Man and woman--together again at last (androgynously speaking)

by onacruse 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  onacruse

  1881: Tabernacle Shadows p. 100-1

  But the human female was originally a part of the man made in God’s image, and is still (although temporarily separate for the purposes of human propagation) a part of the man-neither being complete alone. As the perfect man was named Adam, so, when made twain, "God called their name Adam"-the headship remaining with the male, who was thus made the caretaker or preserver of the female as a part of his own body. (Ephesians 5:23, 28) This sexual division did not make Adam imperfect: it merely divided his perfections between two bodies of which he was still the "head."

  The Scriptures indicate that ultimately, by the close of the "times of restitution," all (male and female) shall be restored to the perfect condition-the condition represented in Adam before Eve was separated from him. We do not understand that either males or females will lose their identity, but that each will take on the qualities now lacking. If this thought be the correct one, it would seem to imply that the extreme delicacy of some females and the extreme coarseness of some males are incident to the fall, and that restitution to a perfection in which the elements of the two sexes would be perfectly blended and harmonized would be the ideal humanity of God’s design. Our dear Redeemer, when he was "the man Christ Jesus," was probably neither coarse and brawny nor effeminate. In him the mental strength and a grandeur of manhood blended most delightfully with the noble purity, tenderness and grace of true womanhood. Was he not the perfect man who died for our race and redeemed both sexes? Let us not forget that as a man he had no help-mate: should he not therefore have been complete in himself to pay the full corresponding price for Adam (male and female)? Either thus was Eve represented in the great ransom or by her husband as her "head"-else mother Eve was not ransomed at all, a thought which would conflict with other scriptures.

  Although this was an early book, it was a cornerstone of the WTS library for several decades.

  Interesting that the suggestion is made that Jesus, being perfect, was androgynous.
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  Narkissos

  Yet s/he was circumcised (Luke 2:21)...
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  vitty

  Our dear Redeemer, when he was "the man Christ Jesus," was probably neither coarse and brawny nor effeminate. In him the mental strength and a grandeur of manhood blended most delightfully with the noble purity, tenderness and grace of true womanhood

  Who the hell wrote this...........it is sickning .........................".grandeur of manhood"..............they were all of their heads
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  onacruse

  LOL...I didn't really expect any replies to this thread---just a good private laugh or two!

  Actually, this subject came to my attention some 30 years ago, when Mario DePaolo, a brother (now ex-JW) told me that the WTS once taught this. At the time, I dismissed it as mere hearsay, since Mario didn't mention the source.

  vitty, insofar as the is concerned, well--I'm glad this is a long-distance discussion board! But I agree with you, and if for no other reason than to show what "we used to believe," the more bizarre the better, imho. More to come.

  nark, I admire your restraint in not mentioning the hermaphroditic aspect of this topic.

  For what it's worth, this 'androgyny' idea was by no means a one-off: It is repeated a good many times, and was alluded to in the first issue of the Tower , as well as the 1887 Zion's Watch Tower. It was extended to include the idea of the unity of Christ with his Bride, as an example of the balance of asexualism (including the angels). And to this day the WTS quotes from Tabernacle Shadows (selectively, of course).
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  Justahuman24

  Not to detract from the main topic of this thread but did anyone notice the last sentence: "Either thus was Eve represented in the great ransom or by her husband as her "head"-else mother Eve was not ransomed at all, a thought which would conflict with other scriptures." You can ask any JW today and they will say that Eve was not redeemed/ransomed and that IT'S BASED ON THE SCRIPTURES. Just saying, that's all. justahuman - but super nonetheless
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  onacruse

  J24, as a matter of fact, you haven't diverted from the topic at all!

  I was just talking with Farkel today (he's doing well), and he informed me of the "mystery doctrine," which apparently incorporates the concept of, in so many words (and correct me if I'm wrong about this...I haven't fully explored this idea): 'Christ is incomplete without his Bride (humans--well, actually, ex-humans).'

  The idea of the androgynous unity, and ultimate reunification, of the male and female aspects, was carried over in the early Watchtower teachings to state just that! And so, since the Bride is ransomed, how, in the analogy, could Eve not also be ransomed??

  As an aside, it was also taught for a good many years that Adam was to be resurrected.