James White defends the Christian orthodox teaching that Jesus is the supreme God, as are the other persons of the Trinity, the Father and Holy Spirit. Greg Stafford, a Jehovah's Witness argues for the idea that Jesus is a god, but not the ultimate supreme God the Jehovah/Yahweh is.
JWs don't usually do debates but I think this is one of the best I've seen in the Christian-JW debate. James White really shows how JWs treat the text of Scripture. It has been said that the Q&A session really exposes them, although, Greg Stafford defends his position with vigor. This makes for a great debate from both sides and should be edifying to all.
I do not speak for, or are associated in any way with either debater. But I do think James White is a great debater and apologist.
Greg Stafford
Recently, Stafford was interviewed by the SIX SCREENS OF THE WATCHTOWER TELENETWORK with regards to his stance on many issues. Regardless of what you think of Stafford, if you are interested in Jehovah's Witnesses, you should find this interview interesting. And yes, you'll hear his arguments against the Trinity and other doctrines held by "Christendom." But you'll also hear his criticisms against the Watchtower Society and why he left. On that end, any faithful JW in association with the Watchtower will be obliged to view him as an apostate and treated accordingly. But I do hope that those same JW's will give this interview a chance and perhaps learn something new.
The interview was very disorganized and distracting, as it was held in a conference call format with many honing in to ask questions. The interview starts at about 20 minutes in, but the full mp3 file is almost 6 hours long. I haven't gotten through the whole thing, but I doubt Stafford was on the whole time.
If anyone has any thoughts, i'd be very interested in hearing them. You can download or listen to the mp3 HERE.
Dr. James White
Dr. James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian
apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor,
having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of
apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty
books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The
Potter's Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an
accomplished debater, having engaged in more than sixty moderated, public
debates with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah's
Witnesses, and Mormonism. He is an elder of the
Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than
twenty-five years, and
has two children, Joshua and Summer.
Publications
The Fatal Flaw (Crowne Publications, 1990)
Answers to Catholic Claims (Crowne Publications, 1990)
Letters to a Mormon Elder (Crowne Publications, 1990, reprinted by Bethany House, 1993)
Justification by Faith (Crowne Publications, 1990)
God's Sovereign Grace (Crowne Publications, 1991)
Drawn by the Father (Crowne Publications, 1991)
The King James Only Controversy (Bethany House Publishers, 1995)
"Sola Scriptura and the Early Church" in Sola Scriptura! (Soli Deo Gloria Publishers, 1995)
The Roman Catholic Controversy (Bethany House Publishers, 1996)
Is the Mormon My Brother? (Bethany House Publishers, 1997)
Grieving: Our Path Back to Peace (Bethany House Publishers, 1997)
The Forgotten Trinity (Bethany House Publishers, 1998)
Mary--Another Redeemer? (Bethany House Publishers, 1998)
What's With the Dudes at the Door? with Kevin Johnson (Bethany House Publishers, 1998)
"Jesus Shall Reign" in Onward, Christian Soldiers (Soli Deo Gloria Publishers, 1999)
What's With the Mutant in the Microscope? with Kevin Johnson (Bethany House Publishers, 1999)
The Potter's Freedom (Calvary Press, 2000)
The God Who Justifies (Bethany House Publishers, 2001)
The Same Sex Controversy (with Jeff Niell) (Bethany House Publishers, 2002)
Dangerous Airwaves (Calvary Press, 2002)
"Justification" in The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
Debating Calvinism vs. Dave Hunt (Multnomah, 2004)
"The Plurality of Elders" in Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity
(Broadman-Holman, 2004)
Scripture Alone (Bethany House Publishers, 2004)
Pulpit Crimes (Solid Ground Christian Books, 2006)
From Toronto to Emmaus (Solid Ground Christian Books, 2007)
"Islam and Christianity: A Matter of Denial" in Answering Islam: Countering Terror with Truth (Coral
Ridge Ministries, 2007)
-----Articles-----
Christian Research Journal:
Is Your Modern Translation Corrupt? Answering the Allegations of KJV Only Advocates (1996 Winter)
Of Cities and Swords: The Impossible Task of Mormon Apologetics (1996 Summer)
What Really Happened at Nicea? (1997 July-August)
Summary Critique: How Wide the Divide? A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation (1997)
Effectively Sharing the Deity of Christ with Jehovah’s Witnesses (1997)
The Jesus Seminar and the Gospel of Thomas: Courting the Media at the Cost of Truth (20,3)
Summary Critique: Jehovah’s Witnesses Defended (21,2)
Target, Bible: A Flood of Books Attack the Sufficiency of Scripture (21,3)
Anonymous Strawmen (21,4)
Loving the Trinity (21,4)
Beyond the Veil of Eternity: The Importance of Philippians 2:5-11 in Theology and Apologetics (22,3)
Pro and Con: Two Journal Contributors Respond to the Joint Declaration of Justification by Ralph E.
Mackenzie and James R. White (22,4)
The Divine Sovereignty-Human Responsibility Debate (Part One) (with
The Divine Sovereignty-Human Responsibility Debate (Part Two) (24,1)
Dangerous Airwaves: Harold Camping’s Call to Flee the Church (25,1)
Examining Muslim Apologetics (Part One): The Bible Versus the Qur’an (25,3)
Examining Muslim Apologetics (Part Two): Unusual Attacks on the Trinity (25,4)
PDAs and Apologetics (26,3)
Exodus and Abortion (27,1)
Bible Versions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Parts 1 and 2) (28,3,4)
Getting Over the Hurdles of the New World Translation (29,3)
TableTalk Magazine
Created in the Image of Rome (March, 2002)
The Lord is One (May, 2003)
The Fool's Folly Uncovered (May, 2006)
Modern Reformation Magazine
Whom Does God Forgive? (March/April, 2004)
Reformed Baptist Theological Review
The Newness of the New Covenant (Part I) (I:2, July, 2004)
The Newness of the New Covenant (Part II) (2:1, January, 2005)
Textual Criticism and the Ministry of Preaching (2:2, July, 2005)
Myth, Allegory, and Parable: the Presuppositions of John Dominic Crossan and the Jesus Seminar and
Their Importance to Reformed Baptist Theology and Apologetics (3:1, January, 2006)
Formal Debates (see bookstore for audio and video recordings)
Sola Scriptura, August, 1990 vs. Gerry Matatics, Long Beach, CA
Perseverance of the Saints, December, 1990 vs. Gerry Matatics, Phoenix, AZ
The Papacy, December, 1990 vs. Gerry Matatics, Tempe, AZ
Justification by Faith, January, 1991 vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, El Cajon, CA
The Mass, January, 1991 vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, El Cajon, CA
Justification by Faith, May, 1991 vs. Art Sippo, Toledo, OH
Sola Scripture, November, 1992 vs. Gerry Matatics, Omaha, NB
The Mass, November, 1992 vs. Gerry Matatics, Omaha, NB
Justification by Faith, April, 1993, vs. Gerry Matatics, Boston College
The Apocrypha, April, 1993, vs. Gerry Matatics, Boston College
The Papacy: NT Evidence, July, 1993 vs. Gerry Matatics, Denver, CO
The Papacy: Early Church Evidence vs. Gerry Matatics, July, 1993, Denver, CO
Sola Scriptura, September, 1993 vs. Patrick Madrid, San Diego, CA
Is the KJV the Best Translation, vs. D.A. Waite, 1994
Justification, July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX
Indulgences, July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX
Mary, July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX
Papal Infallibility, July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX
Paedobaptism, June, 1995 with Geoff Volker against Robert Strimple and Gary Johnson, Tempe, AZ
Paedobaptism, October, 1995 with Geoff Volker, University of New Mexico
The Marian Dogmas, May, 1996 vs. Gerry Matatics, Long Island, NY
Man's Will, Christ's Atonement, May, 1997 vs. Jim Barker, Queens, NY
Sola Scriptura, May, 1997 vs. Gerry Matatics, Long Island, NY
Election and Predestination, May 1998, vs. Paul Barber, Queens, NY
The Papacy, May, 1998 vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Long Island, NY
Sola Scriptura, July, 1998 vs. Tim Staples, Fullerton, CA
Does the NT Teach the Deity of Christ, May, 1999 vs. Hamza Abdul Malik, Syosset, NY
Is the Trinity Biblical?, May, 1999 vs. Robert Sabin, Patchoque, NY
The Mass, May, 1999 vs. Robert Sungenis, Long Island, NY
Is the KJV the Best, July, 1999 vs. Thomas Holland, Indianapolis, IN
Sola Scripture, December 1999 vs. Mitch Pacwa, El Cajon, CA
Justification by Faith, April, 2000 vs. RCIA Instructor, Sale Lake City, UT
Justification, May, 2000 vs. Robert Sungenis, Long Island, NY
Papal Infallibility, July, 2000, vs. Tim Staples, Fullerton, CA
Papal Infallibility, November, 2000, vs. Robert Sungenis, Clearwater, FL
The Will of Man, March, 2001, vs. Richard Hopkins, Salt Lake City, UT
Is Homosexuality Consistent with Biblical Christianity, May, 2001, vs. Barry Lynn, Long Island, NY
Purgatory?, May, 2001, vs. Fr. Peter Stravinskas, Long Island, NY
Grace and Works, October, 2001 vs. Roger Keller, Salt Lake City, UT
Who Controls Salvation?, April, 2002 vs. George Bryson, Anaheim, CA
The Fall of Adam, April, 2002, vs. Gilbert Scharffs, Salt Lake City, UT
Veneration of Saints and Images, July, 2002, vs. Patrick Madrid, Long Island, NY
Can Men Become Gods?, October, 2002, vs. Martin Tanner, Salt Lake City, UT
Inclusivism, November, 2002, vs. John Sanders, Tampa, FL
Open Theism, November, 2002, vs. John Sanders, Orlando, FL
The Atonement of Christ, April, 2003, vs. Dennis Potter, Salt Lake City, UT
The Mass, April, 2003, vs. Robert Sungenis, Salt Lake City, UT
Is the Roman Catholic Priesthood Biblical?, May, 2003, vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Long Island, NY
The Perpetual Virginity of Mary, October, 2003, vs. Gerry Matatics, Salt Lake City, UT
Jesus: God or a god?, December, 2003, vs. Gregory Stafford, Tampa, FL
Are Temples Consistent with NT Christianity? April, 2004, vs. Richard Hopkins, Salt Lake City, UT
Is Gay Marriage Consistent with NT Christianity? April, 2004 vs. Dee Bradshaw, Salt Lake City, UT
Is the Apocrypha Canonical?, May, 2004, vs. Gary Michuta, Long Island, NY
Are Roman Catholics Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ?, November, 2004, vs. Douglas Wilson, Los
Angeles, CA
Regeneration and Faith, April, 2005, vs. Robert Wilkin, Oklahoma City, OK
Can Non-Christians Enter Heaven? June, 2005, vs. William Rutland, Long Island, NY
Is the Bible True? August, 2005, vs. John Dominic Crossan, Seattle, WA
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ vs. Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan (with James Renihan),
August, 2005, Sun Princess (at sea)
Calvinism vs. Arminianism, April, 2006, vs. Dr. Jonathan Wright, Sedalia, MO
Is the New Testament We Possess Today Inspired? May, 2006, vs. Shabir Ally, Biola University
Baptism for Believers Only? October, 2006 vs. Pastor William Shishko, Long Island, NY
Is Homosexuality Consistent with Biblical Christianity? November, 2006, vs. Bishop John Shelby Spong,
Orlando, FL
Did Jesus Offer Himself on the Cross as a Willing Sacrifice for the Sins of God's People? October, 2007,
vs. Shabir Ally, Seattle, WA
Teaching
Church History, Grand Canyon University, 1991-92, 95
Scholar in Residence, Grand Canyon University, 1995-1996
Apologetics, Grand Canyon University, 1996
Beginning Greek, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001
Greek Exegesis of Ephesians, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001
Beginning Hebrew, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996, 1998, 2000
Hebrew Exegesis, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997, 1999
Christian Philosophy of Religion, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1998-2003
Christology, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997
Systematic Theology, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996, 1998, 2004
Apologetics, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003-2004
Development of Patristic Theology, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004
Current Issues in Apologetics, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005, 2007
Islam, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 2008
Education
B.A. Bible (Major in Biology, minor in Greek), Grand Canyon College, 1985.
M.A. Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1989
Th.M. Apologetics, Faraston Seminary, 1995
Th.D., Apologetics, Columbia Evangelical Seminary, 1998
D.Min, Apologetics, Columbia Evangelical Seminary, 2002
Elder, Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church (www.prbc.org)
Critical Consultant, New American Standard Bible Update (1995)
Married since 1982, two children, residing in Phoenix, AZ
No comments:
Post a Comment