WTBS' Grave Error re: 'Nethinim' & 'Overseers'

by AGuest 3 Replies latest jw friends

  • AGuest
    AGuest

    To the Household of God, Israel... and all those that go with them... may you have peace!

    In another thread (re: Gerrit Losch), mention is made of the Society's appointing certain men to fulfill the role of 'Nethinim'... 'given ones'... in assisting the GB to supposedly 'shepherd God's people'... and thus, 'render sacred service' in God's 'temple'. For those of you who support such a thing, do YOU know the origin and purpose of Nethinim? No? Well, let me 'enlighten' you, please, if you will permit me:

    In ancient Israel, the Nethinim were men CAPTURED IN CONFLICT, the Gibeonites... and made SLAVES to Israel by Joshua. Later, David devoted them to the temple, in the service of the priests. What did such men DO? Intially bring water for the entire assembly of Israel/vast mixed company. Later, they were devoted by David to serve the temple priests by bringing water for the molten sea, and wood for the altar. That's it; that's all. ANYTHING else... would have been sacrilegious (sp?)... and unclean... for ONLY priests could serve in the temple. Even the King Saul found that out.

    Ezra 2:43 (see NWT Ref. Bible footnote)
    Joshua 9:18-27
    Joshua 10:6

    Although such men were certainly to be cared for, due to the degree of JAH, could such men even dispense orders given by the priests? Nope. Could they have positions of 'oversight' over Israel? Are you KIDDING?

    Okay, so, how the does the Society justify this practice? Simple: by COMPLETELY misrendering what Paul is recorded to have said at Ephesians 4:8:

    "Wherefore [it] says... (talking about Psalm 68:18)
    'When he (the Christ) ascended on high...
    he (the Christ) CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVES;
    he (the Christ) gave gifts..."

    Now the WTBTS has translated this verse to continue on with:

    "gave gifts [in] men" or per the footnote, "gifts consisting of men". And they use this to justify appointing "Nethinim" as overseers in God's temple.

    1 Corinthians 3:16
    Ephesians 2:19-21

    However, there is NO substantiation for the latter or this use in either case; rather, the FIRST is in line with the LITERAL translation, which is:

    "he gave gifts... TO... the men." (See the footnote, dear ones... or the Greek.)

    Now, I ask you, dear ones... after my Lord ascended, what occurred? Was there not the outpouring of holy spirit... which resulted in GIFTS of that spirit, including healing and prophesying, being given TO the men? The Acts of the Apostles record this.

    Dear ones, God's 'sheep' have but ONE leader, the Christ. ANY others... are thieves... and plunderers.

    Matthew 23:10
    John 10:7, 8

    And the carrying away of captives is actually a RELEASING of captives, those SOLD into slavery... to sin... and death. When my Lord ascended, he 'carried' WITH him the means for releasing ALL of mankind from such captivity... the 'value' of his perfect blood.

    Okay, so what about 'overseers'? Dear ones, the OVERSEERS were men... APPOINTED TO OVERSEE... THE DISTRIBUTION!! What distribution? That to the widows, orphans and poor. You see, all who had came and gave it to the disciples so that even those who did NOT have, could benefit. Eventually, however, a dispute arose wherein the Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked in the distribution. And perhaps they were. In order to ALLEVE this, men with holy spirit, who met certain qualifications (that would make it easier to determine their HONESTY and stability), were appointed... to 'oversee the distribution'.

    Acts 4:32-37
    Acts 6:1-3

    And 'ministerial servants' of which there were men AND women, assisted them with such distribution, including 'ministering' to the sick. The men of these had to fulfill some of the same requirements as the men who oversaw. The women were most probably single, even widowed, so as not to take them away from their household responsibilities. But these were the 'appointed' ones, those who held 'office' (appointment). ANYONE, however, could 'minister' to the holy ones and other faithful ones.

    Romans 16:1, 2
    1 Timothy 3:1-10

    Were any of these appointed (or holding 'office'), as Paul said, as "masters over your FAITH"? NO!! Even Paul SAID: "Not that we are masters over your faith." Rather, they were only to make certain that those in need received food, clothing, hospice, etc., and that the items donated were distributed... FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY! And since there were only seven (7) of them, ministerial servants, including Phoebe, were appointed to ASSIST them. All of these would go about the land taking food, money, clothing, etc. to those in need. That's it; that's all.

    The WTBTS would have you believe, though, that you are sheep... [i}WITHOUT[/i] a shepherd, and therefore, need THEM to 'oversee'... your faith! ARE you?! DO you?! Truly!? Or do you not already HAVE a 'Fine Shepherd', one who LOVES you so as to have given HIS life... on your behalf?

    John 10:9-15

    Tell me, is it HIS voice that you listen to? Or is it the voice... of strangers, those who do not CARE for the sheep, for the sheep... are not THEIRS?

    John 10:1-5, 27

    May those of you that have ears HEAR what the Spirit says: "ONE... is your Leader." Not nine, not 12, not 13, not 8,700, not 144,000... but ONE.

    May the undeserved kindness and mercy of our God and Father, JAH OF ARMIES, and the peace of His Son and Christ, our Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, serve to be upon you... if you so wish it.

    Your servant, as I am servant to ALL those of the Household of God, Israel, and those who go with them, and a slave of Christ,

    SJ

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  • Francois
    Francois

    At it again with the embroidered language, huh?

    BTW, I strongly object to the use of the term "undeserved kindness." I believe in other translations, this is rendered "grace."

    When a father loves his children and treats them with love and respect, is that undeserved?

    When God showers me with his eternal love and infinite mercy, is that undeserved?

    Of course it's not. I am lead by his spirit, thus I am his child. And every child deserves the love, respect, and kindness of his father.

    The term undeserved kindness is an illicit rendering by an illicit cult pretending to be a religion.

    Francois

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  • gravedancer
    gravedancer

    leave my mistakes out of it

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  • AGuest
    AGuest

    Ahhhh... "Pendantic with the Semantics" Francois... peace to you!

    Dear one, it IS 'undeserved'. How so? Because God... loved us FIRST... and loves us FOREMOST... so that there is nothing WE can DO... to 'deserve' it. He gives it... because... He 'WANTS' to... and not because we do/did ANYTHING to 'earn' it.

    The phrase is CORRECT, particularly with regard to a certain 'illicit cult', because THEY teach that we CAN 'earn' God's love... by works. THEY teach that along with adhering to the Law Covenant, a man can put in many 'faithful years of service' and thereby be 'chosen' as an anointed one. That... is a LIE. For THAT would mean such one DESERVED to be chosen, by means of his works of Law, as well many years of service, and that the 'reward'... LIFE by means of such choosing... is granted as a PAYMENT for services rendered; it has been earned, and thus is 'deserved'.

    The 'reward', however, is granted PURELY due to 'grace'... or UNDESERVED kindness.

    Now, once the reward HAS been granted, it is THEN that one becomes a 'son', and thereby 'deserving' of the love of the Father. However, the CHOOSING... by means of MERCY... comes BEFORE such time. One is first shown 'undeserved kindness'... for one did not earn it... which results in MERCY... which grants one to be considered 'clean' by the blood of Christ (although nothing such ONE did, could render him/her 'clean')... and then 'chosen'.

    In THAT way, ANY who 'wish' it, no matter WHAT they were... or in some cases, ARE... can 'Come! Take 'life's water'... free!" They don't have to DO anything (works) by means of Law, but only those works that are done... by FAITH. Such as... eating and drinking the 'flesh and blood' of Christ in obedience to what HE stated such ones should do, as well as love one's neighbors AND enemies, including feeding, clothing, housing, etc., them, if necessary. They DO... the 'works' that HE did... and even greater works.

    Get it? Good. I thought that you would.

    Your servant... still... and a slave of Christ,

    SJ

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