What is the difference between Watchtower RANSOM teaching & other religions

jwfacts

Barbara Anderson made the comment that over the last 2000 years no other religion could be found that had the same understanding of the Ransom as the Watchtower Society. I thought all religions believe that Jesus died for our sins to be forgiven. What is the difference between the Watchtower teaching and that of other Christian religions?

TowerWatch

The Watchtower teaches that Jesus death only covered the sins we inherited form Adam while mainstream Christianity teaches that Jesus died for all of our sins, past, present and future.

OnTheWayOut

From what I have read, TowerWatch has it right. The WTS and Christianity almost agree on this point, that Jesus was perfect (or God in the flesh, completely obedient to the law) and small sacrifices would not continue if he gave his life for all mankind. Both WTS and everyone else of Christianity have the Bible to guide their doctrine.

WTS does kind of stop short at inherited sin from Adam, while the Bible indicates ALL sins ransomed for. I think the WTS never
really focuses on forgiveness of our daily sins, because they want us to do works of repentence (sell magazines).

heathen

The WTBTS teaches that only the 144k are in the new covenant . All others are the equivelent of a foreign proselyte in the time of the mosaic covenant, not a natural jew but could still worship and receive benefit . Yes they say the ransom was to cancel the sin of adam and by exercising faith in it they have a means for forgiveness of sins . They are not saved by grace alone . Most other religions teach that all you have to do is believe jesus was God to be saved and that actually preaching the message is not a requirement . The WTBTS believes in an active preaching activity for all believers and that by pushing their publication on others is the only way . So actually they want to play mediator for the new covenant.

vitty

So whats the difference between "inherited" sin and "other" sins ?

Fe2O3Girl

I started a topic on the ransom doctrine a few months ago. Unfortunately it seems like a subject that few mainstream Christians want to discuss or give their opinions on, which is a shame, because it looks like it ought to be a backbone of Christian theology.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/111022/1.ashx

lovelylil did make some comments on the ransom in this post:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/121593/2148398/post.ashx#2148398

I seem to recall that conflict over the ransom doctrine was the cause of a split between CTR and one of his early associates - so the issue could have been of the factors leading to the formation of the WTBTS.

Narkissos

In classical theology the "ransom" is only one metaphor among many in describing the mystery of redemption.

The WT separates itself from mainstream doctrine, i.a.:

- by conflating the distinct metaphors of "ransom" and "sacrifice";
- by making the resulting "ransom sacrifice" central;
- by underinterpreting the metaphor of "ransom" as to whom the ransom is paid to (whence the convenient confusion with "sacrifice");
- by overinterpreting the metaphor of "ransom" as to the (unscriptural) notion of "exact price";
- by introducing the unscriptural notion of (biological) "perfection" for both Adam and Jesus, creating a pseudo-scientifical equivalence instead of the theological opposition of Adam and Jesus in the NT;
- by making "Adam's life" the ransomed "item" while excluding Adam from the benefits of ransom...

For a traditional Catholic perspective, see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02055a.htm

Leolaia

In addition to the things Narkissos mentioned, I could also mention that the Society denies any possibility of resurrection to many people from the OT, e.g. Adam and Eve, Cain, those who died in the Flood, those who died at Sodom & Gomorrah, etc. These would have no opportunity to benefit from the "ransom".

garybuss

The Watch Tower Society holds fast to the teaching that all benefits now and future come from good standing with and hard work to further the interests of the Watch Tower Society.

jwfacts

mainstream Christianity teaches that Jesus died for all of our sins, past, present and future.

Leolaia answered the difference with Jesus ransom being for the past. Russell taught that these past sinners, including Adam would be resurrected, so it must have been Rutherford that changed to the ever shifting concept that not all dead sinners get a resurrection in 'judgement periods'.

I am not quite sure how Jesus can die for future sins. Does this mean non Adamic sin? If so, does this suggest that in the future a perfect creature can sin and be forgiven of their sin, rather than be instantly destroyed as the Watchtower teaches?

What is the difference between Watchtower RANSOM teaching & other religions

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