I had a look at a thread started by VeniceIT yesterday, then followed a link to her story, and from something she wrote there, I have been re-reading Matthew 24:45-50. The Society has really taught that there are in effect two separate "slave" classes; the faithful and discreet slave "class" and the evil "slave" class. They teach that the "evil slave" originates from the single "faithful slave" by becoming apostate. However, if I simply read this passage with no preconceived ideas, I get the impression that Jesus is only talking about a single slave, who apparently has two courses of action he can choose, which in turn leads to two differing sets of consequences. Any other views , comments or background to the societies development of this particular doctrine on this particular passage? 45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Eyeslice |
Are the F&D Slave and the Evil Slave the same?
by eyeslice 5 Replies latest watchtower bible
-
eyeslice
-
Gopher
Eyeslice,
How DARE you take that scripture and read it straight? Don't you know that the "faithful and discreet slave class" has the right, and the assignment, to read into the scriptures special meanings and to tell everyone what to believe?
Surely you are condemned to die at Armageddon for such "independent" thinking.
-
gumby
I get the impression that Jesus is only talking about a single slave, who apparently has two courses of action he can choose, which in turn leads to two differing sets of consequences.
That is exactly how it REALLY reads. All a person has to do is read the other two accounts of the same event in mark and luke . The society likes the one in Matt. and is the only one they ever use as it is EASIER to convince others it means a composite group.
Remember the EVIL slave "beats" his brothers......kind of like the borg beats it's followers.
-
peacefulpete
A few years ago I ondered the same point and drew the same conclusion by simple reading and comparing versions. I have disposed (recycled) of my old wt volumes so I will need help here. A few year ago, about 5, the "new understanding " was anounced that verses 40-42 were not to be applied during the last days, but were to be fullfilled at armagedon or at least during the big trib. verses 43-51 naturaly continue the topic of being ready for this future coming of Christ Therefore the claim that a broadening of responsbility and authority occurred in 1918, after the Lord's "invisible" return for inspection, has lost it's foundation text. Note the odd inconsistant use of the word "arriving" in verse 46 rather than "coming" as in verses 42,43,44 when translating the exact same word. Was this deliberate to enable a strained interpretation that happened to be key to the whole doctrine of "theocratic arrangements". I was waiting for this clarification for 2 years before my research took me in an entirely different direction. By the way if it hasn't been adressed lately a simple reread of the dozen and a half verses (in situ)that use the word "Parousia" in connection to christ shows no indication of an "invisible presence" in fact quite the opposite. Paul was reinventing christianity to make sense of Jesus' failure to come as expected, Russel simply reinvented it again to make sense of Jesus' disappointing delay. Someone should take this and run with it if it has not been hashed lately.
-
refiners fire
Well one wonders about a guy like say, Nelson Barbour in the 1880s. Hes marked as an "evil slave", but I wonder, he had a couple of "disappointments" in terms of timesetting. Maybe he just wised up and saw reality.Maybe he said "Hmmm, been wrong twice now!". While others, like Chuck Russell, desperately interpreted symbolic fullfillments and "invisible" parousias so as to cling to their belief systems.
Who can say?
-
JosephMalik
However, if I simply read this passage with no preconceived ideas, I get the impression that Jesus is only talking about a single slave, who apparently has two courses of action he can choose, which in turn leads to two differing sets of consequences.
Eyeslice,
This is correct. And the decision is made when our Lord returns so we cannot determine how any disciple (slave) will turn out. One can always turn around sometime before they die. But we can make a pretty good guess based upon their conduct, doctrine, attitudes etc. What we do as individuals matters. How we treat others and what we teach them matters. Everyone will be judged as individuals according to their deeds and not on the performance of some group they associate with. So if we teach and treat others badly, lie to them about blood transfusions causing them their death or encourege them to not take the bread and wine, abuse them by not speaking to them and tell or encourage others to do the same we personally will suffer the consequences for such acts.
Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
It is not much different for the Nations that are without Fatith and never were disciples that still may qualify for entry as human beings. But for believers this loss is significant as their attitude and failure will cost them the first resurrection. There is a simple rule we should understand when we decide to dedicate our lives to Jesus and become disciples of His. Even a few stripes are too many for followers even if we do make it into the kingdom as evil slaves, and drunkards after being thrown out of the Faith.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Joseph