Christian Congregation/First Century governing body?

by zev 14 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  zev

  What were they called back then in the bible?
  

  Did they call themselves the "first century governing body"?

  Or "christian congregation"?

  The WTBTS Inc printing and publishing factory belivies so, for they have added these "catch prases" to their literature.

  Please note the references quoted from the WTBTS Inc's "publications" below:

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  *** w98 9/1 p. 8 Keep Safe as Part of God’s Organization ***

  Jehovah’s Organization

  3 An organization is “an organized body ,” according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary. With that in mind, we understand that because the apostles organized first - century Christians into local congregations under the oversight of a governing body in Jerusalem, it is proper to speak of that “association of brothers” as an organization. (1 Peter 2:17) Jehovah’s Witnesses today have a similar organizational structure. The unity of the first - century body was strengthened by “gifts in men,” such as “shepherds and teachers.” Some of these traveled from congregation to congregation, while others were elders in local congregations. (Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12; Acts 20:28) Similar “gifts” strengthen the unity of Jehovah’s Witnesses today.

  *** w98 3/15 p. 20 Living Up to Christian Dedication in Freedom ***

  Accountable to a Governing Body ?

  10 The purpose of headship is to preserve unity and ensure that “all things take place decently and by arrangement.” (1 Corinthians 14:40) To achieve this in the first century , a number of anointed Christians from the faithful and discreet slave class were chosen to represent the entire group. As subsequent events proved, the supervision exercised by this first - century governing body had Jehovah’s approval and blessing. First - century Christians gladly accepted the arrangement. Yes, they actually welcomed and were grateful for the fine results it produced.—Acts 15:1-32.

  11 The value of such an arrangement still exists. Presently, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses is composed of ten anointed Christians, all with decades of Christian experience behind them. They offer spiritual direction to Jehovah’s Witnesses, as did the first - century governing body . (Acts 16:4) Like the early Christians, the Witnesses gladly look to the mature brothers of the Governing Body for Bible-based direction and guidance in matters of worship. Though members of the Governing Body are slaves of Jehovah and of Christ, as are their fellow Christians, the Bible instructs us: “Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will render an account; that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you.”—Hebrews 13:17.

  *** w96 7/15 pp. 12-13 Jehovah’s Family Enjoys Precious Unity ***

  Theocratic Order Is Essential

  12 A family that has strong but loving leadership and that is orderly is likely to be united and happy. (Ephesians 5:22, 33; 6:1) Jehovah is a God of peaceful order, and all those in his family regard him as “the Supreme One.” (Daniel 7:18, 22, 25, 27; 1 Corinthians 14:33) They also recognize that he has appointed his Son, Jesus Christ, the heir of all things and has delegated to him all authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:1, 2) With Christ as its Head, the Christian congregatian is an orderly, united organization. (Ephesians 5:23) To supervise the activities of the first - century congregations, there was a governing body made up of the apostles and other spiritually mature “older men.” Individual congregations had appointed overseers, or elders, and ministerial servants. (Acts 15:6; Philippians 1:1) Obeying those taking the lead promoted unity.—Hebrews 13:17.

  *** w96 7/15 p. 13 Jehovah’s Family Enjoys Precious Unity ***

  Governing Body Takes Action

  15 To preserve the unity of a family, occasionally a dispute may have to be settled. Suppose, then, that a spiritual problem had to be solved to preserve the unity of God’s family of worshipers in the first century C.E. What then? The governing body took action, making decisions on spiritual matters. We have a Scriptural record of such action.

  *** w98 7/1 p. 11 How Strong Is Your Belief in the Resurrection? ***

  14 Revelation of sacred truths was initially given through the nation of Israel. (Romans 3:1, 2) After 33 C.E., it was given through the first - century anointed Christian congregatian . Paul, speaking of first - century Christians, said: “It is to us God has revealed [the things prepared for those who love him] through his spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:10; see also Revelation 1:1, 2.) Christendom’s doctrine of the immortality of the soul is derived from Greek philosophy. It was not revealed through God’s revelations to Israel or through the first - century congregation of anointed Christians.

  *** w96 10/15 pp. 15-16 Husband and Elder—Balancing the Responsibilities ***

  4 On the other hand, marriage is not a Scriptural requirement for eldership. Jesus remained single. (Ephesians 1:22) Paul, an outstanding overseer within the first - century Christian congregatian , was then unmarried. (1 Corinthians 7:7-9) Today, there are many single Christians who serve as elders. Their single state probably leaves them more time to discharge their duties as overseers.

  *** w91 12/1 p. 16 Practicing Pure Religion for Survival ***

  “Clean and Undefiled” From God’s Standpoint

  4 The other two occurrences of the word thre·skei´a are in the letter written by the disciple James, a member of the governing body of the first - century Christian congregatian . He wrote: “If any man seems to himself to be a formal worshiper [“to be ‘religious,’” Phillips] and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his own heart, this man’s form of worship [“religion,” Phillips] is futile. The form of worship [“religion,” Phillips] that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.”—James 1:26, 27.

  *** w91 12/1 pp. 16-17 Practicing Pure Religion for Survival ***

  6 James does not enumerate all the things that Jehovah requires in connection with pure worship. In line with the general theme of his letter, which is faith proved by works and the need to keep free from friendship with Satan’s world, he highlights just two requirements. One is “to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation.” This involves true Christian love. Jehovah has always shown loving concern for orphans and widows. (Deuteronomy 10:17, 18; Malachi 3:5) One of the initial acts of the first - century governing body of the Christian congregatian was in behalf of Christian widows. (Acts 6:1-6) The apostle Paul gave detailed instructions for providing loving care for destitute elderly widows who had proved themselves faithful over the years and who had no family to help them. (1 Timothy 5:3-16) The modern-day Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has likewise issued precise instructions on “Caring for the Poor,” stating: “True worship involves looking after faithful and loyal ones who may be in need of material assistance.” (See the book Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, pages 122-3.) Bodies of elders or individual Christians who show themselves negligent in this respect are omitting an important aspect of the form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father.

  *** w83 3/1 p. 24 What Is Our Position Toward Opposers of the Truth? ***

  11 What does all of that tell us? This: that there were problems of divisive thinking in the first - century Christian congregatian . There was opposition from within, from among those who were claiming to be a part of the congregation of God. And what was the cause? Paul said at Philippians 1:15: “Some are preaching the Christ through envy and rivalry, but others also through goodwill.” Today’s English Version mentions such ones as having an improper motive, being “jealous and quarrelsome.” Yes, the things written in times past do serve as a warning example to us, and more so now since we are living right at the end of the wicked system of things directed by the Devil.—2 Timothy 3:1-7.

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  So.....What DID the chritians in the first century call themselves?

  A quick search through the bible indicates that they NEVER called themselves and such thing as the WTBTS indicates above.
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  minimus

  This is a great example of how the Society makes a statement that is scripturally without support and bases a teaching on a totally false premise. A "council" was formed for a matter(s) to be settled and everyone then went home.
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  blondie

  I always wondered why a council (or GB) wasn't called into action when Paul reported differing opinions on the resurrection which I thought was a more important Christian teaching that circumcision.

  Around 55 AD Paul brought up a misunderstanding of the resurrection.

  (Written 55 AD) 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ***

  
  12 Now if Christ is being preached that he has been raised up from the dead, how is it some among YOU say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If, indeed, there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised up. 14 But if Christ has not been raised up, our preaching is certainly in vain, and our faith is in vain. 15 Moreover, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we have borne witness against God that he raised up the Christ, but whom he did not raise up if the dead are really not to be raised up. 16 For if the dead are not to be raised up, neither has Christ been raised up. 17 Further, if Christ has not been raised up, YOUR faith is useless; YOU are yet in YOUR sins. 18 In fact, also, those who fell asleep [in death] in union with Christ perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.

  Yet ten years later in 65 AD there was still a misunderstanding and never once is the meeting of the so-called GB metnioned.

  (Written 65 AD) 2 Timothy 2:17-18 ***

  
  Hy·me·nae'us and Phi·le'tus are of that number. 18 These very [men] have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some.

  Once again where is the so-called governing body in this matter.

  Blondie
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  LittleToe

  Good to see you back, hope you and Somebody are well

  As for a 1st Century GB, there appears to have been more authority in the cong in Antioch, than Jerusalem.
  As for titles, the title Christian and "the way" was given to them by others, rather than self-determined.
  Acts 11:26; 19:9
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  zev

  hey little toe!

  how iz ya?

  hope you and Somebody are well

  yep, we is doing great !
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  Double Edge

  Ok, so there was a 1st century 'governing body' of Apostles chosen by Jesus. After the apostles died off say around 100 a.d., from that date until the mid 1800's who do the Witnesses say were the governing body?
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  Maverick

  CoC talks about this very thing. These clowns up in Brooklyn are no more God reps. than my cat is! Maverick
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  mizpah

  There doesn't seem to be any indication that the Apostles comprised a "governing body." The issue of circumcision emanated from the Judaizers in Jerusalem. So, Paul and Banabus were selected by the congregation in Antioch to be sent to Jerusalem, the origin of the problem, to consider this important issue in front of "whole assembly." The respected opinions of the apostles and elders were circulated to those areas where the issue was most pressing. Beyond this particular account, no mention is ever made about another meeting of this sort. It certainly did not indicate that a "governing body" existed in the 1st century.

  But it is worthy to note that the apostle Paul and others did not feel the need, before or after this meeting to be appointed an assignment or to get the approval of a "governing body" to perform their ministry work. It was the holy spirit acting upon these faithful men that directed their work. Paul makes this very clear in his letter to the Galatians.
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  peacefulpete

  Good point Mizpah...Paul according to Gal did not meet with any group of men in Jerusalem for 17 years or so. The interpolation about meeting Peter in an earlier trip to Jerusalem is a Catholic insertion to bridge the two sects of Jesus cults and give the impresssion that Paul looked to Peter for approval. The story in Acts has put an apologetical spin on the facts to give a misleasding impression of unity. Really then the idea of a governing body is a Catholic invention obviously created to justify the hierarchy they had created.
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  Room 215

  It seems quite clear that the first-century congregations were quite autonomous and much more loosely organized, let alone confederated, than the picture the Society portrays in its bid for hierarchical power. As Ray Franz points out iin CoC, no one debunked this notion more eloquently than his uncle Freddie, in a discourse given at a Gilead graduation in September 1975.

  Therein he forcefully demonstrated the autonomy of one such congregation, that of Antioch, from which Paul and Barnabas departed-- and then returned -- after three missonary tours, without any dialogue, much less ``authorization" from Jerusalem (a tape of this speech is available from Ray's commentary press). Ray also points out that, unlike any of Freddie's other major speeches, this was never transcribed into a WT...one listening and anyone can see why not..

  In Galatians, Paul himself makes it clear that he bypassed Jerusalem (the supposed headquarters site of the ``Governing Body") for the first 14 years of his apostleship! What is clear is that this ``First-Century Governing Body" concept is a figment of Brooklyn's imagination, totally bereft of evidence.