Occasionally the WTS does allude to straight Bible reading but only the NWT is suggested. I can remember once bringing my NIV to the book study. When I volunteered to read a scripture and read from the NIV, I thought the 'conductor' was going to fall out of his chair.
The rank and file are assigned a segment of the Bible to read each week and comment on at the TMS. Few do; just the same old faithful sisters. Sometimes I could tell the elder assigned to the part had not read it.
Few JWs look up the cited scriptures in the publications they study.
When a person starts really reading the Bible, it brings up questions in their minds....
Why did Lot offer his daughters to the mob to be raped?
Why did David and Bathsheba live but their "adulterous" child die?
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w94 10/1 The Bible?A Book Meant to Be Understood ***All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah?s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave.?John 6:68.
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w51 6/15 p. 376 The Spirit, the Organization, and the Word ***Just because you have the Bible and have it as your guide and basic instruction Book, you cannot act independently and imagine you have direct connections and dealings with Jehovah apart from and with slight to the theocratic organization. His Word does not teach that you can go on your own with just the Bible and with a private operation of the holy spirit upon you. It is necessary to see God?s handiwork and to recognize the organization he has built up and deals with. This organization, filled with his spirit and adhering strictly to his Word, is what he uses today in guiding us in our combined efforts throughout the world. This organization is needed in order to integrate the efforts of all of us throughout the many nations of many different languages. It is needed for serving all believers unitedly with the revelations of God?s Word. It brings all Kingdom publishers into co-operation with the one "pure language" of the truth. It prevents our working to cross-purposes, or duplicating our efforts, or having territories overlap, or having weaknesses resulting from disunity, and other things hindering our getting God?s work done. Jehovah is directing his organization through its Head Jesus Christ. If we want to get the benefit of his direction and leadings we need to work with the organization. If the enemy isolates you, then carry on as you have been taught and trained through the organization.
Blondie
