General Patten

The modern New Testament comes from over 1503 ancient manuscripts which show small changes in the text, but in no way changes any basic core teachings over the course of the centuries.

What evidence do the followers of Islam have, to make this claim?

Acts 21:13 ~ "Then Paul answered, what mean you to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Which if any of the disciples were willing to die for the name of Jehovah?

Please prove you position with the scriptures.

Thanks...

Sure..the argument goes like this: no one knows how to pronounce the YHWH tetragrammaton. So a Monk in 1270 noticed that if you slip a few valves into YHWH/Yahweh/Adonia you get a Latinized from of Jehovah. (Mankind's search for God. Page 225). Thus the belief in the English version of God's personal/divine name. A name no Israelite would ever be caught uttering...except for the High Priest.

Why doesn't this concept carry over into the Greek New Testament? Jesus never uttered the divine/personal name. He called Him ~ Father: We are to call him Abba ~ Father, (Rom. 8:15; Gal.4:6). As children growing up...did you call your parents by their first names?

My question is: Your song book (Sing Praises to Jehovah); your NWT (even in the Greek) uses Jehovah: all your publications, talks, Yahoo posts, conventions...all stress the importance of the divine/personal name, as if failure to do so would put you into the pagan/infidel class. But in light of historical/scriptural evidence...What happens to your faith if you were to discover that...Jehovah doesn't want to be called by this name?

But...

The word Jehovah, is nowhere to be found in the original Greek New Testament? Nor the original Hebrew text for that matter...Why the double standard?

I mean, such a ruler-ship would have a profound impact on the way the planet operates and the people in it...wouldn't you think?

Still, since 1914, we've seen the Bolsheviks, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, all the gulf wars, and now a possible war with Iran. Economic collapse in Iceland, Greece, and now perhaps the collapse of the Euro. So, what has Christ been doing with this earthy rule, and will we ever see any impact and or evidence?

What has Christ's invisible rule done for you personally?

You know "Vicar" like a go-between you and God? I'm hoping you can help me understand the circular reasoning I see in so many JW Q/A's:

* The Bible is our only authority.

* The Org. is the only authority that can give us spiritual food at the right time.

* The Bible is always in alignment with the teaching (or interpretation) with what the Org. says.

* If the Bible reads differently then what the Org. teaches...the Org. is correct.

* But the Bible is our only authority.

So, is the GB a type of Vicar for the JW movement, just as it is in the Catholic Church?

Don't JW's frown on the RCC for doing this exact same thing?

Thanks for helping me understand....

There was the Old Testament, where the book of the Law was by Moses and dedicated by the sprinkling of blood. (Hebrews 9:18:21) And the New Testament by the blood of Christ under the New Covenant. (Hebrews 10:15-22)

But isn't that new covenant only for the "anointed / spirit-filled / born-again" Christians that is limited to 144,000? (Who was the surveyor that kept track of this number through the ages?) I thought the Bible said "whosoever will, may come; and there's no respect of person with him?"

Anyway...if the above covenant is for a number of people that you are outside of...Which or what covenant (testament) are you under?

Where can I find that in scripture?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/shroud-of...

We all want solid proof that God exist. What if this is the only evidence HE will ever give you?

As a Christian, I've always thought the "Chosen People" were followers of Moses (the Torah) and the writings of the Prophets. Maybe noticing the fulfillment of Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 and becoming Messianic Jews. But further research shows that perhaps...these are not the holy books that you follow. What are the holy books in present day Judaism? And as members of the "Chosen Race," where does that leave people like me (members of the Christian community) as the "Chosen" bring us into the new utopia?

1Tim. 1:9~ "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless, and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers..."

Rev. 14:11~ "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Matt. 25:46~ "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

None of us are guilty of doing what: Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot did. So "everlasting punishment" may be their portion. What about those that are guilty of only "minor infractions?"

Minor infractions like: failure to find atonement for their sins. (Psalm 51:5) Or showing up to the wedding feast with no wedding garment, (Matt. 22:11) and then cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth? (v13)

* Outer darkness

* Weeping, gnashing of teeth.

* Hell fire (Matt.5:22)

* Where the worm dieth not, and the fire not quenched. (Mark 9:44)

* Smoke of torment ascends for ever and ever. (Rev. 14:11)

Are there different levels of separation, not leaving the most severe invalid in your opinion? I read JW posts that say they'll have nothing to do with the God that wrote these words in his Bible...Is that true?

Christ could do nothing without the power/will/permission of his Father. But then, goes around doing these things in "his own name." The name of Jesus Christ. How does this honor the Father/Jehovah when his name is not used in the works/miracles?

Isaiah 42:8~ I am the Lord/YHWH/Jehovah: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."

If Jehovah is the name above every name according to the "the Lord's prayer" in Luke 11:2~ Hallowed be thy name. How is the Father glorified in the Son (John 14:13) when the asking is done in "the name of Jesus:" v13-14?

Matt. 18:20~ "For where two or three are gathered together in my name (Jesus) there am I in the midst of them."

Mark 16:17~ ..."In my name (Jesus) shall they cast out devils..."

And breaking the scripture in Isaiah 42:8, leaving the door wide open for theologians to say that Christ was equal to his Father in nature and substance? As if to say he (Jesus) had his own authority in and of himself? (In forgiveness of sins; Luke 5:24.)

How is this corrected in the paradox of scripture, without violating any one passage?

"Saved" ...How is a person brought into right standing with God?

...you left the Watchtower?

The WT teaches that the battle of Armageddon is a global event in which all of Christendom will be destroyed. But Rev. 16:16 points to a specific place on the globe. By the time a river of blood 200 miles long is added, and the fouls of heaven are filled with their flesh: You may or may not now have a more literal interpretation; than the symbolic / figurative interpretation of the WT?

What is your take on Armageddon, before and after the lifting of the WT lens?

John 3:16~ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Is it the "love" of the Father that gave us an escape? Or is it that his "love" would never create such a place, in the first place?

Support your position with scripture...Thanks.

Rev. 16:16~ "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."

Global, or local? Please use scripture to support your position. Thanks...

I have enjoyed chatting with the Y/A Witnesses because they are passionate about the things they believe. So passionate, I would rather post on their Q/A than I would...say...an atheist who seems to only come here to mock.

Be honest with me for a sec..When Christians post good, in context bible passages; is it not true that in your mind's eye; NONE of their input is of any value, or credibility, because their beliefs are rooted in PAGANISM according to your Watchtower teachings?

Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matthew 24:35.

In your opinion?

Why do you believe what you believe based on facts & history?

Jehovah:

By combining the vowel signs of 'Adho.nay and 'Elo.him' with the four consonants of the Tetragrammaton the pronunciations Yeho.wah' and Yehowih' were formed. The first of these provided the basis for the Latinized form "Jehova(h)." The first recorded use of this form dates from the thirteenth century C.E. Raymundus Martini, a Spanish monk of the Dominican Order, used it in his book Pugeo Fidei of the year 1270. Hebrew scholars generally favor "Yahweh" as the most likely pronunciation.

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word ABOVE all thy name." Psalms 138:2

In your opinion?

..."Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the River Euphrates." Gen. 15:18. Is this modern day Israel? Or the Arabian peninsula in your opinion?

But you say...the "family laws" in Deuteronomy 21:15-17 means that Ishmael had right to the "first born" position. Is the Bible retroactive? This was written 500 years later. What about the laws of marriage to a close of kin? It was changed under the laws of Moses; but not in the time of Abraham.

So, is Genesis 21:12 still valid?

And God said unto Abraham, "Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called."

In your opinion?

PLEASE don't get me wrong. I love JW's... My in-laws are JW's. A forum like this allows us to challenge (maybe poke a little fun) at each other because we ARE passionate about the things that we believe in.

I know that the door to door work is very important too you as proof of your commitment to the great commission. I have done door to door work for a church I attended in the past. I don't do it now because they think I'm a JW. LOL. It would seem you folks have "cornered the market" on door to door work.

But none of my R/S Q/A are private. To my detriment, critics of my Q/A have deleted resolved Q/A after being finalized; even one being a BA.

Why can't my non-private Q/A (over 500 plus now) count as doing my part to fulfill the Great Commission? I've talked/witness too: Muslims,(one overseas in Saudi) LDS, Catholics, atheists, evolutionists, and God-haters of all types.

Why can't my computer work count the same as your door to door work? I'm not imposing myself on anyone.(It's up to them to read what I've written if they want). Just using my freedom of speech. Do you think God will give me credit for it, even if your organization won't?

PS I didn't ask whether your accounts are private or not. How does your accounts count if no one can read them?