Common JW Argument against the Trinity

Does john 17:3 teach that only the father is god?

I am always amazed when Jehovah's Witnesses present this verse as a Trinity-defeater because the other edge of this sword is far sharper than the edge they claim exists. First, let's deal with the JW argument. Here is the verse in the KJV:

John 17:1-3 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ² As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ³ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The Watchtower contends that Jesus here calls the Father "the only true God", therefore, only the Father is God. This can cause confusion in the mind of the Christian inasmuch as the Christian often uses the word "God" as God's name or title simultaneously (much like the word "President" when used without further qualifier can be used to reference the person who is the current U.S. President and/or that person's title).

So let's evaluate what this verse actually says.

The truth here is that the word translated to the English word "God" is theos (Greek). Theos is used to describe the deity of the Old Testament and the Father of Jesus. Theos also describes nature - what the essence of something is. This is how the word can be best understood in this verse. Jesus is articulating that the Father possess the only true God-nature - the Father's nature is the only nature that can be categorized as a "God-nature". What Jesus does not say is that only the Father posses that nature. Proving this highlights the other edge of the sword - the edge that is devastating to Watchtower theology.

Recall that the Watchtower teaches that Jesus is only "a god" - not "the God". John 17:3 declares that there is only one true God. JW's assert that the Father is the one true God. So where does that leave Jesus? Jesus is either the one true God or He is a false god!

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