TOPIC | WATCHTOWER LITERATURE | SCRIPTURE |
Apostasy | Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. … That there is a “faithful and discreet slave” upon earth today ‘entrusted with all of Jesus’ earthly interests,’ which slave is associated with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Matthew 24:45-47) That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times – w1986 April 1 p. 30 | If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [Jesus came in the flesh, vs 7], do not receive him into your homes [house meetings or accommodation] or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting [khairo, a blessing of joy, God speed; not aspasmos, a hello; Luke 1:28-29] to him is a sharer in his wicked works. (2 John 10-11) |
Apostasy | True Christians share Jehovah’s feelings toward such apostates; they are not curious about apostate ideas. On the contrary, they “feel a loathing” toward those who have made themselves God’s enemies, but they leave it to Jehovah to execute vengeance. – w1993 Oct 1 p.19 | However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.… And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? (Matt 5:44-48) |
Baptism Questions | At the conclusion of the baptism talk, the speaker will ask the baptism candidates to stand and answer the following two questions in a loud voice: 1. Have you repented of your sins, dedicated yourself to Jehovah, and accepted his way of salvation through Jesus Christ? 2. Do you understand that your baptism identifies you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with Jehovah’s organization? Organized p.206-212 | All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things. (Matt 28:18-20) |
Baptism Questions | What Biblical guidance can help parents determine whether their children are ready for baptism? Consider the following questions: Does he make known to schoolmates and teachers that he is a Witness of Jehovah? … Does he enjoy commenting at the Watchtower Study and Congregation Bible Study? … Does your child strive to stay clean morally by avoiding harmful associates in school and elsewhere? (Prov. 13:20) … Does reading the Bible and studying the publications of the faithful and discreet slave class interest him? (Matt. 24:45) – w2011 June 15 p.4 | Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from Jehovah himself and he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus. (Acts 3:19-20) For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration+ for salvation. (Rom 10:9-10) |
Bible | Special attention was being given to making up the government that would rule mankind for 1,000 years, and nearly all the inspired letters in the Christian Greek Scriptures are primarily directed to this group of Kingdom heirs – “the holy ones,” “partakers of the heavenly calling.” – United in Worship p.111 | Beloved ones, although I was making every effort to write you about the salvation we hold in common, I found it necessary to write you to urge you to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones. [1 Cor 6:9-11 are not all Christians holy, “you have been washed clean, sanctified”?] (Jude 3) |
Bible | We have eyes to see the increased light, not eyes that refuse to see. We are anxious for new light and for new “food at the proper time.” This Jehovah supplies, not through individuals, but through his organization. – w 1954 Oct 15 p.639
The Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an | I write you these things about those who are trying to mislead you. And as for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to be teaching you; but the anointing from him is teaching you about all things and is true and is no lie. (1 John 2:26-27) |
Charities | Like the neighborly Samaritan in Jesus’ illustration, we want to help suffering people, including those who are not Witnesses. (Luke 10:33-37) The best way to do so is by sharing the good news with them. “It is important to make clear right away that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and that our primary mission is to help them spiritually, not materially,” notes an elder who has helped many refugees. “Otherwise, some may associate with us only for personal advantage.” w2017 May p. 3 | They’re busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me. To all appearances they’re a nation of right-living people – law-abiding, God-honoring. … What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. (Isa 58:2,7 Message, Mark 7:9-13; Jas 2:15-16) |
Charities | There is a kind of giving that is even more important than charity. Jesus alluded to this when a rich young ruler asked what he had to do to get everlasting life. Jesus told him: “Go sell your belongings and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come be my follower.” (Matthew 19:16-22) Notice that Jesus did not just say, ‘Give to the poor and you will get life.’ Instead, he added, “Come be my follower.” In other words, as commendable and beneficial as charitable acts are, Christian discipleship involves more. Jesus’ chief interest was in helping others spiritually. – w2003 June 1 p.6 | The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world. … If any brothers or sisters are lacking clothing and enough food for the day, yet one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead. – (Jas 1:27; 2:15-17) |
Christ’s Presence and Coming | Similarly, with reference to Jesus Christ’s taking up his kingly power, the first-century Bible writers make a distinction between his coming and his presence. Christ Jesus’ presence in kingly power would be felt and recognized many years before his “coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30) Christ’s invisible presence (Greek, pa·rou·siʹa) would precede this coming (Greek, erʹkho·mai) to execute judgment against a rebellious and wicked generation. – Aw 1993 May 8 p. 26 | When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Matt 25:31-32) [The 1984 NWT Reference Bible, appendix 5B quotes an 1879 work by Israel P. Warren which says, “The force of the former (“coming”, approach) ends with the arrival; that of the latter (“parousia”, being with) begins with it.” ie. Jesus comes and then is present, which WT reverses!] |
Christ’s Presence and Coming | So this expression refers to the royal presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as King, from and after 1914, following his enthronement in heaven. He is present invisibly to ‘go subduing in the midst of his enemies,’ actively ruling as King to fulfill this prophetic command. (Psalm 110:2) w1993 May 1 p.12 | Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him. Yes, Amen. (Rev 1:7; Acts 1:9-11) |
Good News | Let the honest-hearted person compare the kind of preaching of the gospel done by the religious systems of Christendom during all the centuries with that done by Jehovah’s Witnesses since the end of World War I in 1918. They are not one and the same kind. That of Jehovah’s Witnesses is really “gospel” or “good news,” as of God’s heavenly kingdom that was established by the enthronement of his Son Jesus Christ at the end of the Gentile Times in 1914. – w1981 May 1, p. 17) | So when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with extravagant speech or wisdom declaring the sacred secret of God to you. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and him executed on the stake. (1 Cor 2:1-2) Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, yes, that he was raised up on the third day according to the Scriptures. … For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. (1 Cor 15:1-4, 25) |
Good News | Many in Christendom are told: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved!’ But is that all there is to faith? The Bible declares that “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26) Besides believing in Jesus, therefore, we must do the works that he did, especially by preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom. – w1998 Jan 15 p.26 | By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting. We are God’s handiwork and were created in union with Christ Jesus for good works, which God determined in advance for us to walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10) |
Happiness | Now Jehovah’s witnesses are blessed above all others because they are the happiest, most peaceful and contented people on earth, – w1960 Feb 1 p.74 | Though you never saw him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet you exercise faith in him and are greatly rejoicing [Our joy is only found in relationship to Christ – John 15:5,11] with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, your salvation. (1 Pet 1:8-9) |
Happiness | All who seek a place in the redeemed society of mankind thereby come into association with the happiest people on earth Jehovah’s witnesses. These are the only people who know for a certainty where they are going. – w1971 Sept 15 p.564 | Finally, my brothers, continue rejoicing in the Lord [Jesus]… I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in union with him. (Phil 3:1,8-9) |
Higher Education | Of the generation that observed the beginning of the “last days” in 1914, Jesus foretold: “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.”- Matt. 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone! – Aw1969 May 22 p.15 | Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit… And seek the peace of the city to which I have exiled you, and pray in its behalf to Jehovah, for in its peace you will have peace. For this is what Jehovah of armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they are dreaming. For ‘they are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them, ‘declares Jehovah. (Jer 30:5,7-9) |
Higher Education | Situations that may require a review of an appointed brother’s qualifications [some questions raised] If an appointed brother, his wife, or his children pursue higher education, does his life pattern show that he puts Kingdom interests first in his life? (w05 10/1 p. 27 par. 6) Does he respect what has been published by the faithful slave on the dangers of higher education? Do they have theocratic goals? Does the pursuit of higher education interfere with regular meeting attendance, meaningful participation in field service, or other theocratic activities? – Shepherd the Flock of God 8:30 | They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans. Furthermore, the king assigned to them a daily ration from the king’s delicacies and from the wine he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to enter the king’s service. Now among them were some from the tribe of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (Dan 1:4-6) |
Jesus | Jesus is unique in that he is the sole direct creation of his Father. He is the firstborn Son. In fact, he is “the firstborn of all creation.” (Col. 1:15) He is “the beginning of the creation by God.” (Rev. 3:14) The only-begotten Son’s role in creation is also unique. He was not the Creator, or Originator, of creation. But Jehovah used him as the agent, or means, to create all other things. – w2008 Dec 15 p.12 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation [prototokos refers to privilege and superiority, not to priority in time]; because by means of him all other [“other” – not in the Greek text but inserted five times by NWT Col 1:15-20] things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. (Col 1:15-16) |
Jesus | Scriptural evidence indicates that the name Michael applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return. Michael is the only one said to be “the archangel,” meaning “chief angel,” or “principal angel.” The term occurs in the Bible only in the singular. This seems to imply that there is but one whom God has designated chief, or head, of the angelic host. At 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the voice of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is described as being that of an archangel, suggesting that he is, in fact, himself the archangel. -Insight 2 p.393 Michael | But the prince of the royal realm of Persia stood in opposition to me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the foremost princes [not the only, unique, but is one among many of the same rank], came to help me… (Dan 10:13) But the Bible says that Jesus in contrast is unique, the “King of kings”. if being accompanied by an archangel’s voice (1 Thess 4:16) makes him an archangel, by the same logic could we say that his coming with the sound of God’s trumpet means that Jesus is God? |
Last Days | Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord’s provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon. – w1941 Sept 15 p.288 | “Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are to occur?” He said: “Look out that you are not misled, for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time is near.’ Do not go after them.’ (Luke 21:7-8) |
Last Days | When the many factors are put together, we find that our generation, our day is the one that is identified in the Bible as the “last days.” In fact, in this year 1967 we are actually living in the final part of that time! This can be compared to, not just the last day of a week, but, rather, the last part of that last day. – w1967 April 1 p.197 | So when they had assembled, they asked him: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them: “It does not belong to you to know the times or seasons that the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction. (Acts 1:6-7) |
Mediator [New Covenant] | It is not saying that Jesus is a mediator between God and all mankind. Rather, it refers to Christ as legal Mediator (or, “attorney”) of the new covenant, this being the restricted way in which the Bible uses the term. Jesus is also a corresponding ransom for all in that covenant, both Jews and Gentiles, who will receive immortal life in heaven. – w1989 Aug15 p.31 | For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all – this is what is to be witnessed to in its own due time. (1 Tim 2:5-6; Num 15:16) [Other sheep of John 10:16; were Gentiles entertaining the “one hope”- Eph 4:4-6] |
Mediator [New Covenant] | The “great crowd” of “other sheep” that is forming today is not in that new covenant. However, by their associating with the “little flock” of those yet in that covenant they come under benefits that flow from that new covenant.” w1979 Apr 1 p.31 | And taking a cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, saying: “Drink out of it, all of you, for this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins. (Matt 26:27-28) |
Marriage, Child Bearing | Would it be Scripturally proper for them to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is supported by the Scripture. Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone… – Face the Facts (1938) p.46-50 | However, the inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron. They forbid marriage and command people to abstain from foods. (1 Tim 4:1-3) |
Marriage, Child Bearing | Matthew 24:14 …That work must be accomplished before the end comes. It is, therefore, appropriate for Christians to ask themselves how getting married or, if married, having children will affect their share in that vital work. During all [the] pre-Flood period, Noah’s sons and their wives had no children. – w1988 Mar 1 p.19 | Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Become many there, and do not decrease. And seek the peace of the city… (Jer 29:5-7) |
Organisation– exclusivity | Only Jehovah’s people have completely broken free from Babylonish superstitions. Only they have an organization that completely abides by what God’s Word has to say on sexual immorality, abortions, drunkenness, stealing, idolatry, racial prejudice, and other worldly pursuits and practices. And they alone are the ones obeying the command to preach the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) God’s own Word unquestionably points to Jehovah’s Witnesses as the one organized people that have his blessing! – w1986 March 15 p.20 | He said, ‘No, for fear that while collecting the weeds, you uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest season, I will tell the reapers: First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up; then gather the wheat into my storehouse.’(Matt 13:29-30) [Like wheat amidst weeds, true Christians are scattered throughout Christendom until the future harvest; note weeds collected first not wheat] |
Organisation– exclusivity | Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his “faithful and discreet slave,” made up of spirit-anointed ones … 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. – w1981 Dec 1 p.27 | Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.” (Acts 4:12) [Also John 6:68, “Lord, whom (not where) she we go away to?”] |
Salvation | As recorded at 1 Timothy 2:6, Paul wrote that Jesus “gave himself a corresponding ransom for all.” The word “ransom” signifies paying the price for the redemption of captives. The fact that it is a corresponding ransom stresses the efficacy of the price in balancing the legal scales of justice. But how could one man’s death be deemed “a corresponding ransom for all”? Adam sold all mankind, including us, into sin and death. The price, or penalty, he paid was his perfect human life. To cover this, another perfect human life—a corresponding ransom—had to be paid. – w1997 July 15 p6-7 | Jesus “gave himself a corresponding [NWT is the only Bible to inset “corresponding”] ransom for all.” (1 Tim 2:6) But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, how much more did the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift by the undeserved kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to many! (Rom 5:15) [The last Adam did a greater work than first Adam. Grace is greater than sin and the gift is greater than the trespass.] |
Salvation | The great crowd do not serve God in the condition pictured by the inner priestly courtyard. They are not declared righteous for the purpose of being God’s adopted, spiritual sons. (Romans 8:1,15) Nevertheless, by exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom, they have a clean standing before Jehovah. They are declared righteous with the purpose of being his friends. – w1996 July 1 p.20 | God’s righteousness through the faith in Jesus Christ, for all those having faith [not “exercising” – Rom 4:5]. For there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous [no two-tier system of salvation] by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:22-24) |
Shunning | The law of the land and God’s law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates, even though they be members of our own flesh-and-blood family relationship. – w1952 Nov 15 p.703 Willful, continued, unnecessary association with disfellowshipped or disassociated nonrelatives despite repeated counsel would warrant judicial action. – Shepherd the Flock of God (2019) 12:17 | If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector. (Matt 18:17) [cf. Matt 9:9-14 where Jesus corrected attitudes to tax collectors (like Matthew and his colleagues!) and fasting. Also, Jesus talked to Satan as Jehovah had done – Job 1,2; John 9:35) Additional Info |
Shunning | Despite our pain of heart, we must avoid normal contact with a disfellowshipped family member by telephone, text messages, letters, e-mails, or social media. – w2017 Oct p.16 | But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection … (2 Tim 3:1-3) “Honor your father and your mother” is the first command with a promise: “That it may go well with you and you may remain a long time on the earth. (Eph 6:3-4) |
Soul | Definition: In the Bible, “soul” is translated from the Hebrew neʹphesh and the Greek psy·kheʹ. Bible usage shows the soul to be a person or an animal or the life that a person or an animal enjoys. To many persons, however, “soul” means the immaterial or spirit part of a human being that survives the death of the physical body. Others understand it to be the principle of life. But these latter views are not Bible teachings. – Reasoning p.375 | When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness they had given. They shouted with a loud voice, saying: “Until when, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Rev 6:9-10; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23) |
Soul | A further study of God’s Word will show you that nowhere in the entire Bible are the terms “immortal” or “everlasting” linked with the word “soul.” Instead, the Scriptures state that a soul is mortal, meaning that it dies. (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) Therefore, the Bible calls someone who has died simply a “dead soul.”—Leviticus 21:11, footnote. – Bible Teach p.210 | And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Matt 10:28) But when this which is corruptible puts on incorruption and this which is mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: “Death is swallowed up forever.” (1 Cor 15:53-54) |
United Nations | No, the UN is not a blessing, even though the religious clergy of Christendom and the rabbis of Jewry pray heaven’s blessing upon that organization. It is really “the image of the wild beast,” the visible political, commercial organization of “the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil. So the UN will soon be destroyed along with that beastly organization. – w1984 Sep 15 p.15 | First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men, concerning kings and all those who are in high positions. (1 Tim 2:2) See point 1 and 3 in link below outlining the position of NGOs: Awake 1998 Nov 22 contained 10 pages highlighting the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Awake 2000 Dec 8 issue praised the UN’s work through UNICEF in helping children. Awake 2001 July 22 p.4 advertised the UN appeal for volunteers. |
United Nations | Back in 1919 the scarlet League of Nations had been seriously called the political expression of the Kingdom of God on earth. And now the United Nations, the successor of that League, has been called the best means for peace, yes, even more than that, the last hope for peace. So today we can see in actuality what the apostle John saw in symbol, that that scarlet-colored wild beast is full of blasphemous names. Those expressions of admiration for it turn false religionists, not to the worship of Jehovah God the Creator, but to idolatry of a man-made creation, the worship of a political image, the worship of an international organization for world peace and security. Rev. 17:3.” – w1963 Nov 15 p.697 | That they may continually present offerings that please the God of the heavens and pray for the life of the king and his sons. (Ezra 6:10) “All major world religions are accredited to the United Nations as non-governmental organizations. For example, no less than twenty-four Catholic organizations are represented at the UN.” (New Genesis Shaping a Global Spirituality – R. Muller, 1982 ch 6.) [There was no requirement to join the UN in order to access the library. If a JW can be disassociated for joining a political organization, surely the same standard should apply to the WT Org] |
Witnessing | Acts 20:26, 27 – So it is with the watchman class today, the remnant of anointed followers of Jesus Christ. All of these, together with more than three million of their companions who have the hope of surviving the end of this system of things and receiving everlasting life on earth, must never slack off from preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom and warning of the coming execution of his judgment. In this way they avoid bloodguilt. – w1988 Jan 1 p.28 | And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work, to build up the body of the Christ. (Eph 4:11-12) |
Witnessing | The same expression in the plural, kat’ oiʹkous, is used by the apostle Paul at Acts 20:20. There he stated: “I did not hold back from . . . teaching you publicly and from house to house.” The expression “from house to house” is rendered “in your homes” in some translations. So some of Christendom’s Bible commentators say that Paul is referring here to shepherding visits in the homes of believers. But Paul’s next words show that he was speaking about a ministry to nonbelievers, for he states: “But I thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.”—Acts 20:21. – w1988 Jan 1 p.24 | They claim that Acts 20:20 is referring to Paul knocking on the doors of unbelievers. While Dr. Robertson allows that the Greek word kat’oikon may be rendered “from house to house”, he refers to Acts 2:46, where precisely the same Greek expression kat’oikon occurs: “they [all that believed, v.44], continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house.” Robertson asks: “Does it refer also to the possible agapai or to the Lord’s supper afterwards as they had common meals “from house to house” (kat’ oikon)? We know there were local churches in the homes where they had “worship rooms,” the church in the house.” [Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol.3, p.39) |
Women | The apostle Paul, in giving instructions on congregational meetings of Christians, stated, among other things: “I do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man.” (1 Tim 2:12) … The female skull is lighter and its cranial capacity is about 10 percent smaller than that of the male, even as is the rest of the anatomy. … That it is in the best interests of both sexes for man to take the lead is also supported by psychological evidence. – Aw1967 Aug 22 p.27 | Paul in 1 Tim 2:11 encourages women “to learn” just like men, which was counter-culture at that time. “In silence” (hēsychia, twice in 1 Tim 2:11-12) means stillness, tranquillity, not necessarily without speaking. “Authority over” (authenteō, rather “authorship of”), she was not to teach or claim authorship of man. The Gnostics taught that Eve created Adam who was deceived! Could it be that Paul is not saying women are inferior to men, but saying, don’t neglect to train the women. Women aren’t to lord it over men any more than men are to lord it over women. We all need to learn of God that we may never be deceived by another Jesus or gospel. |
Women | The women make monkeys or dupes of men… For instance, when men are sitting at a table and a woman approaches, all the men arise and pay her homage and thereby elevate her to a place above men. The men remove their hats upon entering an elevator, … it is a scheme of Satan to turn men away from God and from his announced rule of the proper position of man and woman. – Vindication I (1931) p.156-157 | You are all, in fact, sons of God through your faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in union with Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26-28) Be in subjection to one another in fear of Christ. (Eph. 5:21) [For 1 Cor 11:3-4 see this article] |
Worldly Association | We must also be on guard against extended association with worldly people. Perhaps it is a neighbor, a school friend, a workmate, or a business associate. We may reason, ‘He respects the Witnesses, he leads a clean life, and we do talk about the truth occasionally.’ – w1994 Feb 15 p.24 | Later as he was dining in the house, look! many tax collectors and sinners came and began dining with Jesus and his disciples. But on seeing this, the Pharisees said to his disciples: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matt 9:10-11; 11:19) |
Worldly Association | Of course, some contact with unbelievers — such as at school, at work, and when sharing in the ministry — is unavoidable. It is quite another matter, though, to socialize with them, even cultivating close friendships with them. Do we justify such association by saying that they have many good qualities? “Do not be misled,” warns the Bible. “Bad associations spoil useful habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33). – w2013 Feb p.24 | Going aboard a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail … The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with kindness, and permitted him to go to his friends and enjoy their care. (Acts 27:2-3) [Paul recognised the exceptional kindness of this unbelieving Roman army officer; cf Cornelius Acts 10:1-2] |
