The New Study Edition of THE WATCHTOWER
THE magazine that you are reading is the first issue of the study edition of The Watchtower. We would like to explain some of the features of the new format of this magazine.
The study edition is published for Jehovah's Witnesses and progressive Bible students.
It will appear once a month and will contain either four or five study articles. The schedule for considering these study articles is printed on the cover of the magazine.
Unlike the public edition of The Watchtower, the study edition will not have different cover illustrations for each issue, since it will not be offered in the field ministry.
On page 2 of the magazine, you will find a very helpful short summary of the purpose of each study article or series as well as a list of the secondary articles. Watchtower Study conductors will find that feature very helpful as they prepare for a meaningful discussion of the articles at the congregation meeting.
You will notice that the study articles are a little shorter than they were previously. As a result, more time is allowed for the consideration of key scriptures during the Watchtower Study.
We warmly encourage you to look up all the cited scriptures each week. Some cited scriptures are marked "read" and should be read and discussed during the Watchtower Study. Other scriptures may also be read as time allows. In some articles, you may find scriptures marked "compare." Since such scriptures do not directly prove the main points in the paragraph, they will usually not be read at the congregation meeting.
Still, "compare" scriptures do contain interesting supplementary information,
or they may provide indirect support for the points under discussion. We encourage
you to check them while preparing for the Watchtower Study. Perhaps you will be able to refer to them in your comments.
The annual report will no longer appear in The Watchtower. Starting in 2008, it will appear as an insert in Our Kingdom Ministry as well as in the Yearbook.
However, as indicated above, the study edition does include secondary articles.
Although many of these will not be discussed at a congregation meeting, you are encouraged to read them carefully. They too contain spiritual food from "the faithful and discreet slave." -Matt. 24:45-47.
Finally, the study edition and the public edition of The Watchtower are not two different magazines. They are both The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom. They have on page 2 identical paragraphs explaining the purpose of The Watchtower.
Both will be included in the annual bound volume.
And material from both will be found in the "Do You Remember?" feature, which will be published in the study edition.
Since 1879, through periods of war, economic
hardship, and persecution, The Watchtower has faithfully proclaimed truths about God's Kingdom. We pray that with Jehovah's blessing, it will continue to do so in its new format. And we pray that Jehovah will bless you, the reader, as you make good use of the new study edition of The Watchtower.
THE WATCHTOWER • JANUARY 15, 2008
Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
2821 Route 22, Patterson, NY 12563-2237 Phone: (845) 306-1100
February 9, 2007
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Re: Adjusted format of The Watchtower
Dear Brothers:
The year 2006 saw a major change in publishing the Awake! magazine. In January of that year the magazine became monthly instead of semimonthly and the contents were given a more Scriptural slant than previously. In the months since then, Jehovah's blessing has been seen on the arrangement and the circulation of Awake! continues to increase.
Now, we are pleased to announce that the Governing Body has approved changes to the format of The Watchtower. The Watchtower will continue to be published semimonthly, but it will have two different editions. In the issue that is dated the 1st of each month, all the material will be directed to the public. It will have no study articles. That issue will be known as the public edition. The Watchtower that is dated the 15th of each month will be solely for the Christian brotherhood. It will not be offered to the public. It will contain all the study articles for one month and secondary articles that are appropriate for dedicated servants of Jehovah. That edition will be known as the study edition.
The advantages of this change will be quickly evident. At the moment, each issue of The Watchtower contains material both for the public and the brotherhood. So, even in the study articles, we have to explain terms like "pioneer" in ways that the public can understand. After this new arrangement goes into effect, everything in the study edition will be expressly for dedicated individuals and Bible students who are making spiritual progress. Hence, information can be more pointed and more beneficial. Material in the public edition will be designed to educate the public. That does not mean that we as dedicated Christians will not enjoy reading the information. But the information published will be of such a nature that a non-Witness will be able to read the magazine from cover to cover without encountering material that has been especially prepared for Jehovah's Witnesses.
An additional advantage of this new arrangement , is that each month we will offer in the field service just one Watchtower with one Awake! Thus, we will not have to adjust our presentation halfway through the month in order to accommodate the latest issue of The Watchtower.
This new arrangement for publishing The Watchtower will take effect in January 2008. Hence, the January 1, 2008, Watchtower will be a public edition and the January 15, 2008, Watchtower will be a study edition.
We pray that Jehovah's rich blessing will be on this new arrangement with The Watchtower just as it has been on Awake!
Your brothers,
Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
PS to presiding overseer:
Please arrange for this letter to be read to the congregation at the first Service Meeting after its receipt. Thereafter, it should be posted on the information board.
