Was there a "faithful and discreet slave" in the christian congregation in the first century?

Question

Today, the Jehovah Witness has a "faithful and discreet" slave that dictate the interpretation of the Bible and set the living rules for all joining the organisation. It seems nobody can criticise the decisions made on any issues as published in the watchtower and Awake magazines.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses recognize a single infallible source of divine wisdom on earth today: the Holy Scriptures.

Witnesses are consistently reminded that the Bible is the only inspired Word of God, and that their organization must always submit to the Bible, a standard that can be freely reviewed by anyone who can read! Here is how the bible uses the term "faithful and discreet slave":

(Matthew 24:42-45) Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ...On this account you too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming. “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?


While "the Lord" Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, he has assigned a "faithful and discreet slave" to supply spiritual "food" to the congregation, largely in the form of encouragement and reminders. From among that 'faithful slave', a representative governing body has been appointed to take the lead on earth. The bible's expression "those taking the lead among you" can also be translated "those who are governors of you", hence the utilitarian term "governing body" which in modern times has generally varied from 8 to 20 members.

(Hebrews 13:7) Remember those who are taking the lead among you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out imitate their faith.


The Scriptures clearly teach that the apostles were chosen by Jesus and used by God to lead and teach the rest of the congregation:

(1 Corinthians 12:28) And God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles


Clearly, the apostles did not simply repeat the words of Christ in their teaching:

(Acts 2:41,42) Therefore those who embraced his word heartily were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added. And they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles


The apostles also performed a governing function, assigning individual Christians to certain areas and particular matters:

(Acts 8:14) When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they dispatched Peter and John to them


Later the first-century governing body was expanded beyond just the apostles, to include other "older men":

(Acts 15:2) They arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute


This expanded governing body also performed administrative and executive functions:

(Acts 15:6-27) And the apostles and the older men gathered together to ... come to a unanimous accord and have favored choosing men to send to you together with our loved ones, Barnabas and Paul... We are therefore dispatching Judas and Silas, that they also may report the same things by word.


The first-century governing body clearly had divine approval:

(Acts 16:4,5) Now as they traveled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem. Therefore, indeed, the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day.


The governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses do not tell individual Christians what to do.

(2 Corinthians 1:24) Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by your faith that you are standing.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org