Questions for baptism

by exwhyzee 14 Replies latest jw friends

  • exwhyzee
    exwhyzee

    Does anyone remember what the 2 questions they ask you before baptism are? I was baptized in the late 70's and don't even remember what they were. I heard they changed them since then...is that true...what are they now ?

  • fokyc
  • blondie
    blondie

    Aren't those the questions they go over with the candidate before the assembly, fokyc?

    jwfacts goes back to Russell's time to our time (most recent 1985), the 2 baptism questions asked the candidates at the assembly/convention.

    http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/baptism.php

  • fokyc
    fokyc

    Blondie - They are the "Questions for those desiring to be Baptized"

    These are the 2 questions AT Baptism:

    At the conclusion of the baptism talk, the speaker will ask the baptism

    candidates to stand and answer the following two questions in a loud, clear voice:

    "On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins

    and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

    Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of

    Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?"

    Affirmative answers to these questions constitute a "public declaration" of the

    baptism candidates’ faith in the ransom and of the fact that they have unreservedly dedicated themselves to Jehovah. (Rom. 10:9,10) Baptism candidates will therefore want to give prayerful advance thought to these questions so that they can answer in harmony with their personal convictions.

  • blondie
    blondie

    I just mentioned it because the link you gave discussed the 80 plus questions that are "discussed" before the assembly/convention time.

    The jwfacts website is very good because it goes back to Russell's time and shows how the questions asked at the baptism have changed.

  • wasblind
    wasblind

    thanks blondie for making that clear

    Spirits of the Dead" Brochure (1991), Page 18 says: "God no longer contacts people on earth by means of dreams, visions, or voices from the spirit world."

    The Watchtower, May 1, 2004 Issue, Page 11, Paragraph says: "Jehovah does not communicate directly with anyone today."

    On one hand they say they are directed by holy spirit and this makes it possible for them to discern what is in the Bible, they even say

    that they are spirit directed in their baptismal questions, so how can they say they are no longer contacted by the spirit world, if they are spirit directed? another flip flop.

  • fokyc
    fokyc

    You are right Blondie; the jwfacts is a very good historical resource.

  • exwhyzee
    exwhyzee

    I was referring to the two questions that they ask at the assembly just before you get baptized. Are these the current ones?

    "On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins

    and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will? That questions makes sense.

    Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of

    Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?" Did Jesus ask this question way back in the day?? Apparently nowadays a person can't symbolize the dedicating of his life to God without being identified as one of JW'S.

  • blondie
    blondie

    That is the question from 1985 to date....there were other versions of the question before that.

    Watchtower 1966 August 1 p.465 Baptism Shows Faith

    Are you able to answer "Yes" to the two questions regularly propounded when individuals present themselves for Christian baptism?

    (1) Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?

    (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?

    Watchtower 1970 May 15 p.309 Your Conscience Toward Jehovah

    20 Two questions which do search out the heart and mind of each candidate are: (1) Have you recognized yourself as a sinner and needing salvation from Jehovah God? And have you acknowledged that this salvation proceeds from him and through his ransomer, Christ Jesus? (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for redemption have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to Jehovah God, to do his will henceforth as that will is revealed to you through Christ Jesus and through God's Word as his holy spirit makes it plain?

    Watchtower 1973 May 1 p.280 Baptizing Follows Discipling...If you feel the same about serving Jehovah God and taking Christ's yoke upon you, we suggest that you consider the following two questions, which are asked of candidates for baptism:

    (1) Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognizing yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?

    (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?

  • elderelite
    elderelite

    I would also point out that Jesus directed that we be baptized in the name of the father son and holy spirit... are JW's baptized in the name of the holy spirit? I think not...

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