Jehovah's witnesses: Is occasional bible study without WT publications encouraged or discouraged?

The cult does not allow people to study the Bible alone and without the Watchtower!

1980 'A Watchtower enables a person to look far into the distance and announce to others what is seen. Likewise, this magazine, published by Jehovah's Witnesses, aids the reader to see what the future holds'. (this statement featured on the cover each issue of the Watchtower in late 1970s through 1980's)

1981 "We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the scriptural guidance we need outside the 'faithful and discreet slave' organization.'" (Watchtower, February 15, 1981, p.19)

1983 "Jesus Christ identified a first requirement when he said in prayer to his Father: 'This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you... Many have found the second requirement more difficult. It is to obey God's laws, yes, to conform one's life to the moral requirements set out in the Bible...A third requirement is that we be associated with God's channel, his organization...To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it...The fourth requirement is connected with loyalty. God requires that prospective subjects of his kingdom support his government by loyally advocating his kingdom rule to others..." (four requirements for salvation as taught by the Watchtower magazine of Feb. 15, 1983, p. 12. One of them deals with the Watchtower organization.)

1981 They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago,... (Watchtower; Aug. 15, 1981; p. 29)

1981 "Jehovah's Witnesses believe that this parable pertains to the one true congregation of Jesus Christ's anointed followers. Beginning with Pentecost, 33 C.E., and continuing through the 19 centuries since then, this slave-like congregation has been feeding its members spiritually, doing to faithfully and discreetly. (Watchtower, March 1, 1981, p24)

1981 "Prophecies open up to us as Jehovah's holy spirit sheds light upon them, and as they are fulfilled in world events or in the experiences of God's people." (Watchtower, December 1, 1981 p. 17)

1981 No matter where we may live on earth, God's Word continues to serve as a light to our path and a lamp to our roadway as to our conduct and beliefs. (Ps. 119:105) But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his "faithful and discreet slave," made up of spirit anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do. (Watchtower; Dec. 1, 1981; p. 27)

1982 "A 'prophet to the nations' is what Jehovah made him. (Jeremiah 1:5) Now today, if anything, there needs to be a 'prophet to the nations'.... Jehovah has considerately raised up his 'prophet to the nations.' Jehovah has done this during this 'time of the end,' since World War I ended.... the 'prophet' whom Jehovah has raised up has been, not an individual man as in the case of Jeremiah, but a class.... At this late date there is a mere remnant of this 'prophet' class yet on earth.... One thing is now certain: if the "prophet" class, the Jeremiah class, is facing Har-Magedon" (Watchtower, October 1, 1982, p. 26-27)

1983 "Avoid independent thinking...questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization." (Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1983 pg. 22)

1983 "Fight against independent thinking." (Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1983 pg. 27 )

1983 To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it. (Watchtower; Feb. 15, 1983; p. 12)

1984 "Faith in Jehovah, faith in those whom he is using as spokesmen, yes, faith in his organization! As we 'go out' to Jehovah's service today, how important it is that we exercise such faith!" (Watchtower July 1, 1984 p17)

1984 "The members of spiritual Israel were looking forward to an inheritance "reserved in the heavens" for them. (1 Peter 1:3-5) But before they actually received that reward, Jehovah had a work for them to do. Concerning this, he prophetically said: "I shall put my words in your mouth, and with the shadow of my hand I shall certainly cover you, in order to plant the heavens and lay the foundation of the earth and say to Zion, 'You are my people.'" (Isaiah 51:16) He put his "words," his message, into the mouth of his servants for them to proclaim earth wide. With confidence they began to make known that God has planted the "new heavens" that neither men nor demons can uproot them. The way in which Jehovah has dealt with the representatives of heavenly Zion has clearly identified them as his people. In contrast with the spiritu

I have Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the works of Josephus, and I am planning to read Vine's Expository of the Bible and The Origin of Species within the next year. I have six Bible translations. No, we do not have to study one of the WT Society's publications every personal study session.

However, Prov. 18:1 warns us about isolating ourselves. Those who study on their own, without any outside help, will eventually start to get off base in their thinking.

We have learned to trust the WT Society as an organization that dispenses spiritual "food at the proper time." Matt. 24:45. Jehovah's methods and teachings are explained there and nowhere else.

Of course, as you know, many people hate us for various reasons. So, it would be unwise for a Witness to search out other teachings, as they could warp our Bible-trained concience. Having said that, we're not ordered to follow the WT Society "or else". I choose to live this way because I have learned that it is the best way of life. That viewpoint perhaps has been more rounded-out by talking with many religious people, looking at the statements made on this forum, and in general keeping my head out of the sand.

Many great answers...I'll just add to it. The Bible is the word of God and we are told to read it daily. Reading God's word does not make one turn towards apostasy. Pride and arrogence turns people toward apostasy, as well as listening to apostate thinking and beliefs in the first place. So, yes, it is ok to read and study the Bible daily. But, Jehovah has given us the faithful and discreet slave to help us with our Bible study by giving us the proper food at the proper time. If we are having trouble understanding something, or we want to do further reseach in a particular area then the Watchtower or other publications can help, but by no means do they ever replace the Bible....they just give insight on the Bible and on the world we are living in today.

Individual bible study without instruction sometimes leads to apostate beliefs?

No that is not accurate.

It's already been said that we are encouraged the bible daily. The bible is our guidebook, our letter from Jehovah. We study it using Jehovah's holy spirit. I like to use many different translations too

Apostasy usually arises from ex-Jehovah's Witnesses trying to justify their actions, their reasons for going against Jehovah's Laws & thus being disfellowshiped.

Pride has a big part in this too. If you are a humble person & rely on Jehovah's holy spirit there is no way that a Jehovah's Witness could turn apostate from reading the bible alone.. .... impossible

No - and that's a fact they cannot honestly deny. The most they will do is study the bible without *visibly* using Watchtower publications. If someone requests a "bible only" study they will just prepare each session at home by studying the relevant Watchtower publication chapters and making notes of the reasoning and scriptures used in their publication. Then when they go study the bible with the person, they make covert use of the publication from their memory and notes.

Dearest Karen:

You are certainly welcome, just like all of Jehovah's people, to read the Bible on your own without a Watchtower publication. You may even enjoy trying different versions of the Bible you use to study from.

I agree with one poster that finding the time is usually the problem. Also, I encourage you to pray before you study then meditate after you study. If you don't it, it is like swallowing food without chewing. Think deeply about what you read in the Bible as to how you can learn about Jehovah and how you can apply it.

You are doing well in your progress and are certain to be blessed by your faithful effort.

Agape, Gr8ful321

Reading the Bible by itself is always encouraged and similarly no one is ever discouraged from studying the Bible by itself without any other publications. One way to do this would be to use a reference Bible and then look up the cross references or use the concordance in the back of a Bible to look up scriptures but remember that both the cross references and the concordance were not part of the original Bible so even they are in a way Bible study aids.

If in the course of such a Bible study you come up with an idea or understanding that seems enlightening what then? You might be curious enough to see what Bible publications have to say about the subject so it is understandable that at some point other publications would enter the picture either to corroborate your conclusions or to present reasoning on other explanations. What's wrong with that? And what publication would you resort to? Most likely to those that you have come to respect and trust.

Jehovah's Witnesses would logically check their own publications first just as any other persons of other religions would check sources of their own religions first.

Is it wrong to learn about the Bible from other persons or from publications written and published by other persons? Consider Acts 8:30, 31 which says, "Philip ran alongside and heard him [an Ethiopian] reading aloud Isaiah the prophet, and he said: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” He said: “Really, how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?” And he entreated Philip to get on and sit down with him." So even the scriptures support the preaching and teaching work. That is the sharing of the good news with unbelievers that they may become believers. This is done both by spoken word but also by things written in publications; really just two ways of communication.

Also consider this scripture: “Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought. Does the Christ exist divided?”—1 Cor. 1:10, 13, NW. So would not the use of publications be an aid to help us to all be on the same page as it were? We would obviously all be in agreement on the important things [the doctrines] but the Bible also clearly shows that sometimes personal conscience can enter the picture when it comes to minor points and to personal application of Bible principles.

Perhaps with being retired I have more time than most may have to study.

I have many publications that I enjoy using for research and study. Many are printed by other publishers other than the WTBTS.

But my primary tool of study is the Bible itself. I have about 30 translations that I enjoy comparing. And I do cross-reference in the Bible itself, from marginal references.

I think it is also helpful to gain a general geographical and historical knowledge of Bible Times. I'm an avid reader of Biblical Archaeology Review.

There are times we have to start a bible study with unbelievers with no other material but a Bible. Because of their skepticism.

Eventually, it goes two ways. They realize we know what we are talking about, or they come to accept we know what we are talking about..

Know what I mean?

I know two that began a study with Witnesses just to prove them wrong.

They could not prove the Witnesses wrong , and one of them became a Witness.

The Bible study programs the Witnesses have to offer show the truth that leads to everlasting life and answers the questions that people need to know to understand God's purpose.

No other faith has that for the world.

This answer may not answer your question as you intend.

I just hope it helps you accept that Witnesses are indeed well informed about the Bible's hopes, and that it would not be without the study aids the Society offers.

We are encouraged to read the bible daily and do research. We are also encouraged to study for our meetings so we can be prepared to participate in the discussion. The Watchtower is part of the Sunday meeting. Don't know who you are talking to but they don't sound like Witnesses. Apostate thinking comes from many things. Bad associations and rationalizing are two of them. Nothing better than a bible trained conscience to help you make the best decisions.

Neither. We use many publications JWs had nothing to do with. It is true care must be used with them as they do not have pure Bible goals and ideas behind them.

Without having as a driving force, the correct understanding of the Bible, it is easy to go off on a wrong turn. For example: My DVD-Recorder was not working properly. It flashed "AC1". I tried everyuthing normal and in the troubleshooting guide. What I forgot was "AC1" was a code leading to page 61 in the manual. I followed instructions and it worked properly. The moral: I could have saved a lot of trouble by keeping instructions I already read in mind, but page 61? Remembering that much is difficult.

Likewise, with the Bible when Jesus says, "I and my Father are one.' and 'I am in union with the Father.'" (John 10:30; 14:20) It would be easy to think trinity is real. But what of the rest of the Bible? Eight verses later, John 14:28, we also read, "28 YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am." Notice both "going my way to the Father" not already here as we are the same person. And "My Father is GREATER than I am." Both the opposite of what trinity doctrine teaches.

It is easy to make grave mistakes going on your own understanding. As Proverbs 3:5-7 makes obvious, "5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.

7 Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad."

Having said this, there are many good books from authors only concerned with what they have found without an agenda. There are many others having nothing to do with the Bible or spiritual things we read. The only problem is having time to read.

At meetings with Circuit Overseers (those having responsibility for many congregations) a question is asked frequently about, "How can we find time to read all the things we must read each week? There is so much." So time, not reading material is the main problem.