Why You Should Believe in the Trinity: An Answer to Jehovah's Witnesses [Paperback]

Robert M., Jr. Bowman (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 157 pages
• Publisher: Baker Pub Group (December 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801009812
• ISBN-13: 978-0801009815
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert M. Bowman, Jr., has a BA from California State University, a master's in Biblical Studies and Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is currently a PhD candidate in biblical studies at South African Theological Seminary. He teaches biblical studies at Cornerstone University and serves full-time as director of research at the Institute for Religious Research, both in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previously, he taught apologetics, theology, world religions, philosophy, and biblical studies at Luther Rice University and Seminary and at Biola University. He is the author of a dozen books and nearly sixty periodical articles. He and his wife Catherine have two boys and two girls.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A quick and able response to the WT, February 21, 2000

By 

David Race (Southwestern Ohio: P.O. Box 431, Dayton, Ohio 45401) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why You Should Believe in the Trinity: An Answer to Jehovah's Witnesses (Paperback)

Robert Bowman has presented us with a book that deals with the main issue that separates the WT from fundamental Christianity--the Trinity. No time was wasted in offering this rebuttal to the WT booklet, "Should You Believe in the Trinity?", since it was also published in 1989.

The book has 10 chapters:

1). Understanding the Trinity
2). The Bible and the Trinity
3). The Church and the Trinty
4). Will the Real Polytheists Please Stand Up?
5). Is Jesus a Creature?
6). Does the Bible Deny That Jesus Is God?
7). Jesus Christ Is God
8). Is the Holy Spirit a Force?
9). Trinitarianism in the New Testament
10). Worship God as He has Revealed Himself

Bowman demonstrates how the WT has dishonestly handled scholarly sources and misrepresented the early church fathers and their view of Christ. He also addresses the Watchtower's misunderstanding of this doctrine, which results in their typical "straw man" argumentation.

The book is not a difficult read, and it deals with many of the objections JWs have and offers answers for them.

There is a scripture index for easy reference and a recommended reading section for those interested in doing more research on the Trinity.

Unfortunately, most JWs will not take the time to do their own research in an attempt to understand all this doctrine really entails. They remain content to accept the "straw man" version set up by their organization.

Consider the following quotes from Bowman' book:

"As we shall see, nearly all of the arguments brought against the Trinity by JWs depend to some extent on misunderstanding the Trinity."(p.15)

"To say that the Trinity cannot be understood likewise is imprecise, or at least open to misinterpretation. Trinitarian theologians do not mean to imply that the Trinity is unintelligible nonsense. Rather, the point they are making is that the Trinity cannot be fully fathomed, or comprehended, by the finite mind of man. There is a difference between gaining a basically correct understanding of something and having a complete, comprehensive, all-embracing, perfect understanding of it. The way many other theologians would express this difference is to say that the Trinity can be understood, or 'apprehended,' but not 'comprehended.'

Some of the scholarly sources quoted in the JW booklet makes this very point. For example, the Encyclopedia Americana, which the booklet quotes as saying that the Trinity is 'beyond the grasp of human reason,' does make that statement, but in this context:

It is held[by trinitarians] that although the doctrine is beyond the grasp of human reason, it is, like many of the formulations of physical science, not contrary to reason, and may be apprehended(though it may not be comprehended) by the human mind." (pp.16,17)

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book On The Trinity., May 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Why You Should Believe in the Trinity: An Answer to Jehovah's Witnesses (Paperback)

I bought this book thinking that it will help me refute the claims made by Jehovah's witnesses and IT DID! This book was intended to refute the JW's booklet: "Should you believe in the Trinity?." I like the part where Mr. Bowman explains the verses that seem to make Jesus sub-serviant or lesser than the Father. He then goes on to prove the Deity of christ. Then, He goes on to refute the claims made by JW's about how the Early church father's denied the Trinity and the Deity of Christ. Mr. Bowman exposes the Watchtower society on there misquote's and misrepresentation's of the Early church Father's by putting the FULL and PROPER quotations in his book (And if you don't believe it, then look up the quotes for yourself on what the Early Church Father's really said and believed). After reading this book, you will know "Why You Should Believe In The Trinity." Thank you.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Biblical Explanation of the Trinity, September 7, 2002

By 

T. Sechler "sam allen" (Litchfield, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Why You Should Believe in the Trinity: An Answer to Jehovah's Witnesses (Paperback)

An excellent book on the Trinity and a thorough refutation of the JW doctrine. In and of itself this book will not convert anyone, as some of the other reviews have proven, but it has helped me in conversation with Jehovah's Witnesses to clearly explain a doctrine they do not understand. Furthermore, it has given me the ability to point them to other material to verify whether their own booklet is correct by giving plenty of references, which is something the booklet fails to do.

Use this book in conversation, but remember that rarely are people argued into any new belief. It generally comes from a loving relationship. Show them that you can be just as loving as they are, while being more honest with the facts.