Why Do You See JW's Studying Their WT Magazines & Rarely the Bible?

The WT emphasizes that studying their material is superior to studying the Bible. The founder and first President, Charles Taze Russell wrote a series called “Studies in Scriptures.” About these “Studies” the WT states, “Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (Zion’s Watchtower—later renamed The Watchtower Sep. 15, 1910, p. 298.) 

To summarize the above: If you read nothing but the WT 'Studies' you will be in the 'light' (truth). If you read only the Bible, you will be in 'darkness' (error).

According to the WT, a JW would be better off spiritually to lay the Bible aside and read WT materials. Check out the following WT quotes. They will show you why you see Witnesses reading the WT and Awake magazines and rarely the Bible.

“With the Bible alone many parts can be seen, but with the aid of the WT publications a much more complete picture of Jehovah’s purposes comes into view.” WT, March 15, 1954, p. 164

“God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life giving truths by itself. It is through his organization (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) God provides this light.” WT, May 1, 1957, p. 274

“The world is full of Bibles . . . Why then do the people not know which way to go? Because they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother (WTBTS), which is light.” WT, May 1, 1957, p. 274

“He wants his earthly servants united, and so he has made understanding the Bible today dependent upon associating with his organization (WTBTS).” WT, Nov. 1, 1967, p. 668

“It is through the columns of The Watchtower that Jehovah provides direction and constant Scriptural counsel to his people . . . “ WT, May 1, 1964, p. 277

“Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization.” WT, June 1, 1967, p. 338

“the Bible is an organizational book . . . For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization (WTBTS) in mind.” WT, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587

“Jehovah caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel (WTBTS) to understand it.” WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17

“An individual must have The Watchtower to understand the Bible.” 1983 Yearbook, p. 21

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

Why do you see JW's study their WT magazines & rarely the Bible. Revisited

In November, 2008 I wrote a blog entitled, "Why do you see JW's studying their WT magazines and rarely the Bible." You can view that blog here.

The truthfulness of that blog was brought home just the other day when I had a JW come back to my home for a "back call." As we talked about the scriptures I noticed that the JW looked at the front of his Bible often even though we were not talking about anything in Genesis. I asked if I could look at his Bible. In the front of his Bible was a copy of “Reasoning from the Scriptures”—a WT book that has the WT’s position on 68 different topics with questions to ask and scriptures to quote on each topic. There are also “Openings” on various topics to be used when the JW knocks on a door. In addition, there are responses to “Conversation Stoppers.”

MY POINT—JW's use the “Reasoning from Scripture” book more than the Scriptures themselves. We were discussing a verse from Revelation and what it means and he was constantly looking at the front of his Bible. Why is this?

The WT emphasizes that studying their material is superior to studying the Bible. The founder and first President, Charles Taze Russell wrote a series called “Studies in Scriptures.” About these “Studies” the Watchtower states,

“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (Zion’s Watchtower—later renamed The Watchtower Sep. 15, 1910, p. 298.)

To summarize the above: If you read nothing but the WT 'Studies' you will be in the 'light' (truth). If you read only the Bible , you will be in 'darkness' (error).

According to the WT, a JW would be better off spiritually to lay the Bible aside and read WT materials. Check out the following WT quotes. They will show you why you see Witnesses reading the WT and Awake magazines and rarely the Bible.

“With the Bible alone many parts can be seen, but with the aid of the WT publications a much more complete picture of Jehovah’s purposes comes into view.” WT, March 15, 1954, p. 164

“God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life giving truths by itself. It is through his organization (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) God provides this light.” WT, May 1, 1957, p. 274

“He wants his earthly servants united, and so he has made understanding the Bible today dependent upon associating with his organization (WTBTS).” WT, Nov. 1, 1967, p. 668

“Jehovah caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel (WTBTS) to understand it.” WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 1

And this final quote sums up the WT exalted view of themselves--humility is not one of their strong suits.

“An individual MUST have The Watchtower to understand the Bible.” 1983 Yearbook, p. 21

Why JW’s distance themselves from non-JW’s.

I received an email from a woman whose brother no longer visits with her because she is not a JW. Here was my reply.

I am sorry that the Watchtower (WT) has broken the relationship you used to have with your brother. Unfortunately yours is not a unique situation. It happens over and over again to the non-Witness relatives of JW’s. The short answer is that you are BAD ASSOCIATION.

I will try to explain why this happens. First, let me tell you my own observations as to why. The WT wants to isolate their members from non-WT influences. Thus their ban on celebrating birthdays, holidays, no sports for their children, etc. These beliefs keep the JW from associating with non-JW’s and prevents the JW from hearing anything negative about the WT. Thus, their chances of leaving the WT are greatly reduced. Their circle of friends includes JW’s only, thus they (your brother for example) is even more dependent on the WT organization.

This is a quote from a JW, “Witnesses are strongly advised not to form close friendships with those who are not Witnesses due to the fact that often individuals who are not lovers of Jehovah do not hold the same principles as us and we can end up in compromising situations which may weaken our spirituality or take us away from serving him. Of course, we should be kind and not rude to anyone and the bible tells us we should follow the course of hospitality towards all, but it would be difficult to maintain a close relationship with someone who is not a witness.”

Every Jehovah’s Witness is under pressure to perform to the expectation of the elders. No matter how much a JW does, the elders are always pressing for more; more door-to-door service, more magazine placements, more studies, more public talks, more meeting attendance and theocratic ministry school assignments, more, more, more! Enough is never enough! And distancing themselves from non-Witnesses is part of this performing to meet expectations.

On top of this, friendships in the WT are very conditional. A best friend or spouse can turn his/her back on a JW at a moment’s notice simply because the JW questions or challenges a WT policy or they slip up by failing to meet one of their standards (for example your brother keeping a close relationship with you.) An X-JW rightly observed: “…they are only friends if I attend the Kingdom Hall.” As long as your brother tows the line and fits in perfectly with their operation, the WT will accept your brother, but the minute he steps out of line, disfellowshipping (and losing all his JW friends and his wife) is a constant threat.

What you are experiencing with your brother is legalism. Legalism is an attempt to control outward actions by means of laws, enforced by penalties. It is fear-based and motivated by guilt. It often fosters a superficial appearance of righteousness because it is based upon a system of man-made standards by which the group can measure one’s spirituality through a religious scale that they made up. This is why the JW’s acceptance of anyone is so conditional. As long as they are performing to the WT’s expectations, they will fellowship with you, but the minute you slip up or buck the system, they will drop you. If your brother refuses to accept their guilt-trip of telling him he can’t associate with you, your brother will have demonstrated that he was not going to bow down to their fear-based control so they would penalize him by removing their friendship.

Legalistic groups like the JW’s make up their own standards and add these to the Bible’s requirements to provide a visible system by which they can measure ones spirituality and determine if they are “worthy” enough for their approval and friendship.

This is legalism! It is the opposite of God’s method of grace. Grace is the control of inward attitudes and outward actions by means of love, without a penalty. It is love-based and motivated by the freedom from the guilt of sin. In God’s system, when a person places his faith and trust in the shed blood of Christ, his sins are completely forgiven so that he no longer fears rejection from God.

Lastly, anyone who is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses is a "worldly person" and therefore part of Satan's system of things. This makes you a BAD ASSOCIATION for your brother. All governments and non-Watchtower religious organizations are also seen as part of Satan's system. Witnesses are forbidden to involve themselves in politics or interfaith efforts for this reason.

A couple of WT quotes:

“Don't associate with outsiders (non-Jehovah's Witnesses). You are too busy for that!” Watchtower, 2/1/74, p.93.

“Remember, you are to have no association with non-Jehovah's Witness friends or relatives. If they are honest and moral, that still does not make any difference.” Watchtower, 2/15/60, pp. 112-113.

The Arrogance of their Heart has Deceived the WT. Part 3

I am continuing to score the NWT in three areas by comparing the Original Greek in the KIT to how the NWT rendered the verse in English. The three areas: 

(1) Accurate Translation from  Greek? 

(2) Devoid of Sectarian Religious Bias?

(3) Man Made or God Breathed?

John 8:58

John 8:58 in the KIT shows on the right side, the NWT has rendered the verse – “Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to You, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.’”

In the KIT (Purple Cover) the footnote on this verse states, “I have been” is properly rendered in the perfect tense.” The newer KIT (Blue Cover) states that “I have been is properly translated by the perfect indicative.” One really wonders if the WT’s right-hand knows what the left-hand is doing because the 1950 NWT states that John 8:58 was in the “perfect indefinite tense.”

In the KIT, the words on the Greek side “ego eimi” are translated “I AM.” However, if you look at the right side, the NWT side, the phrase reads, “I have been.” Look at John 8:18, 24 and 28, in each case “ego eimi” on the Greek side is translated “I am,” and on the NWT side it is also translated “I am.” But, as we saw in John 8:58, “ego eimi” on the Greek side is translated “I am” but on the English side—the NWT side—it is, “I have been.” Why the switch?

Bible scholars link John 8:58 and Exodus 3:13-14 where Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM’ has sent me to you.'"

In John 8:58, Jesus took the divine name, I AM, and applied it to himself. The WT could not have their devotees believing the Bible over their false doctrines, so what were they to do. Simple, Change the verse. Ego eimi is translated, in the NWT (right side) ‘I have been’ instead of ‘I Am.’ Now there is no link between Jesus and Jehovah—WT problem solved.

The WT to make doubly sure no JW will see the connection between John 8:58 and Exodus 3:13-14 has a footnote in the KIT (Purple Cover.) It reads, “It (ego eimi at John 8:58) is not the same as “ho ohn” meaning “The Being” or “The I Am”) at Exodus 3:14. What the WT doesn’t tell you, is that in Exodus 3:14 the entire phrase is “ego eimi ho ohn,” “I am that I am.” Knowing the entire phrase makes the connection between John 8:58 and Exodus 3:14 quite clear and the WT intellectually dishonest.

      My Score Card for John 8:58.

Acts 20:28

What did that say? God purchased the church with His own blood. But wasn’t it Jesus whose blood was shed for the sins of the world? That would make Jesus, God. Totally contrary to WT doctrine. No problem says the WT. We will just simply change Acts 20:28, “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son].” (NWT). It should be noted that the newest version of the NWT has dropped the brackets around the word "Son" so today's JW thinks the word "Son" is in the original Greek text.

Now the verse appears to be talking about God and a separate Savior, Christ Jesus.

But isn’t changing the Word of God serious business? What if a Witness looks into this and asks about the Bible being changed? No problem says the WT. Why?

The JW are told:

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

       My Score Card for Acts 20:28.

Conclusion from this three part series. 

Simply put, the goal of the organization (as stated in Part 1) has BACKFIRED. As individual JW's began to use the KIT, it was made clear that the New World Translation was a deceptive translation of the Greek.  The Watchtower Bible is merely a man made book published to promote its false teachings.  The organization had to pull the plug and no longer make this resource available. In fact, if you ask the current generation of Watchtower students about this Interlinear, you will discover that most have never even heard of it. Older JW's may have a copy of the KIT but in my experience, when I have been able to see the copy, it looks pristine, brand-new, never used. A JW told me that he did not use his because, "its Greek to me!"

The Arrogance of their Heart has Deceived the WT. Part 2

I am continuing to score the NWT in three areas by comparing the Original Greek in the KIT to how the NWT rendered the verse in English. The three areas: 

(1) Accurate Translation from Greek? 

(2) Devoid of Sectarian Religious Bias?

(3) Man Made or God Breathed? 

All ITALICS are mine.

The Greek word used for “all things” in Colossians is exactly the same Greek word used in Heb. 3:4, “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of all things,” and John 1:3 “Through Him (Jesus) all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” All these verses are clear proof that Jesus created all things and is, therefore, God.

WT doctrine holds that Jesus did not create all things. The WT says that Jehovah created Jesus and then gave Jesus the “blue prints” to create all other things with God providing the power.

What is the WT to do with Colossians, where scripture tells us—not once or twice but four times—that Jesus created all things? Simple, change Colossians! The WT adds the word “other” four times before the word “things” and so the changed verse reads:

Colossians 1:16-17 “because by means of him all (other) things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, . . . All (other) things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all (other) things and by means of him all (other) things were made to exist.” (NWT) It should be noted that the newest version of the NWT has dropped the brackets around the word "other" so today's JW thinks the word "other" is in the original Greek text.

With the word “other” added, the verses neatly go along with the WT teaching that Jesus made all things other than himself. However, in the original Greek, the word “other” is not there.

Question: Does the WT conform their doctrine to the Bible or change the Bible to conform to their doctrine?

One last verse to confirm that the WT’s doctrine—that Jehovah created Jesus, then Jesus (the master workman) created everything else with “blue prints” from Jehovah—violates scripture.

Isaiah 44:24 reads, “. . . I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone.” Isaiah is saying quite clearly that Jehovah God created everything, “all alone,” “by Myself.” Apparently the WT wasn’t listening. The WT’s version of creation—the big God, Jehovah and the little god, Jesus working together to form creation—does not even get off the ground because of Isaiah 44:24. 

       My Score Card for Colossians 1:16-17

John 14:14

Here Jesus is instructing his disciples to direct their prayers to Him and in His name. The clear teaching is that Jesus can be prayed to and we can ask Him to answer our prayers. In the OT the phrase, “call upon the name of the Lord,” is used time and again and means that we can worship, adore, and pray to God. Psalm 116:4 says, “Then I called upon the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, I beseech Thee, save my life!’” Now look at I Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:” Paul was well versed in Jewish doctrine and knew the significance of Psalm 116:4 and yet he applied that phrase to Jesus. It is clear—prayer can be directed to Jesus. John 14:14 is a stinging rebuke of WT doctrine that holds that Jesus is a created being and thus not worthy to accept prayer.

The WT solution to this problem is simple—Change John 14:14 to, “If you ask anything in my name I will do it.” (NWT)

The WT has left out one little word – “Me.” Why? Because with the change, it looks like Jesus is just telling His disciples to ask in His name—not to ask Him in His name. The changed verse now neatly fits into WT doctrine. However, John 14:14 in the WT’s own “Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures” (WHICH IS ABOVE) states, on the Greek side, the left side, “if ever anything you should ask me in the name of me this I shall do.”

      My Score Card for John 14:14.

Click here for Part 3 where I will score two more verses.

The Arrogance of their Heart has Deceived the WT. Part 1

According to the English Oxford Online Living Dictionary, "EPIC FAILURE is a complete failure or misadventure, especially in an undertaking expected to proceed smoothly.” From the Bible, Daniel was thrown into the Lions den to be devoured but he was not. Instead his accusers were thrown in and they WERE devoured. That was an EPIC FAILURE (See Daniel Chapter 6). Also from the Bible the story of Mordecai, Haman and Esther from the Book of Esther. Haman plotted to have Mordecai hung. But it was Haman who was hung instead. EPIC FAILURE. That brings us to the Governing Body (GB) of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Remember these are the people that are the “sole interpreters of the Bible.”

In 1969 the GB decided to publish The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (KIT). The purpose of publishing this Interlinear was stated on page 5 of the KIT.

“Sincere searchers for eternal, life-giving truth desire an accurate understanding of the faith-inspiring Greek Scriptures, an understanding that will not be confused by sectarian, denominational religious teachings but that is fortified by the knowledge of what the original language says and means. To aid such seekers of truth and life is the purpose behind the publishing of the KIT. Its literal interlinear English translation is specially designed to open up to the student of the Sacred Scriptures what the original koine Greek basically or literally says, without any sectarian religious coloration."

"The word-for-word interlinear translation and the New World Translation (NWT) are arranged parallel on the page, so that comparisons can be made between the two readings and the accuracy of any modern translation can be determined."

The WT and all its devotees sincerely believe that the NWT is the world’s most accurate translation. They say this has been confirmed by none other than Alex Trebeck and the hit TV show “Jeopardy.” (See my blog here that exposes this as a lie born on the internet and fueled by the WT and all their door-knockers.)

So the WT’s arrogance lead them to the conclusion that by publishing the KIT it would allow all “seekers of truth” to see the superiority of the NWT by comparing the NWT with the original Greek.

So let’s look at a few verses and see if: 

(1) the NWT is the “most accurate translation” as the Witnesses claim and 

(2) the NWT is devoid of any sectarian religious coloration as the GB claims    

       the KIT will show and 

(3) the KIT will prove the detractors of the NWT wrong when they state that 

       "The Watchtower Bible is merely a man made book published to promote 

        its false teachings."

John 1:1

Here the WT has inserted the word “a” in front of god. WHY? The WT explains that “the God” refers to Jehovah, the Almighty, however, “god” without “the” as a prefex could or could not refer to Jehovah. So the WT has a God (big “G”), Jehovah, and another god (little g), Jesus. Guess they forgot about Isaiah 43:10b, “Before me no God was formed, And after me there has been none.” That is why the verse is properly translated, “and the Word was God” (big G).

My Score Card for John 1:1.

Click here for Part 2 where I score two more verses.

Holy Spirit. What the WT Teaches. What the Bible Teaches. One and the Same?????

The Holy Spirit According to the WT

In their book Aid to Bible Understanding under Holy Spirit you are directed to "Spirit." We find here the WT's definition for Holy Spirit on pages 1542-1543 under the subtitle "GOD'S ACTIVE FORCE; HOLY SPIRIT. Not a Person."

"The scriptures themselves unite to show that Good's holy spirit is not a person but is God's active force by which he accomplishes his purpose and executes his will."

“The holy spirit is not God and it is not a part of a Trinity. . . . To a certain extent, it can be likened to electricity.” (Should You Believe in the Trinity, WTBTS, 1989)


The Holy Spirit According to the Bible

WT’s Different Spirit Is Not God, however:

The Holy Spirit is God which can clearly be seen in Acts 5:3-4 where Peter confronts Ananias as to why he lied to the Holy Spirit and tells him that he had “not lied to men but to God.” It is a clear declaration that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God.

The Holy Spirit is God because He possesses the characteristics of God. For example, His omnipresence is seen in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

The Holy Spirit is God because he possesses the characteristic of omniscience in I Cor. 2:10-11. “But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

Consider John 14:26, I am using the KIT (purple cover which you download here, which really drives home my point: “But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name that one will teach YOU all things and bring back to YOUR minds all the things I told YOU.”

The relative pronoun which conveys the thought that the “holy spirit” is not a person but an impersonal power since in modern English whom is used to designate a person and which to designate a thing. John did not intend to say that the helper whom the Father would send was “a thing” or “impersonal force” is made clear by the demonstrative pronoun John did use—ekeinos (see the KIT). Ekeinos is the masculine singular form of that one. If John wanted to say that the Holy Spirit is neutral (neither masculine nor feminine,) he would have used ekeino for that one. The meaning is clear—John wanted to say that one, that person, will teach you all things. The WT does the same thing in John 15:26. John writes ekeinos (masculine) and the WT writes which.

John states a third time that the Holy Spirit is ekeinos (masculine) at John 16:13 and 14, however, the WT misses this one and makes the Holy Spirit a he and not an it. It reads in the KIT “However, when that one (ekeinos) arrives, the spirt of the truth, HE will guide YOU into all the truth, for HE will not speak of HIS own impulse, but what things HE hears HE will speak, and HE will declare to YOU . . .That one will glorify me because HE will receive from what is mine and will declare it to YOU.”

Lastly, consider Ephesians 4:30, “Also, do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which YOU have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.” How can you grieve an impersonal force—i.e. an electrical current? Yet the WT uses which instead of whom.  In light of John 14:26 it should read whom and not which. As usual, the WT changes scripture to align with its doctrine instead of changing its doctrine to align with scripture.