The scriptures portray a person named Stephen who is termed the first "martyr." The Greek word means "witness."
( Greek : μάρτυς, mártys , "witness"; stem μάρτυρ-, mártyr- )
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Those who died for their faith were said to be "crowned in glory."
Suspiciously, the name Stephen means"crowned."
In fact, the account of the martyrdom of Stephen is probably a counterfeit story told to strengthen others for the trials ahead.
How can we say this?
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The Jews were not allowed to execute anybody by order of Roman Law!
Another account in the Bible, often referred to as the "woman taken in adultry,: portrays Jesus as stopping
the stoning execution of a woman. The famous phrase, "Let him who is without sin throw the first stone," comes
from this bogus account.
New Testament scholars regard this text as spurious. It was added in later centuries, probably by some copyist using
marginal notes.
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Jesus was undoubtedly the FIRST martyr and the story of Stephen was crafted to represent the glorious outcome of giving
public testimony (witness) in the face of death, leading to the crowning glory of ruling in heaven with Christ.
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Jehovah was never a martyr. Jesus was.
Jehovah's martyrs (i.e. Jehovah's witnesses) logically would actually be Jesus' martyrs because their course mimics the
public testimony followed by crowning glory.
Jehovah's Witnesses would be horrified to "take up their cross," because they have been carefully indoctrinated to despise it!
So, we can see right from the start, Judge Rutherford's neologism (Jehovah's Witnesses) reflects his misunderstanding of
history, language, theology, and the nature of Christianity.
His was a LEGAL education. This penchant for Legalism is present everywhere in his writings.
His religion reflected his mania, neuroses, and personality.
Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than reflecting the spirit of Jesus giving his life for humanity, only reflects
Judge Rutherford's PROSECUTORIAL bombast.
How so?
JW's try to prosecute rather than save.
A Christian would be more of a DEFENSE ATTORNEY pleading
an accused person's case before the court of heaven, begging for leniency.
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Christians would be PUBLIC DEFENDERS while Jehovah's Witnesses are like DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
eager to see everybody who doesn't measure up to the letter of Watchtower Law convicted and executed!
