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)

Christ deliberately bypassed the religious elite and highly educated to reveal truths to ordinary people and the Apostles commended and encouraged personal 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. The Bible is the complete word of God and the final authority and the truth can withstand questions and criticism. 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? (Acts 17:11; I Thessalonians 5:21; II Timothy 3:16)

 

Further reading:

WITNESSING TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES