Were Jonadabs called JWs in 1931?

Cygnus

I was always under the assumption that the Jonadabs were not called "Jehovah's Witnesses" but were called "companions" and other terms. Then tonight I'm reading Schnell's book for the first time and he says that in a 1931 Watchtower the Judge used the parable of the penny to denote all Watchtower adherents as JWs (a gift, as it were). What's the real scoop?

onacruse

Yes, you're right.

The "penny" article is a classic example of switch-and-bait.

I'm having problems with my c/p...perhaps someone else may be able to provide a source-quote?

Craig

Mulan

I remember, in the 50's, the Jonadabs were the ones who were not annointed. Later they called them Great Crowd.

At least that's my memory of it.

Undecided

At least that's my memory of it.

Same here, Mulan.

Ken P.

garybuss

The "unsaved" were also called "people of good will".

blondie

Here let the WTS answer this question:

Proclaimers book chap. 7 p. 83 Advertise the King and the Kingdom! (1919-1941) ***

Yet, even greater joy was near for them. The following spring, several issues of The Watchtower, beginning with the April 1, 1935, issue, carried this announcement: "Again The Watchtower reminds its readers that a convention of Jehovah?s witnesses and Jonadabs will be held at Washington, D.C., beginning May 30 and ending June 3, 1935." The Jonadabs eagerly awaited the convention.

Footnote/

jv sect. 1 chap. 7 p. 83 Advertise the King and the Kingdom! (1919-1941)

At that time the Jonadabs were not considered to be "Jehovah?s witnesses." (See The Watchtower, August 15, 1934, page 249.) However, a few years later, The Watchtower of July 1, 1942, stated: "These ?other sheep? [Jonadabs] become witnesses for Him, on the same wise that the faithful men before Christ?s death, from John the Baptist all the way back to Abel, were the never-quitting witnesses for Jehovah."

blondie

And in 1966

w66 2/15 pp. 120-121 Identifying the Present-Day Beneficiaries ***

However, great joy was now near for the Jonadab company or "other sheep." A five-day general convention of Jehovah?s witnesses was announced. Beginning with the April 1, 1935, issue of The Watchtower the announcements thereof said: "Again The Watchtower reminds its readers that a convention of Jehovah?s witnesses and Jonadabs will be held at Washington, D.C., beginning May 30 and ending June 3, 1935. It is hoped that many of the remnant and the Jonadabs may find it convenient to attend the convention. Heretofore not many Jonadabs have had the privilege of attending a convention, and the convention at Washington may be a real comfort and benefit to them." (Page 98) "This is a service convention, and it is expected that all the remnant and the Jonadabs will participate in the service."?Page 110.

Footnote/

w66 2/15 p. 120 Identifying the Present-Day Beneficiaries

At that time the Jonadabs or "other sheep" were not considered to be "Jehovah?s witnesses."?See The Watchtower, August 15, 1934, page 249, paragraph 31.

w90 12/15 p. 13 "Let Anyone Hearing Say: ?Come!?" ***

The

Watchtower of August 15, 1934, also referred to the responsibility of the other sheep and said on page 249, paragraph 31: "The Jonadab class are of those who ?hear? the message of truth and who must say to those in their hearing: ?Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.? (Rev. 22:17) Those of the Jonadab class must go along with those who are of the antitypical Jehu company, that is, the anointed, and announce the message of the kingdom, even though they are not the anointed witnesses of Jehovah."

garybuss

Then in 1995 the designation "other sheep" was removed as well with the news that the "other sheep" will not be identified until after Armageddon. Now they are a class without a designation . . . or a purpose really.

It went from people of good will, to . . . How can we get them to send us their wills?

onacruse

Thanks blondie; you always come through with the source material.

garybuss, you remind me that for a long time it was "people of good will toward God," and then they switched it to "people toward whom God has good will." One more step in the depersonalization process: "it isn't what you think that matters, it's what others (especially God) think of you; so get your sorry ass out there in service and make God and people like you."

Cygnus, lest we forget , recall that wonderful You May Survive Armageddon book, with something like 40 "prophetic types" of the non-anointed...shades of Philo and Origen.

Craig

XQsThaiPoes

Gary God bless you. You are one of the few people that ruely understand the decay of JWism from the sublime to the mundane (or maligned ). If you add the context that the wt said recently anyone studing are believers where does that leave these unsaved people? It is like a casting call for stadium scenes in movies. Anyone that shows up that day is atmitted until the fill the arena.

To the watchtower if you buy the books and read them you are good as in. The anointed never cared they never though of the other sheep as real christians anyway. THe watchtower began to promote the unity doctrine to gain control and boost the go of the RF. When are the RF going to get it in their head they are not "inheiriting the kingdom" they are not being rewarded with "eternal life". They are going to be wandering around on a scorched post apocalyptic earth ran by celestial overlords whom periodically purge this wasteland from dissent every millenia or so. From what it sounds like is the new order is the new hades because everyone not going to heaven is being dumped there.

Were Jonadabs called JWs in 1931?

Share this