You guys have listed some very, very excellent examples....in fact, most of the big ones that came to my mind. I guess another obvious one is Daniel 4:25, used to mean something completely extraneous from its context.
Worst scriptures taken out of context?
by slimboyfat 32 Replies latest watchtower bible
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sspo
For 30 years, always wondering how in the hell do they come up with an explanation for all the scriptures that have been quoted. Finally it all came together last year that my eyes were opened and saw the stupidity of it all.
Being an elder for many years and raising a family and making a living, was to busy to think............just followed the crowd
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stevenyc
Daniel chapter 2. A fulfilled prophecy writen after the fact, to be fulfilled again.
steve
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greendawn
Romans 10 up to verse 13 clearly refers to Jesus yet the JWs translate that last verse as jehovah because the idea that Jesus is Lord does not go down well with them.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Also see Acts 10:36
"The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all."
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M.J.
1 Cor 14:33 "God is not a God of confusion," used to claim that any teaching should not be too hard or confusing to understand (Trinity). But the context is advice about not going hog-wild with the tongues-speakin' during a church gathering.
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peacefulpete
1 Cor:4:6 see link below
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jwfacts
Watchtower 1988 March 15 pp.18-19
?Furthermore, suppose a person was to separate himself from Jehovah?s people. Where could he go? Is he not faced with the same issue that confronted Jesus? apostles when he asked them if they also wanted to leave him? The apostle Peter rightly replied: ?Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.? (John 6:68) There is nowhere else to go but to ?Babylon the Great,? the world empire of false religion, or into the clutches of Satan?s political ?wild beast.? (Revelation 13:1; 18:1-5) Largely, disloyal ones who have left Jehovah?s visible organization have made common cause with those in God-dishonoring ?Babylon the Great.??
At John 6:68 Peter actually said to Jesus ?Lord, whom shall we go away to?? This is the essence of Christianity; it is not about an organization but about being a follower of Jesus.
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Leolaia
Not only out of context, but always misread (same goes with the "light gets brighter" one).
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Leolaia
All excellent examples. I would also add Romans 10:10, which the Society uses to make the door-to-door witnessing work essential to one's salvation.
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PSacramento
I think the biggest ,besides the blood issue, is the justification for a governing body from ACTS 15:
The Council at Jerusalem
15 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon a has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “ ‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’ b
18 that have been known for ages. c
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. a 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.