by Disheartened 5 Replies latest jw friends
Is it just me or does anyone else find the terms that the wt society use as strange and unusual? I mean where the heck do they come up with these terms??? Example:
You get the idea. What's the deal with that?
double think
make em think/believe one thing and give them another
They do use strange terms. When I tell "worldly" people about JWs I have to translate everything into non-cult language. Some of the terms aren't strange, but their meanings within the WTBTS are so different from their meanings in the real world that it is difficult for outsiders to understand.
Here's a dictionary of JW "theocratic" terms
Servant is actually a literal translation of the greek diakonos, origin of the English word 'deacon.' Overseer is a very legitimate--probably the most accurate, in fact--translation of the greek episkopos, origin of the English 'bishop'.
The word 'bishop' implies a clergyman who has oversight over several congregations, so I think that the WTS is fully justified in not using it to refer to their elders. The term 'deacon', however, describes exactly the same thing as 'ministerial servant.' I think that the only reason the WTS doesn't use it is because they want to seem different from other Christian religions. (The term 'deacon' was used back in Russell's day, btw. It was eliminated at the same time that Rutherford got rid of the elders.)
Thanks, Euphemism. I never knew the word servant actually translated into deacon. Very interesting. I still think "servant" sounds strange but it's interesting to know where it originates from.
