Doug Mason

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Posts by Doug Mason

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  20

  Why did Paul call Jesus, “the firstborn from the dead”?

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  "jesus christ was resurrected on nisan 16, 33 c.e., the day when the jewish high priest offered up the firstfruits of the barley harvest.

  this fits in accurately with jesus' being the "firstfruits" in the resurrection of the human dead.

  (1 cor.

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  Doug Mason

  "Jesus Christ was resurrected on Nisan 16, 33 C.E., the day when the Jewish high priest offered up the firstfruits of the barley harvest. This fits in accurately with Jesus' being the "firstfruits" in the resurrection of the human dead. (1 Cor. 15:20) This put Jesus Christ in the first "rank.”

  "Just as in the Jewish barley harvest there were afterfruits to be reaped, so too there must be afterfruits in the resurrection of the dead. But since Jesus Christ ranks first, Paul called him "the firstborn from the dead, that he might become the one who is “first in all things."—Col. 1:18.

  "By his sacrificial death Jesus Christ bought back or redeemed all the human family who are dying "in Adam." (The Watchtower, June 15, 1979, page 22)
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  Study on Second-Temple Mysticisms and Mysteries completely rewritten

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i appreciate the feedback that i received from my study into the mysticisms and mysteries of the second-temple period (which is a period that includes the nt, particularly paul) and their ongoing impact.. i have now completely reworked it and hopefully i have addressed the concerns that were raised.. the information is structured thematically:.

  1. celestial ascents.

  2. mysticisms.

• 

  Doug Mason

  I appreciate the feedback that I received from my Study into the Mysticisms and Mysteries of the Second-Temple period (which is a period that includes the NT, particularly Paul) and their ongoing impact.

  I have now completely reworked it and hopefully I have addressed the concerns that were raised.

  The information is structured thematically:

  1. Celestial Ascents

  2. Mysticisms

  3. The Mysteries

  4. Descent from Heaven

  Plus two Appendices.

  I am very open to criticisms, which I welcome with open arms.

  https://www.academia.edu/s/c441f4ced5

  Doug
• 
  35

  An exchange with a JW about the blood doctrine.

  by Giles Gray in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i recently had an online exchange with an active jw about the blood issue.

  he originally wanted to talk about the potential dangers of transfusions but i pointed out that the risks of transfusions have nothing whatsoever to do with the reason that jws reject blood, and therefore i didn’t see any value in debating that topic.. not able to let it go, he then insisted that the blood mandate was a common theme throughout the bible, quoting acts 15:29.. it’s been a while since i looked into the subject, and i admit i’m now a little rusty when it comes to recalling where to find biblical quotes, but i remembered that there are passages in both the new and old testaments that, when read in the context of the time they were written, call into question the watchtower’s rendition of acts 15:29.. i offered to do some bible research and get back to the jw, suggesting that rather than letting our discussion become combative, we could have an informative and interesting exchange of ideas.

  i reassured him that i was not looking to undermine his convictions, in fact i was more than happy to be corrected if my thinking was wrong.

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  Doug Mason

  I have gathered much on the subject over the years:

  https://jwstudies.com/blood.html
  

  These appear on that page and might be helpful:

  https://jwstudies.com/Handling_Medical_Evidence.pdf

  https://jwstudies.com/Letter_from_Ray_Franz.jpg

  https://jwstudies.com/The_Meaning_of__Blood_.pdf
  

  As you say, every medical procedure carries risks, and one should never promote or deny a procedure based on ancient mythologies. The decision must be made by those qualified to make it.

  Doug
• 
  6

  Second-Temple period mysteries and mysticisms

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i don't know if anyone is interested in the subject of the mysteries and mysticisms of the second-temple period (including paul and the gospels) but if so:.

  https://www.academia.edu/s/61773ba12f?source=link .

  doug.

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• 

  Doug Mason

  Thank you, Terry.

  I turned page 8 on its head, I was wrong and I appreciate your help.

  Please tell me if it is still out of whack - and anywhere else.

  ------------

  Appropriate to other things, I came across the following passage in an old book languishing unloved for many a year:

  Those who regard the prophets mainly as guides to the future are likely to be disappointed by this work. For me, "the prophets speaks primarily to the men of his own time, and his message springs out of the circumstances in which he lives" (Men Spake from God, Ellison, page 4). Hence we will best understand Ezekiel as we try to grasp what his own generation should have understood and only then reinterpret, if necessary, in the light of the New Testament. In dealing with the prophecies of the future. I have therefore been normally more concerned with what Ezekiel's contemporaries were to understand by them than what we may read into them from the standpoint of the New Testament. (Ezekiel: The Man and His Message, Ellison, (1956), 11).
  

  Doug
• 
  6

  Second-Temple period mysteries and mysticisms

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i don't know if anyone is interested in the subject of the mysteries and mysticisms of the second-temple period (including paul and the gospels) but if so:.

  https://www.academia.edu/s/61773ba12f?source=link .

  doug.

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  Doug Mason

  Thank you, Terry. I will rethink that part again.

  I am wrong to use "Christian" definitions of "mysticism" and "mystery". I need to provide the understanding of these terms during the Second-Temple period (which includes Paul).

  To give you an idea of the slippery slope that befuddled my ancient grey cells, I have provided the "Christian" definitions here:

  https://jwstudies.com/Defining_Christian_Mysticism__Inge.pdf

  https://jwstudies.com/Defining_Mysticism__a_Survey__Zarrabizadeh.pdf
  

  Regards -- and thank you,

  Doug
• 
  6

  Second-Temple period mysteries and mysticisms

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i don't know if anyone is interested in the subject of the mysteries and mysticisms of the second-temple period (including paul and the gospels) but if so:.

  https://www.academia.edu/s/61773ba12f?source=link .

  doug.

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  Doug Mason

  I absolutely agree with you, Terry!

  The list of "definitions" in the book where I lifted that from runs to a few pages, several not in English, most far worse..

  Thank you for your feedback and I will take another look with the view to replacing the paragraph.

  I really appreciate your feedback.

  If anyone can find a meaningful replacement from a recognised scholar, please let me know.

  Doug
• 
  6

  Second-Temple period mysteries and mysticisms

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i don't know if anyone is interested in the subject of the mysteries and mysticisms of the second-temple period (including paul and the gospels) but if so:.

  https://www.academia.edu/s/61773ba12f?source=link .

  doug.

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  Doug Mason

  Hi,

  Back again, this time with egg on face.

  I found errors with the hyperlinks I provided at Page 7 of my Study. No excuses, just plain incompetence.

  The corrected file is at:

  https://jwstudies.com/2TP_Mysticisms.pdf

  I will correct the Academia address in the morning.

  Sorry.

  Doug
• 
  6

  Second-Temple period mysteries and mysticisms

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i don't know if anyone is interested in the subject of the mysteries and mysticisms of the second-temple period (including paul and the gospels) but if so:.

  https://www.academia.edu/s/61773ba12f?source=link .

  doug.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doug Mason

  Hi,

  I don't know if anyone is interested in the subject of the mysteries and mysticisms of the Second-temple period (including Paul and the Gospels) but if so:

  https://www.academia.edu/s/61773ba12f?source=link

  Doug
• 

  Paul's mystical gospel?

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in the process of preparing studies on the second-temple period, i was working on the evolution of their understandings of: death and resurrections, and salvations.

  when i was looking at paul’s attitude to the matter (he was at the latter part of the period) i developed the following material:.

  https://jwstudies.com/paul_s_gospel__death_and_resurrection.pdf .

• 

  Doug Mason

  In the process of preparing Studies on the Second-Temple period, I was working on the evolution of their understandings of: Death and Resurrections, and Salvations. When I was looking at Paul’s attitude to the matter (he was at the latter part of the Period) I developed the following material:

  https://jwstudies.com/Paul_s_Gospel__Death_and_Resurrection.pdf

  When I set out, as usual I had no idea how it would turn out.

  I need your help. Would you please criticise it. Tear it to shreds; I do not mind. But please give me evidence. Have I misunderstood Paul?

  Doug
• 
  20

  Jehovah's witnesses believe in Tranys.

  by mickbobcat in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  so women who are of the anointed will be changed to male?

  i know it says there are neither male nor female in heaven but they are never depicted as women always male gender.

  so does the cult believe in the transgender crap?.

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  Doug Mason

  Oscar Wilde said:

  "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."