the name Jehovahs Witnesses (page 2)

EdenOne

Well, Isaiah 43:12 does say:

"...and you are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and I am God". - ESV , NWT

This would allow for the expression 'witnesses of God'. Yet, newer translations render the text in a much more logical way:

"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God." - NIV

Eden

Ucantnome

in Exodus 6:7 "I shall indeed certainly take you to me as as a people, and I shall indeed prove to be God to you:"

in Isaiah 43: "You are mine. .. For I am Jehovah your God.

Thomas said my Lord my God of Jesus

Phizzy

Of course Isaiah 43 was addressed to the nation of Israel at the time of writing, it is a helluva stretch to apply that to a few thousand followers of a dodgy Lawyer in the 1930's.

Later verses and Chapters of Isaiah have application only to the contempories of the writers (at least 2).

Paul of course brings in the concept of the Gentile christians as a new Israel, but really that is more metaphor from him, he in his writings does not see the need for a new name. "The Way" seems to have been used by the Chrisitans themselves, though they did not disapprove of "Christian" according to Acts.

As the divine name in any form would not have been uttered without causing a riot, for historical support of this contention, please see "Life of Brian" LOL,

there is no way the first Century followers of Jesus would have called themselves Yahweh's Witnesses or whatever.

So, however you look at it, the name they go under today is a nonsense, like nearly everything coming from Rutherford.

They will probably be known as JW DotOrgers before long, under the re-branding that is going on.

fastJehu

Some days ago Blondie gave me a hint on how Rutherford came up with "this idea":

"Brother Rutherford told me himself that he woke up one night when he was preparing for that convention and he said, `What in the world did I suggest an international convention for when I have no special speech or message for them? Why bring them all here? And then he began to think about it, and Isaiah 43 came to his mind. He got up at two oclock in the morning and wrote in short-hand, at his own desk, an outline of the discourse he was going to give about the Kingdom, the hope of the world, and about the new name. And all that was uttered by him at that time was prepared that night, or that morning at two oclock. And [there is] no doubt in my mind - not then nor now - that the Lord guided him in that, and that is the name Jehovah wants us to bear and were very happy and very glad to have it. "

( 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses , quoting A.H. Macmillan on the invention of the name Jehovah's witnesses, p. 151)

blondie

Is 43:12 has God talking to the Israelites. The WTS says only the anointed are the "Israel of God" and spiritual Israelites. So really only they are Jehovah's witnesses per their doctrine. Where do the other sheep fit in? Rutherford was dealing with recalcitrant Bible Students and needed to distance himself from that name. The NT never mentions "Jehovah's Witnesses" only witnesses of Jesus. The WTS does even use Jehovah's Christian Witnesses (since 2/15/1984 or allow it on the signs in front of the KHs.

*** w11 5/15 p. 25 pars. 19-20 ‘O the Depth of God’s Wisdom!’ ***

In Jehovah’s due time, “all Israel”—that is, the complete number of spiritual Israelites—will serve as kings and priests in heaven. Nothing can cause Jehovah’s purpose to fail! As foretold, Abraham’s seed—Jesus Christ along with the 144,000—will bring blessings to “people of the nations.” (Rom. 11:12; Gen. 22:18)

*** km 4/79 p. 4 Announcements ***

Is it appropriate to have a Kingdom Hall sign saying: “Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses”? So there will be uniformity, the Society encourages all to make their signs read: “Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

wasblind

" which view point does the facts support ? Was the name 'a stroke of genius' on the part of Brother Rutherford, Or was it the result of divine provinance."______Proclaimers of God's Kingdom page 152

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Let's test that, shall we

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Isaiah 43:10 was quoted before the birth, death and the resurrection of the Christ

Matthew 17:5 states " This is my Son, the beloved whom I approve; listen to him "

Matthew 28:18 Jesus states: " All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth "

Question: How did Jesus use his authority ?

Acts 1:8 Jesus stated : " You will be Witnesses of me "

Acts 11:26 " It was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine provinance called Christ -ians "

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Galatians 1:8 warns : " However, even if an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declare to you as good news, let him be accursed."

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Jehovah's Witnesses introduce a new thought that goes beyond what the Bible teach in Acts 1:8

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If someone Says_____

' Christains are supposed to be witnesses for Jesus not Jehovah'

You might reply:

" But here is something that may be a new thought to you.... Of whom was Jesus the faithful witness ?___Reasoning from the Scriptures book page 208

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Answer to the question in the proclaimers book : Rutherford had a stroke of genius

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eyeuse2badub

marked

the name Jehovahs Witnesses

DS211