive Greek Words, gives this as one of the significations of the word. The prayer of Stephen then would read, “Lord Jesus, sustain my spirit,” or “assist me to suffer.”

The footnotes found in the New World Translation are quite surprising. Stephen "made prayer and said: 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'" The New World Translation clearly says that Stephen prayed to Jesus. Prayed to Jesus! The very translation produced by an organization that denies the validity of praying to Jesus says that Stephen prayed to Jesus. Wow! The Bible used by Jehovah's Witnesses world-wide clearly shows them that it is perfectly fine to pray to Jesus, which is an act of worship directed towards him.

Some Christians reading this might think, "Of course Stephen prayed to Jesus. What's the big deal?" Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe Jesus is God. Therefore they do not pray to or worship Jesus. However, if there is even one single biblical instance of true worship rendered to Jesus, it would be enough to overturn the Watchtower religion and open the door for the real Jesus to be known by JWs worldwide. And here it is, right in their own Bible!

Some Jehovah's Witnesses reading this may object to the conclusion that Stephen is, in fact, praying to Jesus. They may try to discard or downplay the footnote, saying that "prayer" is only one of the possible meanings of the word but not intended to be an alternative English rendering by the translation committee of the New World Translation. I would remind them of the Introduction to the NWT, concerning footnotes. "We have also offered alternative English renderings of the Hebrew and Greek texts, together with variant readings of other manuscripts and versions". Take up your New World Translations and begin at Acts 7:59. Now, locate all similar footnotes [i.e. Or, "something"] and insert the readings provided into their respective verses. In any instance you examine, does the alternative rendering fundamentally alter the meaning of the text or is it simply another way of saying the same thing? In all cases that I have examined, the NWT Translation Committee was consistent in formatting alternative English renderings in that form.

The Watchtower organization itself has struggled with how to handle Acts 7:59. At times, they have resorted to describing it (correctly) as a prayer.

Questions from Readers
• Does Stephen’s prayer to Jesus, as found in Acts 7:59, show that he understood Jesus to be Jehovah?—W. R., U.S.A. The prayer offered by Stephen when he was being martyred is recorded at Acts 7:59, 60 ... (The Watchtower; February 1, 1959; p.96; emphasis mine)

The Watchtower has said, “Every prayer is a form of worship.” (The Watchtower; 12/15/1994; p. 23)

Stephen prayed to Jesus. Stephen worshipped Jesus. Will you follow Stephen’s fine example?