Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-7-07 WT Study (Love God)

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    blondie

    Comments You Will Not Hear at the 01-07-07 WT Study (December 1, 2006 pages 20-24)(LOVE GOD)

    Review comments will be in red

    WT material from today's WT will be in black

    Quotes from other sources will be in quotes boxes

    w = Watchtower

    g = Awake

    jv = Proclaimers book

    www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible (various Bible translations online)

    www.reexamine.org (WT publications online)

    www.silentlambs.org (child abuse)

    www.ajwrb.org (blood issue)

    http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm (United Nations issue)

    LOVE THE GOD WHO LOVES YOU

    "You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind."-MATTHEW 22:37.

    Opening Comments

    After being baptized one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 30 years I finally did some independent research on whether the tetragrammaton appears in the oldest manuscripts of the New Testament. I always assumed that the WTS only inserted Jehovah in the places where the Old Testament was being quoted. I found out in my research that the WTS inserts "Jehovah" in many other places.

    *** w71 8/1 p. 453 Why God’s Name Should Appear in the Whole Bible ***

    One reason is that so far no ancient manuscript copies of the original text of the Christian Greek Scriptures have been found containing the divine name in its full form.

    *** w91 3/1 p. 28 The "New World Translation"—Scholarly and Honest ***

    True, no early surviving Greek manuscript of the "New Testament" contains the personal name of God.

    *** rs (Reasoning from the Scriptures) p. 278 New World Translation ***

    Why is the name Jehovah used in the Christian Greek Scriptures?

    It should be noted that the NewWorldTranslation is not the only Bible that does this. The divine name appears in translations of the Christian Greek Scriptures into Hebrew, in passages where quotations are made directly from the inspired Hebrew Scriptures.

    *** jv chap. 8 p. 99 Declaring the Good News Without Letup (1942-1975) ***

    A milestone in this regard was reached on August 2, 1950, when Brother Knorr announced the release of the modern-language NewWorldTranslationoftheChristianGreekScriptures in English. The conventioners were thrilled to learn that this new translation restored the divine name Jehovah 237 times in the main text from Matthew to Revelation!

    Are we to reason that there are 237 occasions where there is a quote from the OT where the tetragrammaton appears?

    If not, on what authority and criteria does the WTS "restore" the divine name in the NT?

    *** si p. 319 par. 25 Study Number 6—The Christian Greek Text of the Holy Scriptures ***

    The NewWorldTranslation makes many references to these Hebrew versions under the symbol "J" with a superior number. For details, see the foreword of the NewWorldTranslationoftheHolyScriptures—WithReferences, pages 9-10, and appendix 1D, "The Divine Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures."

    (see at the very end of this review if you want to see how the WTS uses "worldly" non-WTS sources.

    START OF ARTICLE

    Q1, 2) What may have prompted the question about the greatest commandment?

    1) The question was evidently hotly disputed among the Pharisees of Jesus' day. Of the more than 600 laws that made up the Mosaic Law, which was the most important? Was it a law that had to do with sacrifice? After all, sacrifices were made both to receive forgiveness of sins and to offer thanks to God. Or might the supreme law be the law on circumcision? That too was important, since circumcision was a sign of the covenant that Jehovah had made with Abraham.-Genesis 17: 9-13.

    600 laws

    I wonder how many the laws the WTS has now, or is that "rules"?

    I wonder what the most important rule is—that you have to believe that the FDS is the only channel God is using on earth today?

    2) On the other hand, conservatives apparently reasoned that since every law that God gave was great-even though some might have seemed to be of lesser importance-it would be wrong to lift any commandment above the others. The Pharisees decided to put the controversial question to Jesus. Perhaps he would say something that might damage his credibility. One of them approached Jesus and asked: "Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"-Matthew 22:34-36.

    Conservatives apparently reasoned

    So what is the source of this? How does the WTS know what Jews were thinking in the first century?

    Q3) What did Jesus say was the greatest commandment?

    3) The answer Jesus gave has tremendous importance for us today. In his reply, he summed up what always was and always will be the essence of true worship. Quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5, Jesus said: "'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment." Though the Pharisee asked for just one commandment, Jesus gave him another. Quoting from Leviticus 19:18, he said: "The second, like it, is this, `You must love your neighbor as yourself."' Jesus then indicated that these two laws embraced the whole of pure worship. Forestalling any attempt to get him to list in order of importance the other laws, he concluded: "On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40) In this article, we will consider the greatest of these two commandments. Why must we love God? How do we show that we do? And how can we develop such love? It is vital to know the answers to these questions, for to please Jehovah, we must love him with all our heart, soul, and mind.

    Deuteronomy 6:5…Leviticus 19:18

    Jesus was quoting from the OT (Hebrew Scriptures), thus the WTS inserts "Jehovah" into Matthew 22:37-40.

    But does the WTS insert "Jehovah" where there is no direct quote from the OT? Yes, and fails to emphasize that when discussing the NWT.

    Why must we love God?

    Is it love if we must be commanded to love God?

    How do we show that we do?

    If God knows what is in our hearts and minds, for whom is showing it necessary? Is Christianity based on works or faith?

    [Picture on page 20] Jehovah truly values what we can all express--our love for him (

    can we express love to God apart from the WTS?)

    The Importance of Love

    Q4, 5) (a) Why was the Pharisee not surprised by what Jesus said? (b) What is worth more to God than sacrifices and offerings?

    4) It seems that the Pharisee who questioned Jesus was neither shocked nor surprised by the answer he received. He knew that love of God was an essential aspect of true worship, though many failed to display it. In the synagogues, it was the custom to recite aloud the Shema, or confession of faith, and this included the passage found at Deuteronomy 6:4-9, from which Jesus quoted. According to the parallel account in Mark, the Pharisee then said to Jesus: "Teacher, you well said in line with truth, `He is One, and there is no other than He'; and this loving him with one's whole heart and with one's whole understanding and with one's whole strength and this loving one's neighbor as oneself is worth far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."-Mark 12: 32, 33.

    Custom to recite aloud

    what things do JWs recite by custom?

    The Pharisee then said to Jesus: "Teacher, you well said in line with truth."

    When you made a good point when talk to an elder about a WT policy or doctrine that was not supported by the Bible, did they answer that way or did they say you must support the WTS position until "God" corrected them.

    5) Indeed, while burnt offerings and sacrifices were required by the Law, what really matters to God is the loving heart condition of his servants. A sparrow offered to God in love and devotion was worth more to him than thousands of rams given with a wrong motive. (Micah 6:6-8) Recall the account of the needy widow whom Jesus observed at the temple in Jerusalem. The two small coins she placed in the treasury chest could not buy even a single sparrow. Yet, that contribution, given with heartfelt love for Jehovah, meant more to him than the large donations given by the wealthy out of their surplus. (Mark 12:41-44) How encouraging to know that Jehovah values most what we can all express no matter what our circumstances--our love for him!

    What really matters to God is the loving heart condition…worth more than thousands…given with a wrong motive

    Do those who give large sums make sure that they know who gave? What if you pay by check? What if you ask for a letter for the tax agency (IRS-US)? What if you put money in an envelope and hand it personally to the CO? Do you think the elders, CO, and WTS aren’t aware of the big money donors? Have the "rules" been bent or broken by the WTS and/or elders to benefit large donors in disciplinary situations? In making appointments? In handing out speaking assignments at the assemblies and conventions?

    Needy widow…contribution meant more…than the large donations

    *** w94 7/1 p. 27 par. 15 Joyful Submission to Authority ***

    Did Jesus criticize the poor widow because her offering was less than the average? No, he was sensitive to what those two small coins really cost her. They were "all of what she had, her whole living." What deep love for Jehovah they represented! (Mark 12:41-44) Should elders be any less sensitive to the loving efforts of those whose all is numerically below "average"?

    Do the elders judge people by averages? Are prospective MS and elders judged as being qualified based on meeting the national average? Yes, indeedy.

    When a special privilege was available who received it in your congregation?

    E.g., if special rooms were available at the conventions were available at the convention site, was it the widows, the disabled, the children allowed to enjoy the amenities? Or if free rooms were given as comps by the hotels the WTS did business with, was it the poor in the congregation that benefited?

    And remember when donating at the KH, put in the $20 bill not the $5 bill (CO recommendation)

    Q6) What did Paul write about the importance of love?

    6) Stressing the importance of love in true worship, the apostle Paul wrote: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophesying and am acquainted with all the sacred secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my belongings to feed others, and if I hand over my body, that I may boast, but do not have love, I am not profited at all." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Clearly, love is essential if our worship is to be pleasing to God. How, though, do we show our love for Jehovah?

    Importance of love in true worship

    Can you love God and not be showing love to "fellow believers"?

    (1 John 4:20) If anyone makes the statement: "I love God," and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen.

    So are there/were there JWs that would not talk to each other and they were elders or elder’s wives? Were there people that were never invited to social occasions although they were in "good standing" because they were not "liked"? Were there people praised in the congregation but who had not been to see their JW mother in the nursing home although it was in the same town? Were there people who spread lies about other JWs there were jealous about but were then seen giving a talk at the circuit assembly?

    How We Show Our Love for Jehovah

    Q7, 8) How can we show our love for Jehovah?

    7) Many believe that love is an emotion over which we have little control; people speak of falling in love. Yet, real love is not just something we feel. It is characterized and defined by action, not sentiment. The Bible refers to love as "a surpassing way" and as something we "pursue." (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1) Christians are encouraged to love, not only "in word nor with the tongue, but in deed and truth."-1 John 3:18.

    Many believe that love is an emotion over which we have little control

    And what is the source of this research? Many—how many? What study? Who was interviewed? What questions were they asked?

    Defined by action not sentiment

    Do you mean the people at the KH who would quickly ask how you were but never lingered long enough to hear your answer? The people who heard you were moving and never asked to help? The people who heard you lost your job and never asked if you needed anything? The people who heard your car needed repair…

    Christians

    only JWs, all the rest are only "professed" Christians.

    *** w04 11/15 p. 22 par. 12 Search for Jehovah, the Examiner of Hearts ***

    Although some professed Christians accept the truth of God’s Word, Christendom’s worship itself is not motivated by genuine love for God.

    *** w75 9/1 p. 537 Genuine Christianity—Can It Be Found? ***

    There are now more than 900 million professed Christians belonging to the churches of Christendom.

    8) Love of God impels us to do what is pleasing to him and to defend and uphold his sovereignty, by both words and deeds. It moves us to avoid loving the world and its ungodly ways. (1 John 2:15, 16) Those who love God hate what is bad. (Psalm 97:10) Love of God also involves love of neighbor, which we will discuss in the next article. Furthermore, love of God requires our obedience. The Bible says: "This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments."-1 John 5:3.

    Defend and uphold his sovereignty

    as defined by the WTS

    Avoid loving the world and its ungodly ways

    is it no surprise that the WTS and JWs characterize everyone outside their organization as ungodly and to avoid any association with them except if you are trying to convert them?

    Hate what is bad (who is bad?)

    ***w93 10/1 p.19 par.15 "Search Through Me, O God"***

    Some apostates profess to know and serve God, but they reject teachings or requirements set out in his Word. Others claim to believe the Bible, but they reject Jehovah’s organization and actively try to hinder its work. When they deliberately choose such badness after knowing what is right, when the bad becomes so ingrained that it is an inseparable part of their makeup, then a Christian

    must hate (in the Biblical sense of the word) those who have inseparably attached themselves to the badness.

    Love of neighbor (who is the JW neighbor?)

    When it comes to charity, who do JWs help…other JWs.

    Obedience (to God or the WTS or is it the same)

    Q9) How did Jesus demonstrate his love for God?

    9) Jesus demonstrated perfectly what it means to love God. Love moved him to leave his heavenly home and to dwell on earth as a man. It impelled him to glorify his Father by the things he did and taught. Love moved him to be "obedient as far as death." (Philippians 2:8) That obedience--an expression of his love--opened the way for faithful ones to have a righteous standing before God. Paul wrote: "Through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] many were constituted sinners, likewise also through the obedience of the one person [Christ Jesus] many will be constituted righteous."-Romans 5:19.

    Leave his heavenly home

    Dwell on earth as a (lowly) man

    Obedient as far as death

    So is the average JW going to leave their cushy home, leave behind their status in the congregation, and be willing to die for another JW that they have barely greeted for the last 5 years and never invited to their home?

    Obedience—an expression of his love…obedience of the one person

    Obedience to God or the WTS?

    *** w98 8/15 p. 19 Strengthening Our Confidence in God’s Righteousness ***

    Let us be convinced that obeying Jehovah, following the direction given through his organization and accepting his decisions, is the right thing to do.

    *** w91 9/15 p. 17 par. 12 "Help Me Out Where I Need Faith!" ***

    To ensure their salvation, Noah and his family needed to exercise faith. This meant following instructions and the leadings of God’s holy spirit. During the great tribulation, it will be just as imperative that we follow the leadings of the holy spirit and obey Jehovah’s instructions through his organization.

    *** w88 4/1 p. 31 Is Obedience Always Proper? ***

    When our heavenly Father, Jehovah God, speaks, whether through his Word, the Bible, or through his earthly organization, it is all the more important for us to listen and obey, thus proving that we are obedient worshipers who do not ignore the loving reminder: "Did you hear me?"

    Q10) Why does love for God involve obedience?

    10) Like Jesus, we show our love by being obedient to God. "This is what love means," writes Jesus' beloved apostle John, "that we go on walking according to his commandments." (2 John 6) Those who truly love Jehovah long for his guidance. Recognizing that they cannot successfully direct their own steps, they trust in God's wisdom and submit to his loving direction. (Jeremiah 10: 23) They are like the noble-minded ones in ancient Beroea who accepted God's message with "eagerness of mind," having a keen desire to do the will of God. (Acts 17:11) They carefully examined the Scriptures to understand the will of God more fully, which helped them express love in further acts of obedience.

    Can we be obedient to God and not be associated with the WTS?

    Do JWs "trust in God’s wisdom and submit to his loving direction" or does that direction have to come through the WTS?

    If you do not long for the WTS guidance does that mean that you do not love God?

    Does the WTS really want it members to carefully examine the scriptures to see if they are teaching God’s words or only "professed"Christians? Note how the WTS applied Acts 17:11 in 1981 during the "Great Apostasy." This is the only time I have ever seen it applied this way. What flaws do you see in their "reasoning"?

    *** w81 2/15 pp. 18-19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***

    To help us to understand God’s Word in these "last days," Jehovah God has lovingly provided a visible organization under Christ—the "faithful and discreet slave." The way Jehovah God has prospered the activities carried on under its direction can leave no doubt in the minds of dedicated Christians as to Jehovah God’s approval being upon it.—Matt. 24:45-47.

    How shall we view the spiritual food provided by this "faithful and discreet slave"? Should it be viewed critically—‘Oh, well, it might be true but then again it might not be and so we have to scrutinize it very critically’?

    Some apparently have felt that way about it. To support their way of thinking they have quoted Acts 17:11, which says of newly interested persons at Beroea: "Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so."

    But does this mean that those Beroeans were looking for flaws
    in the message they were hearing, or that their attitude was one of doubting? Does this set a precedent for regarding critically the publications brought forth by the "faithful and discreet slave," with a view to finding fault? Not at all!

    First of all, let us note the setting of the statement about the noble-minded Beroeans. Paul, accompanied by Silas, was on his second missionary tour. Due to persecution that arose, the brothers at Thessalonica sent them on to Beroea. In Beroea they met sincere Jews who had strong faith in God’s Word. These were not Christians yet. They were simply interested persons who had to satisfy themselves that what Paul was telling them had the support of the Hebrew Scriptures.
    Up to this time, these devout Jews in Beroea may never have heard of Jesus Christ. What Paul was telling them was entirelynew. So those noble-minded Jews in Beroea searched the Scriptures daily to make certain that the references that Paul gave were really part of God’s Word. And with what mental attitude did they pursue their studies? With a skeptical attitude, trying to prove Paul wrong? No, they were altogether unlike Paul’s critics on Mars Hill, for we read that they heard Paul’s testimony with "the greatest eagerness of mind."—Acts 17:11, 32.
    These Beroeans listened with a readiness, yes, an eagerness, to believe. Thus not only were they open-minded, but they were wanting to have this "good news" proved true. In fact, for a person to acquire faith he must have "the will to believe." If he is determined not to believe, then no amount of evidence will convince him; for if a person looks for them he can always find excuses, plausible reasons for not accepting the accountability that belief will bring upon him. As the apostle Paul well said: "Faith is not a possession of all people." (2 Thess. 3:2) But the Beroeans had the will to believe. They considered what they heard with a receptive frame of mind. As a result, "many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the reputable Greek women and of the men."—Acts 17:12.

    Jesus’ disciples wrote many letters to Christian congregations, to persons who were already in "the way of the truth." (2 Pet. 2:2) But nowhere do we read that those brothers first, in a skeptical frame of mind, checked the Scriptures to make certain that those letters had Scriptural backing, that the writers really knew what they were talking about.

    We can benefit from this consideration. If we have once established what instrument God is using as his "slave" to dispense spiritual food to his people, surely Jehovah is not pleased if we receive that food as though it might contain something harmful. We should have confidence in the channel God is using. At the Brooklyn headquarters from which the Bible publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses emanate there are more mature Christian elders, both of the "remnant" and of the "other sheep," than anywhere else upon earth.

    Q11) What does it mean to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength?

    11) As Jesus said, love for God involves our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. (Mark 12:30) Such love emanates from the heart, involving our feelings, desires, and inmost thoughts, and we fervently desire to please Jehovah. We also love with our mind. Our devotion is not blind; we have come to know Jehovah--his qualities, standards, and purposes. We use our soul, our whole being and the life we possess, to serve and praise him. And we use our strength to that end as well.

    So love involves our feelings, desires, and inmost thoughts? Isn’t that based on sentiment?

    Come to know Jehovah— Where’s Jesus?—do JWs know the God of the Bible or the God of the WTS?

    Do JWs use their whole being and life or just meet the minimum requirements, the unwritten 10 hours a month (national average that brothers are judged by when being considered as MS or elders)? Do you know that until about 1970, rank and file had the official quota of 10 hours a month? Ten hours spent driving around the territory, taking 30 to 45 minutes for "coffee break," doing door-to-door (d2d) when they know no one will be home? Making return visits on people who pull out the coffee and donuts and visit for an hour about anything other than the Bible? Sending your wife and children off with the others while you and Elder Slack say you have "theocratic" errands to run, doing drive-bys on those you are hoping to catch in badness and to be able to mark them off your list for when the CO comes.

    Why We Should Love Jehovah

    Q12) Why does God require that we love him?

    12) One reason we should love Jehovah is that he requires us to reflect his qualities. God is both the source and the supreme example of love. "God is love," wrote the inspired apostle John. (1 John 4:8) Humans were created in God's image; we were designed to love. In fact, Jehovah's sovereignty is based on love. He wants as his subjects those who serve him because they both love and desire his righteous way of ruling. Really, love is essential for the peace and harmony of all creation.

    Reflect his qualities— the WTS teaches that everyone who isn’t a JW will die at Armageddon, all 6 billion, men, women and children, without any hope of a resurrection, dead forever. Wouldn’t it be the loving thing to make sure these people die before that time so that will be resurrected?

    Humans were created in God’s image : Women have an exception:

    *** w77 2/15 p. 126 Should You Cover Your Head During Prayer? ***

    In
    respect to headship, the man was "God’s image and glory" for he was not assigned another head on earth.

    Q13) (a) Why were the Israelites told: "Love Jehovah your God"? (b) Why is it reasonable that Jehovah expects us to love him?

    13) Another reason for loving Jehovah is that we appreciate what he has done for us. Recall that Jesus said to the Jews: "You must love Jehovah your God." They were not expected to love a divine being who was distant and unknown. They were to love the Person who had revealed his love to them. Jehovah was their God. He was the One who brought them out of Egypt into the Promised Land, the One who protected, sustained, and cherished them, the One who disciplined them in love. And today, Jehovah is our God, the one who gave his Son as a ransom that we might have everlasting life. How reasonable it is that Jehovah expects us to love him in return! Our love is a responsive love; we are asked to love the God who loves us. Our love is for the One who "first loved us."-1 John 4:19.

    So if you had seen the 10 plagues, seen the Red Sea parted, seen and eaten manna, would you have believed?

    Jehovah is our God— that’s right, if you aren’t part of the WTS, you have no access to God in prayer, your worship is tainted and in vain, and soon the WTS God will kill all 6 billion plus non-JWs, kill them forever and ever.

    CARROT
    that we might have everlasting life

    Q14) In what way is Jehovah's love like that of a loving parent?

    14) Jehovah's love for mankind is like that of a loving parent for his children. Though imperfect, loving parents toil for years in caring for their children, doing so at great sacrifice materially and otherwise. Parents instruct, encourage, support, and discipline their children because they want them to be happy and to flourish. What do parents desire in return? They want their children to love them and to take to heart what they have imparted to the children for their good. Is it not reasonable that our perfect heavenly Father expects us to show loving appreciation for all that he has done for us?

    Is God the father of non-JWs? Doesn’t the WTS teach that only the anointed are God’s children and the rest will not become God’s children until the end of the 1,000 Year Reign of Christ?

    If you don’t show "appreciation" for what the WTS has done, does that mean that you don’t appreciate God?

    [Picture on page 23] "He that has seen me has seen the Father also."-John 14:9

    Cultivating Love for God

    Q15) What is the first step in cultivating love for God?

    15) We have neither seen God nor heard his voice. (John 1:18) Yet, he invites us to enter into a loving relationship with him. (James 4:8) How can we do that? The first step toward loving anyone is to take in knowledge of that one; it is hard to feel deep affection for someone we do not know. Jehovah has provided his Word, the Bible, so that we can learn about him. That is why Jehovah, through his organization, encourages us to read the Bible regularly. It is the Bible that teaches us about God, his qualities, his personality, as well as his dealings with people over thousands of years. As we meditate on such accounts, our appreciation and love for him will grow.-Romans 15:4.

    Doesn’t God encourage us through the Bible? Why does he need an organization to do that?

    It is the Bible that teaches us about God—Can you learn about God without the WTS?

    *** 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.

    Q16) How does reflecting on Jesus' ministry enhance our love for God?

    16) A primary way that we can grow in our love for Jehovah is to reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus. After all, Jesus mirrored his Father so perfectly that he could say: "He that has seen me has seen the Father also." (John 14:9) Are you not touched by the compassion Jesus showed in restoring life to the only son of a widow? (Luke 7:11-15) Is it not appealing to know that he--the Son of God and the greatest man who ever lived--humbly washed the feet of his disciples? (John 13: 3-5) Does it not move you to know that though he was greater and wiser than any other man, he made himself approachable to all, including children? (Mark 10:13, 14) As we meditate appreciatively upon these things, we become like the Christians about whom Peter wrote: "Though you never saw [Jesus], you love him." (1 Peter 1:8) As our love for Jesus grows, so does our love for Jehovah.

    Reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus—

    Restoring life to the only son of a widow—and she wasn’t even a Christian nor did it say you became one?

    How many elders do you know that would wash the feet of those "lesser" in the congregation? Would you wash the feet of someone else?

    How many elders or the rank and file know the names of the children in the congregation? How many times I saw conductors stumbling over this. If you are still active, watch and see if the elders seek out the children and talk to them at the meetings; if you are lucky there might be one.

    Why is it that so many JWs preferred the Greatest Man book? Can we see ourselves in God’s place? Isn’t it easier to see ourselves as Jesus was, a human on earth dealing with many of life’s challenges despite his physical perfection?

    Q17, 18) Meditating on what loving provisions of Jehovah can make our love for him grow?

    17) Another way that we can grow in our love for God is to meditate on the abundant loving provisions he has made to let us enjoy life--the beauty of creation, the endless variety of delicious things to eat, the warm companionship of good friends, as well as countless other delights that give us pleasure and satisfaction. (Acts 14:17) The more we learn about our God, the more reasons we have to appreciate his boundless goodness and generosity. Think about all the things that Jehovah has done for you personally. Do you not agree that he deserves your love?

    Beauty of creation— now don’t spend too much time doing this, put the d2d first, perhaps you can witness to people along the hiking path, or who are camping next to you, woops be sure you watch your association, and aren’t contaminated by those "worldy" people.

    Endless variety of delicious things to eat— but don’t bring too much to the convention.

    Warm companionship of good friends— only JWs and then only those who are spiritually good association, not every JW is.

    So what do JWs think God has done for them personally? Blessed them financially? Blessed them with good health? Blessed with a faithful spouse? Can you imagine what other JWs think if they lose their job, barely squeak by because they never got past high school, their spouse left them for someone at work? Should they think that God is not blessing them?

    18) Among the many gifts from God is the opportunity we have to approach him in prayer at any time, knowing that the "Hearer of prayer" listens to us. (Psalm 65:2) Jehovah has delegated to his beloved Son the authority both to rule and to judge. However, he does not delegate to others, including his Son, the hearing of prayers. He personally listens to our prayers. The loving, personal concern that Jehovah thus shows draws us close to him.

    Prayer— does Jesus function as our mediator? If not, how do our prayers get to God based on 1 Timothy 2:5?

    *** w75 7/1 p. 402 par. 8 Coming to the Hearer of Prayer ***

    To communicate readily with the heavenly Father, one must accept Christ Jesus as Lord. Peace with God can come only through the appointed way, the ransom provision by the Lord Jesus. (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6) He is the provision for approach to God in prayer and reconciliation with him. Jesus rightly declared: "No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) He is the "helper" that plays a vital role in our having access to the Hearer of prayer. (1 John 2:1, 2)

    *** Jehovah’s Witnesses Brochure p.13 What Do They Believe?***

    John 14:6, 13, 14; 1 Tim. 2:5
    Prayers are to be directed only to Jehovah through Christ

    ***w04 4/1 p.32 Should We Call Upon Angels for Help?***

    However, angels do not serve as intercessors who bring human prayers to the throne of the Most High. God has determined that prayers be addressed to him in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, who said: "No matter what you ask the Father in my name he might give it to you."—John 15:16; 1 Timothy 2:5.

    ***w02 7/1 p. 8 Worship God "in Spirit"***

    Is it proper to pray to Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary, or to particular "saints," asking them to intercede with God in one’s behalf? The Bible’s direct answer is: "There is only one mediator between God and mankind, himself a man, Christ Jesus."—1 Timothy 2:5.

    But based on the following quote, if Jesus is only mediating for anointed JWs, can non-anointed JWs direct their prayers through Jesus?

    *** w89 8/15 p.31 Questions From Readers***

    Consequently, 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 is not using "mediator" in the broad sense common in many languages. It is not saying that Jesus is a mediator between God and all mankind. Rather, it refers to Christ as legal Mediator (or, "attorney") of the new covenant, this being the restricted way in which the Bible uses the term. Jesus is also a corresponding ransom for all in that covenant, both Jews and Gentiles, who will receive immortal life in heaven. The apostle John referred to these at 1 John 2:2. But he indicated that others too will receive the benefit of Christ’s sacrifice: "He is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s."

    Q19) What promises of Jehovah draw us to him?

    19) We are also drawn to Jehovah when we consider what he has in store for humankind. He has promised to bring an end to sickness, sorrow, and death. (Revelation 21: 3, 4) Once mankind is brought to perfection, no one will suffer depression, discouragement, or tragedy. Hunger, poverty, and war will be no more. (Psalm 46:9; 72:16) The earth will be transformed into a paradise. (Luke 23:43) Jehovah will bring these blessings, not because he has to, but because he loves us.

    Consider what he has in store for humankind— the destruction of all 6 billion plus non-JWs, men, women and children, to die eternally without any hope of a resurrection

    Once mankind is brought to perfection, no one will suffer depression, discouragement, or tragedy— take note JWs, even in the new system will will be depressed, discouraged, and suffer tragedy until you are "perfect."

    Hunger, poverty and war will be no more—but will there still be people who have much more materially than others, living in 20 room mansions, and will the backstabbing, gossiping lips of certain JWs be over?

    Will God bring those blessings over the bodies of 6 billion plus non-JWs and will you rejoice?

    Q20) What did Moses say about the benefits of loving Jehovah?

    20) There are, therefore, compelling reasons to love our God and to let that love grow. Will you continue to strengthen your love for God, allowing him to direct your ways? The choice is up to you. Moses recognized the benefits of cultivating and maintaining love for Jehovah. To the Israelites of long ago, Moses said: "You must choose life in order that you may keep alive, you and your offspring, by loving Jehovah your God, by listening to his voice and by sticking to him; for he is your life and the length of your days."-Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.

    Can we love God without the WTS; can we let God direct our ways without the WTS?

    Moses—OT example

    Choose "Jehovah"—What happened to choosing Christ?

    Do You Recall?

    - Why is it essential that we love Jehovah?

    - How can we show our love for God?

    - What reasons do we have for loving Jehovah?

    - How can we cultivate the love of God?

    Concluding Comments

    Can God love us apart from the WTS? Can you be a true Christian apart from the WTS? Can we love God apart from the WTS? (WTS/FDS/GB) YES

    This of this man: (OT Example) Naaman

    Did he have to leave his Syrian home, his job working for the king, and move to Israel and be circumcised to love God and be loved by him?

    *** it-2 p. 456 Naaman ***

    Becomes Worshiper of Jehovah. Now filled with gratitude and humble appreciation, the Syrian army chief returned to Elisha, a distance of perhaps 50 km (30 mi), and offered him a most generous gift, which the prophet insistently refused. Naaman then asked for some of the earth of Israel, "the load of a pair of mules," to take home, that upon Israel’s soil he might offer sacrifices to Jehovah, vowing that from then on he would worship no other god. Perhaps Naaman had in mind offering sacrifices to Jehovah upon an altar of ground.—2Ki 5:15-17; compare Ex 20:24, 25.
    Naaman next requested that Jehovah forgive him when, in the performance of his civil duties, he bowed before the god Rimmon with the king, who evidently was old and infirm and leaned for support upon Naaman. If such was the case, then his bowing would be mechanical, being solely for the purpose of dutifully supporting the king’s body and not in personal worship. Elisha believed Naaman’s sincere request, replying, "Go in peace."—2Ki 5:18, 19.

    Per the Bible, the only channel to God is Jesus and he needs no assistant (WTS).

    No snow folks! Coming down the stretch too on the lakes freezing over, January 30 th is the deadline.

    But I don’t ski, skate, ice fish, or own a snowmobile. The neighbor’s crocuses are coming up. I wonder if that is good for the bulbs? I have the urge to go and buy flowers for my beds. I think I’ll force a couple of hyacinths.

    Stay healthy, folks. Colds turning to pneumonia, 8 cases out of 200 people at work. Wash those hands and use soap and hotter water.

    Love, Blondie

    ***Rbi8pp.1564-15661DTheDivineNameintheChristianGreekScriptures***

    1DTheDivineNameintheChristianGreekScriptures

    "Jehovah."Heb.,????(YHWHorJHVH)

    From App 1A and 1C it is evident that the Tetragrammaton in Hebrew characters (????) was used in both the Hebrew text and the Greek Septuagint. Therefore, whether Jesus and his disciples read the Scriptures in either Hebrew or Greek, they would come across the divine name. In the synagogue at Nazareth, when Jesus rose and accepted the book of Isaiah and read 61:1, 2 where the Tetragrammaton occurs twice, he pronounced the divine name. This was in accordance with his determination to make Jehovah’s name known as can be seen from his prayer to his Father: "I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world. . . . I have made your name known to them and will make it known."—Joh 17:6, 26.

    There is evidence that Jesus’ disciples used the Tetragrammaton in their writings. In his work Devirisinlustribus [ConcerningIllustriousMen], chapter III, Jerome, in the fourth century, wrote the following: "Matthew, who is also Levi, and who from a publican came to be an apostle, first of all composed a Gospel of Christ in Judaea in the Hebrew language and characters for the benefit of those of the circumcision who had believed. Who translated it after that in Greek is not sufficiently ascertained. Moreover, the Hebrew itself is preserved to this day in the library at Caesarea, which the martyr Pamphilus so diligently collected. I also was allowed by the Nazarenes who use this volume in the Syrian city of Beroea to copy it." (Translation from the Latin text edited by E. C. Richardson and published in the series "Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur," Vol. 14, Leipzig, 1896, pp. 8, 9.)

    Matthew made more than a hundred quotations from the inspired Hebrew Scriptures. Where these quotations included the divine name he would have been obliged faithfully to include the Tetragrammaton in his Hebrew Gospel account. When the Gospel of Matthew was translated into Greek, the Tetragrammaton was left untranslated within the Greek text according to the practice of that time.

    Not only Matthew but all the writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures quoted verses from the Hebrew text or from the Septuagint where the divine name appears. For example, in Peter’s speech in Ac 3:22 a quotation is made from De 18:15 where the Tetragrammaton appears in a papyrus fragment of the Septuagint dated to the first century B.C.E. (See App 1C §1.) As a follower of Christ, Peter used God’s name, Jehovah. When Peter’s speech was put on record the Tetragrammaton was here used according to the practice during the first century B.C.E. and the first century C.E.

    Sometime during the second or third century C.E. the scribes removed the Tetragrammaton from both the Septuagint and the Christian Greek Scriptures and replaced it with Ky´ri·os, "Lord" or The·os´, "God."

    Concerning the use of the Tetragrammaton in the Christian Greek Scriptures, George Howard of the University of Georgia wrote in JournalofBiblicalLiterature, Vol. 96, 1977, p. 63: "Recent discoveries in Egypt and the Judean Desert allow us to see first hand the use of God’s name in pre-Christian times. These discoveries are significant for N[ew] T[estament] studies in that they form a literary analogy with the earliest Christian documents and may explain how NT authors used the divine name. In the following pages we will set forth a theory that the divine name, ???? (and possibly abbreviations of it), was originally written in the NT quotations of and allusions to the O[ld] T[estament] and that in the course of time it was replaced mainly with the surrogate ? [abbreviation for Ky´ri·os, "Lord"]. This removal of the Tetragram[maton], in our view, created a confusion in the minds of early Gentile Christians about the relationship between the ‘Lord God’ and the ‘Lord Christ’ which is reflected in the MS tradition of the NT text itself."

    We concur with the above, with this exception: We do not consider this view a "theory," rather, a presentation of the facts of history as to the transmission of Bible manuscripts.

    RESTORINGTHEDIVINENAME

    Throughout the centuries many translations of parts or of all the Christian Greek Scriptures have been made into Hebrew. Such translations, designated in this work by "J" with a superior number, have restored the divine name to the inspired Christian Greek Scriptures in various places. They have restored the divine name not only when coming upon quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures but also in other places where the texts called for such restoration.

    To know where the divine name was replaced by the Greek words ?????? and Te??, we have determined where the inspired Christian writers have quoted verses, passages and expressions from the Hebrew Scriptures and then we have referred back to the Hebrew text to ascertain whether the divine name appears there. In this way we determined the identity to give Ky´ri·os and The·os´ and the personality with which to clothe them.

    To avoid overstepping the bounds of a translator into the field of exegesis, we have been most cautious about rendering the divine name in the Christian Greek Scriptures, always carefully considering the Hebrew Scriptures as a background. We have looked for agreement from the Hebrew versions to confirm our rendering. Thus, out of the 237 times that we have rendered the divine name in the body of our translation, there is only one instance where we have no agreement from the Hebrew versions. But in this one instance, namely, 1Co 7:17, the context and related texts strongly support rendering the divine name.—See 1Co 7:17 ftn, "Jehovah."

    Following is a list of the 237 places where the name "Jehovah" occurs in the main text of the NewWorldTranslationoftheChristianGreekScriptures. Supporting the rendering are various sources listed by their respective symbols. For an explanation of the symbols ("J" references), see the Introduction under "Textual Symbols."

    The following list also indicates the Greek word to be found at these locations in the Westcott and Hort Greek text. Ky´ri·os, "Lord," and its various forms are designated by Ky. Similarly, The´os, "God," and its various forms are designated by Th. An asterisk (*) preceding either of these symbols indicates that the Greek word is accompanied by the definite article in the Greek text. A plus sign (+) following the verse citation indicates that there is additional information to be found in a footnote on that verse.

    MATTHEW

    1:20+ Ky; J 3,4,7-14,16-18,22-24

    1:22 Ky; J 1-4,7-14,16-18,22-24,26

    1:24 Ky; J 1-4,7-14,16-18,22-24

    2:13 Ky; J 1-4,6-14,16-18,22-24

    2:15 Ky; J 1,3,4,6-14,16-18,22-24

    2:19 Ky; J 1-4,6-14,16-18,22-24

    3:3 Ky; J 1-4,7-14,16-18,20,22-24,26

    4:4 Th; J 1-14,17,18,20,22,23

    4:7 Ky; J 1-14,16-18,20,22-24

    4:10 Ky; J 1-14,16-18,20,22-24

    5:33 *Ky; J 1-4,7-14,16-18,22,23

    21:9 Ky; J 1-14,16-18,20-24

    21:42 Ky; J 1-4,7-14,16-18,20-24

    22:37 Ky; J 1-14,16-18,20-24

    22:44 Ky; J 1-14,16-18,20-24

    23:39 Ky; J 1-14,16-18,21-24

    27:10 Ky; J 1-4,7-14,16,17,22-24

    28:2 Ky; J 1-4,7-13,16-18,22-24

    MARK

    1:3 Ky; J 7-14,16-18,22-24

    5:19 *Ky; J 7-10,17,18,22

    11:9 Ky; J 7,8,10-14,16-18,21-24

    12:11 Ky; J 7-14,16-18,21-24

    12:29 Ky; J 7-14,16-18,20-24,27

    12:29 Ky; J 7-14,16-18,20-24

    12:30 Ky; J 7-14,16-18,21-24

    12:36 Ky; J 7-14,16-18,21-24

    13:20 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,16-18,22-24

    LUKE

    1:6 *Ky; J 7-17,23

    1:9 *Ky; J 7-18,22,23

    1:11 Ky; J 7-13,16-18,22-24

    1:15 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,22,23

    1:16 Ky; J 7-18,22-24

    1:17 Ky; J 7-18,22-24

    1:25 Ky; J 7-18,22,23

    1:28 *Ky; J 5,7-18,22,23

    1:32 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    1:38 Ky; J 5,7-18,22-24

    1:45 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    1:46 *Ky; J 5-18,22,23

    1:58 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    1:66 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    1:68 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    1:76 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    2:9 Ky; J 5,7-13,16,17,22-24

    2:9 Ky; J 5,7,8,10-18,22-24

    2:15 *Ky; J 5,7,8,10-18,22,23

    2:22 *Ky; J 5-18,22,23

    2:23 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    2:23 *Ky; J 5-18,22,23

    2:24 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    2:26 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    2:39 Ky; J 5-18,22-24

    3:4 Ky; J 7-15,17,18,22-24

    4:8 Ky; J 7-18,22-24

    4:12 Ky; J 7-18,22-24

    4:18 Ky; J 7-15,20,23,24

    4:19 Ky; J 7-18,20,22-24

    5:17 Ky; J 7-18,22-24

    10:27 Ky; J 5-18,21-24

    13:35 Ky; J 7-18,21-24

    19:38 Ky; J 7-18,21-24

    20:37 Ky; J 9,11-18,21-24,27

    20:42 Ky; J 7-18,21-24

    JOHN

    1:23 Ky; J 5-14,16-19,22-24

    6:45 Th; J 7,8,10,14,17,19,20,22,23

    12:13 Ky; J 7-14,16-19,21-24

    12:38 Ky; J 12-14,16-18,22,23

    12:38 Ky; J 7-14,16-20,22-24

    ACTS

    1:24 Ky; J 7,8,10,22,23

    2:20 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22-24

    2:21 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22-24

    2:25 *Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22,23

    2:34 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,21-24

    2:39 Ky; J 7,8,10,17,18,22-24

    2:47 *Ky; J 7,8,10

    3:19 *Ky; J 13-18,22,23

    3:22+ Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22-24

    4:26 *Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22,23

    4:29 Ky; J 7,8,10

    5:9 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22-24

    5:19 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22-24

    7:31 Ky; J 11-18,22-24

    7:33 *Ky; J 11-18,22,23

    7:49 Ky; J 11-18,20,22-24

    7:60 Ky; J 17,18,22,23

    8:22+ *Ky; J 18,22,23

    8:24+ *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22,23

    8:25+ *Ky; J 7,8,10,17,18

    8:26 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22-24

    8:39 Ky; J 13,15-18,22-24

    9:31 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15,16,18,22

    10:33+ *Ky; J 17,18,23

    11:21 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22,23

    12:7 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22-24

    12:11 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15,16,18,23

    12:17 *Ky; J 7,8,10

    12:23 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22-24

    12:24+ *Ky; J 7,8,10,23

    13:2 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22,23

    13:10 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22,23

    13:11 Ky; J 7,8,10,15-18,22-24

    13:12 *Ky; J 7,8,10

    13:44+ *Th; J 17,22

    13:47 *Ky; J 7,8,10,22,23

    13:48+ *Th; J 7,8,10,13,15-17,22,23

    13:49 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,22,23

    14:3 *Ky; J 7,8,10,15-18,23

    14:23 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15,16

    15:17 *Ky; J 11-18,22,23

    15:17 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22-24

    15:35+ *Ky; J 17,18,22,23

    15:36+ *Ky; J 7,8,10,17,18,22,23

    15:40+ *Ky; J 17,18,22

    16:14 *Ky; J 7,8,10,17,18,23

    16:15+ *Ky; J 7,8,10

    16:32+ *Th; J 7,8,10,17,18,22,23

    18:21 *Th; J 17

    18:25 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15,16,24

    19:20+ *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,15-18,23

    21:14 *Ky; J 7,8,10,17,18,23

    ROMANS

    4:3 *Th; J 7,8,10,17,20,22

    4:8 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22-25

    9:28 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,16,20,25

    9:29 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22-24

    10:13 Ky; J 7,8,10,13-18,22-24

    10:16 Ky; J 7,8,10,13-18,23

    11:3 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,23,25

    11:34 Ky; J 7,8,10,13-18,20,22-25

    12:11 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,16,18

    12:19 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,22-24

    14:4+ *Ky; J 18,23

    14:6 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,16,18,22,24

    14:6 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,16,18,22,24

    14:6 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,16,22,24

    14:8 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13-16,18

    14:8 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13-16,18

    14:8 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13-16,18

    14:11 Ky; J 7,8,10-18,22-25

    15:11 *Ky; J 7,8,10-18,20,22,23,25

    1 CORINTHIANS

    1:31 Ky; J 7,8,10-14,16-18,22-24

    2:16 Ky; J 13,14,16-18,22-24

    3:20 Ky; J 7,8,10-14,16-18,20,22-24

    4:4 Ky; J 7,8,10,17,18,23,24

    4:19 *Ky; J 7,8,10,22,23

    7:17+ *Ky;

    10:9+ *Ky; J 18,22,23

    10:21 Ky; J 7,8,10,24

    10:21 Ky; J 7,8,10,24

    10:22 *Ky; J 7,8,10,14

    10:26 *Ky; J 7,8,10,11,13,14,16-18,20,22,23

    11:32 *Ky; J 13,16,18

    14:21 Ky; J 7,8,10-14,16-18,22-24

    16:7 *Ky; J 7,8,10,13,14,16-18,22,23

    16:10 Ky; J 7,8,10,13,14,16-18,24

    2 CORINTHIANS

    3:16 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16,22,24

    3:17 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16

    3:17 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16,22,24

    3:18 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16,22,24

    3:18 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16,22,24

    6:17 Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,22-24

    6:18 Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,22-24

    8:21+ Ky; J 7,8,24

    10:17 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    10:18 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    GALATIANS

    3:6 *Th; J 7,8

    EPHESIANS

    2:21 Ky; J 7,8,13,16-18,22-24

    5:17+ *Ky; J 7,8

    5:19 *Ky; J 7,8,13,16,23

    6:4 Ky; J 7,8,22,24

    6:7 *Ky; J 7,8

    6:8 Ky; J 22,24

    COLOSSIANS

    1:10+ *Ky; J 7,8

    3:13+ *Ky; J 23

    3:16+ *Th; J 7,8,13,14,16,17

    3:22+ *Ky; J 18,22

    3:23 *Ky; J 7,8,17,18,22,23

    3:24 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    1 THESSALONIANS

    1:8+ *Ky; J 7,8,17,18,22,23

    4:6 Ky; J 7,8,17,18,22-24

    4:15 Ky; J 7,8,17,18,24

    5:2 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    2 THESSALONIANS

    2:2 *Ky; J 18,22,23

    2:13+ Ky; J 13,16,24

    3:1 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    2 TIMOTHY

    1:18 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    2:19 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,20,22-24

    2:19 Ky; J 18,22-24

    4:14 *Ky; J 7,8,13,16-18,22,23

    HEBREWS

    2:13 *Th; J 3,7,8,17,20,22

    7:21 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22-24

    8:2 *Ky; J 7,8,13-16,18,22,23

    8:8 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22-24

    8:9 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22-24

    8:10 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22,24

    8:11 *Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22,23

    10:16 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,22-24

    10:30 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22-24

    12:5 Ky; J 7,8,11-18,20,22-24

    12:6 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22-24

    13:6 Ky; J 3,7,8,11-18,20,22-24

    JAMES

    1:7 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    1:12+ J 7,8,13,16,17

    2:23 *Th; J 14,17,20,22

    2:23 Th; J 17

    3:9+ *Ky; J 18,23

    4:10 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    4:15 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    5:4 Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,22-24

    5:10 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    5:11 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16,18,22-24

    5:11 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    5:14 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22

    5:15 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    1 PETER

    1:25+ Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,20,22,23

    3:12 Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,20,22-24

    3:12 Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,20,22,24

    2 PETER

    2:9 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    2:11+ Ky; J 7,8,13,16-18,22-24

    3:8 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    3:9 Ky; J 7,8,13,16-18,22-24

    3:10 Ky; J 7,8,13,16-18,22-24

    3:12+ *Th; J 7,8,17

    JUDE

    5+ Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,22,23

    9+ Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,22-24

    14 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    REVELATION

    1:8 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    4:8 Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,22,24

    4:11 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16,18

    11:17 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    15:3 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    15:4 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    16:7 Ky; J 13,14,16-18,22,23

    18:8+ Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    19:6 Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22-24

    21:22 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,23

    22:5 Ky; J 7,8,11-14,16-18,22-24

    22:6 *Ky; J 7,8,13,14,16-18,22,24

    Following is a list of the 72 places where the name "Jehovah" occurs, not in the main text of the NewWorldTranslationoftheChristianGreekScriptures, but only in the footnotes.

    Mt 22:32; Mr 11:10; Lu 1:2; 2:11, 29, 38; 4:4, 18; Joh 5:4; Ac 2:30; 7:30, 37; 10:22; 13:43, 50; 14:25; 19:23; 20:25; 22:17; 26:7; Ro 7:6; 10:17; 11:8; 1Co 7:17; 10:28; 11:23; Ga 2:6; 3:20; 5:10, 12; Php 4:1, 4, 5, 10, 18; Col 3:15; 1Th 4:9, 16, 17, 17; 5:27; 1Ti 2:2, 10; 3:16; 4:7, 8; 5:4, 8; 6:2, 3, 6, 11; 2Ti 1:16, 18; 2:14, 22, 24; Tit 2:12; Heb 4:3; 9:20; 10:30; 1Pe 2:13; 3:1, 15; 5:3; 2Pe 1:3; 2Jo 11; Re 11:1, 19; 16:5; 19:1, 2.

    "Jah," the shorter form of the divine name, occurs in the Greek expression hal·le·lou·i·a´, a transliteration of the Hebrew ha·lelu-Yah´, "Praise Jah, you people!" Re (4 times) 19:1, 3, 4, 6.—See Ps 104:35 ftns.

  • compound complex
    compound complex

    Schroeder's "Salvation by Law"

    WTB&TS --- The Critical Years --- 1975 - 1997

    by Randall Watters

    "Our 'mother' has the right to make rules and regulations for us...In it [BRANCH ORGANIZATION PROCEDURE] there are 1177 policies and regulations...we are expected to follow its policies..." Schroeder concludes with, 'put up or leave'!

    www.freeminds.org/history/critical.htm

    www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/126860/1.ashx

    Compound-Complex

  • jgnat
    jgnat

    I helped hubby with this study this week. From memory, this article emphasizes works (again). The Bereans are commended for coming to the "right" conclusion rather than for their healthy skepticism.

    Following their parental example, does a child have to be told that they "should" love their parents? Or is this a natural progression from the years of attention and care? Should a child love an abusive parent? Is a child only grateful that their material wants are met? Or is love a deeper thing, including touch, warmth, and soul-to-soul communication?

    I say, show the works of God, and the love will follow. The organization, also, must earn the loyalty and trust given it. Break the trust and there is no more obligation from it's members to "love" it.

  • stillajwexelder
    stillajwexelder

    Do those who give large sums make sure that they know who gave? What if you pay by check? What if you ask for a letter for the tax agency (IRS-US)? What if you put money in an envelope and hand it personally to the CO? Do you think the elders, CO, and WTS aren’t aware of the big money donors? Have the "rules" been bent or broken by the WTS and/or elders to benefit large donors in disciplinary situations? In making appointments? In handing out speaking assignments at the assemblies and conventions?

    I got my first Circuit Assembly item after the CO had some generous hospitality with us and he and his wife stopped at our house

  • Blueblades
    Blueblades

    Love God? When you command someone to love you, is that love genuine? Love should not have to be commanded. Love should come freely from the heart and have a cause or reason for giving such love.

    Blueblades

  • A Paduan
    A Paduan

    Jesus said: "'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind

    as far as I get............I don't recognise that voice to be good - and I just know that jehovah ain't my God

  • BluesBrother
    BluesBrother

    When discussing the "love of God" , there really ought not to be too much to dispute with. Even the atheist would respect the good qualities that the love of God should bring to mankind.

    So why does this article leave a bad taste ? It is because of the implied exclusivity of the Witnesses access to Gods love."How reasonable it is that Jehovah expects us to love him in return! Our love is a responsive love; we are asked to love the God who loves us." p13........."What do parents desire in return? They want their children to love them and to take to heart what they have imparted to the children for their good. Is it not reasonable that our perfect heavenly Father expects us to show loving appreciation for all that he has done for us?" p14

    Well, what about those who chose not to follow the WTS line, can this printing company say that they are not part of Gods love? What presumption!

    BTW if you print an article extolling love, you have to be seen to be showing love yourself if you want to avoid the label 'hypocrite' ..Lets see next week..

  • willyloman
    willyloman

    On the point about large contributors/wealthy individuals being shown favoritism:

    We knew a couple of dub who were extremely well off financially and were both attractive and charismatic personalities. If you were part of their "in" crowd, you were invited to swell parties and the object of enormous generosity.

    It was interesting to watch them "work" each new CO who rotated into the circuit. They gave him the full treatment. Those who responded appreciatively were rewarded materially, and were also well spoken of by this popular couple. Thus, a CO and his wife who loved the attention lavished upon them were said to be "the best" or "a really great couple," while those who were put off by the display of materialism and simony were soon denigrated by this couple whenever their names came up in conversation.

    I had phone conversation with this brother (who was, of course, an elder) about some social event being planned for a particular night. He said he and his wife couldn't make it because they were traveling to a nearby city (about 50 miles) to have dinner with the CO and his wife - who were at that time visiting a different congo there.

    I asked why the CO was having dinner with them instead of someone from the congo they were visiting, and he said, "There's just nobody there that they connect with." I happened to know the congo in question was materially poor by comparison to our own, and most others. I said, 'You mean nobody there would have them over for dinner?" He said, "Well, whenever they go to someone's house for dinner, they sort of feel trapped and the food's not what they'e used to and they're forced to eat it anyway. And there's always some whack-job there who wants to complain about the congregation. It's just very uncomfortable for them." So, in order to save them from this horror, they were going to drive an hour each way and meet the CO and his wife at a very expensive restaurant and spend a couple of hours over a gourmet meal of several courses. Along with, of course, some 'upbuilding' conversation - which would involve gossip, of course, but apparently not of the 'whack-job' variety.

    I think back on these events now and realize with sadness that they bothered me then, but not enough to make me leave. Or, perhaps, they did and it just took me another 10 years to get out.

  • garybuss
    garybuss

    I'm reading Jimmy Carter's 2005 book titled "Our Endangered Values" and he says in the Baptist tradition he was raised in: "We received the Holy Scripture in its entirety as the revealed will of God, agreeing that the words and actions of Jesus Christ are the criteria by which the Holy Bible is to be interpreted." (page 17)

    That pretty well summarized up the way Jimmy Carter's Baptist tradition and my Jehovah's Witness tradition differed. They interpreted the Bible by the words and actions of Jesus, and we interpreted the Bible by the words and actions of the apostle Paul and by the words and actions of the raging invisible Hebrew God, Jehovah.

    It's an interesting contrast.

  • 5go
    5go

    CARROT —that we might have everlasting life
    I notice they don't bring out this much anymore it seems to alway be the stick or nothing.

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