This is Paul saying some where turning away from the Good news taught
by christ. If early Christianity was unitarian doesn't this this align
with others turning away from it?
Yes Jesus being resurrected was good news. But in the sense of this scripture the good news is religion.
In the sense of this scripture? I'm sorry, what? Where do you get religion from it? Note more carefully what it says, particularly that ones were "wanting to distort the good news about Christ". This isn't about religion. Religion isn't even mentioned. This is all about the good new of Christ, specifically that he died for our sins and was resurrected, becoming a guarantee of our salvation. That's a far different message than 'God is going to destroy wickedness.' While that may be true, that isn't the good news that should be preached. Paul emphasize that this was his main message at 1 Tim 2:5-7:
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all—this is what is to be witnessed to in its own due time. 7 For the purpose of this witness I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—a teacher of nations in the matter of faith and truth.
13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[a]
What else could this mean besides no one else beside Jesus has went to heaven? So where do we go?
That no one had ever gone into heaven, just as the verse says. But after Christ died, he paved the way for that to happen.
John 14:2-4: In the house of my Father are many dwelling places. Otherwise, I would have told you, for I am going my way to prepare a place for you. 3 Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 4 And where I am going, you know the way.”
Also, Phil 3:14, 15: I am pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let those of us who are mature be of this mental attitude, and if you are mentally inclined otherwise in any respect, God will reveal the above attitude to you.
Some would be "mentally inclined" otherwise. Paul was telling his audience that being mentally inclined otherwise wasn't the correct inclination.
Thier will be a paradise on earth.
Before you say that, please find ONE VERSE that says this. There are only four mentions of "paradise" in the Bible. None of them refer to earth.
That said, I believe that eventually, at some point after the events of Revelation 20 occur, there will be a residing on earth, and perhaps eventually it will be a paradise. Why do I believe this?
Rev 21:2: I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I want to emphasize, though, that the destination hope for Christians was NEVER EVER EVER said to be a paradise earth. Not by Christ and not by the apostles. JWs believe in a two-hope system. I've known this all my life, but it was outrightly stated in The Watchtower, December 15, 2013 issue on page 25, paragraph 13. Discussing the Memorial celebration, it said: "The speaker will explain the two distinct hopes set out in the Bible for Christians."
Does the Bible set out two distinct hopes? Ephesians 4:4-6 says no.
One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Anyway, it appears you are zoomed in on the "JWs are the only ones who preach" mantra, which is not what makes the mark of a Christian. There are many who preach, not just JWs. If there weren't, then why would Christ warn us about those who come and try to deceive us? The issue is not WHO is preaching, but WHAT is being preached.
All I can say is this: before making the claim that JWs are right because of outward appearances, do your homework. Jesus condemned the Pharisees, the supposed "right religion" of the day:
Matt 23:27,28: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men’s bones and of every sort of uncleanness. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Is there any hypocrisy on the part of JWs? How about lawlessness? I can't answer these questions for you. Well, I can, but that would be just my opinion. This is something you need to investigate for yourself.
John 5:39,40: “You are searching the Scriptures because you think that you will have everlasting life by means of them; and these are the very ones that bear witness about me. 40 And yet you do not want to come to me so that you may have life.
In my years as a JW, rare was it to be admonished to come to Christ. In fact, coming to Christ as a JW means to follow in his footsteps, which equates to preaching. What does it mean to come to Christ?
John 14:6:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.Matt 11:27: All things have been handed over to me by my
Father, and no one fully knows the Son except the Father; neither does
anyone fully know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son
is willing to reveal him.
We cannot get to the Father except through Christ. Not through any religion. No through any other human. We must go through Christ.
In Revelation, he said to the congregation in Ephesus:
Rev 2:1,2: ‘I know your deeds, and your labor and endurance, and that you cannot tolerate bad men, and that you put to the test those who say they are apostles, but they are not, and you found them to be liars.
The word "apostle" means "sent forth one". Any who claims they are sent forth by God to do something should rightly be put to the test. That means even the teachings of JWs.
Best wishes to you. May the journey be enlightening.
Edited for typos.
