Jehovah's Witnesses, if one just reads the Bible without the aid of your literature, can he learn the truth?

Question

Watchtower 8/15/81 "From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah’s people those who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude. They do not want to serve “shoulder to shoulder” with the worldwide brotherhood. (Compare Ephesians 2:19-22.) Rather, they present a “stubborn shoulder” to Jehovah’s words. (Zech. 7:11, 12) Reviling the pattern of the “pure language” that Jehovah has so graciously taught his people over the past century, these haughty ones try to draw the “sheep” away from the one international “flock” that Jesus has gathered in the earth. (John 10:7-10, 16) They try to sow doubts and to separate unsuspecting ones from the bounteous “table” of spiritual food spread at the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where truly there is ‘nothing lacking.’ (Ps. 23:1-6) They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home.

Continued : "But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago, and some have even returned to celebrating Christendom’s festivals again, such as the Roman Saturnalia of December 25! Jesus and his apostles warned against such lawless ones.—Matt. 24:11-13; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Pet. 2:1, 22."

This is clearly stating that you if you read the Bible without the the “pure language” that Jehovah has so graciously taught his people over the past century," in other words, witness literature, you will become an apostate.

Or, "there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah’s people those who, like the original Satan,". These are the ones who wnat to read the Bible only.

Can you learn the truth by reading the Bible only and not with Witness literature?

If not, how did Charles Russell discern the truth from the Bible. Witness literature hadn;t been written yet?

Good answer moises. Whats a religious question without irrelevant answers.

Moises: So you'r saying you need the Watchtower Society to intepret it for you?

Moises, you contradict yourself and you leave the question unanswered. You say most people have a Bible but don't know what you know and than you say you read the Bible more than anyone else. How is it they have a Bible and don't knwo what you know? Again, can one learn the truth without the Watchtower Society interpreting the Bible for them?

Wow, you guys are leaving Moises to hang out here....hello.....McFly????

...you guys out there?? (crickets chirping in the background)....

I'm asking for an answer. Serious and logical question.

I_B_WHO: Still no answer to the question. Yes or No, if one reads th Bible without the aid of your literature can he learn the truth?

Three answers in almost and hour and just two from Witnesses. Please, answer the question? I know you're lookin at this.

But go ahead an report it as inappropriate. If you can't answer it, you might as well get it off here.

It doesn't change the facts. You guys have to live with that,

JILL answer the question if one reads the Bible without your lit, can they learn the truth?

Also, do you agree that Witnesses that decide to just read the Bible without your lit will "regress" to apostate thought?

Misplace: Thats actually a good answer. The problem is you have the Watchtower interpreting things for you. I understand the "limited time", don't you think that makes you vulnerable and a little to eager to accept what they say, because you do not have the time to verify?

Achtung, Good answer also. Why did it take so long fro a witness to answer that question?

So, why do you need the Society?

Answer 1

As an ex JW I can tell you that JW's do not read or study the Bible, they study Watchtower literature and use the Bible to support the literature. Most people are completely unaware that this is the order in which they do things but believe me they do. When you begin studying the Bible with JW's you study a book which presents the Bible according to JW's and use their (corrupted) version of the Bible to verify their teachings, even if you decide to use your own Bible, the early study books are very careful not to present scriptures which may be contraversial to their argument. I would ask JW's to honestly examine the way in which they study and put their hands up if they do not study first the literature and then the Bible. Do you not even refer to your Bible studies as 'Watchtower study' and 'book study'?

As an ex JW I can verify what unsilenced lamb has said, since leaving I have found a different gospel all by myself, not, as one arrogant JW put it, because I use other literature to help me, I initially used nothing but my Bible, but, because the Holy Spirit has guided me. That is all we need, the Holy Spirit.

If it is impossible to understand the Bible without the aid of the literature, how on earth did the so called 'apostolic procession' of JW's occur since Jesus? True, the early disciples would have needed no help, but what about all those other 'true' followers of Jehovah that the society claims have always existed, poor things only had their Bible.

In answer to your question then, yes, the society does teach that you cannot study the Bible alone, without the support of their literature. The society discourages people from reading the Bible alone because it well knows that many will see the 'truth' for themselves if they do so and leave, just as I did, and not to return to apostate teachings, but to return to the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

I never had a Watchtower in a home Bible study. I never used to study the Watchtower for about three years when I was learning to understand the Bible. I put to the test what the Bible was saying, Jehovah's Witnesses were not my only contact I had with religion what call themselves Christian. I come to agree with what Jehovah's Witnesses believe such as a God who is love how could he create a terrible spiritual realm as hellfire. That how Jesus Christ who is the Son of God could be God and called God the Son.... without the Bible giving him that title. And the common wondering that should Christian be involved in the violence of war when it suits the politics of their nation....... These things among others which I had wanted answers to was from the Bible. The Watchtower if it agrees with the Bible then it is the Bible that is the authority. The Watchtower is just an easy aid. Like any way of learning whether it is a language, school, preschool you teach by supplying information that we can absorb. Say you wanted to teach that God is love. Do you just give someone the whole Bible and say, there you go it is all in there, go find it. Or could you take people to the relevant parts of the Bible of that particular lesson and teach them where? in what way? And what examples in the Bible could be used to demonstrate this? The Bible has many lessons for us to many questions such as: Why does God permit suffering? What is God's kingdom? What really is Armageddon? What did Jesus Christ really teach? Why is the world always at war? Can I really find happiness serving God? ..... and many, many others. That is the purpose of the publications such as the Watchtower and associated literature is to put Bible information to the people in the way they can accessibly understand and get a grip of. The Bible is always the source and cited in every evidence.

Answer 3

It would take too long to figure out what we know w/out bible aids. Hundreds of people were involved with interpreting the early truths, the International Bible Students, and even then, it took additional years for other truths to be realized like, no smoking, no blood, no holidays, no war.

Most of us have to work for a living, and only have limited time to devote to bible reading and meditation, plus with the undue influence from the world around us, it might be like putting water in a bucket with a hole in it.

Look at Christendom of the middle ages, what truths did it offer mankind? Hellfire, Heaven, the Trinity, Purgatory? There were only a few that read the bible at that time, and they were not able to figure out the truths that it contained.

The early apostles had the greatest teacher of all time plus a background in the first Law Covenant, so were able to grasp the truths taught by Jesus. These truths were later buried and twisted by an Emperor from a Pagan background. Many of these beliefs continue to this day and are taught by the group of Christians going down that wide and easy road to destruction. Mt 7:13-14.

Of course, notwithstanding the above, prayer is of vital importance in finding the truth which includes an organization of other fellow believers.

Answer 4

This is the second time recently that this 1981 WT has been quoted by someone. You are missing the point of the words in that quotation. What it is saying is that on occasion a person has separated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses, and said something like, "I am only going to read the Bible and no other Bible literature, reading the Bible alone is sufficient." In reality, though, they ARE reading other literature, commentaries that push such unscriptural teachings as hellfire, trinity, immortality of the soul, etc., or at least they are being influenced by such teachings.

Back to your question...Yes, many people have been able to understand from reading the Bible alone that God's name is Jehovah, that a loving God would never torment people in a hellfire and that the trinity is nowhere taught in the Bible. As a result of their reading the Bible alone, many persons have left Christendom's churches because of the hypocrisy and false teachings. So, when these same people have come across some of our literature or come in contact with Jehovah's Witnesses, they have been overjoyed to find the ones who are truly worshiping God "in spirit and truth." John 4:23, 24. Now in association with God's people, who are directed by his holy spirit, they can learn the importance of the sanctification of God's name and the vindication of his sovereignty by means of his Kingdom, what God's purpose is for the earth, what Jehovah requires of us as individuals, and many of the deeper things of God. (1 Cor 2:10)

Answer 5

There is one thing Moises said is true; they (JW's) use the Bible the most. Everything they say, they show from the Bible. Believe me, I know that for a fact. But you don't need the Watchtower magazine to read the Bible. What you NEED is the HOLY SPIRIT. God Almighty does not pick the smartest man on the block to do His work you know. As we that read the Bible knows God picked people that the world wouldn't have picked to lead. God works in mysterious ways.

Answer 6

I love this question! When I was a Witness, I was taught that you could not get the truth out of a Bible without the Governing Body to reveal truth to you. How convenient! How blinding! How Naive!

I have been reading the Bible for years now, and I find the gospel, a far cry different from the one I learned in a Kingdom Hall.


You got the quotes right: What you gleaned from the passage is what the Intent of the WBTS to portray. Governing Body interpretation or inaccurate knowledge of the Bible and reversion to apostate thinking...Problem is, that it is reversed...once one starts to read the Bible for all it is worth, you revert to christian thinking and realize that Witness theology is blasphemous and apostate.

Answer 7

all people have a bible in their house but if you ask something as simple as "What date Jesus died for your sins?" people will answer "it is not in the bible" WHich is wrong, it is (Nisan 14).

If you ask then again what will be the conditions of this planet under the rulership of Jesus Christ? simple people won´t answer why? if is in the bible...

Why we know that kind of things having exactly the same book?

irrelevant answers.? why because you decide is irrelevant? why that information is in the bible if is not important?

this is a learning process, Russel used to celebrate christmas we don´t , why? simple cause we learnt is false....
the moe we study the bible the more we learnt....you can see how all our answer we use the bible more than anyone else to support our belief...

What you can´t denied that all JWS use much better the bible than any other religious group.

Answer 8

We must realize that an understanding and acceptance of Bible truth is not a matter of one man’s interpretation against another man’s interpretation. It is a matter of accepting or rejecting what Jehovah God himself has placed in his Word for the instruction of men in righteousness and in his worship. Many hundreds of thousands of persons have had their lives made joyful, their hearts gladdened and their reverence for God increased by the wonderful truths contained in the Bible, which are constantly upheld and respected by the Watchtower magazine.

Jesus said that he would have on earth a “faithful and discreet slave” (his anointed followers viewed as a group), through which agency he would provide spiritual food to those making up the household of faith. (Matt. 24:45-47) Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that arrangement. As was true of first-century Christians, they look to the governing body of that “slave” class to resolve difficult questions—not on the basis of human wisdom, but by drawing on their knowledge of God’s Word and his dealings with his servants, and with the help of God’s spirit, for which they earnestly pray.—Acts 15:1-29; 16:4, 5.

Answer 9

Yes
(to the first question in bold).

Using a perfect translation of the bible, a prayerful sincere individual can comprehend bible truth without any additional material or human assistance. Many thousands each year recognize in the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses the plain bible truths which Christendom ignores or betrays.
http://watchtower.org/e/20050715/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20060401a/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20010701/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_14.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm