The Holy Bible or Watchtower Publications?

How is it that Jehovah’s Witnesses sincerely believe obvious heresies even though they appear to study more than most? The problem lies with what they respect as the final authority or the standard of truth. In their studies, meetings, and literature attention is subtly drawn away from the importance and authority of Scripture and focused on Watchtower publications and teachings, and the superiority of Watchtower insights over other religious groups is emphasized, so that the Watchtower Society becomes their final authority, and the Bible becomes a tool for supporting Watchtower teachings. When someone puts the words of men above the word of God, they naturally interpret Scriptures in relation to publications and human theories instead of interpreting Bible passages in relation to context and the whole Bible. (I Timothy 1:5-7; II Timothy 2:15; II Peter 3:16)

First-hand Bible knowledge from personal Bible study is essential. We do need ministers, teachers, Christian fellowship, and Christian literature to help us, and there are difficulties in the Bible, but for the most part the Bible is self-explanatory and self-interpreting when one is familiar with its contents. (Psalm 119:130; Proverbs 2:3-6; II Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; Ephesians 4:11-15; I Peter 2:2)

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (I John 2:27) As is true today, when John wrote the First Epistle of John there were a lot of divisions, programs, heresies, and fads spreading throughout Christendom, and many false teachers working to corrupt the churches. (Acts 20:29-30; II Corinthians 11:14-15; II Peter 2; Jude) Deceivers often claim to have a special enlightenment or illumination, superior insight, or special key to understanding, or claim that one needs a superior spirituality or special revelation (which they claim to have) to know the truth, which is the reason for the warning in I John 2:27. While there are difficulties in the Bible and we occasionally need help, for the most part the Bible is self-interpreting and self-explanatory when one is familiar with its contents, and while God does call people to ministry this does not mean they have a special key to understanding Scripture that other genuine believers do not have.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Corinthians 2:14) Deceivers like to use this passage to insist that it takes a special enlightenment or key to understanding (which they claim to have) to understand Scripture. This passage does not say the Bible can only be understood by certain gifted individuals, it says that though natural men can understand what the words in the Bible mean they decide that what the Bible says is foolish. A good example of this can be seen when atheists argue with what they know and acknowledge that the Genesis account of creation says; it means nothing to them because of their lack of spiritual discernment. The Bible was written to be read and understood by ordinary people and God's truth is not hidden from everyone except for a few clever individuals. The Holy Bible is the final authority, and the truth can withstand questions and critical analysis. (Psalm 119:130; Acts 17:11; I Thessalonians 5:21; II Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17)

When Christ walked the earth, he deliberately bypassed the religious elite and highly educated to reveal truths to ordinary people, and the Apostles commended and encouraged personal growth, study, and discernment. The Bible was written to be read and understood by ordinary people and God's truth is not hidden from everyone except for a few clever individuals. So why should we assume that God intended for us to accept the teachings of people claiming to have some special key to understanding Scripture without personal study and discernment to verify their teachings? 

 

 

 

Further reading:

WITNESSING TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES