According to Jehovah Witnesses without "ACCURATE" knowledge we may become ensnared by false teachings.

[bluto]

Hey bluto I saw your post and it looked as though you were trying to determine the what the JW teaching is. I guess I misunderstood the way you presented. It was helpful in that I had not investigated the JW teaching to date, and I took the time when I saw what you posted as it piqued my interest since I have been working through a commentary that references some of what I take to be a possible source of the teaching of JW's.

I post the link here and the commentary is by Alexander McCaul. If you have the time to look at it that would be helpful. It is not a very easy work, I also have an ongoing 'discussion' with a teacher from a likely misinformed 'faction' and McCaul's work may help me with my 'discussion' with this teacher. Joachim Heinrich Biesenthal | Remnant Repository | Vine of David (ffoz.org)

I am glad to find that your question posted at this thread is rhetorical. and post again the response I initially gave for you apparently missed it. From post #13

Hi bluto, happened onto your post while searching for answers to questions regarding a 12th century Bible scholar, Rabbi David Kimhi. I have also been interested in the teaching by the Jehovah Witnesses. They have recently been in my neighborhood and I talk with them and they have emailed me information.

Thanks to my investigating your post I am almost certain to not pursue any of their teachings. As you point out this web site>>https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1988404 >>>>And it starts with these words writ bold>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Accurate Knowledge of God and His Son Leads to Life >>>>>Of particular interest is the word 'accurate'.

I find that by the use of the word 'accurate', intent of the Scriptural admonish at 1 Timothy 2:4 as the first point the JW teaching goes on to show is now in the readers mind set to accept the word 'accurate' as part of the verse at 1 Timothy 2:4. However, the word 'accurate' is not used in any other translation at this site here.>>>>>>1 Timothy 2:4 Multilingual: who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (biblehub.com)

The intent of Paul at this verse is to inform the reader of the truth that, ".....God our Saviour;" (1 Timothy 2:3) wants all men to come to realize this truth personally. Verse 3 "...God our Saviour;" is the object of verse 4 ".....come unto the knowledge of the truth."

I see further at point 7 of the web site, a confounding way of presenting. i.e. very confusing teaching as I see it. I am not familiar with the Greek language but post here links so you can compare what seems to me the use of the Greek article at both Matthew 1:23 and John 1:1. i.e. article (o) or (ho) Compare all manuscripts at these sites and find that the term 'a god' is an unacceptable translation.

Matthew 1:23 Multilingual: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, God with us). (biblehub.com)

John 1:1 Multilingual: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (biblehub.com)

Maybe this will help you with your question. It helped me with some of my questions

You said the following to poster Resident Alien:

"Problem RA is for some of us it is not so easy to recognize what is 'nonsense' and what isn't. May be that bluto got 'caught unawares' or something. I see bluto has been a Christian for a long time and apparently that can happen? Myself being fairly new to Christianity and still trying to figure out if I am hearing 'The Shepherd's' voice am much lest trusting but willing to listen and it takes time and study to figure some things out." This is your post #15.

My post #19 to you was to get you involved in recognizing "nonsense/false teaching" of the Jw's. I would like you to please explain how you understand the verses I presented at John :10:24-39. Just read them and tell me what you think the point that Jesus is making. I will then tell you how "deceitful" the Jw's understanding is of the verses.

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto

 

[persistent]

My post #19 to you was to get you involved in recognizing "nonsense/false teaching" of the Jw's.

Thanks for your misguided concern. You might pay closer attention to the posts on the thread you started.

 

[bluto]

Thanks for your misguided concern. You might pay closer attention to the posts on the thread you started.

Can you please elaborate on what you mean? I'm not misguided or confused on what they teach. Here's a sampling of Jw literature that I have. In fact, I hundreds more of their materials and Mormon materials as well. I've been dealing with both cults for neanrly sixty years now. I'm just trying to help you out because you seemed confused. If you not interested in learning, just let me know.

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto

 

[persistent]

I've been dealing with both cults for neanrly sixty years now

What do you mean by this statement?

 

[BonnieClaire]

1897 “Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874,” (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 4, p. 621).

1899 ” . . . the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced,” (The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101).

1916 “The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ’s Reign, began in 1873,” (The Time Is at Hand, forward, p. ii).

1918 “Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection,” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89).

1922 “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914,” (Watchtower, Sept. 1, 1922, p. 262).

1923 “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge,” (Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1923, p. 106).

1925 “The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time, God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year,” (Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1925, p. 3).

1925 “It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work,” (Watchtower, Sept. 1925, p. 262).

1926 “Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything,” (Watchtower, p. 232).

1931 “There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. . . . and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future….” (Vindication, pp. 338, 339).

1941 “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,” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1941, p. 288).

1968 “True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world’, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? . . . Missing from such people were God’s truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them,” (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968).

1968 “Why are you looking forward to 1975?” (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p. 494).

 

[bluto]

What do you mean by this statement?

I would still like to know what you meant by the following statement: "Thanks for your misguided concern. You might pay closer attention to the posts on the thread you started."

Now to answer this question of yours: "I've been dealing with both cults for nearly sixty years now" It means I have a pretty good working knowledge of what Jw's and Mormons teach. I've also spoken to Jw's by standing right next to them at Donut shops, supermarket's, and them knocking on my door. I've debated them when they invited me to their Kingdom Hall as well. In short, I know what I'm talking about. Like I said, I'm just trying to help you out by getting you to be grounded in your faith. Please read 1 Peter 3:15.

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto

 

[persistent]

I'm just trying to help you out by getting you to be grounded in your faith.

Why didn't you ask if I needed any help? Thank you for your concern. I thought you were having some trouble understanding the writing at the JW link you posted.

That is why I posted, and you apparently didn't see it, the write up about the deceptiveness of the material written up at that link. Whether they, the JW writers, are doing it intentionally to deceive or because they are deceived themselves, I don't know. I have never talked with any JW teachers or writers but have talked with members who solicit, at my front door. I have also received JW materials by US postal service.

That was several years ago. It was not something I read thoroughly. A softcover book. Looked at chapter headings was about all. Nothing of interest. The material at the link you posted is laughably incorrect and hard to see that anyone would consider it seriously. Maybe their writers goofed if it is intended to attract people. On the other hand it may be attractive to some people.

I did look at 1 Peter 3:15 and if you were are not a Christian I might go into that for you. However, it seems there is just some overlooked post causing your misunderstanding of my faith which is often tested. i.e. Raised RCC and live now in area with many RC's and RC friends use the RC belief, "You were baptized RC therefore you are RC".

Excerpted below is from post #13 since you may not have read it>>>>DECEPTIVE PRACTICE OF JW WRITERS
Thanks to my investigating your post I am almost certain to not pursue any of their teachings. As you point out this web site>>https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1988404 >>>>And it starts with these words writ bold>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Accurate Knowledge of God and His Son Leads to Life >>>>>Of particular interest is the word 'accurate'.

now in the readers mind set to accept the word 'accurate' as part of the verse at 1 Timothy 2:4. However, the word 'accurate' is not used in any other translation at this site here.>>>>>>1 Timothy 2:4 Multilingual: who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (biblehub.com)

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

The "Jehovah's Witnesses" groups are like Jews and Muslims and an ancient sect called Arians. They deny the Divinity of Christ.

1 Jn 3:16, KJV: "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

God laid down His Life for us. Jesus did this, so Jesus is God.

John 1:1 "1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Jesus is the Word. All things were made by Him. Without Him nothing was made. That describes God. Hence, Jesus is God, as also it openly says: "the Word was God". This Word became Flesh in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He is eternal and uncreated.

Col 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Again, it confirms all things were created by Jesus. The Creator of the Universe is whom we call God, hence Jesus is God. Again, nobody else but God alone can be before all things, nor can He be Sustainer of all. Thus, again, Jesus is God.

 

[persistent]

Hello @persistent, the key to understanding JW's is at their leadership level, what they refer to as The Watchtower Bible and Track Society, or just The Watchtower Society. This group of men claims that they are God's prophet on Earth.

Here's a question for you. What is the Biblical test that proves whether or not someone (or in this case, an organization) truly speaks for God or not? The answer is a simple one, their prophesies never fail to come true, NOT EVEN ONCE.

The Watchtower Society has (for instance) prophesied the end of the world/the end this age several times (over the last 100 years), and they did so by giving their members, and the rest of us, the exact date that it was supposed to happen on (again and again and again). Many of the JW faithful were so convinced that their "prophet" (The Watchtower Society) was correct that many of them sold their homes and quit their jobs to double their evangelistic efforts in the world before it was too late to do so (I must give them credit for being VERY good at witnessing/evangelism .. we Christians could actually learn something from them in that regard).

So, God's supposed "prophet" was proven wrong about the world ending (obviously), as we, including the JW's, are all still here

There are teachers and prophets in the Bible that God was happy with, but there was also another class of teachers and prophets that He was anything but happy with. The Watchtower Society is among the latter kind, the kind that both the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Peter mention .. e.g. Matthew 24:11; 2 Peter 2:1.

Unlike the Mormons, the JW's make little to no effort to pay lip service to salvation "by grace", teaching instead that it is only by our faithful obedience to their false doctrines, and by our good works (evangelism), that God will choose to save us. Sadly, like many of the Pharisees of old, they are blind guides who are not simply heretical, but apostate (and just like the Pharisees, they are looking to win as many converts to their way of thinking as possible .. e.g. Matthew 23:15).

BTW, they believe (like we do) that there is but one God. Unlike us (and the Bible) however, they do not teach that the nature of God is trinitarian, the God exists, both from and to everlasting, as three Divine Persons (IOW, that the nature of God is that of a Godhead). They, in point of fact, teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT God, but that He is instead, Michael the Archangel, the Father's first "creation", and that He (Jesus) was there alongside of Jehovah as an observer to the creation, but that Jesus or Michael was not the Creator Himself (that He did not create anything .. which, of course, is hardly what the Bible says).

(a funny sidenote about this is the fact that until his video called "Thriller" was released, The Watchtower Society believed/taught that the singer, Michael Jackson, a faithful JW himself up until that point, was none other than Michael the Archangel/Jesus Christ Himself, returned to Earth via a second incarnation)​

Finally, their Bible, called the NWT or New World Translation (NT completed in 1950/OT in 1962), was the first time (and the only time, to date) that a Bible has been created to specifically line up with the beliefs/presuppositions of a church. I could go into why their additions and subtractions to/from the Bible are false, but I don't think you'll need to know this, because in a somewhat similar manner to their prophesies concerning the end of the age, The Watchtower Society (who claimed that their new translation of the Bible, the NWT was the GREATEST and most accurate translation of the Bible ever made), was sued in court for lying about that (as it was shown that their "translation team" had no knowledge whatsoever of Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic). IOW, they simply took as English Bible and adjusted it to fit their apostate beliefs

See: https://www.theworldnewsmedia.org/topic/71469-nwt-translators-did-not-know-biblical-hebrew-or-greek/

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy
p.s. - I have a friend who is a former JW Elder (that is a BIG deal in the JW organization, BTW). He told me that if I wanted to witness to JW's and help them find their way out of their cult, to focus on their false prophet/The Watchtower Society instead of on Scripture, especially at first, because all JW's are taught how to counter a Christian's arguments about Scripture, so first and foremost, they need to see who their leaders/"teachers" truly are.

Thanks for your post Deuteronomy, I just today noticed you addressed a post on bluto's thread to me. I was quite surprised to see what a laughable way the JW writers use to entice people at the link which bluto posted. Well, maybe it works ok if you never read any Bible other than the NWT.

What you say about prophecy is apparently fairly common with cults. My first introduction to a religion other than RC, which I also reject, was a cult, with which I did participate, on and off from about 1971 to 1976. i.e. Worldwide Church of God. They primarily taught religion similar to RC in the sense that 'a man at the top had divine guidance traceable to the 13 Apostles'. I include Paul and so 13. And he was also a prophet.

i.e. Knew the future and gave predictions of Christ's return and many other prophecies. That was not what attracted me, but repulsed me eventually. There are people that post on this chat that may also be following cults which have been an outgrowth of that organization.