Bible Study - what do you think of this?

by Bad Girl 20 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Bad Girl

  I cant help thinking that the original "bible students" did things the right way compared to how its done today. They sat together in small groups, read and discussed scriptures and then wrote down their findings. They did this until they had gone through the whole bible.

  I know that reading the entire bible is a prerequisite for becoming a JW, but I wonder how many JWs really do it or if most of them just know the regular snippets of scripture which are quoted in the magazines, and of course in field ministry etc.

  I have decided that allthough I have read the bible - I think I am going to do a study of it the way these early bible students did, Im going to read paragraph by paragraph and write down MY findings and MY feelings about what is written. The way I interpret it and how I feel about it as Im reading it.

  Ive started on Matthew as I find the New Testament easier to read, and allready I have found things which dont seem to correspond with the societies thinking and teaching.

  Has anyone else done an extensive study of the bible like this? and if you have, what conclusions did it help you reach?

  I cant help dwelling on certain things such as Jesus's complete lack of prejudice towards people and I cant help thinking that many in the org are not following his example closely enough, and allow prejudices and personal appearance or stigmas of ill health, mental illness etc to cloud their judgement.

  Thoughts anyone?
• 

  LittleToe

  Thoughts anyone?

  It worked for me

  My favourite is the gospel of John.
• 

  AK - Jeff

  I have undergone similar study for short portions of scripture. I try and read entire chapters and sections now, instead of the single text method employed by doctrinalist wishing to support a pet idea.

  I like to do what you suggest with Romans and John's Gospel. I never use the New World Translation for that.

  Here's an interesting link; http://www.biblestudying.net/index.html

  No endorsement intended.

  Jeff
• 

  blondie

  Just reading the Bible without the WTS publications, has opened the minds of many JWs to the point of leaving the WTS. That is why the WTS cautions that reading the Bible without their help is dangerous.

  **** w87 7/15 p. 19 Prayers Require Works ***

  Because Jehovah God does not give his holy spirit apart from his Word, and we cannot hope to receive holy spirit if we ignore the earthly channel Jehovah is using today, "the faithful and discreet slave," represented by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Without help from this "slave," we would neither be able to understand the full import of what we read nor know how to apply what we learn.-Matthew 24:45-47.

  *** w81 12/1 p. 27 par. 4 The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***

  But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his "faithful and discreet slave," made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.-Compare Acts 8:30-40.
• 

  Bad Girl

  But surely we can pray to Jehovah for his holy spirit to help us just before we study the bible?

  The way I see it is that the Bible is Gods word, and I want to get to know God directly and if you want to speak to the Organ Grinder you dont waste time with the monkey

  I know that WT is designed to be a study aid, but surely Gods word in its purest form is the only study aid we really need? The bible talks of keeping your eye simple. Eyes are used to focus, so if we focus on one simple thing, ie reading the bible and praying directly to God, surely that is the best means of communication?

  If you cannot speak a language you would have to use an interpreter. If you have never met that interpreter, you have to place your trust in them, that they will communicate your throughts to the other person exactly as you have spoken them.

  Can we really be sure that Jehovahs "interpreter" is the WT and are they keeping his message exactly as he intends us to hear it, or are parts of it being given a slant by the interpeters views and beleifs?
• 

  blondie

  BG, what has the WTS interpreted in the past?

  Presence of Christ 1874 now 1914 (and they lie in 1993 WT about it being 1914 consistently)

  Superior authorities

  1879-1929 secular governments

  1929-1962 God and Christ

  1962-2006 secular governments

  just a start
• 

  Moomin

  Hi Badgirl
  
  The Bible Students still exist. Joseph rutherford took over them after Pastor Russell and then formed a splinter group which he then named the Jehovah's Witnesses, those who didn't agree with his ways remained as Bible Students. I think this is their website: www.biblestudents.net

  I'm tired of organized religion and like you, have been reading the bible and using my own understanding. You are right, there is quite a difference with what the jw's interpret.

  I don't believe that reading the entire bible is a prerequisite for becoming a jw as it was more the society's publications that we were encouraged to read so much and of course the days text, that way we get to feel like we are reading the bible but get a watchtower interpretation of each individual scripture.

  I have read of people's experiences of being jws for most of their lives and so many have said that they didn't even read the bible itself. I even stopped reading it myself when I became a witness as I no longer believed my understanding would be up to scratch (thats what they want you to think). There were a few times I would mention a scripture and someone would tell me that my interpretation was wrong and they'd get back to me with its true meaning, but then they would forget and I was left not being able to trust my own judgement.

  I understand completely what you mean about Jesus and his lack of prejudice. The witnesses pride themselves on being imitators of Jesus but they are the most judgemental people I have ever met. I used to think about the scripture where Jesus said that you will know my people for the genuine love they have for one another. The witnesses would throw this scripture in people's faces all the time, claiming that they have this genuine love. I would often ask why there is so much bad feeling, gossip and snidy remarks in the congregation if this was the case. The answer would always be:"yes, but no one said we were perfect". That scripture was not written with anything in brackets saying "but you won't really notice the genuine love cos at the end of the day no one's perfect".

  Do I remember correctly from past posts that you are having a bible study? If so, have you attended any meetings yet?

  Moomin
• 

  Bad Girl

  Hi Moomin, I can relate to what youve just said, makes a lot of sense. I read the bible more now than I ever did when I was attending meetings etc. It was too chore like back then, and like being at school and having to do your homework. Now I read the bible with an open mind, and not because I am being told to do it, because I want to.

  I havent had a witness bible study or attended any meetings for some years now, about 4 or 5? I have no desire to attend meetings again, allthough I do consider myself as having a spiritual need, I would rather it was filled by God himself than anyone human.

  Hope that makes sense
• 

  Honesty

  Just reading the Bible without the WTS publications is dangerous and will turn a devout JW into an (GASP) APOSTATE .

  WATCHTOWER 8/15/81 page 28 paragraph 14

  Serving Jehovah “Shoulder to Shoulder”

  From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah’s people those who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude. They do not want to serve “shoulder to shoulder” with the worldwide brotherhood. (Compare Ephesians 2:19-22.) Rather, they present a “stubborn shoulder” to Jehovah’s words. (Zech. 7:11, 12) Reviling the pattern of the “pure language” that Jehovah has so graciously taught his people over the past century, these haughty ones try to draw the “sheep” away from the one international “flock” that Jesus has gathered in the earth. (John 10:7-10, 16) They try to sow doubts and to separate unsuspecting ones from the bounteous “table” of spiritual food spread at the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where truly there is ‘nothing lacking.’ (Ps. 23:1-6) They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago, and some have even returned to celebrating Christendom’s festivals again, such as the Roman Saturnalia of December 25! Jesus and his apostles warned against such lawless ones.—Matt. 24:11-13; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Pet. 2:1, 22.
• 

  lovelylil

  Hi badgirl,

  Unlike the false statement of the WT organization - the bible is NOT an organizational book. It was written for individuals. Any believer can pray for God's Holy Spirit to help us with our understanding of the bible. I believe that we have to personally read it and decide how it applies to us in our lives. The bible is really not that difficult to understand. Especially the NT, most of which was written by ordinary men and not scholars.

  Yes - when reading the bible on my own I found many things that did not add up to the societies teachings. The WT is notorious for pulling one verse out of its context and applying it to whatever they choose to.

  One of my big pet peeves was the verse that says "bad association spoils useful habits". Of course the Society uses this to demonize everyone outside the org. and classify them as worldly and tell us not to associate with them or we will spoil our "useful" habits such as meetings, prayer, study of WT etc. Anyway, in reading this verse in the context, Paul was referring to people INSIDE the congregation Christains who claim to be such but are not sticking to correct teaching. Thus they are bad association. As a matter of fact so called "worldly" people are never talked about in the bible and why should they be? The bible is a Christian book, written by believers for believers and does not apply to anyone else.

  You are correct that the Bible Students are still in existance today. Although I do not agree with some of their teachings that they have in common with JW's (Jesus is Michael, the invisible return, 1914), the majority of these groups are MUCH more loving than the WT org. and they do not force you to agree with their interpretations of scripture nor throw you out of their group for doing so.

  Of course I do know of one group that is very dogmatic about Russell's teachings and do not allow any to have a different opinion. As ALL these groups feel Russell was the "faithful Servant" and usually do not wander far from his teachings. Lilly