2014 Watchtower Library CD (very discreetly) changed the Insight article on Faithful and Discreet Slave

by Gilgamesh 16 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Gilgamesh
    Gilgamesh

    The updated article on the "FDS" makes several changes although it still lists the article/entry as if it had come from the 1988 edition of Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 1.

    The first article below is from the 2013 CD and the second one is from the 2014 CD. I have marked the areas where changes occurred by highlighting in yellow for removed, green for mostly edited, and blue for new material added. Of course, this update already matches the WOL (Watchtower Online Library) found on jw.org.


    The yellow (removed) information is very interesting in that it had contained some of the best arguments for NOT considering the account to be prophetic of a special class. It was the duty of all Christians, perhaps especially elders (based on the included Scriptures) to be faithful and discreet stewards.


    Also, references to the "evil slave" are removed. (After all, why make such a big deal about the fulfillment of the "faithful" one if there isn't an equivalent fulfillment for the "evil" one.)


    Another point removed was one that seemed to "dig" at the ridiculousness of the old explanation where ALL the anointed slave are feeding ALL the anointed domestics: "Yet, the impossibility of each and every one of these individuals being placed over “all” his master’s belongings at the same time, the time of the master’s arrival, is obvious."

    And lastly, note the way in which the "governing body" is worked into the new discussion along with an implicit rejection of the old idea of the idea that there has always been a faithful slave on earth at any given point of time since 33 CE.


    The updated writing is not aligned with the style of the Insight book. The book was first intended to look like a neutral research reference without so much "assumed Watchtower doctrine." This updated article breaks that precedent multiple times. 



    2013 and prior CD's (matching original 1988 printed edition)*** it-1 pp. 805-806 Faithful and Discreet Slave ***

    FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE

    When answering the apostles’ question concerning his future presence and the conclusion of the existing system of things, Jesus Christ included a parable, or illustration, dealing with a “faithful and discreet slave” and an “evil slave. The faithful slave’s master appointed him over his domestics, or household servants, to provide them their food. If approved at his master’s coming (evidently from some trip), the slave would be rewarded by being placed over the master’s entire property.—Mt 24:3, 45-51.

     

    In the parallel illustration at Luke 12:42-48, the slave is called a steward, that is, a house manager or administrator, one placed over servants, though he is himself a servant. Such a position was often filled in ancient times by a faithful slave. (Compare Ge 24:2; also the case of Joseph at Ge 39:1-6.) In Jesus’ illustration the steward is first assigned only to the supervision and timely dispensation of the food supplies to the master’s body of attendants, or servants, and later, because of his faithful and discreet handling of this ministry, his assignment is widened out to embrace supervision of all the master’s holdings. Regarding the identification of the “master” (Gr., ky′ri·os, also rendered “lord”), Jesus had already shown that he himself occupied such a position toward his disciples, and they addressed him as such on occasion. (Mt 10:24, 25; 18:21; 24:42; Joh 13:6, 13) The question remains concerning the application of the figure of the faithful and discreet slave, or steward, and what his dispensing food to the domestics represents.

     

    Commentators often view this as a general exhortation to any and all who have individual positions of responsibility in the Christian congregation. The requirement of faithfulness in discharging responsibility clearly applies to all such. (Compare Mt 25:14-30; Tit 1:7-9.) Yet, the impossibility of each and every one of these individuals being placed over “all” his master’s belongings at the same time, the time of the master’s arrival, is obvious.

    This, however, does not require that the “slave” prefigure only one particular person who would be so privileged. The Scriptures contain examples of the use of a singular noun to refer to a collective group, as when Jehovah addressed the collective group of the Israelite nation and told them: “You are my witnesses [plural], . . . even my servant [singular] whom I have chosen.” (Isa 43:10) Similarly, the figure of the unfaithful “evil slave” could apply to a collective group in the same way that “the antichrist” is shown to be a class made up of individual antichrists.—1Jo 2:18; 2Jo 7.

     

    Those forming the Christian congregation are referred to by the apostle Paul as “members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19; 1Ti 3:15), and the same apostle shows that ‘faithful stewardship’ among such household members involved the dispensing of spiritual truths on which those becoming believers would ‘feed.’ (1Co 3:2, 5; 4:1, 2; compare Mt 4:4.) Whereas this was a prime responsibility of those appointed as ‘shepherds’ of the flock (1Pe 5:1-3), the apostle Peter shows that such stewardship of the divine truths was actually committed to all the ‘chosen ones,’ all the spirit-anointed ones, of the Christian congregation. (1Pe 1:1, 2; 4:10, 11) Thus the entire anointed Christian congregation was to serve in a united stewardship, dispensing such truths. At the same time the individual members making up such composite body, or the “domestics” making up the “house” of God (Mt 24:45; Heb 3:6; Eph 2:19), would also be recipients of the “food” dispensed. (Heb 5:11-14; compare 1Co 12:12, 19-27.) Expanded responsibility would result from faithfulness maintained until the master’s promised ‘arrival.’—Mt 24:46, 47; Lu 12:43, 44.


    2014 update - lists as 1988, but does not match the printed 1988 edition.*** it-1 pp. 805-806 Faithful and Discreet Slave ***

    FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE

    When answering the apostles’ question concerning his future presence and the conclusion of the existing system of things, Jesus Christ included a parable, or illustration, dealing with a “faithful and discreet slave.” The faithful slave’s master appointed him over his domestics, or household servants, to provide them their food. If approved at his master’s coming (evidently from some trip), the slave would be rewarded by being placed over all the master’s belongings.—Mt 24:3, 45-51.

     

    In the parallel illustration at Luke 12:42-48, the slave is called a steward, that is, a house manager or administrator, one placed over servants, though he is himself a servant. Such a position was often filled in ancient times by a faithful slave. (Compare Ge 24:2; also the case of Joseph at Ge 39:1-6.) In Jesus’ illustration the steward is first assigned only to the supervision and timely dispensation of the food supplies to the master’s body of attendants, or servants, and later, because of his faithful and discreet handling of this ministry, his assignment is widened out to embrace supervision of all the master’s holdings. Regarding the identification of the “master” (Gr., kyʹri·os, also rendered “lord”), Jesus had already shown that he himself occupied such a position toward his disciples, and they addressed him as such on occasion. (Mt 10:24, 25; 18:21; 24:42; Joh 13:6, 13) The question remains concerning the application of the figure of the faithful and discreet slave, or steward, and what his dispensing food to the domestics represents.

     

    “Slave” is in the singular.This, however, does not require that the “slave” prefigure only one particular person who would be so privileged. The Scriptures contain examples of the use of a singular noun to refer to a collective group, such as when Jehovah addressed the collective group of the Israelite nation and told them: “You are my witnesses [plural], . . . even my servant [singular] whom I have chosen.” (Isa 43:10) The “antichrist” is shown to be a collective group made up of individual antichrists. (1Jo 2:18; 2Jo 7)

    Similarly, the “slave” is composite. It was to be appointed in the time of the end as a channel to give out spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Mt 24:3, 45; Lu 12:42) In the first century, Jesus set a pattern for how spiritual food would be dispensed in the Christian congregation. Just as he had distributed literal food to the crowds through the hands of a few disciples, spiritual food was to be provided through the hands of a few. (Mt 14:19; Mk 6:41; Lu 9:16) Jesus trained the apostles for the role they would have after Pentecost 33 C.E. as a channel in dispensing spiritual food. They were later joined by other elders to serve as a governing body in order to settle issues and to direct the preaching and teaching of the Kingdom good news. (Ac 2:42; 8:14; 15:1, 2, 6-29; 22:17-19) After the death of the apostles, a great apostasy set in. But in the time of the end—in keeping with the pattern he set in the first century of feeding many through the hands of a few—Jesus selected a small group of spirit-anointed men to serve as “the faithful and discreet slave,” to prepare and dispense spiritual food during his presence.

     

    The domestics are all those who belong to the Christian congregation, both the anointed and the “other sheep,” who are fed spiritual food. (Joh 10:16) This includes the individual members making up “the faithful and discreet slave,” since they too are recipients of the food dispensed. Those who make up the faithful slave will receive expanded responsibility if they are found faithful at the master’s promised arrival. When they receive their heavenly reward and become corulers with Christ, he will appoint them over “all his belongings.” Along with the rest of the 144,000, they will share Christ’s vast heavenly authority.—Mt 24:46, 47; Lu 12:43, 44.

  • sir82
    sir82

    From the novel "1984":

    And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed -if all records told the same tale — then the lie passed into history and became truth. 'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.' And yet the past, though of its nature alterable, never had been altered. Whatever was true now was true from everlasting to everlasting. It was quite simple. All that was needed was an unending series of victories over your own memory. 'Reality control', they called it: in Newspeak, 'doublethink'.

  • Gilgamesh
    Gilgamesh

    so true sir82. 

    BTW, The formatting colors disappeared once, and I just had time to re-edit them manually. Hope I got them all.

  • Crazyguy
    Crazyguy
    Its interesting that they don't mention luke 12:41, instead they start at 42 maybe because verse 41 is where Peter says it's just a parable. 
  • Gilgamesh
    Gilgamesh

    The parable of the "Good Samaritan" was begun with a question:

    Who really is my neighbor?

    The parable of the Faithful and Evil Slaves was begun with a question, too.

    Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?

    As of the 3/15/15 Watchtower, the Good Samaritan is explicitly dismissed as a prophetic parable, even though they admit that the Watchtower used to treat it as one. The same 3/15/15 Watchtower dismisses several others of these prophetic applications of parables and narratives that never had any Scriptural basis for being explained like this. But the same magazine flirts with danger by mentioning the faithful slave parable a couple times as still valid in the midst of providing a reason for rendering it invalid. 

    I'm working on another post to ad1914.com on that subject. Hope to get back to it tomorrow, to complete.

  • William Penwell
    William Penwell
    I guess this is what the society claims as new light when they change the old light to coincide with the new light teachings. Unless the WT has put some disclaimer or notation that this information has been changed, this is out and out deceiving.
  • wannabefree
    wannabefree
    Jehovah's chariot is on the move ... try to keep up will ya?
  • millie210
    millie210
    I think I got run over....
  • jwleaks
  • DATA-DOG
    DATA-DOG

    " (Compare Mt 25:14-30; Tit 1:7-9.) Yet, the impossibility of each and every one of these individuals being placed over “all” his master’s belongings at the same time, the time of the master’s arrival, is obvious"


    Okay???? So the "faithful steward/slave" can't be ALL "anointed"/adopted sons and daughters of God, because it's IMPOSSIBLE for them to be in charge of Christ's belongings at the same time. Right?!?!?!  RIGHT...


     Those who make up the faithful slave will receive expanded responsibility if they are found faithful at the master’s promised arrival. When they receive their heavenly reward and become corulers with Christ, he will appoint them over “all his belongings.” Along with the rest of the 144,000, they will share Christ’s vast heavenly authority.—Mt 24:46, 47; Lu 12:43, 44.


    So we have a singular "collective" slave who cannot possibly be appointed over all Christ's belongings at the same time. Its OBVIOUS, according to the GB. Yet we have just that scenario destined to occur. 

    When true Xians go to heaven, they will ALL rule simultaneously over the Master's belongings. So is it impossible or is it happening? Please make up your collective mind, GB! 


    DD



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