by Perry 108 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Hi Perry.
As JWs we thought the watchtower(tm) represented the bible with that spin 'bible based'.
After I left the JWs I was told the scripture you cite related to the scripture that they had at that time.
Since then I have discovered a lot about the bible...nuff said.
Any book that claims to be inspired is suspect. Anyone saying this book is inspired because it says it is needs to really examine the circular reasoning involved.
rj- What's your story.
donny
It's strange that for 3/4 of the history of Christianity, the so-called word of God was not available to anyone except the clergy, yet the churches survived. Then in the 1400's when the first bibles began to be mass produced it not only led to mass disagreements to what it actually said, but they could not even agree which books should be part of the sacred canon and which ones should not.
This is one of the biggest Catholic arguments against sola scriptura. It's a very interesting point.
Luther didn't like the Book of James...
Just for the record, there are thousands of thousands of churches that refuse to preach or teach out of any book other than the bible .
Personaly, I would never attend any church that uses any textbook other than the bible . I'm sure many are fine. They are just not for me.
I agree. Even though I’m now agnostic and haven’t “found Jesus” as Perry thinks he has, I admit that I have never thought about the point he made about 2Ti 3:16,17. That is a powerful point to use on JWs.
So, why does it make sense to make the same mistake twice? I mean, if real belief in, and adherence to 2 Tim 3:16-17 could have saved us all from an abominable cult, is it possible that it could also save us from other equally unprofitable endeavors or worldviews? Without 2 Tim. 3: 16-17 ; how could a person be sure that he was not simply drilling out of one prison cell into another?
It's strange that for 3/4 of the history of Christianity, the so-called word of God was not available to anyone except the clergy, yet the churches survived.
Research the history of the majority text. Generally speaking the RCC were keepers of the minority text. In the majority text camp, there are thousands of extant bible manuscripts from throughout the last 2000 years that we have written in Italic, old latin, Latin, Syriac, Greek, and Aramaic copy fragments. This is not including songbooks, lectionairies, bible semons etc.
In the 1400's Erasmus was fascinated by how much he found circulating around Europe during his travels. He bought as many as he could find. Of course, for the average non-catholic believer, (ie., faith in Christ Alone by Faith Alone), being found with many of these materials meant the inquisition, with a minimum of having their property confiscated by the RCC, if not death for not recanting the "heresy".
Many good points RJ .... you ratchet the issue up to the next level.
It is not a book that one should be listening to, but Christ himself..... No book can be "the way, the truth and the life."
Right On. The bible is sort of a tutor (like The Law) leading us to Christ himself.
But remember, "faith cometh by hearing". I remember the first time I read in a majority text NT bible that "God was manifest in the flesh" as opposed to "he was manifest in the flesh". I literally leaped out of bed.
more than one church of the first century read The book of Enoch as Scripture. But now, most churches regard it as not inspired.
The book of Enoch is a history book, like the book of Jasher, which is mentioned by name twice in the bible and quoted once, if I recall. The Book of Enoch, Jasher, and others while interesting, are not Scripture. The Holy Spirit did not lead the church to include them in the canon of Scripture.
I think Paul's words are on point here:
As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
As JWs we thought the watchtower(tm) represented the bible with that spin 'bible based'.
Amazing how they succeeded in replacing the bible with the Watchtower and replacing Christ as Mediator with themselves as mediator...all with such simple word spins like the example you provide above.
