The Faithful & discreet slave according to the WTS - a slip?

by ozziepost 4 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  ozziepost

  A basic teaching of the WTS is that the "faithful and discreet slave" of Matthew 24:43,44 is representative of a class of people, namely "anointed" Jehovah?s Witnesses.

  This would mean that this alone of all the parables is a prophecy, foretelling the appearance of an association of people who would be granted authority over the Lord?s earthly interests.

  There have been many articles and publications over the years where the WTS has sought to explain this teaching.

  One of them appears to be stating orthodox christian teaching. Was this a mistake? Did someone slip up? See for yourself:

  (After quoting Matthew 24:43,44)

  "Here the Lord Jesus has got onto the subject of watchfulness and preparedness as required of his disciples. So he now raises a question that

  challenges each one of his disciples regarding his personal devotion to Jehovah?s Messiah and personal use of prudence, foresight and insight in service to the Messiah. Each disciple could determine for himself what kind of slave he wanted to be as he heard the Master ask the question: "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? ? Matthew 24:15" (God?s Kingdom of a Thousand Years (1973) pages 337,338)

  I?ve highlighted the pertinent expressions in red.

  Interestingly the subsequent paragraphs go on to speak of a class of christians, seemingly contradicting this earlier paragraph.
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  Room 215

  Oz, veyr interesting; thanks.

  Here we have a well-articulated refutation of their very own core doctrine! Makes you wonder about who edits this stuff.
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  cruzanheart

  Either that or they're trying to very subtly maneuver the thinking of the R&F toward the idea that the dream (fantasy) will continue even after the old anointed ones die. Drop a hint here, a hint there, and voila! new light!

  Nina
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  minimus

  Good one, Oz! I really believe they purposely send out mixed messages so they can always point to a comment in a publication and say, "See, we've held this position for years".
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  hawkaw

  A basic teaching of the WTS is that the "faithful and discreet slave" of Matthew 24:43,44 is representative of a class of people, namely "anointed" Jehovah?s Witnesses.

  hmm.... I'm confused. I thought the FDS crap was supposedly found in the question of 24:45 and then bolstered with the slightly changed words ("having come" changed to "arrived" or "arriving") found in 24:46. I thought 43 and 44 were taught (for the last few years) as still waiting for the visible "dude" to come and 45 and 46 were taught as if the dude was here but invisible of course.

  On a side line, as a non witness I just keep breaking out laughing everytime I combine about line 40 to line 47 in 24 and note where the little footnote in 46 takes me in the Book of Revelation.

  hawk