‘Old Light’ & ‘New Light’—What do they mean?

According to the WTBTS, Biblical truth is occasionally difficult to understand and the proper interpretation of Biblical prophecy is hard to know. Periodic ‘adjustments’ or ‘enhancements’ are needed to understand them better. The term ‘New Light,’ then, refers to these alleged improvements in the Society's understanding of teachings and prophecies whereas the old teaching is called ‘Old Light.’

An early issue of “The Watchtower,” by founder and first president of the WTBTS, Charles Taze Russell, noted that, “A "New Light" of truth can never contradict a former truth. 'New light' never extinguishes older 'light,' but adds to it. If you were lighting up a building containing seven gas jets you would not extinguish one every time you lighted another, but would add one light to another and they would be in harmony and thus give increase of light: So it is with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another” (Watchtower Reprints, February 1881, 188).

When looking at WT doctrine we should find that the Society's newer teachings, while more developed than older teachings, are essentially the same as the older ones. However, there often is no such continuity. The WT has done a total 180 on some doctrines, while jumping back and forth between possible interpretations on others. Its so-called “New Light” has often been flickering on and off as the following will show.

Question: Will the men of Sodom be resurrected?

Yes - Watchtower, July 1879, p.8

No - Watchtower, May 1, 1951, p. 287

Yes - Watchtower, August 1, 1965, p. 479

No - Watchtower, July 1, 1967, p, 409

Yes - Awake!, October 8, 1974, p. 20

No - Watchtower ,June 1, 1988, p. 31

Some Will - “Insight on the Scriptures,” Vol. 1, p. 616

Yes - Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 985

No - “Revelation: Its Grand Climax At Hand!”, 1988, p. 273

Yes and No - 

  Yes -  Early printings of “You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth,” p. 179

  No - Later printing of “You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth,” p. 179.

Question: Who are the Superior authorities/higher powers of Rom. 13:1?

Human Government - Up to 1929

God and Christ - “Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Diving Purpose,” p. 91

Human Government - Watchtower, May 15, 1980, p. 4

Question: How are disfellowshipped ones to be treated?

“None in the congregation should greet” them – “Organization,” 1972, p.  172

“Jesus’ own example protects us against adopting the extreme view” of refusing to speak to them. – Watchtower, Aug. 1, 1974, pp. 464-465

None in the congregation should greet them – Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1981, pp. 24-26

Question: Who is the ‘Lord’ in Romans 10:12-16?

Jesus - “Zion’s’ WT Reprints,” Dec. 1, 1903, p. 3282

Jehovah - Watchtower, July 1, 1940, p. 200

Jesus - Watchtower, May 1, 1978, p. 12

Jehovah - Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1980, p.16

Question: Who is the man that sows the seed in the parable of the mustard seed in Matt. 13?

Jesus - Watchtower founder C.T. Russell

Satan - “Man’s Salvation Out of World Distress,” 1975, p. 208

Jesus -Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1975, p. 600

The WT's Opinion on Being Wishy Washy

“It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that our understanding of the major teachings and fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures was in error, and then after that, to go back to the very doctrines that, by years of study, we had thoroughly determined to be in error. Christians cannot be vacillating—“wishy-washy”—about such fundamental teachings. What confidence can one put in the sincerity or judgment of such persons?” (The Watchtower, May 15, 1976, page 298)

Reader’s Digest Version: If I study for years and believe A and not Z, then change my mind and believe Z not A, and then go back to believing A not Z, I am an idiot DO NOT follow me.