How You Can Understand the Bible - FDS not mentioned in this WT article

by Mythbuster 10 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Mythbuster

  *** w09 7/1 pp. 4-5 1. Ask the Author for Help ***
  How You Can Understand the Bible

  1. Ask the Author for Help

  "There was a time when I would read the Bible before going to bed," relates Ninfa, who lives in Italy. "I did so because I realized that it is God's Word, and even though I didn't enjoy reading, I wanted to know what God had written in the Bible. I had intended to read it all. In the beginning I found it easy, but then I got to parts that I found difficult, and I stopped reading it."

  CAN you relate to Ninfa? Many people can. Yet, as we saw in the preceding article, the Bible's Author, Jehovah God, wants you to understand his Word. How, though, can you gain such understanding? A first step is to ask the Author for help.

  Jesus' apostles were considered "unlettered and ordinary" because they had not attended rabbinic schools for religious training. (Acts 4:13) Nevertheless, Jesus assured them that understanding God's Word was within their reach. How so? Jesus explained: "The helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things." (John 14:26) God used this holy spirit, or active force, to create the earth and all life upon it. (Genesis 1:2) He also used it to inspire about 40 writers to record his thoughts in the Bible. (2 Peter 1:20, 21) That same spirit is available to help those who seek to understand the Bible.

  How can you receive God's holy spirit? You have to ask for it in faith. In fact, you may need to ask persistently. "Keep on asking, and it will be given you," said Jesus. "If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!" (Luke 11:9, 13) Jehovah will generously give holy spirit to those who sincerely ask for it. That active force can help you to grasp the meaning of the inspired words written down in the Bible thousands of years ago. God's spirit can also give you the wisdom needed to apply the Bible's powerful message in your life.-Hebrews 4:12; James 1:5, 6.

  Each time you sit down to read the Bible, then, pray to God, asking him for holy spirit to help you understand his Word.
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  sir82

  Note the date of the rag - July 1. It's the "public edition", i.e., written for outsiders to make JW doctrine and practice appear more mainstream.

  A JW making similar statements inside a Kingdom Hall would nearly get disfellowshipped!
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  Mythbuster

  True, but since this is what I am given to read, I can use it when the JW I am talking to starts harping about the FDS.
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  alanv

  Omce they have got a persons initial interest it is much easier to talk about getting help to understand the bible. After all they will say we all need help from someone to help us with something new to us. The scripture about the Ethiopian eunoch comes to mind.
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  EndofMysteries

  You will notice all WT's 1st of the month, the PUBLIC ones, will not talk at all about the FDS, or 1914. But almost every 15th/ STUDY/ PRIVATE WT WILL. It's like they teach the truth to the public in the sense of getting holy spirit, etc, then after they are attending meetings and progressed enough, i guess that's when the FDS comes in, as they will then be studying the private WT's.

  I'm starting to keep a record of this. How many public ones show what if you say in a KH prob get dfed for apostacy.
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  kurtbethel

  I have a JW that tells me I need some faithful slave to tell me what the Bible says. I will show this to him and point out that his views go against the Watchtower. If he provides some other literature that says otherwise, I will have to call out this as a secretive bait and switch religion.
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  Mythbuster

  That's my plan Kurt.
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  Think About It

  You will notice all WT's 1st of the month, the PUBLIC ones, will not talk at all about the FDS, or 1914. But almost every 15th/ STUDY/ PRIVATE WT WILL. It's like they teach the truth to the public in the sense of getting holy spirit, etc, then after they are attending meetings and progressed enough, i guess that's when the FDS comes in, as they will then be studying the private WT's.

  I believe the commerical term is bait & switch.

  Think About It
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  kurtbethel

  Found my copy. Put it on top of my stack of study stuff. Looking forward to pulling it out and reading it, then hear the prevarication start.
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  Mythbuster

  Found my copy. Put it on top of my stack of study stuff. Looking forward to pulling it out and reading it, then hear the prevarication start.

  Let me know how it goes. I'm planning the same thing.