*** w51 5/15 p. 320 Questions From Readers ***
● Would one of Jehovah’s witnesses be wise to say he accepts as from the Lord and true each issue of The Watchtower even before he opens it? or should he say it is provided by the “faithful and discreet slave” but he will prove everything in it before accepting it?—L. P., Montana.
If the heavenly Father would not give a stone or serpent or scorpion to a child who asked for bread or fish or an egg from him, and if The Watchtower is a gift from Jehovah through Christ by the “faithful and discreet slave”, are we to take each issue of The Watchtower into our hands as if we were going to be bruised by a stone or bitten by a serpent or stung by a scorpion? (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13, NW ) Are we to be doubtful and suspicious about each succeeding issue? The Beroeans first “received the word with the greatest readiness of mind”, and then they went to “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so”. (Acts 17:11, NW ) So we should receive The Watchtower as an instrument that is always endeavoring to bring us the truth, if our past experience with it warrants that, and then, not in a combative spirit, we should Beroeanlike prove by the Scriptures what it says. That is what we want you to do, that you may be convinced and make these things your very own.
*** w52 10/15 pp. 635-636 par. 51 God’s Way Is Love ***
. They encourage all people who love righteousness to prove by the Holy Scriptures all the things they preach. Anyone can take the Holy Bible, whether it be a Catholic edition or not, and prove to his own satisfaction what God’s provisions are for him. Everyone should turn to the Holy Scriptures for proof, just as the ancient Bereans did: “These were of a better breed than the Thessalonians; they welcomed the word with all eagerness, and examined the scriptures, day after day, to find out whether all this was true.”—Acts 17:11, Knox.
*** w60 4/15 p. 229 Does the Bible Teach What You Believe? ***
Using the Scriptures to test doctrines is the course commended in the Bible. When Paul and Silas went to Beroea, they preached to the Jews. How did these Jews respond to this Christian preaching? They “were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest readiness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) The Beroeans were not being fanatical or unreasonable. They did not rely on the word of man alone. The Beroeans made sure of all things. How? By “carefully examining the Scriptures.” This is the way Christians should test religious beliefs. Let us, then, carefully examine the Scriptures to test some common beliefs.
*** w60 1/15 p. 42 par. 20 The Great God Who Is “Doing Wondrous Things” ***
) How necessary, not only to learn the “first principles” of Jehovah’s teaching, but also to be “carefully examining the Scriptures daily,” by digging down into the Bible with all provided study aids! In this way one will become convinced in his faith and equipped to confidently explain all the wonderful facets of the truth to others. Make the truth your own, and walk in it.—Acts 17:11.
*** w63 9/1 p. 525 par. 17 Studying the Word of Life ***
17 How vitally necessary the study of God’s Word is to human welfare was keenly appreciated by the Christian apostles. At no time did they cast doubt on its dependability and thus contribute to undermining public confidence in it, as some religious leaders have done in the twentieth century. They always manifested deep respect for it, doing their utmost to build up faith in it and appreciation for it. When the Jews of the city of Beroea in Macedonia went to the Scriptures to see if Paul’s teachings measured up to them, Paul did not condemn them. He did not institute an inquisition against them as the Roman Catholic Church has done at times against those who sought to measure her teachings by the Bible. Instead, he spoke highly of those Jews, saying they were nobleminded. He approved of their desire to study the Scriptures and to use them as a measuring rod of faith and truth.—Acts 17:11.
*** w64 5/15 p. 296 Should You Change Your Religion? ***
Do as some in the city of Beroea did in the first century, after they listened to the apostle Paul. The Bible tells us that these people “were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) Yes, they checked on what they heard from Paul to see if it matched what their Scriptures said. They were commended for doing so.
What if the things they heard and checked in their Scriptures were different from what their religion was teaching and practicing? Then it meant they must change their religion if they were to meet God’s approval! Did they? The account relates: “Therefore many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the reputable Greek women and of the men.” (Acts 17:12) Yes, they abandoned their former religion and accepted true religion. Even the apostle Paul himself was an outstanding example of this, for he was one who had changed his religion. And he had been a very prominent religious leader at one time!
*** w64 4/15 p. 227 Why You Should Read the Bible ***
Notice that the Beroeans ‘carefully examined the Scriptures daily,’ even in addition to attending religious services. This is the course recommended by the Bible. But what is the situation today?
*** w76 8/1 p. 478 Thessalonians Learn About Christ’s Presence and Jehovah’s Day ***
Luke, at Acts 17:11, tells that those at Beroea were “more noble-minded” than those at Thessalonica because of “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things”—told them by Paul—“were so.” Had the Thessalonians been equally studious, it is possible that they might not have drawn wrong conclusions about Christ’s presence and Jehovah’s day.
*** w77 12/1 p. 723 pars. 22-23 Is Your Advice Hard to Take? ***
22 The Pharisees used the tyranny of authority when officers sent out to arrest Jesus returned without him because they were impressed with Jesus’ teaching. “You have not been misled also, have you?” the Pharisees asked. “Not one of the rulers or of the Pharisees has put faith in him, has he? But this crowd that does not know the Law are accursed people.” The Pharisees did not use reason, but declared that wise people rejected Jesus, only the stupid listened to him.—John 7:45-49.
23 When we advise others we should use reason and scriptures, not demanding compliance because of a position we might have. (Phil. 4:5) We should be like Paul, who did not use his position as an apostle to pressure people. Instead, he commended them for checking to see whether his teaching was based on the Bible. “They received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. Therefore many of them became believers.”—Acts 17:11, 12.
*** yb78 p. 5 1978 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ***
Only by diligently studying the Word of God can one prove oneself Christ’s disciple. Those in the Macedonian city of Beroea did just that, and Luke described them as being noble-minded. “Now the latter [Beroeans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” They were students, researchers. They wanted to know if the Hebrew Scriptures backed up what they heard. They set a good example for all to follow.—Acts 17:11.
*** w80 8/1 p. 20 par. 16 Remain “Solid in the Faith” ***
16 To avoid falling away from the faith, we also need to guard against ingratitude. We should be thankful for the abundant spiritual food we are receiving through the “faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) This does not mean that we should not convince ourselves of things as we go along. In this respect, a twofold lesson can be learned from the Beroean Jews. To be sure, they ‘carefully examined the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so,’ but they were also “noble-minded” because “they received the word [being preached to them by Paul and Silas] with the greatest eagerness of mind.” —Acts 17:11.
*** w80 3/15 pp. 22-23 pars. 7-8 Living Up to Our Choice ***
7 When the apostles proclaimed the “good news,” whom did God through his Word commend? The people in the synagogue at Beroea, for, the Bible says, “they received the word [of the good news spoken by Paul and Silas] with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things [that even the apostle Paul said] were so.” (Acts 17:10, 11) They made these things their own, not merely listening with agreement but also examining the firm Scriptural basis for the things they eagerly received into their minds and hearts.
8 We should follow the course of those sincere Beroeans. Why? Because we may hear the truth preached or taught by human teachers, but when we read it in the Bible it becomes a fully founded, permanent motivating force in our hearts, for “the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and their marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) Constant study of the Bible prevents us from remaining spiritual babies. God’s Word infuses his spirit into our hearts, making us strong, mature. The same principle is in operation when we declare the “good news” to others. It has greater force if we let people read it in the Bible than if we use our own words.
*** w64 4/1 p. 196 Have You Put Your Religion to the Test? ***
The testing you need to do with your religion is far more important than the tests your teachers gave you in school. Failure there might have meant being left back a grade. However, failure to test your religion may mean being left out of God’s purposes altogether. So “keep testing whether you are in the faith, keep proving what you yourselves are.”—2 Cor. 13:5.
*** w51 5/15 p. 320 Questions From Readers ***
● Would one of Jehovah’s witnesses be wise to say he accepts as from the Lord and true each issue of The Watchtower even before he opens it? or should he say it is provided by the “faithful and discreet slave” but he will prove everything in it before accepting it?—L. P., Montana.
If the heavenly Father would not give a stone or serpent or scorpion to a child who asked for bread or fish or an egg from him, and if The Watchtower is a gift from Jehovah through Christ by the “faithful and discreet slave”, are we to take each issue of The Watchtower into our hands as if we were going to be bruised by a stone or bitten by a serpent or stung by a scorpion? (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13, NW ) Are we to be doubtful and suspicious about each succeeding issue? The Beroeans first “received the word with the greatest readiness of mind”, and then they went to “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so”. (Acts 17:11, NW ) So we should receive The Watchtower as an instrument that is always endeavoring to bring us the truth, if our past experience with it warrants that, and then, not in a combative spirit, we should Beroeanlike prove by the Scriptures what it says. That is what we want you to do, that you may be convinced and make these things your very own.
*** w52 10/15 pp. 635-636 par. 51 God’s Way Is Love ***
. They encourage all people who love righteousness to prove by the Holy Scriptures all the things they preach. Anyone can take the Holy Bible, whether it be a Catholic edition or not, and prove to his own satisfaction what God’s provisions are for him. Everyone should turn to the Holy Scriptures for proof, just as the ancient Bereans did: “These were of a better breed than the Thessalonians; they welcomed the word with all eagerness, and examined the scriptures, day after day, to find out whether all this was true.”—Acts 17:11, Knox.
*** w60 4/15 p. 229 Does the Bible Teach What You Believe? ***
Using the Scriptures to test doctrines is the course commended in the Bible. When Paul and Silas went to Beroea, they preached to the Jews. How did these Jews respond to this Christian preaching? They “were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest readiness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) The Beroeans were not being fanatical or unreasonable. They did not rely on the word of man alone. The Beroeans made sure of all things. How? By “carefully examining the Scriptures.” This is the way Christians should test religious beliefs. Let us, then, carefully examine the Scriptures to test some common beliefs.
*** w60 1/15 p. 42 par. 20 The Great God Who Is “Doing Wondrous Things” ***
) How necessary, not only to learn the “first principles” of Jehovah’s teaching, but also to be “carefully examining the Scriptures daily,” by digging down into the Bible with all provided study aids! In this way one will become convinced in his faith and equipped to confidently explain all the wonderful facets of the truth to others. Make the truth your own, and walk in it.—Acts 17:11.
*** w63 9/1 p. 525 par. 17 Studying the Word of Life ***
17 How vitally necessary the study of God’s Word is to human welfare was keenly appreciated by the Christian apostles. At no time did they cast doubt on its dependability and thus contribute to undermining public confidence in it, as some religious leaders have done in the twentieth century. They always manifested deep respect for it, doing their utmost to build up faith in it and appreciation for it. When the Jews of the city of Beroea in Macedonia went to the Scriptures to see if Paul’s teachings measured up to them, Paul did not condemn them. He did not institute an inquisition against them as the Roman Catholic Church has done at times against those who sought to measure her teachings by the Bible. Instead, he spoke highly of those Jews, saying they were nobleminded. He approved of their desire to study the Scriptures and to use them as a measuring rod of faith and truth.—Acts 17:11.
*** w64 5/15 p. 296 Should You Change Your Religion? ***
Do as some in the city of Beroea did in the first century, after they listened to the apostle Paul. The Bible tells us that these people “were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) Yes, they checked on what they heard from Paul to see if it matched what their Scriptures said. They were commended for doing so.
What if the things they heard and checked in their Scriptures were different from what their religion was teaching and practicing? Then it meant they must change their religion if they were to meet God’s approval! Did they? The account relates: “Therefore many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the reputable Greek women and of the men.” (Acts 17:12) Yes, they abandoned their former religion and accepted true religion. Even the apostle Paul himself was an outstanding example of this, for he was one who had changed his religion. And he had been a very prominent religious leader at one time!
*** w64 4/15 p. 227 Why You Should Read the Bible ***
Notice that the Beroeans ‘carefully examined the Scriptures daily,’ even in addition to attending religious services. This is the course recommended by the Bible. But what is the situation today?
*** w76 8/1 p. 478 Thessalonians Learn About Christ’s Presence and Jehovah’s Day ***
Luke, at Acts 17:11, tells that those at Beroea were “more noble-minded” than those at Thessalonica because of “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things”—told them by Paul—“were so.” Had the Thessalonians been equally studious, it is possible that they might not have drawn wrong conclusions about Christ’s presence and Jehovah’s day.
*** w77 12/1 p. 723 pars. 22-23 Is Your Advice Hard to Take? ***
22 The Pharisees used the tyranny of authority when officers sent out to arrest Jesus returned without him because they were impressed with Jesus’ teaching. “You have not been misled also, have you?” the Pharisees asked. “Not one of the rulers or of the Pharisees has put faith in him, has he? But this crowd that does not know the Law are accursed people.” The Pharisees did not use reason, but declared that wise people rejected Jesus, only the stupid listened to him.—John 7:45-49.
23 When we advise others we should use reason and scriptures, not demanding compliance because of a position we might have. (Phil. 4:5) We should be like Paul, who did not use his position as an apostle to pressure people. Instead, he commended them for checking to see whether his teaching was based on the Bible. “They received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. Therefore many of them became believers.”—Acts 17:11, 12.
*** yb78 p. 5 1978 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ***
Only by diligently studying the Word of God can one prove oneself Christ’s disciple. Those in the Macedonian city of Beroea did just that, and Luke described them as being noble-minded. “Now the latter [Beroeans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” They were students, researchers. They wanted to know if the Hebrew Scriptures backed up what they heard. They set a good example for all to follow.—Acts 17:11.
*** w80 8/1 p. 20 par. 16 Remain “Solid in the Faith” ***
16 To avoid falling away from the faith, we also need to guard against ingratitude. We should be thankful for the abundant spiritual food we are receiving through the “faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) This does not mean that we should not convince ourselves of things as we go along. In this respect, a twofold lesson can be learned from the Beroean Jews. To be sure, they ‘carefully examined the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so,’ but they were also “noble-minded” because “they received the word [being preached to them by Paul and Silas] with the greatest eagerness of mind.” —Acts 17:11.
*** w80 3/15 pp. 22-23 pars. 7-8 Living Up to Our Choice ***
7 When the apostles proclaimed the “good news,” whom did God through his Word commend? The people in the synagogue at Beroea, for, the Bible says, “they received the word [of the good news spoken by Paul and Silas] with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things [that even the apostle Paul said] were so.” (Acts 17:10, 11) They made these things their own, not merely listening with agreement but also examining the firm Scriptural basis for the things they eagerly received into their minds and hearts.
8 We should follow the course of those sincere Beroeans. Why? Because we may hear the truth preached or taught by human teachers, but when we read it in the Bible it becomes a fully founded, permanent motivating force in our hearts, for “the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and their marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) Constant study of the Bible prevents us from remaining spiritual babies. God’s Word infuses his spirit into our hearts, making us strong, mature. The same principle is in operation when we declare the “good news” to others. It has greater force if we let people read it in the Bible than if we use our own words.
*** w64 4/1 p. 196 Have You Put Your Religion to the Test? ***
The testing you need to do with your religion is far more important than the tests your teachers gave you in school. Failure there might have meant being left back a grade. However, failure to test your religion may mean being left out of God’s purposes altogether. So “keep testing whether you are in the faith, keep proving what you yourselves are.”—2 Cor. 13:5.