Watchtower Disparages the Bible

by Vanderhoven7 21 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Vanderhoven7

  Hi Drearyweather,

  Of course, those with only the OT scriptures might indeed need to have someone explain that Jesus was the Messiah being talked about. This is exactly what the Apostles began doing at Pentecost.

  But now we have the New Testament which clarifies that Jesus is the Messiah that was cut off for our salvation. People can respond in faith to the written word just as they could to the spoken word at Pentecost. The scriptures are sufficient today to reveal Christ and thoroughly equip the believer. Ii Timothy 3:15-16

  A man stranded on a deserted island with only a Bible can come to saving faith in Christ without the church or an organization of men.
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  WTWizard

  I openly disparage the bible as a book full of lies intended to enslave the whole world (and, with this worldwide mandatory torture shot, they are just about finished). The washtowel claims to have the monopoly on abiding by this book, and yet disparages it.

  At least I do not claim to abide by such a filthy, foul book. I openly claim this book is the filthiest book on the planet, and that anyone following it is inviting disaster. The washtowel claims this book to be the best standard to abide by, yet they themselves insist on abiding by and teaching doctrines that can be proven wrong (using their own bible), until they themselves alter it (at which time, you are supposed to abide by and teach the new doctrine which is usually as bad or even worse).
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  EverApostate

  The Bible says that the snake talked to Eve. Period. Even an 8th grader would laugh at it

  WT (and other denominations) interpret it as Satan Talking to Eve.

  That’s why they say that reading the Bible by yourself is dangerous. To cover up the silliness, cruelty, Ignonrance and Barbarity – found in the Bible - to suit their agenda
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  JoenB75

  One of the first things I noticed after leaving JW and years after beginning to believe in God, is that the JWs dont read Scripture in context. The read their study books and their study books select verses from the Bible. A classic example is Proverbs 8:22-31. The strange face they put up if you succeed in making them look at the context of Proverbs 8 .
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  JoenB75

  Ever Apostate,

  I know for us snake lovers this divine myth is a bit disappointing. But snakes are also put in a positive light like in Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:1-21
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  slimboyfat

  Joen in general I agree about the lack of context in Watchtower consideration of scripture. That’s undeniable.

  On the specifics of Proverbs 8:22–31. If JWs are wrong to apply this passage to Jesus then it is a mistake that is common to virtually every early Christian author who wrote about the text. Arius used this text to prove that Jesus was created in 4th century. What is interesting is that his opponents didn’t disputed that this text refers to Jesus. Instead they argued about the meaning of the words referring to creation in the passage. The idea that Jesus was identified with wisdom in general (1 Cor 1:24). and in this passage in particular, was taken for granted.
  
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  JoenB75

  slimboyfat,

  I think they are wrong because Proverbs 8:22-31 is personifying wisdom. In 1 Corinthians 1:24, Paul personifies Jesus as God's wisdom and power. How far will you take the literalism? God the Father has no power and wisdom? Jesus is not a being / person but attributes? It is personifications. Same in John 1, the Word or words (divine/prophetic) of God are personified in the Jesus and made flesh which means a human being
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  Vanderhoven7

  The Bible is inadequate according to the Faithful Slave.

  “Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind.” (The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 587)

  
  

  “We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave’ organization.” (The Watchtower, February 15, 1981, p. 19)

  
  

  
  

  “Does ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ [Watchtower organization] endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate? (Matt. 24:45, 47). No, it does not. And yet, in various parts of the world, a few associates of our organization have formed groups to do independent research on Bible-related subjects. Some have pursued an independent group study of Biblical Hebrew and Greek so as to analyze the accuracy of the New World Translation. … They have also held conferences and produced publications to present their findings and to supplement what is provided at our Christian meetings and through our literature. … Thus, ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight … For those who wish to do extra Bible study and research, we recommend that they explore Insight on the Scriptures, All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial, and our other publications.” (Kingdom Ministry, September 2007, p. 3)

  
  
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  Vanderhoven7

  More of the same disparagement

  “They say that it is sufficient to read the bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago.” (The Watchtower, August 15, 1981, pp. 28-29)

  
  

  “Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the SCRIPTURE STUDIES aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years—if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness.” (The Watch Tower, September 15, 1910, p. 298, Watchtower Reprints, p. 4685)

  
  

  “On occasion opposers will question the various teachings that Jehovah’s people hold in common … They will declare that all one needs to do is to read the Bible. But Christendom has been reading the Bible for centuries.” (The Watchtower, March 1, 1983, p. 25)

  
  

  “We must not lose sight of the fact that God is directing his organization … To turn away from Jehovah and his organization, to spurn the direction of ‘the faithful and discreet slave,’ and to rely simply on personal Bible reading and interpretation is to become like a solitary tree in a parched land.” (The Watchtower, June 1, 1985, pp. 19-20)

  
  

  “Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.” (The Watchtower, December 1, 1981, p. 27)

  
  
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  slimboyfat

  If you think the JWs are bad then Iglesia ni Cristo are a step worse. They believe that only the church administration can correctly interpret the Bible, therefore they do no encourage members to own their own Bible or to read it alone. They get their Bible readings from the church services only. During their services they use a wide variety of Bible versions, some quite obscure. It’s as if they are meeting a target to use as many different Bible versions as possible. Who else uses the Lamsa version?

  That’s only one of a number of controlling techniques. For example, they start a Bible instruction course with a prospective convert, the student is not allowed access to the entire course or allowed to peruse it on their own. They go through each individual lesson with their instructor. If a new person asks any ordinary member any doctrinal questions ordinary members are instructed not to answer the question but always to direct the person to the presiding minister because ordinary members are not viewed as being qualified to answer questions. They also keep a strict attendance count and people fill in their names on a board. You need a very good excuse not to be at the meeting or for it not to be marked against your name. You are not allowed to choose your own seat. Men and women sit apart and people are instructed which seat to occupy.