ANALYSIS OF WATCHTOWER TRUTH

ANALYSIS OF
WATCH TOWER "TRUTH"

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Statement of Purpose: This Analysis has been compiled to aid in the equipping of Christian apologists so that they may more effectively share the light and truth of Jesus Christ with those who have been blinded by false teachings of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

Table of Contents:

Special Notes (below)

By Way of Introduction (includes a brief explanation of how to read this Analysis)
Publication Codes
List of Topics Covered Herein (From here you can go to the main text)
Chronological Listing of Entries
Appendix A: Table of page numbers in the book "Creation"
Appendix B: The Unsupported "Jehovah"
Appendix C: "The Vow"

Special Notes

In the main body of the Analysis, I am using a code to designate the name of the source for the quotations or citations. This is to save space and bring some uniformity to the references. How to read the code is explained in the section How To Read This Analysis, below. The list of codes designating the various publications is on the page titled Publication Codes. Both of these links can also be accessed via the Table of Contents, below.
It will be very helpful if you take a moment are read through the introductory material on this page prior to reading the actual body of the Analysis. This will safe confusion.
The links to the footnotes are still under construction.
Currently, none of the links open up in a new window. To do this, right-click on the mouse and select "Open As New Window" while the pointer is over the link.
I welcome all comments and questions. You may write to me at: Chuck Schussman at jellogator@cox.net
Printed and bound copies of this Analysis (approx. 350 pages) are available. Please write to me if you would like information.
Thank you for visiting. I hope you find it useful.

By Way Of Introduction

Autobiographical Information about the Author: I am not now, nor have I ever been a Jehovah's Witness. I became involved in ministry to them in late 1994. I quickly found that having knowledge of statements made in Watchtower Society literature greatly aided my evangelistic work. In general, Jehovah's Witnesses are more shaken by things in the Society's past, than they are by arguments1 based on Scripture. This is because they are taught and believe that only the Society can correctly interpret the Bible,2 therefore, when you or I attempt to reason with them from the Scriptures they have an easy out by reminding themselves that you or I cannot possibly understand what the Bible is saying. This is not to say that arguments from Scripture do not work. Of course they do!3 In fact, it is only through the preaching of the Word of God that a person can ever come to faith in Christ. Romans 10:17 says that "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Further, as Christians we are commanded to use every lawful means to reach the lost. We are to make the most of every opportunity, and act wisely toward those outside the household of faith. (Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5) For the sake of the Gospel we are to become all things to all men, for the purpose that some might be saved. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) However, we must also keep in mind that it is not our role to save anyone - that it is God the Holy Spirit who brings a person to faith. Our responsibility is simply to be obedient to our calling. (See Matthew 28:19) This is one reason we witness. Another is because God has given us love for the people we witness to.

So, if preaching the Word of God is the only means through which a person comes to faith, why then would a person want to use anything else? This is a legitimate question. There are two immediate answers. First, the Holy Spirit will use whatever is going to accomplish God's purpose. Second, it is not always God's purpose to bring a person to faith. Sometimes a person comes to God later, sometimes his heart is hardened more. Watch Tower Society literature is effective in showing how untrustworthy the Society is, as well as for hardening the heart of the hearer. The result depends on God's will.

As hinted at above, arguing from Society statements is beneficial due to the high esteem such statements are held in by Jehovah's Witnesses. In their view, Society statements are the proper interpretation of Scripture. So, if these statements can be shown to be contradictory, problematic or even ridiculous it shakes the Witness' faith in the Organization. And, yes, Jehovah's Witnesses are told not only to "have faith" in the organization known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 4 but also that they must "come into a right relationship with the Organization" 5 if they desire life in God's coming New Order. A relationship with Jesus Christ is not emphasized.

So, the Organization can be likened to an idol whom the Jehovah's Witnesses run to for salvation. Their faith in this idol must be shaken before they can begin to seek for the true God and find the only salvation which is available through Jesus Christ.

How To Read This Analysis Entries in this Analysis are set up in the following format.

Heading
yyyy.mmdd PublicationCode,Page# Summary or quotation

Below is an example from the Analysis itself.

Contradictions
1881.02 Z,188 New Light never contradicts Old Light - only adds to it
1881.02 Z,188 If Old Light is contradicted by Newer Light that proves its human origin
1881.02 Z,188 God never contradicts Himself
1976.0515 W,298 It is a serious matter to contradict oneself
Related Topics: 20th Century OR our day; Jesus is 'ho theos' (the God); Kingdom, The

The entry "1881.02 Z,188" refers to Zion's Watch Tower, February, 1881 edition, page 188. The entry "1976.0515 W,298" refers to The Watchtower, May 15, 1976, page 298. The entries in "Related Topics" refer the reader to the headings with those names.

Other entries include those referring to books and those citing Biblical passages. The date format for books is the year of publication followed by four "0"'s. Hence, Riches, published in 1936 becomes "1936.0000 Ri,". Biblical citings will be self explanatory.

For your assistance, the list of publication codes is included on the following pages.

How To Use This Analysis This Analysis is primarily a reference tool. It has been developed from my notes and the notes of others as a means to easily reference statements made by the Society which are effective in ministry to Jehovah's Witnesses. As such, this Analysis can be used in at least two different ways by two separate groups of people:

1. By people who have the literature quoted or cited herein, to help ascertain what is useful in the literature they already own;

2. By people who do not have the literature but are interested in obtaining some, to see which literature they might want to round out their approach to ministry.

To make this Analysis as useful as possible, there is a section with the citations listed chronologically, by publication, as well as the main section where the citations are arranged topically.

This Analysis includes both citations and quotations. All quotations are indicated by their placement within quotation marks.

One Final Word... This Analysis was designed to be used as a reference tool. It is not to be used in place of the original Watchtower Society publication that it cites or quotes. Although you may be tempted to share information from this Analysis with your Jehovah's Witness friends, (rather than showing them the actual quotations in their own literature), it is best not to do that. In the first place it is irresponsible to use material without verifying it's accuracy for yourself. Second, quotations of Society literature carry no weight with the Jehovah's Witnesses unless they can read it for themselves in the source document or a photocopy thereof. And third, despite my carefulness in compiling this material, it still could be that I have unintentionally misquoted or mistyped an entry.

Write With Your Comments or Suggestions I want to encourage you to write to me with your comments or suggestions. I would also be interested in your witnessing experiences. Anything that you might share may be helpful to others and to me.

It is my hope that this Analysis will be useful to you as you seek to reach our Jehovah's Witness neighbors with the love of Jesus Christ.

Chuck Schussman, jellogator@cox.net

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