Let's assume, as most of you probably believe, that the anointed Christians are not the FDS. If the anointed are not the FDS, who are?
Who Really is The Faithful and Discreet Slave?
by Recovery 207 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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00DAD
No one. They don't exist. It's a JW Myth:
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panhandlegirl
As 00DAD said, no one. It's a story in the Bible, nothing more. WTS just uses it to control people.
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Recovery
Well I'd never consider the words of Jesus Christ himself to be a myth or to have no meaning whatsoever. Regardless of what JW's believe about the FDS, Jesus still used it in a parable and it is a statement found in God's inspired word. So since you so forthcomingly and boldly state it to be nothing more than a JW myth, surely you must have another plausible explanation of what it means/represents since JW's explanation of it is just wrong.
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Recovery
If you cannot produce a different, more plausible, and scripturally accurate meaning of Jesus' words, how can you say for sure that JW's explanation of it is wrong?
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QC
According to Scripture the "faithful slave" does exist. Articles "Timeline," section "Wicked Slave" and "Born Again" you will find very interesting at: www.laissezcom.com
QC
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panhandlegirl
IMO, it's a story/parable about responsibility but it has no application to anyone or any group of people today or at any time.
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sabastious
If you cannot produce a different, more plausible, and scripturally accurate meaning of Jesus' words, how can you say for sure that JW's explanation of it is wrong?
Their explanation of it is wrong because the verses don't answer the question as to who the faithful slave actually is. It leaves the question open ended and is rhetorical by nature. It's that way for a reason. What the Faithful Slave Parable is really describing is the dichotomy of people during the presence of the son the "Son of Man." (sheep and goat) Even though there are always many ways to categorize a population by demographic Jesus is saying that there are essentially only two fundamental classes: the faithful slaves and the evil slaves. The "master being away" signifies Jesus leaving the earthly kingdom for an unknown amount of time. The "master returning" signifies the second coming of Christ and that time period would be when these two classes would exist. When Jesus comes back (actually, not invisibly) he will simply reward and crown the victor between the two and the criteria is the feeding the children of God "at the proper time" or "in due season." The loser will be determined by the evil that was imparted upon their fellow slaves while the master was away. The "evil slave" has a characteristic of impatience which drives them to abuse their fellow man.
This parable perfectly explains how the truth about Christ works today. There are essentially two groups and they can be described as providing the food in due season (saying what needs to be said when it's needed) and the other are beating their fellow man (emotional abuse and coercion). I personally call people like Pat Condell and Christopher Hitchens as "faithful and discreet slaves" because the world needs to hear what they have to say and they are saying it (providing the food). It's due season for people like them to stand up and fight against the religious masses. Matthew 24:45 is a reliable compass that generally deters from most modern day religious personalities.
-Sab
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Recovery
Their explanation of it is wrong because the verses don't answer the question as to who the faithful slave actually is.
Well that's what we have the entire inspired Bible for. Just because something is not explained directly and completely in the context of the original statement, it does not imply that an explanation not contained in the original statement is false. That's a weak and misleading argument especially when we consider that there are many situations in the Bible where the original context did not explicitly explain the meaning/application of a statement/prophecy.
It leaves the question open ended and is rhetorical by nature. It's that way for a reason.
Okay, no objections here.
What the Faithful Slave Parable is really describing is the dichotomy of people during the presence of the son the "Son of Man." Even though there are always many ways to categorize a population by demographic Jesus is saying that there are essentially only two fundamental classes: the faithful slaves and the evil slaves.
Well I'd have to disagree with you here. Notices verses 46 and 47 "whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings."
If the faithful slave is describing a group of faithful people why is there a distinction between the faithful slave and the domestics? If there are basically two fundamental classes, why does the parable carry the differentiation between the responsibility of the faithful slave over the domestics? Why is the slave appointed over the belongings and not the domestics? How could all of Jesus' faithful ones be appointed over all his belongings from the time there were first faithful slaves until his arrival (which as you affirm is more than 2,000 years later)?
The "master being away" signifies Jesus leaving the earthly kingdom for an unknown amount of time.
Okay
The "master returning" signifies the second coming of Christ and that time period would be when these two classes would exist.
Since the faithful slave represents all faithful followers of Christ, these two class would exist from the time of Jesus' arrival in the first century, not just during his coming. Verse 48 proves this when it says: "But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying'.." So the 'evil slaves' would exist BEFORE the Master returned.
When Jesus comes back (actually, not invisibly) he will simply reward and crown the victor between the two and the criteria is the feeding the children of God "at the proper time" or "in due season."
This is exactly my point. How could the faithful slave represent all faithful followers of Christ and at the same time have the responsibility to feed the children of God at the proper time? Is every so-called Christian feeding the children of God? Your own interpretation debunks itself.
The rest of your statement is just rhetoric and opinion. I can't help but notice you pushed your viewpoints and your interpretation, instead of what the Bible tells us. Isn't it interesting JW's can prove who the faithful slave is from the scriptures yet the opposers can only offer up what they think the interpretation is without using a single scripture?
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GLTirebiter
If you cannot produce a different, more plausible, and scripturally accurate meaning of Jesus' words, how can you say for sure that JW's explanation of it is wrong?
Start by reading the passages before and after that one(*). They are all about being prepared, about not knowing the day and time. Now read the "faithful servant" passage, staying mindful of that context. What is that passage about? Is it an abrupt change in topic to identify a ruler of the faithful, immediately followed by a return to the previous topic? Or is it consistent with the other passsages in Matthew 24 and 25, a warning to always be ready because you never know when the time--your time--will come?
The Watchtower interpretation only makes sense in isolation. It does not fit when the passage is read in context.
(*) Passage Topics, Matthew 24:3 through 25:46- The Beginning of Calamities
- The Great Tribulation
- The Coming of the Son of Man
- Lesson of the Fig Tree
- Unknown Day and Hour
- As It Was in the Days of Noah
- One Taken, One Left Behind
- Hour When the Thief Comes
- Faithful or Unfaithful Servant
- Ten Virgins and Oil for Their Lamps
- Parable of the Talents
- The Judgement of Nations