How does mainstream Christianity explain "Other Sheep"?

by Alana 25 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • Carmel
    Carmel

    10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

    (King James Bible, John)

    Other sheep= Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Zanes, etc.

  • jgnat
    jgnat

    Even more tenuous is the JW claim that only the "other sheep" go to heaven. Based on what grounds? I suggest taking each scripture on the "kingdom of heaven", one by one, and have a JW "scholar" explain why that scripture refers only to the "other sheep"....in context? Then why in the heck did Jesus talk about it so much if it were meant only for an exclusive group? Why bother preserving these promises in the bible at all?

    (Mat 3:2 KJV+) And 2532 saying,3004 Repent3340 ye: for1063 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is at hand.1148

    (Mat 4:17 KJV+)

    From575 that time5119 Jesus2424 began756 to preach,2784 and2532 to say,3004 Repent:3340 for1063 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is at hand.1448

    (Mat 5:3 KJV+)

    Blessed3107 are

    the3588 poor4434 in spirit:4151 for3754 theirs846 is2076 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 5:10 KJV+)

    Blessed3107 are they which are persecuted1377 for righteousness' sake:1752, 1343 for3754 theirs846 is2076 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 5:19 KJV+)

    Whosoever3739, 1437 therefore3767 shall break3089 one3391 of these5130 least1646 commandments,1785 and2532 shall teach1321 men444 so,3779 he shall be called2564 the least1646 in1722 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven:3772 but1161 whosoever3739, 302 shall do4160 and2532 teach1321 them, the same3778 shall be called2564 great3173 in1722 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 5:20 KJV+)

    For1063 I say3004 unto you,5213 That3754 except3362 your5216 righteousness1343 shall exceed4052, 4119 the righteousness of the3588 scribes1122 and2532 Pharisees,5330 ye shall in no case3364 enter1525 into1519 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 6:10 KJV+)

    Thy4675 kingdom932 come.2064 Thy4675 will2307 be done1096 in1909 earth,1093 as5613 it is in1722 heaven.3772

    (Mat 7:21 KJV+)

    Not3756 every one3956 that saith3004 unto me,3427 Lord,2962 Lord,2962 shall enter1525 into1519 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven;3772 but235 he that doeth4160 the3588 will2307 of my3450 Father3962 which3588 is in1722 heaven.3772

    (Mat 8:11 KJV+)

    And1161 I say3004 unto you,5213 That3754 many4183 shall come2240 from575 the east395 and2532 west,1424 and2532 shall sit down347 with3326 Abraham,11 and2532 Isaac,2464 and2532 Jacob,2384 in1722 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 10:7 KJV+)

    And1161 as ye go,4198 preach,2784 saying,3004 The3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is at hand.1448

    (Mat 11:11 KJV+)

    Verily281 I say3004 unto you,5213 Among1722 them that are born1084 of women1135 there hath not3756 risen1453 a greater3187 than John2491 the3588 Baptist:910 notwithstanding1161 he that is least3398 in1722 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 greater3187 than he.846

    (Mat 11:12 KJV+)

    And1161 from575 the3588 days2250 of John2491 the3588 Baptist910 until2193 now737 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 suffereth violence,971 and2532 the violent973 take it by force.726, 846

    (Mat 13:11 KJV+)

    (1161) He3588 answered611 and said2036 unto them,846 Because3754 it is given1325 unto you5213 to know1097 the3588 mysteries3466 of the3588 kingdom932 of heaven,3772 but1161 to them1565 it is not3756 given.1325

    (Mat 13:24 KJV+)

    Another243 parable3850 put he forth3908 unto them,846 saying,3004 The3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is likened unto3666 a man444 which sowed4687 good2570 seed4690 in1722 his848 field:68

    (Mat 13:31 KJV+)

    Another243 parable3850 put he forth3908 unto them,846 saying,3004 The3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 like to3664 a grain2748 of mustard seed,4615 which3739 a man444 took,2983 and2532 sowed4687 in1722 his846 field:68

    (Mat 13:33 KJV+)

    Another243 parable3850 spake2980 he unto them;846 The3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 like unto3664 leaven,2219 which3739 a woman1135 took,2983 and2532 hid1470 in1519 three5140 measures4568 of meal,224 till2193 the(3739) whole3650 was leavened.2220

    (Mat 13:44 KJV+)

    Again,3825 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 like unto3664 treasure2344 hid2928 in1722 a field;68 the which3739 when a man444 hath found,2147 he hideth,2928 and2532 for575 joy5479 thereof846 goeth5217 and2532 selleth4453 all3956 that3745 he hath,2192 and2532 buyeth59 that1565 field.68

    (Mat 13:45 KJV+)

    Again,3825 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 like unto3664 a merchant1713 man,444 seeking2212 goodly2570 pearls:3135

    (Mat 13:47 KJV+)

    Again,3825 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 like unto3664 a net,4522 that was cast906 into1519 the3588 sea,2281 and2532 gathered4863 of1537 every3956 kind:1085

    (Mat 13:52 KJV+)

    Then1161 said2036 he3588 unto them,846 Therefore1223, 5124 every3956 scribe1122 which is instructed3100 unto1519 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 like unto3664 a man444 that is a householder,3617 which3748 bringeth forth1544 out1537 of his848 treasure2344 things new2537 and2532 old.3820

    (Mat 16:19 KJV+)

    And2532 I will give1325 unto thee4671 the3588 keys2807 of the3588 kingdom932 of heaven:3772 and2532 whatsoever3739, 1437 thou shalt bind1210 on1909 earth1093 shall2071 be bound1210 in1722 heaven:3772 and2532 whatsoever3739, 1437 thou shalt loose3089 on1909 earth1093 shall be2071 loosed3089 in1722 heaven.3772

    (Mat 18:1 KJV+)

    At1722 the same1565 time5610 came4334 the3588 disciples3101 unto Jesus,2424 saying,3004 Who5101, (686) is2076 the greatest3187 in1722 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven?3772

    (Mat 18:3 KJV+)

    And2532 said,2036 Verily281 I say3004 unto you,5213 Except3362 ye be converted,4762 and2532 become1096 as5613 little children,3813 ye shall not3364 enter1525 into1519 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 18:4 KJV+)

    Whosoever3748 therefore3767 shall humble5013 himself1438 as5613 this5124 little child,3813 the same3778 is2076 greatest3187 in1722 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 18:23 KJV+)

    Therefore1223, 5124 is the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 likened unto3666 a certain king,444, 935 which3739 would2309 take4868 account3056 of3326 his848 servants.1401

    (Mat 19:12 KJV+)

    For1063 there are1526 some eunuchs,2135 which3748 were so3779 born1080 from1537 their mother's3384 womb:2836 and2532 there are1526 some eunuchs,2135 which3748 were made eunuchs2134 of5259 men:444 and2532 there be1526 eunuchs,2135 which3748 have made themselves eunuchs2134, 1438 for the kingdom of heaven's sake.1223, 3588, 932, 3772 He that is able1410 to receive5562 it, let him receive5562 it.

    (Mat 19:14 KJV+)

    But1161 Jesus2424 said,2036 Suffer863 little children,3813 and2532 forbid2967 them846 not,3361 to come2064 unto4314 me:3165 for1063 of such5108 is2076 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 19:23 KJV+)

    Then1161 said2036 Jesus2424 unto his848 disciples,3101 Verily281 I say3004 unto you,5213 That3754 a rich man4145 shall hardly1423 enter1525 into1519 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven.3772

    (Mat 20:1 KJV+)

    For1063 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is2076 like unto3664 a man444 that is a householder,3617 which3748 went out1831 early in the morning260, 4404 to hire3409 laborers2040 into1519 his848 vineyard.290

    (Mat 22:2 KJV+)

    The3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 is like unto3666 a certain king,444, 935 which3748 made4160 a marriage1062 for his848 son.5207

    (Mat 23:13 KJV+)

    But1161 woe3759 unto you,5213 scribes1122 and2532 Pharisees,5330 hypocrites!5273 for3754 ye shut up2808 the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 against1715 men:444 for1063 ye5210 neither3756 go in1525 yourselves, neither3761 suffer863 ye them that are entering1525 to go in.1525

    (Mat 25:1 KJV+)

    Then5119 shall the3588 kingdom932 of heaven3772 be likened unto3666 ten1176 virgins,3933 which3748 took2963 their848 lamps,2985 and went forth1831 to meet1519, 529 the3588 bridegroom.3566

    (Mat 25:14 KJV+)

    For1063 the kingdom of heaven is as5618 a man444 traveling into a far country,589 who called2564 his own2398 servants,1401 and2532 delivered3860 unto them846 his848 goods.5224

    (Luk 11:2 KJV+)

    And1161 he said2036 unto them,846 When3752 ye pray,4336 say,3004 Our2257 Father3962 which3588 art in1722 heaven,3772 Hallowed37 be thy4675 name.3686 Thy4675 kingdom932 come.2064 Thy4675 will2307 be done,1096 as5613 in1722 heaven,3772 so2532 in1909 earth.1093

  • Kristofer
    Kristofer

    excellent discussion

  • heathen
    heathen

    My personal belief is that the 144k are martyrs that are the first resurrection and will rule as kings with christ where as the great crowd survive the tribulation and some of which will never die at all . It does look as if that particular scripture is taken out of context by the tower but the case and point is that there clearly are 2 destinies. I don't think women and children will be rulers with christ . In any event I think the great crowd does enter the kingdom of the heavens because earth is just too unhospitable to live on and live there for a thousand years .

  • Qcmbr
    Qcmbr

    Though the LDS aren't mainstream:

    16 This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them:
    17 That other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
    18 And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief they understood not my word; therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them.
    19 But, verily, I say unto you that the Father hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated from among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because of their iniquity that they know not of you.
    20 And verily, I say unto you again that the other tribes hath the Father separated from them; and it is because of their iniquity that they know not of them.
    21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
    22 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching.
    23 And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice--that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.
    24 But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.

    34 And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel--and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father--wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb--I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.

    Latter day Saints are quick to cite Jesus' teaching concerning other sheep (John 10:14-16). The Christian world generally interprets this passage as a declaration of Christ's concern for those not of the house of Judah (see Wilbert R. Howard, "The Gospel According to St. John," in The Interpreter's Bible, 12 vols. [New York: Abingdon Press, 1951], 8:627). However, this interpretation overlooks some very significant aspects of the passage. There is no record that the Savior taught those not of the house of Israel collectively. After Christ's ascension, Peter was shown in vision that it was now time for the Apostles to teach the Gentiles (Acts 10).

  • plmkrzy
    plmkrzy

    anyone who is NOT a Jew

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