Do Jehovah's Witnesses Consider Themselves to Be Clergy?

Question

Would they be able to carry on a successful debate with mainstream Christian clergy? Has this ever been done?

Answer 1

Bro Russell, debated with several 'clergy'. One newspaper headline of that era was (paraphrased).

"Pastor Russell throws a bucket of water on hell."

I've talked to several 'ministers' in my door to door work.


Mostly I found them to echo the words of Paul:

1 Cor 14 :8 For truly, if the trumpet sounds an indistinct call, who will get ready for battle? 9 In the same way also, unless YOU through the tongue utter speech easily understood, how will it be known what is being spoken? YOU will, in fact, be speaking into the air.

They seemed only content to 'dazzle' me with words they learned at their college.

Unlike Jesus who spoke in the common language of the people.

I had a discussion with a pastor on line here, on the use of titles.

When I asked him to show me one scripture that called any one by the title 'Pastor Paul'

Find one scripture that calls some one 'Apostle anyone'

The bible will say Paul an apostle, The apostles ...

But these words are never used in conjunction as a title and name.

He never answered.

Answer 2

We are not clergy. All are ministers as the apostles and early Christians were.

Though we would not stoop to debate, our knowledge is vast about the Bible. With our study both private and five meetings each week and public ministry, someone once calculated each of us has the equivolent of a bachelor's to master's degree in theology. While I personally have no idea how accurate that is, I do know it is more than most clergy.

I still laugh when I see clergy on TV trying to answer a Biblical question from some interviewer. They mess it up so bad I can only take about 5-10 minutes of it. It makes me angry they would be advising people with that much misinformation and outright lies.

Answer 3

All 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses are clergy, whatever that means.

What is a "clergy" anyway?

Even an 8 year old JW can run circles around your mainstream clergyman.

Answer 4

I am a Jehovah Witness. We do not consider ourselves Clergy or high and mighty above anyone, just regular everyday folks. Our beliefs might be difficult to embrace by others, but we will be happy to discuss them at anytime. As far as debating goes, it is something that is carefully avoided, since that would be shedding the limelight on one particular person when it is obvious we do not have a high and mighty one above us all (like the pope).

Answer 5

No
(to the first question in bold).

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a clergy-laity distinction is impossible to support from the Christian Scriptures.

(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.


Many members of the so-called "clergy" of Christendom have converted to become Jehovah's Witnesses. While Jehovah's Witnesses tend to be extraordinarily good at defending their faith from the bible, they believe that the Scriptures discourage outright "debate".

(1 Timothy 2:8) Therefore I desire that in every place the men carry on prayer, lifting up loyal hands, apart from wrath and debates.

(1 Timothy 6:4-5) Being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain.


A handful of self-described "apologists" for Jehovah's Witnesses are comfortable engaging in organized "debate" with respectful members of Christendom's clergy. For example, Greg Stafford (the author of "Jehovah's Witnesses Defended: An Answer to Scholars and Critics") actually has both audio and video available of his various debates, including some free downloads.
http://elihubooks.com/online-audio/

While Mr. Stafford does not seem to subscribe to every teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses, he does seem to have a particular interest in refuting both trinitarianism and disrespect for the Divine Name.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20041201/article_02.htm

Answer 6

We consider ourselves to be ministers of the good news.We have been entrusted with spreading the new good news about God's Kingdom.Jesus did a similiar work and taught his disciples to do the same.(Acts5:29,20:20)
As Jehovahs Witnesses,we have already made sure that our religious beleifs were genuinely true,soundly based on God's Word prior to our being baptised.
As I already mentioned we have been entrusted with spreading God's message to any who will listen.Jesus said 'his sheep will hear his voice'.We have no need to argue our beliefs with others.That is not our commission.Mainstream Christian clergy have possession of bibles just as we do.They however,chose to follow man made doctrines and practices that originated from pagan beliefs.
2Tim.2:23 admonishes us to "further,turn down foolish and ignorant questioning,knowing they produce fights".

Answer 7

REVELATION 4:11 “You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses direct people to the Kingdom and to Jesus Christ their King. They have no clergy in their organization. All the honor all the glory all the credit goes to Jesus Christ their King, and to Jehovah God the Father.

All of Jehovah’s Witnesses are qualified to minister because they have knowledge that leads to everlasting life. They didn't pay for this knowledge. They do not charge to share it with others. They are commanded to preach by Jesus Christ their leader at no charge. "You received free. Give free!" They give their time and resources for free. They have jobs to offset their own expenses. They have no special powers. They preach by means of Holy Spirit simply meaning they are directed to honest hearted people by means of Jehovah God’s active force.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:4-6 Now through the Christ we have this sort of confidence toward God. 5 Not that we of ourselves are adequately qualified to reckon anything as issuing from ourselves, but our being adequately qualified issues from God, 6 who has indeed adequately qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, not of a written code, but of spirit; for the written code condemns to death, but the spirit makes alive.

MATTHEW 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

JOHN 17:3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

I don't think they consider themselves clergy.

Answer 9

They do not do well in an biblical discussion if they veer from the pat answers that they are trained to use...they would not do well with my Pastor....He Does speak Hebrew..Greek... and has studied Aramaic

Answer 10

Baptized Jehovah's Witnesses are ministers. And we do not debate the bible .