Despite what you may think about the JW NWT, the fact is that most of their members know the Bible as a whole. They read it, and the KJV, repeatedly, from childhood on up. By the time they reach the age where they begin developing conceptual thought process, JW children have a basic knowledge of the context of the Bible and can answer questions such as what is the first prophecy of the Bible?
Tonight I dropped off students at a theology school where they receive an education for a "career" as ministers and preachers. Of the five, none could quickly name the first prophecy. Secondly, when asked what day for they observe the Memorial on, they all said a day in May, rather than the Memorial of the Last Supper.
So, how can JWs teach the Bible, even the KJV, far better than any other religions, and even many Bible schools and colleges? If all the other religions are correct, and have the Blessings of the Holy Spirit, shouldn't every member have a complete knowledge of the Bible?
2006-11-01 19:50:03 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The benefit of being a cab driver is that I have a lot of contact with different people. I guess I should add that I ask these two questions often when I take people to and from the different theology schools in Kansas City are.
2006-11-01 20:02:32 · update #1
Interesting quote from below:
3. Many Christians don't feel the need to know the very intricate details of history to be saved.
Doesn't the desire to know and serve God and Christ include striving to know them completely? Did the Apostle Paul say to continue take in knowledge? Did he mean only the preachers and ministers? Finally, doesn't a child deserve the right to fully know what they are being told to believe? Do we teach children not to touch something hot, simply because we say so, or because there is a reason for it? Is learning God Word any less important?
2006-11-01 20:51:43 · update #2
I think you'll find that the more mainstream a Christian is, the less they actually know about the Bible. I see the same thing among atheists. Many of them have a better knowledge of the Bible, the Torah, and the Koran than their religious counterparts.
Personally, I think it's kinda funny.
Most Christians can regurgitate a few key verses, but have no real concept of what the Bible represents as a whole. Outside of th clergy, most of them just don't get it. I think thats largely due to the way the Bible is taught in these modern times.
-SD-
2006-11-01 19:56:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
1. What is the limit of "knowing the Bible as a whole"?
2. Can't someone teach another person about Christianity without "knowing the Bible as a whole"? Espesially if that someone is not a theology college lecturer? Not a priest.
3. Many Christians don't feel the need to know the very intricate details of history to be saved.
2006-11-01 20:23:39 · answer #2 · answered by The Mask 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They could also be afraid to have their lives shaken up up to it could. I as soon as deliberate a Bible research path that could appear on the bits of Scripture which contributors located toughest to receive. I consider it could had been well, however in a while afterwards, i made up our minds to go away the Church in view that i ended believing within the energy of the Holy Spirit. I have not learn the entire Bible. Specifically, i have not learn the entire Psalms and a few the minor prophets. I consider it is exciting what Christians pick to disregard, above all the bits approximately accepting different religions (in Malachi for instance) and the transparent implication within the Gospels that there is not any normal sin. Oh, and entire failure to say the Trinity, absolutely the requirement to reside frugally and to not be worried in curiosity. I marvel what number of rich Christians don't have any bank cards, mortgages, pension schemes or financial institution debts. Then there is the command in no way to make guarantees. That's what Christ calls for of Christians. It additionally says there is no afterlife, in Ecclesiastes.
2016-09-01 05:58:10 · answer #3 · answered by mesidor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Christians aren't educated in Christian schools anymore. Also many people who attend a church will take the preachers' word for it because the Bible is a long kind of dry book. I'm not a Christian but was raised as one. I've read the Bible cover to cover many times (many different versions) and I still couldn't tell you the first prophecy. I don't think it matters if you know things like that. I've also read the dictionary cover to cover several times and I couldn't tell you the meaning of every word.
The Bible is a pretty flawed book. Most of the New Testament was written hundreds of years later by people who had heard the story second or third hand. Also it was subject to a lot of social and political constraints which caused things like omission of teh Gospel of Mary Magdellan and the Gospel of Judas (both of which give a much different interpretation of Jesus' teachings).
All in all, maybe Christians don't read the Bible because:
a) some of them can't read
b) aren't dedicated enough to Christianity to read it
c) get stuck on the begats of Leviticus
d) they have read it but didn't understand it or forgot the details
e) there are new sects of Christianity which don't really focus on the Bible but on a personal relationship with Jesus and God.
f) there are many Christians who go to church for the social aspect. Also many Christians who don't want to be Christians--especially young adults.
2006-11-01 20:08:16 · answer #4 · answered by AJ F 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are taking your experience with a few theology students and allowing those few to represent the whole of Christendom?
Perhaps the error is in your looking at a piece of an elephant's toenail and figuring that this is the way the rest of the elephant appears.
It has been my experience that many Christians know the Bible very well. It has been my experience that some Christians don't know it all that well. But it has not been my experience that a few theology students' lack of broad knowledge of the Bible means that Jehovah's Witnesses know the Bible better than everybody else.
2006-11-01 19:54:06 · answer #5 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There's a difference between knowing the Bible and understanding Truth. Understanding does not come from man, understanding comes from the Holy Spirit...It does not take a lifetime to understand what God is saying if the heart is receptive.
In my opinion knowing the Bible as being taught by man, quite natural; understanding the Bible with wisdom given from God is spiritual.....A gift from above to the receptive heart!
2006-11-01 20:13:01 · answer #6 · answered by Tina 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and not a JW. Anybody that adds to the bible shall be eternally condemned.
Gal 1:8-9
(8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
(9) As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Rev 22:18-19
(18) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
(19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The first prophesy in the bible (Gen 3:15) is about the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ to crush Satan's hold over man.
Gen 3:15
(15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
God Bless.
2006-11-01 20:01:12 · answer #7 · answered by Just_A_Guy 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
1. laziness
2. protestant *scholars* have taken the belief that education is evil, so where the leader goes the sheep must follow.
3. most christians are illiterate, or semi literate(its a theory)
4. the bible is a boring book, very few people read it cover to cover,
5. most christians lie and brag theyve read it all the way through at least once to make themselves look good.(see Sandy below for example:) )
6. christians fight over the right bible translation, so most christians dont even bother reading it because of all the arguing it ensues.
2006-11-01 19:53:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You seem to lump all Christians into one catagory. I would like to know what version of 'THE BIBLE' you are using? I find that most people who call themselves Christians only know what they have been told. Do they really read any BIBLE at all? If the truth be told I come across alot of Jewish people who know more than I'll ever read in the BIBLE. Maybe you should research your Hebrew?
2006-11-01 20:05:15 · answer #9 · answered by alexgirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you know all Christians and all their Biblical knowledge? Christians as a whole know their book well.
JW's do not use the KJV. They use New World which distorts the word of God, the Bible, which, yes, they are taught very well how to do.
2006-11-01 19:56:02 · answer #10 · answered by Red neck 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋