a closed mind, a requirement?

peacefulpete

Galatians opens with the direction to not listen to opposing religious views. It goes so far as to say that even if THEY (ostensibly Paul and his party) or an ANGEL from heaven presents another opinion, they must refuse to listen even then condemning the messenger as an enemy. Ironically this very obstinance is condemned among the Jews in the Bible, when they supposedly refused to listen to the new direction from the Christians,Jesus and even the angels who according to the story announced this new faith's arrival. Food for thought.

Phantom Stranger

Sorry, I'm not listening to you.

peacefulpete

let you be acursed!

zen nudist

Galations opens with the direction to not listen to opposing religious views. It goes so far as to say that even if THEY (ostensibly Paul and his party) or an ANGEL from heaven presents another opinion, they must refuse to listen even then condemning the messenger as an enemy.

So everytime the society changes its mind or tune, JWs should consider them enemies...but that is not how they tell it, is it? they tell everyone that they are being guided by God to NEW light all the time...very interesting. It seems that Paul's view is that NEW LIGHT is from the ANGEL OF LIGHT otherwise known as the Devil (^_^)

hooberus

Galatians opens with the direction to not listen to opposing religious views. It goes so far as to say that even if THEY (ostensibly Paul and his party) or an ANGEL from heaven presents another opinion, they must refuse to listen even then condemning the messenger as an enemy. Ironically this very obstinance is condemned among the Jews in the Bible, when they supposedly refused to listen to the new direction from the Christians,Jesus and even the angels who according to the story announced this new faith's arrival. Food for thought.

Paul was not discussing angels presenting another "opinion", but a different gospel. He was stating that Christians should not be removed from the grace of Christ unto another gospel. 1: Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2: And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4: Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

hooberus

The situation with Galatians is somewhat similar to Deuteronomy 13 which warns against going after "other gods" besides YHWH even if the message to go after them and worship them comes from a prophet.

1: If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2: And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3: Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 13 is warning not to leave the God of the faith for another god. In the same way Galaitians is a warning for Christains not to leave the gospel of the grace of Christ for another gospel. Both of these warnings deal with basic essentials of the faith.

Deuteronomy 13 and Galatians 1 do not tell Jews and Christians to not listen to different messengers but to listen carefully and then to discern the message against already revealed basic doctrine.

logansrun

It's all bullshit.

bebu

With this text alone, the WT theology falls flat.

Where in the NT does Paul mention anything about 2 flocks? Or mention paradise on earth? Or 144,000? Or talk about an organization? Or the need to have "knowledge" over faith or love? Etc.

Yet, Paul says in different epistles that he proclaimed the gospel FULLY. If that is the case, why can't I find the WT "gospel" anywhere in Paul's letters? There is just being saved by grace, thru faith in Christ.

And that was the issue over which Ray Franz left.

bebu

Euphemism

A very good point, peacefulpete, and one which shows the fundamentally human origin of religion.

peacefulpete

these warnings deal with basic essentials of the faith.

Galatians 1 do not tell Jews and Christians to not listen to different messengers but to listen carefully and then to discern the message against already revealed basic doctrine.

Hooberus your statements are rhetoric until you define "basic essentials of the faith" and "revealed basic doctrine". If you define them as The message delivered to Christians from the Apostles, we have classic circular reasoning. It appears you are saying that if anyone, including angels presents an explanation/doctrine/message/interpretation different from that previously accepted by Christians as gospel truth he is to be accursed. If so, why have you claimed I errored in my calling such reasoning the product of a closed mind?

Think about it. Never is listening and considering the merits of an opposing viewpoint a bad idea. The standard for what is to be believed should never simply be that which we already hold to be true.

a closed mind, a requirement?

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