Fisherman,
Interestingly you say nothing about the teaching of 2 kingdoms that Jesus is supposed to rule over according to wts doctrine that COJ highlights in his book. That is what doesnt make sense to me in wts doctrine. Did you mention that?
Yes. I did mention that. And I have no idea what COJ has to say about anything, I haven't read any of his books.
Revelation 1:6 6 and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—yes, to him be the glory and the might forever. Amen.
This does not say "made us to be kings." It says "made us to be a kingdom." You already know that a kingdom is not made up of kings. It is made up of subjects or land ruled over by a king. Which, again, reinforces the point that John believed himself to be a subject ruled over by Jesus in the First Century, and that he believed the seven congragtion in Asia were also being ruled over.
I encourage you to study the Bible for yourself, for what it says, instead of carefully considering the biased leanings of others. This is NOT reading of the Bible, but I understand your confusion on this point. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society uses "study" and "read" almost interchangably, changing the meaning of the language to keep the people in line.
From Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: study
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural stud·ies
1 : a state of contemplation : REVERIE
2 a : application of the mental faculties to the acquisition of knowledge <years of study> b : such application in a particular field or to a specific subject <the study of Latin> c : careful or extended consideration <the proposal is under study> d (1) : a careful examination or analysis of a phenomenon, development, or question (2) : the published report of such a study
3 : a building or room devoted to study or literary pursuits
4 : PURPOSE, INTENT <it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses -- Jane Austen>
5 a : a branch or department of learning : SUBJECT -- often used in plural <American studies> b : the activity or work of a student <returning to her studies after vacation> c : an object of study or deliberation <every gesture a careful study -- Marcia Davenport> d : something attracting close attention or examination
6 : a person who learns or memorizes something (as a part in a play) -- usually used with a qualifying adjective <he's a quick study>
7 : a literary or artistic production intended as a preliminary outline, an experimental interpretation, or an exploratory analysis of specific features or characteristics
8 : a musical composition for the practice of a point of technique
Main Entry: study
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): stud·ied; study·ing
intransitive verb 1 a : to engage in study b : to undertake formal study of a subject
2 dialect : MEDITATE, REFLECT
3 : ENDEAVOR, TRY
transitive verb
1 : to read in detail especially with the intention of learning
2 : to engage in the study of <study biology>
3 : PLOT, DESIGN
4 : to consider attentively or in detail <studying his face for a reaction>
synonym see CONSIDER
Read, on the other hand, carries the connotation of cursory examination. The taking in of ideas by interpreting symbols into language. Study involves much more than simply reading.
In study one has a specific objective in mind and they set about achieving that objective. They want to learn about [fill in the blank] and they systematically approach that task. There is nothing lackadaisical about study. It is a very active, mentally engaging process. From your description of what you have done, I am not assuming you haven't studied the Bible on this issue. You said you haven't studied the Bible on this issue.
Fisherman: I say always when I read the Bible I pray for God's help to understand the meaning and I did that as you suggested and I still believe that Jesus is God as if God was helping him all along and not me.
This is not what I recommended at all. Please clear your mind of JW-isms and any other "isms" you might have clogging the works and then read what I posted earlier:
AuldSoul: I recommend that you write down what you believe about rulership and authority. In separate columns. Get your opinion on the understanding of those two concepts well in mind. Then read the Christian Greek Scriptures without using any Watchtower Society literature or apostate literature. Make note of every instance that discusses rulership or authority and study out what the verses have to say.
Four action verbs. Write, your opinion. This is the part that can be crammed chock full of any influences you like. Read, the New Testament. This is not purposeless or aimless reading, you are searching for something specific (reference to the ideas of rulership and authority) and you are paying careful attention to watch for instances of it. Note, the places in the Bible that address these concepts. Finally, study out each instance you located.
You have not done what I recommended until you have accomplished this. You stated you did something other than this, so you haven't ever tried what I recommended. What I recommend is study. What you have done is reading. It is not the same thing. You need to retrain your brain on the meaning of the language used, because they have been just as successful in changing your concepts as they were at one time with me.
Respectfully,
AuldSoul
