Victor Wierwille
Victor Paul Wierwille, founder of The Way International, led a religious movement whose unitarian Godhead doctrine, rejection of the Trinity, and emphasis on distinct manifestations or offices of God closely paralleled certain versions of William Branham's theology. His association with George Lamsa and promotion of the idea that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic connected him directly to Branham's later use and endorsement of the Lamsa Bible, especially after Wierwille and associates met Branham in 1957 and Lamsa completed major translation work in Wierwille's home. Former-member accounts of The Way's authoritarian small-group structure, sexual misconduct, and doctrines that allegedly framed sexual access as service to leadership place Wierwille's movement within the broader landscape of cultic religious systems that blended anti-Trinitarian theology, charismatic authority, alternative scripture claims, and abusive control over followers.
Victor Paul Wierwille was the central figure of 'The Way, International', a religious cult that originated from New Knoxville, OH. It was in many ways aligned with the Latter Rain Movement and the core doctrines of some versions of William Branham's Godhead theology; Wierwille's doctrine included a unitarian view of God, teaching that there was only one Person in the Godhead who was viewed in different ways during different manifestations — very similar to William Branham's 'offices of God' that was used for certain versions of his stage persona and in direct conflict with Branham's three-Person-Trinitarian stage persona.[1]
This is similar to the ancient Arian heresy. The Way rejects the doctrine of the Trinity (that there is one supreme Being consisting of three distinct Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Rather, the supreme Being of God is believed to consist of only one Person. God is called Father in relation to His creation of Jesus Christ in a unique way. He is called Holy Spirit when He is viewed as the Giver of holy spirit, which is "impersonal power from on high." So The Way's view of God is a form of Unitarianism.[2]
- A Brief Summary of The Way International and its Primary Teachings.
It's three offices of the selfsame God. God the Father is in a form of Light. No man could touch Him. He's come right down, condescending and come into the Son. It was God the Son, the same God: 'My Father's in Me; it's Him that doeth the works. 24 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. 'I came from God,' said Christ, 'and I go back to God.' He did. It's God all along only three offices, the Fatherhood, Sonship, the Holy Ghost dispensation. It's all the selfsame God.[3]
- William Branham
Interestingly, Wierwille was also aligned with the doctrinal views of George Lamsa, Aramaic Bible scholar and author of the Lamsa Bible used in the latter years of William Branham's ministry. Wierwille believed that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic, and in 1957, he began his association with Lamsa,[4] and Lamsa finished his translation of the Lamsa Bible in Wierwille's home.[5] That same year, Wierwille and a group of men met with Branham, and Branham began using and advertising the Lamsa translation of the Bible.
And then with a—a luncheon with Dr. Wierwille (I just can't get that right.), and his brothers, and some more, a—a doctor, dentist, and some group that we had lunch together just a few moments ago. And this has certainly been a joyful day, and I trusting to God that it will continue be that way throughout the day for all of us, as we have met together again in Christ, just to set in Heavenly places with Him.[6]
William Branham, January 1957
Lamsa and Wierwille produced the first American Aramaic grammar in 1960,[7] the same year that Branham began heavily promoting Lamsa and his bible. According to Branham, there were no "difference actually in content or doctrine" between the King James Version and the Lamsa translation.[8]
But it all paid up today, to get to meet some precious people. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Lamsa, today, the translator of the Lamsa translation of the Bible. And such a privilege…You know, I would rather you'd give me a little rosebud, right now, than a whole wreath after I'm gone. I think maybe he'd think the same thing. I certainly can prescribe to his translation, for meeting him and finding such a lovely spirit of a real true Christian believer. God bless his gallant soul. I don't know as I've ever met any more spiritual man than Dr. Lamsa. May the Lord richly bless him[9]
William Branham, April 1960
According to former members, The Way participated in sexual favors as a doctrine of "take care of the shepherd and you take care of the flock". The Way was organized as small groups of recruits, or "Twigs", where the group engaged in religious celibacy followed by sexual extasy.
Now I was never openly told, nor did I see it, but the members in leadership, those close to leadership in the Way Corps, those who had gone WOW, [Word over the World ministry] those who lived communally with other Way members saw, knew and participated in sexual shenanigans where the reasoning given was 'take care of the shepherd and you take care of the flock'.[10]
- "G" (A former cult member)
Once I lived in a houseful of Way women, for a short period of eight months. I began to see the “anything goes” sexual attitude of the women I lived with. When one was on the WOW field, one was supposed to be celibate for the entire year, if one was unmarried. Yet my Twig household was screwing WOW’S right and left under my own roof![11]
- "G" (A former cult member)