WT :They Don't Even Know the Bible!

by metatron 26 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Narkissos

  Good point metatron.

  JWs (and xJWs), at least those of the "old school," have a unusual knowledge of a comparatively large list of individual Bible verses which they can quote, locate and (mis-)apply to virtually anything -- even though some Evangelicals seem to be pretty good at that too. In fact, the list is their (effective) "Bible".

  The little time they have for simple Bible reading (encouraged in theory) is second to this thematic, "prooftext" use.

  There were a few innovations in the 70s that have run contrary to this general trend (and have helped me to at least realise that I didn't really know the Bible although I could quote hundreds of verses). The Aid to Bible Understanding book which was thematic and doctrinal but was at least an introduction to a more comprehensive and less simplistic approach of "Biblical theology"; the introduction of Bible cursive readings and "highlights" in the TMS (in the late 70s I guess); the recording of entire Bible books on cassettes (I used them a lot at a time, and it helped me to understand the texts better); the few verse-by-verse commentaries (on James and 1 Peter)... Of course many of all of those innovations were introduced by people who have turned "apostate" since.
• 

  snowbird

  Narkissos, I devoured the Aid book.

  I read it through from Aaron to Zuzim.

  Later, I learned that Ray Franz compiled it mostly from references by Christendom's commentators.

  Oh, the irony!

  Tee hee hee.

  Sylvia
• 

  Chalam

  Hi Sylvia,

  Just ran into this (was looking for something else)-though you might be interested.

  Romans 1:16 (New International Version)

  16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

  Now I think of it, this comes to mind too, same deal, Jews first then the Gentiles.

  John 4:19-24 (New International Version)

  19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

  21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

  This is when the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24) started Acts 10 All the best, Stephen
• 

  snowbird

  Thanks, Chalam.

  Also this:

  Romans 2: 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. NIV

  Amen.

  I would have quoted this from The Message Bible, but I feel Mr. Peterson doesn't do justice to those particular verses.

  Now, I will bow out and cease hijacking Metatron's thread.

  Sylvia
• 

  jaguarbass

  I have read the bible 5 times cover to cover King James, NiV, and American Standard.

  I have read it all my life for 56 years. I have made notes, examined the notes,

  Looked for answers on the net and bookstores.

  The bible is a book of confusion to keep anyone who reads it and falls under the Godspell

  in a zombie like trance, to make them sheeple.

  We were created by astronauts from Nibiru to be their workers.

  And everything our rulers/makers do keeps us in darkness and confusion

  starting with the bible.

  We are modern day slaves down on the plantation and the only way off is death.

  I'm not sure where that leads.

  When you were a witness they showed us scriptures of why all the other religions were

  wrong.

  You must realize that the other religions had scriptures baking up their positions.

  Conclusion: the bible says anything that you want it to.

  From supporting the klu klux klan and slavery.

  To being kind and loving thy neigbor.

  Look in the world that reads the bible you find nothing but kaos and

  confusion.

  Were on our own on this one and were coming out of the starting blocks late

  and with tons of baggage from the watchtower.

  If you get comfort from reading the bible that is because it has lulled you to sleep,

  and your rational cognizant brain is not functioning.

  When you read the bible your brain is like your computer in the low energy sleep mode.

  Think about it. Jesus who is Jehovah/God, the father and I are one. Thought the world

  was going to end back in his day and so did the apostles.

  If he is God, the big Kahuna and he doenst know whats going on. Why are you following him?
• 

  snowbird

  If he is God, the big Kahuna and he doenst know whats going on. Why are you following him?

  We were created by astronauts from Nibiru to be their workers.

  Now, who doesn't know what's going on?

  Sylvia
• 

  AuntBee

  I was noticing in the Bible teach book that not only are verses used out of context, they often use PORTIONS of verses, like "CORRESPONDING RANSOM", with no regard to the rest of the VERSE!

  I somewhat agree with jaguarbass when he said, "Conclusion: the bible says anything that you want it to." This is true if one has no regard whatsoever for previous church fathers, history, and especially the first few ecumenical councils. Although I am not personally Roman Catholic, I do believe in 'catholicity', that is valuing what has gone before. Even the Protestant reformers who taught "Sola Scriptura" did not agree with any nutjob sitting down and saying, i throw out all that has gone before, and i will sit down and figure out the Bible for myself, because they are all wrong. That is the beginning of a cult right there! And that is a misunderstanding of what the Reformers meant by Sola Scriptura.

  I'm reading an interesting book on church history by Jaroslav Pelikan, where he explains 3 'tests' of orthodoxy. Is it believed in most places, over most of church history, by most. Ubiquity, antiquity, and consent. I found that really helpful and interesting.
• 

  snowbird

  Aunt Bee, I've never heard of him, but his line of reasoning is what helped convince me that Jesus is God.

  The Holy Spirit did the rest.

  Sylvia
• 

  gubberningbody

  Narkissos, I think it's interesting that when introduced to all this as an atheist, the two books I found most useful ended up being written by those who were later turned out as "Apostates". The books were "The Commentary on James" and "Choosing the Best Way of Life"...
• 

  sinis

  jaguarbass

  You ARE SPOT ON!!! For those that say we were not "created" by another race, well they are full of shit!!! I have read and researched the Sumerian texts and mythos extensively. The Jews pretty much robbed the Sumers of their knowledge and re-wrote history. Two brothers Enki, Enlil fit the role of great deceiver, life giver (Satan, Jehovah) perfectly... people need to open their eyes...