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
wicked
Watchtower Quote
by TowerWatch 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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A Paduan
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Midget-Sasquatch
The WT has been getting a bit more careful with how they phrase this in their publications lately. But they still do from time to time.
WT 2002 DEC 1 pg. 17 par.17 "Enjoy Personal Study of God?s Word"
The Ethiopian eunuch was a convert to Judaism. He was a sincere believer in God, and he studied the Scriptures. Traveling in his chariot, he was reading the text of Isaiah when Philip ran alongside him and asked: "Do you actually know what you are reading?" How did the eunuch answer?"?Really, how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?? And he entreated Philip to get on and sit down with him." Then Philip, directed by holy spirit, helped the eunuch to understand the prophecy of Isaiah. (Acts 8:27-35) What does this illustrate? That our private reading of the Bible is not enough. Jehovah, by his spirit, uses the faithful and discreet slave class to help us to understand his Word at the right time. How is this done? -
RunningMan
You might find this of interest, too:
"Each treatise can be read in just fifteen minutes, and more genuine satisfaction and profitable pleasure derived therefrom in that length of time than can be gotten from studying the Bible by yourself in a whole year." -- Vindication, (book 3), page 383.
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M.J.
Here's another one
The world is full of Bibles?why then do the people not know which was to go? Because, they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light. (WT 5/1/1957, p.274)
There are similar statements from other cults, like the Iglesia ni Cristo:
No, it is beyond man's power and intelligence to study and understand the truth, which is God's word (John 17:17), by himself, without the guidance of God's messenger. (PASUGO, November 1973, p. 19, 20)
The Bible or the word of God is a "mystery which was kept secret." Thus, it is no ordinary book that could be understood or interpreted by just anybody who can read. This is why the apostle Paul quipped: "Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the thruth." (II Tim. 3:7, Ibid.) But many people have thought that they could understand the Bible by themselves. Thus the proliferation of numerous self-proclaimed preachers, all claiming to have understood the Bible and trying? --Pasugo, Oct 1995, p.4.
Without being given understanding or revelation, one can never know the mystery of God?s words and can never come to know the truth. This compels us to ask further, "Who, then, is given understanding of God?s words and, therefore, can preach them?" The Lord Himself, further clarified: "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure." (Jn. 3:34)
Those sent by God?His inspired messengers?are the ones exclusively given the understanding of His words: they speak God?s words. On the contrary, thos who are not sent cannot preach the true gospel. They cannot lead man to the true understanding of God?s words and, eventually, to salvation. Apostle Paul wrote: "And how shall they preach unles they are sent?..." (Rom 10:15)
Only those sent by God can preach His words for to them has been revealed His mystery?" Pasugo, October 1995, p.4