Posts by peacefulpete

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

peacefulpete

Vander...do you identify as an "anointed"?

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

peacefulpete

...both exegesis and eisegesis combine together

In 21 years I think this is the first time we agree Scholar.

Eisegesis (/ˌaɪsɪˈdʒiːsɪs/) is the process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one's own presuppositions, agendas or biases. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text.[1] It is often done to "prove" a pre-held point of concern, and to provide confirmation bias corresponding with the pre-held interpretation and any agendas supported by it.

18

Book of life in pencil

by road to nowhere in

where is the scripture about using pencil?.

peacefulpete

The concept of scrolls/books being opened to reveal God's judgement is a recurring motif. God was the greater record keeper/accountant.

2 Esdras 6:20 When the seal is placed upon the age that is about to pass away, then I will show these signs: the books shall be opened before the face of the firmament, and all shall see my judgment[a] together.

Dan 7:10 A river of fire was flowing,

coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.

2 Baruch 24 1 'For behold! the days come and the books shall be opened in which are written the sins of all those who have sinned, and again also the treasuries in which the righteousness of all those who have been righteous in creation is gathered.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

This low Christological notion of scorekeeping appeals to the human sense of just deserts. It is in tension with the high Christological concept of true forgiveness and free gifts.

But it seems , He's making a list and checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naught or nice.

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

peacefulpete

For such an alleged vital doctrine you'd think Mark would have included the parable. Luke includes the parable but relocates it (chapt 12) apart from the apocalyptic sign section (chapt 21). This might seem unimportant but it's Matt's version that contributes to the WT's misapplication. Reading Luke's version makes even clearer that the "servant" does not symbolize a single entity by following up with:

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

It's pretty hard to mistake the parable targeted a larger audience of individuals and not to a single entity.

8

Temple Talk

by peacefulpete in

recall the famous charge made against jesus in his trial in the gospel mark: .

“we heard him say, ‘i will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days i will build another, not made with hands.’”.

matt has a shorter version which likely reflects what he saw in his copy of mark *:.

peacefulpete

Recall the famous charge made against Jesus in his trial in the Gospel Mark:

“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”

Matt has a shorter version which likely reflects what he saw in his copy of Mark *:

“This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Whether the authors understood Jesus as having actually said that is uncertain as both say this charge is brought by false witnesses. G.John on the other hand takes places the line in Jesus' mouth and offers an explanation as a symbolic metaphor. Temple=Jesus's body. (theological problems aside).

Regardless, something I had never learned as a JW was the second temple period expectation that the Temple would be destroyed and subsequently rebuilt by the Messiah. The primary text lending to this is Zech 6:12

12Then say to him, ‘The LORD of armies says this: “Behold, there is a Man whose name is [f]Branch, for He will [g]branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. 13Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the majesty and sit and rule on His throne..."

While a lot from that period has been lost, sometimes we get lucky. The famous and renown first century Rabbi Yohana ben Zakkai is quoted as declaring after the doors of the Temple opened by themselves:

"O Temple, Temple, why dost thou frighten thyself? I know of thee that thou shalt be destroyed; Zechariah the son of Iddo [Zech. xi. 1] has already prophesied concerning thee: 'Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars'"

The same R.Yohanan is said to have spoken with general Vespasian, addressed him as Lord Emperor to which Vespasian objected given he was not the emperor to which R, Yohanan announced:

"If you are not the king you will be eventually, because the Temple will only be destroyed by a king's hand".

As we know shortly later he did become the Emperor so millions of Jews see him as a prophet. But note the resignation with the Temple being destroyed.

There is more on this topic, but what do you think? If one of the most influential Pharisee of the time interpreted Zechariah as foretelling the destruction of the Temple so that it could be rebuilt by the Messiah, why the accusation in Mark? Was it evidence that he was declaring himself the Jewish Messiah? Why does Mark seem to be insisting the charge was a lie? Was the writer indicating Jesus was not the Messiah they were expecting?

As for the author of G.John he seems to be in his own way also distancing Jesus from the charge by reinterpreting it as a prophecy of Jesus's death and resurrection. Maybe feeling the need to after the many years the Temple was not fully rebuilt. (btw. they did start)

*(G.Mark was likely interpolated to harmonize with John's spiritual take.)

Discuss.

121

Babylon the Great

by Godlyman in

do jw's still believe that babylon the great is the empire of false religion?

inquiring minds want to know .

estephan.

peacefulpete

Rome was the capitol of a huge empire with coinage with deified emperors and gods embossed. They governed hundreds of ports and all roadways, taxed and regulated commerce for much of known world. What is unclear?

39

Red Flags identifying Jehovah's Witnesses as a Cult

by Vanderhoven7 in

what are some of the red flags that should alert people to the fact that jehovah's witnesses are a high control and damaging religion?.

one that comes to mind is.

1. one cannot leave jehovah's witnesses with one's reputation intact.

peacefulpete

Yes 'cult' is a loaded word and not a diplomatic opener. A poster earlier nicely preferred, ' high control group' or something similar. It is the unhealthy psychological grip a movement or group has upon individuals that causes concern. Yes the academic usage of the word cult means any religious tradition, but in common usage it carries a negative connotation describing something dangerous, weird or unusual. Recently there has been an effort by mental health professionals to more narrowly define the word as describing movements and groups that elicit devotion through information control, hierarchal power structure and other methods. Still the word cult may not be the best term to use if trying to reason or persuade someone under the influence of such a group.

39

Red Flags identifying Jehovah's Witnesses as a Cult

by Vanderhoven7 in

what are some of the red flags that should alert people to the fact that jehovah's witnesses are a high control and damaging religion?.

one that comes to mind is.

1. one cannot leave jehovah's witnesses with one's reputation intact.

but i don’t want to ask them my question.

but what does the bible and teaching’s of jw’s say about early hominids?

peacefulpete

The genomic evidence also confirmed this happened occasionally in the distant past in a similar way as the Sapien/Neand. genomics seems to.