Question: "Does John 7:53—8:11 belong in the Bible?"
Answer: The story of the woman caught in adultery is found in John 7:53—8:11. This section of Scripture, sometimes referred to as the pericope adulterae, has been the center of much controversy over the years. At issue is its authenticity. Did the apostle John write John 7:53—8:11, or is the story of the adulterous woman forgiven by Jesus a later, uninspired insertion into the text?
The Textus Receptus includes John 7:53—8:11, and the majority of Greek texts do. That is the reason the King James Version of the New Testament (based on the Textus Receptus) includes the section as an original part of the Gospel of John. However, more modern translations, such as the NIV and the ESV, include the section but bracket it as not original. This is because the earliest (and many would say the most reliable) Greek manuscripts do not include the story of the woman taken in adultery.
The Greek manuscripts show fairly clear evidence that John 7:53—8:11 was not originally part of John’s Gospel. No church father commented on the section until the twelfth century, and, even then, his comment was that accurate Greek manuscripts did not contain it. Among the manuscripts that do contain the section, either wholly or in part, there are variations of placement. Some manuscripts put the pericope adulterae after John 7:36, others after John 21:25, and some even place it in the Gospel of Luke (after Luke 21:38 or 24:53).
There is internal evidence, too, that John 7:53—8:11 is not original to the text. For one thing, the inclusion of these verses breaks the flow of John’s narrative. Reading from John 7:52 to John 8:12 (skipping the debated section) makes perfect sense. Also, the vocabulary used in the story of the adulterous woman is different from what is found in the rest of the Gospel of John. For example, John never refers to “the scribes” anywhere in his book—except in John 8:3. There are thirteen other words in this short section that are found nowhere else in John’s Gospel.
It certainly seems as if, somewhere along the way, a scribe added this story of Jesus into John’s Gospel in a place he thought it would fit well. Most likely, the story had been circulating for a long time—it was an oral tradition—and a scribe (or scribes) felt that, since it was already accepted as truth by consensus, it was appropriate to include it in the text of Scripture. The problem is that truth is not determined by consensus. The only thing we should consider inspired Scripture is what the prophets and apostles wrote as they “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
Those who favor the inclusion of the story of the woman taken in adultery point to the sheer number of Greek manuscripts that contain the passage. They explain its omission in early manuscripts as an attempt by overzealous church leaders to prevent misunderstandings. Here is the theory of those who favor inclusion: John wrote the passage just as it appears in the Textus Receptus. But later church leaders deemed the passage morally dangerous—since Jesus forgives the woman, wives might think they could commit adultery and get away with it. So, the church leaders tampered with the Word of God and removed the passage. To leave the passage in, they reasoned, would be to make Jesus seem “soft” on adultery. Later scribes, following the lead of the Holy Spirit, re-inserted the pericope, which should never have been removed in the first place.
The fact, however, remains that John 7:53—8:11 is not supported by the best manuscript evidence. Thus, there is serious doubt as to whether it should be included in the Bible. Many call for Bible publishers to remove these verses (along with Mark 16:9–20) from the main text and put them in footnotes.
Because we’re talking about certain editions of the Bible being “wrong” in certain ways, we should include a few words on the inerrancy of Scripture. The original autographs are inerrant, but none of the original autographs are extant (in existence). What we have today are thousands of ancient documents and citations that have allowed us to (virtually) re-create the autographs. The occasional phrase, verse, or section may come under scholastic review and debate, but no important doctrine of Scripture is put in doubt due to these uncertainties. That the manuscripts are the subject of ongoing scholarship does not prove there is something wrong with God’s Word; it is a refining fire—one of the very processes God has ordained to keep His Word pure. A belief in inerrancy underpins a reverent, careful investigation of the text.
Recommended Resource: John, NIV Application Commentary by Gary Burge
Monday, June 12, 2017
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN....
The Current Perversion of John 8:1-11
In 1998, controversy swirled around then President Bill Clinton’s misconduct with an intern, Monica Lewinsky. With almost predictable regularity media personalities cited what is possibly the only passage in their biblical repository:
“He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.”
This passage has been perverted in a number of egregious ways. First, as in the president’s example, this statement by Christ was hijacked to minimize adultery. “Oh, we all sin,” it is claimed.
Here’s their line of reasoning. “In the instance of John 8:1-11, a woman committed adultery, but Jesus did not condemn her. We should not, therefore, make a ‘big deal’ over such a trifling and personal matter.”
Others “paint” with an even broader brush. They allege that no one who is flawed himself by sin has the right to censure anyone for any transgression; after all, none of us is “without sin.” No one, therefore, possesses the moral authority to condemn.
The episode in the Gospel of John even has been cited in an effort to set aside the clear biblical injunctions which demand the discipline of apostate Christians.
We believe, therefore, that a careful consideration of this context is warranted. The details of the New Testament narrative are as follows.
A Synopsis of the Incident
Early one morning Jesus came from the Mount of Olives, just east of Jerusalem, to the temple compound of the sacred city. Probably in the court of the Gentiles, the Lord sat down (the usual posture for a Jewish teacher) and began to teach the folks who had gathered. Suddenly, there was a rude interruption. The scribes (copiers of the law, thus religious “experts”) and the Pharisees (those of the strictest Jewish sect—Acts 26:5), broke into the assembly, bringing a captive woman. They probably dragged her into the midst of the group.
Having positioned her prominently, they, with malevolent designs, fired a question at Jesus: “Teacher [no doubt with a tone of sarcasm], this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses commands that she be stoned. What do you say regarding her?” Quietly, the Son of God stooped down, and, with his finger wrote a message in the dust. (This is the only context in the New Testament which mentions Jesus writing.) The biblical text does not reveal the substance of the message. But the Lord said nothing.
The inquisitors continued to press him for a verbal response. It was at this point that he made the statement to which so many frequently appeal: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.”
The Textual Controversy
Before giving some analysis to the passage, let us first briefly comment upon the matter of the genuineness of the context. Virtually every translation of the English Bible, this side of the 1611 King James Version, at least footnotes the passage, calling attention to the weak manuscript evidence behind the section embraced by John 7:53-8:11. All of the best Greek manuscripts, including the two oldest papyri (P66 and P75—dating from about A.D. 200) omit it. Most scholars—including many conservative ones—doubt that this section was a part of John’s original Gospel. On the other hand, some very respectable names defend it. The famous critic F.H.A. Scrivener affirmed that “the arguments in its favor, internal even more than external, are so powerful, that we can scarcely be brought to think it an unauthorized appendage to the writings” of John (1883, 610). One of the best summaries of the controversy is found in R.C. Foster’s, Studies in the Life of Christ (1971, 796ff).
In spite of the sparse manuscript evidence, there is a wide-spread conviction among textual critics (those who pursue the science of restoring the original text from available data) that this narrative represents a factual episode in the ministry of Jesus. Even Professor Bruce Metzger of Princeton University, a renowned textual scholar (and no conservative), concedes that “the account has all the earmarks of historical veracity” (1971, 220). There is much concurrence: “Throughout the history of the church it has been held that, whoever wrote [this section], this little story is authentic” (Morris 1971, 883). We are not, therefore, uncomfortable in accepting the record as actual history.
Analyzing the Facts of the Case
What are the basic facts of the case?
A sinful woman was somehow apprehended in the act of committing adultery, i.e., she was engaged in sexual activity that violated either her own marriage commitment, or that of her paramour. Adultery is a sexual act, and it involves the breach of the marriage covenant. There is virtually no controversy among language authorities regarding this matter, not to mention clear biblical testimony. “Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Note the connection between “bed” and “adulterers.” The rather modern—certainly novel—theory, which holds that adultery is only “covenant breaking,” whether or not sexual transgressions were involved, is utterly without merit, and is, in fact, a base attempt to sanctify adulterous relationships formed subsequent to unscriptural divorces.
It is more than obvious that the scribes and Pharisees were not the least interested in seeing true justice executed. Had they been in pursuit of justice, they would have taken the woman to the appropriate authorities for remedy. What did Jesus of Nazareth have to do with such legal affairs? Nothing at all. No, this was a trap laid for Christ. The Jews did not have the authority to execute law-breakers (see John 18:31). Rome retained for itself the right of life and death over its subjects. In A.D. 6 (the year that Judaea became a Roman province), Coponius, a governor, was sent to Palestine by Augustus Caesar. He was “granted supreme power over the Jews” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 18.1.1.), which included the power of life and death (Wars of the Jews 2.8.1). Though this fact has been disputed by liberal critics, the historical evidence sustains the biblical record (Green 1992, 850). A.N. Sherwin-White, Professor of Ancient History at Oxford, has addressed this matter most thoroughly in his work, Roman Society And Roman Law In The New Testament (1978, 35ff).
Accordingly, had Jesus pronounced judicial sentence upon the sinful woman, the Jewish leaders would have reported the matter to the Roman authorities, and their diabolical plan to rid themselves of the Lord would have been achieved.
The accusers committed a colossal tactical blunder. Their charge itself contained information sufficient to expose their hypocrisy. The scribes and Pharisees emphatically declared that the poor woman had been caught “in the very act.” That is significant.
I am reminded of the circumstance where two men were in a fight and one bit off a portion of the other’s ear. When the case came to trial, the attorney for the accused asked a witness: “Did you see Mr. Jones bite off Mr. Smith’s ear?” “No,” the witness responded. The lawyer might well have stopped at that point with: “No further questions.” But he just had to ask one question more. “How, then, do you know that Jones bit off Smith’s ear?” “I saw him spit it out!”
When the Jewish leaders decided to be so specific, “in the very act,” they acknowledged an important point: they knew the identity of the male participant! What is the significance of that? Well, it is this: the Old Testament code demanded that both the adulteress and the adulterer be subjected to the same penalty (see Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). Where, then, was the man? These sanctimonious prosecutors were themselves in stark violation of the law. Had Jesus been under a commission to render a civil judgment in this case (and he did not come to attend to such matters—see Luke 12:13-14), he could not have countenanced this “kangaroo” procedure. The thrust of Christ’s statement—“He that is without sin . . .”—was this: “None of you is in a position to stone this woman, for you have disregarded the very law you profess to honor. It is a travesty.”
Remember this: the Savior’s admonition in John 8 cannot be divorced from its immediate context and used as a general axiom, the design of which is to mute the legitimate rebuke of evil. Even some Bible scholars have missed this point. William Barclay, the famous Scottish writer, was far off the mark when he, in connection with this verse, declared: “It was a first principle of Jesus that only the man who himself is without fault has the right to express judgment on the fault of others” (1955, 7). That is a misappropriation of this text.
Whatever Christ wrote on the ground made a powerful impact upon his critics. Silently they slipped away into the shadows, progressing from the older to the younger. This effect usually is interpreted as an indication that the Lord’s written message impacted the more mature first, and then the younger. It is hard to focus upon another’s sin when your own is exposed. At any rate, Jesus’ response—whatever it was—was devastating. The Pharisees’ inconsistency had been laid bare.
The accusers abandoned their prey. They were no match for the Son of God (neither is any critic today). The Lord arose and spoke to the woman. (Had she been defiant? Was she weeping? We can only wonder.) Christ inquired: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” The use of the expression “woman” might seem a tad sharp to the modern English mind, but the address conveys no such meaning in the original language (cf. John 2:4; 19:26). Christ then added: “Neither do I condemn you.”
The Greek word for “condemn” is a strong one, katakrino (the prefix kata strengthens the root form). It suggests handing down a judgment, passing sentence. The Lord was informing the woman that she was not judicially sentenced. As Bloomfield observed, Jesus was simply making “a declaration that, since his kingdom was not of this world, so he would not assume the office of a temporal magistracy” (1837, 376). He was not sanctioning adultery, nor minimizing the lady’s wickedness—quite the contrary. Christ was commenting upon the legal aspect of the situation. With the accusers gone, there was no case left! The witnesses were required to throw the first stones (Deuteronomy 17:7); without them the matter could proceed no further.
Even a cursory reading of the text reveals that the Lord did not condone the woman’s sin. In fact, he said: “Go on your way; and sin no more.” The verb (“sin”) is a present tense form in the imperative (command) mood. The idea conveyed is: “Stop this life of sin.” Or, as William F. Beck rendered it: “Go, from now on don’t sin anymore” (1963, 181). Christ unequivocally indicated that what the woman did was sin.
Conclusion
It is apparent that the common, cast-the-first-stone defense cannot be employed legitimately as a cloak for the protection of impenitent sin. Consider the following facts.
Paul taught that there is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). That included himself. He sometimes found himself doing wrong (Romans 7:15). He had to fight to keep himself under the Lord’s control (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). He knew that so long as he remained in the flesh he would never achieve a permanent plateau of perfection (Philippians 3:12).
On the other hand, the apostle did not hesitate to “judge” a brother who was living in open, impenitent sin (1 Corinthians 5:3), and he rebuked those who tolerated such (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Paul had learned the Master’s truth that while we are not to judge according to appearances, we are obligated to “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Paul thus withdrew his fellowship from blasphemers like Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:19-20), and again, exposed Hymanaeus and Philetus when they taught that the resurrection had occurred already (2 Timothy 2:17-18). Nor did he hesitate to openly mention that Demas fell in love with the world and forsook him (2 Timothy 4:10).
It is obvious, therefore, that one does not have to be “without sin” before he can call attention to the grievous error that wicked men practice on a sustained basis.
The misuse of John 8:1-11, as a covering for unrestrained sin, is a gross evil within itself.
REFERENCES
- Barclay, William. 1955. The Gospel of John. Vol. 2. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press.
- Beck, William F. 1963. The New Testament in the Language of Today. St. Louis, MO: Concordia.
- Bloomfield, S. T. 1837. The Greek Testament with English Notes. Vol. 2. Boston, MA: Perkins & Marvin.
- Foster, R. C. 1971. Studies in the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
- Green, Joel B., Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, eds. 1992. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
- Metzger, Bruce M. 1971. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. London, England: United Bible Societies.
- Morris, Leon. 1971. The Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
- Scrivener, F. H. A. 1883. A Plain Introduction to the Cristicism of the New Testament. Cambridge, England: Deighton, Bell & Co.
- Sherwin-White, A. N. 1978. Roman Society And Roman Law In The New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
John 8:1-11; Acts 26:5; 1 Thessalonians 5; John 7:53-8:11; Hebrews 13:4; John 18:31; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; Luke 12:13-14; John 8; John 2:4, 19:26; Deuteronomy 17:7; Romans 3:10; Romans 7:15; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27; Philippians 3:12; 1 Corinthians 5:3; 1 Corinthians 5; John 7:24; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:17-18; 2 Timothy 4:10
CITE THIS ARTICLE
Jackson, Wayne. "The Current Perversion of John 8:1-11." ChristianCourier.com. Access date: June 12, 2017. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/34-current-perversion-of-john-8-1-11-the
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES - CHRISTIAN OR CULT? WATCH VIDEO AND YOU DECIDE
I have had friends who are JWs, which is highly offensive to them to be called a JW even though their website is called "JW.org." I have read and seen enough to know that this is not Biblical. To say Jesus Christ is created, an archangel (Michael), and that only 144,000 JWs will go to heaven. The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation refer to the 144,000 Jews that God has set apart for His work on earth but other than that, I'm not very knowledgeable about it so until I learn, I'll not speak as I don't ever want to mislead. I just know the 144,000 refer to Israel and not the Church. While I am so undenominational that I honestly don't know by what term I'd identify myself as, I believe in the Word of God, the clear language without twisting and knowing you have to rightly divide the Word of God.
For instance, in a sermon I saw Jesus vs. Paul, don't let the title fool you. Jesus is first alway. It is simply that Jesus taught the Kingdom of God. The Jews didn't accept Him as their Messiah and so they put Him to death. Now, they were blinded, in part, for our sakes so do not boast or think you are superior to them or that God doesn't have a wonderful plan to save Israel. We are in the dispensation of Grace but Jews are under the law. However, to fully understand the NT, you must understand the OT. It is vital. To wipe out Judaism from Christianity is a bad idea for many reasons. You must understand the wedding ceremony for Jews in order to understand the 2nd Advent (or coming) of our Lord and God, our Messiah, Yeshua. Daniel and Revelation mirror each other and Jesus Christ quotes from the OT a lot, so it's very important as it's about one thing and one thing only, the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has not forsaken Israel but we're in the church age for now.
However, Jesus also mentions in many passages that many false christs, doctrines, gospels and even false Jesus' will come into the world. Would I call them demonic? I hesitate to call anyone or anything demonic. I feel great empathy for members of cults because they are so indoctrinated with the lies and false teaches so they sincerely believe but...they are just as sincerely wrong. In fact, we are told not to take any part of their deceptions, not even to let them in your house or wish them Godspeed so Jesus Christ was serious about this.
In my opinion, they are no different than the Pharisees of Jesus's day. They denied He's God in the flesh. So do the JWs. They teach He was created when God's Word clearly states that Jesus Christ created ALL things and nothing was created except by Him. He is the Word of God. It's clear in John 1:1. I had to end a friendship with one. I admit I was hoping to teach him the truth but he didn't want to hear or even research anything outside of the Watchtower or go by any Bible other than the one they rewrote to uphold the Watchtower. That's their final authority on God's Word, not scripture. They also demand you call God or Yahwey "Jehovah" even though there is not and never has been a "J" sound in Hebrew. Is Jehovah God's name? It's a form of the tetragram YHWH or a combination of Elohim and Adenei (sp). So it would have to be pronounced Yehovah but Yahwey is the more correct pronunciation of YHWH or Jehovah. They say God is a "generic" term. Well, how can it be generic if it refers to the ONLY living God?
There is so much truth about the errors of the JW organization I could tell you but you can research it for yourself if interested. However, this is a warning to anyone who is NOT a JW. Do not let them in your home nor even try to share the true Gospel with them. They are so brainwashed with set answers from the Watchtower to "defend" any Bible verse you quote to prove their errors and unless they're seeking the truth, you will end up confused and upset, maybe even wondering if YOU are misreading scripture. It is so deceptive and they come as harmless as doves so you need to be wise as a serpent. One ex-JW suggested that you put up a sign on your door or property saying that no JW is allowed. You have the right to do that IF you own the property or have permission from the owner. Now, I haven't had one knock on my door in years and years. I don't know if their membership is dropping, if they've stopped or they're tired of having doors slammed in their faces but they are required to go out 2 x 2.
If the JW is the only true church as they claim, what is going to happen to the Apostles who didn't teach this but yet walked with Jesus Christ? This organization wasn't started until about 150 years ago when Jehovah chose this man named Russell Haze to reveal the TRUTH about salvation so what about those who came before that didn't have this new revealed and faulty prophecy? The Bible says that if a man speaks a word from Him and it doesn't come to pass, it was not from Him. In fact, these false prophets were stoned to death in the OT. I hope they appreciate that we are in the age of Grace now and not the law because today these people would be stoned to death. Grace and belief that Jesus Christ is Lord God and Messiah, true repentance and enduring to the end is what saves you, not works and certainly not believing in a false gospel, doctrine or Jesus Christ. I know I am harsh on false prophets. I just know how spiritually damaging and abusive these churches are and cause so many to turn away from God. The true Gospel is not in any way abusive or destructive EVEN if rejected (at least on this plane of existence). Not all will receive it and it can be frustrating and discouraging to share the Gospel. Atheism is the "god" of today and it's a faith-based "religion" whether they believe it or not. They claim not to believe in anything but when asked what they believe, it's science, philosophy, or the imaginations and theories of man. They have "faith" that man is right. How is that not faith-based even though scientists disprove themselves many times except what lines up with the Bible.
Lastly, beware of any "church" that teaches you not to test your faith or to mix science and the Bible together. I don't believe much of what man teaches. It seems they change their minds as often as we change our socks. The Bible has science in it. The number 7 is known as the perfect number. There are 7 days of the week, 7 colors of the rainbow, 7 elements, 7 continents, 7 oceans, etc. Seven is the number of completion and perfection. Every 7 years all debts are wiped out. Every 7 years is when the land is left to rest and heal. You don't reap or sow in Judaism. Christians, our church was started by Jewish people. We cannot completely wipe out Judaism from our faith. Do not hate our brothers and sisters caught up in these false doctrines. Love and pray for them. Do everything you can to bring them to the truth and the simplicity of salvation.
Just watch the video because not only is this church a false prophet but it also protects the members from being charged with pedophilia which is rampant in the JW org. It's like they are part Jewish (denying the divinity of Jesus Christ) and Roman Catholics who do not report and forgive (like THEY can forgive sins) pedophiles and hide them out. Never be afraid to test your denomination. I got caught up in 2 very dangerous ones and had I not been raised right, I don't know if I'd have walked away from the faith or not. We have to protect the flock. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter replied that yes, of course he did. Jesus asked and replied 3 times then feed my flock. Feed the flock you believers and be the light of the world and salt of the earth. Light warms and salt is flavorful but it's also abrasive but healing. Sometimes the truth hurts. Lead them to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. It's not their fault but it is their responsibility to question anything that is not upheld by the KJV Bible as even Rabbis say it is the closest and very best translation, almost perfectly translated from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Be ye not deceived. Much love in Christ Jesus to all people.
For instance, in a sermon I saw Jesus vs. Paul, don't let the title fool you. Jesus is first alway. It is simply that Jesus taught the Kingdom of God. The Jews didn't accept Him as their Messiah and so they put Him to death. Now, they were blinded, in part, for our sakes so do not boast or think you are superior to them or that God doesn't have a wonderful plan to save Israel. We are in the dispensation of Grace but Jews are under the law. However, to fully understand the NT, you must understand the OT. It is vital. To wipe out Judaism from Christianity is a bad idea for many reasons. You must understand the wedding ceremony for Jews in order to understand the 2nd Advent (or coming) of our Lord and God, our Messiah, Yeshua. Daniel and Revelation mirror each other and Jesus Christ quotes from the OT a lot, so it's very important as it's about one thing and one thing only, the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has not forsaken Israel but we're in the church age for now.
However, Jesus also mentions in many passages that many false christs, doctrines, gospels and even false Jesus' will come into the world. Would I call them demonic? I hesitate to call anyone or anything demonic. I feel great empathy for members of cults because they are so indoctrinated with the lies and false teaches so they sincerely believe but...they are just as sincerely wrong. In fact, we are told not to take any part of their deceptions, not even to let them in your house or wish them Godspeed so Jesus Christ was serious about this.
In my opinion, they are no different than the Pharisees of Jesus's day. They denied He's God in the flesh. So do the JWs. They teach He was created when God's Word clearly states that Jesus Christ created ALL things and nothing was created except by Him. He is the Word of God. It's clear in John 1:1. I had to end a friendship with one. I admit I was hoping to teach him the truth but he didn't want to hear or even research anything outside of the Watchtower or go by any Bible other than the one they rewrote to uphold the Watchtower. That's their final authority on God's Word, not scripture. They also demand you call God or Yahwey "Jehovah" even though there is not and never has been a "J" sound in Hebrew. Is Jehovah God's name? It's a form of the tetragram YHWH or a combination of Elohim and Adenei (sp). So it would have to be pronounced Yehovah but Yahwey is the more correct pronunciation of YHWH or Jehovah. They say God is a "generic" term. Well, how can it be generic if it refers to the ONLY living God?
There is so much truth about the errors of the JW organization I could tell you but you can research it for yourself if interested. However, this is a warning to anyone who is NOT a JW. Do not let them in your home nor even try to share the true Gospel with them. They are so brainwashed with set answers from the Watchtower to "defend" any Bible verse you quote to prove their errors and unless they're seeking the truth, you will end up confused and upset, maybe even wondering if YOU are misreading scripture. It is so deceptive and they come as harmless as doves so you need to be wise as a serpent. One ex-JW suggested that you put up a sign on your door or property saying that no JW is allowed. You have the right to do that IF you own the property or have permission from the owner. Now, I haven't had one knock on my door in years and years. I don't know if their membership is dropping, if they've stopped or they're tired of having doors slammed in their faces but they are required to go out 2 x 2.
If the JW is the only true church as they claim, what is going to happen to the Apostles who didn't teach this but yet walked with Jesus Christ? This organization wasn't started until about 150 years ago when Jehovah chose this man named Russell Haze to reveal the TRUTH about salvation so what about those who came before that didn't have this new revealed and faulty prophecy? The Bible says that if a man speaks a word from Him and it doesn't come to pass, it was not from Him. In fact, these false prophets were stoned to death in the OT. I hope they appreciate that we are in the age of Grace now and not the law because today these people would be stoned to death. Grace and belief that Jesus Christ is Lord God and Messiah, true repentance and enduring to the end is what saves you, not works and certainly not believing in a false gospel, doctrine or Jesus Christ. I know I am harsh on false prophets. I just know how spiritually damaging and abusive these churches are and cause so many to turn away from God. The true Gospel is not in any way abusive or destructive EVEN if rejected (at least on this plane of existence). Not all will receive it and it can be frustrating and discouraging to share the Gospel. Atheism is the "god" of today and it's a faith-based "religion" whether they believe it or not. They claim not to believe in anything but when asked what they believe, it's science, philosophy, or the imaginations and theories of man. They have "faith" that man is right. How is that not faith-based even though scientists disprove themselves many times except what lines up with the Bible.
Lastly, beware of any "church" that teaches you not to test your faith or to mix science and the Bible together. I don't believe much of what man teaches. It seems they change their minds as often as we change our socks. The Bible has science in it. The number 7 is known as the perfect number. There are 7 days of the week, 7 colors of the rainbow, 7 elements, 7 continents, 7 oceans, etc. Seven is the number of completion and perfection. Every 7 years all debts are wiped out. Every 7 years is when the land is left to rest and heal. You don't reap or sow in Judaism. Christians, our church was started by Jewish people. We cannot completely wipe out Judaism from our faith. Do not hate our brothers and sisters caught up in these false doctrines. Love and pray for them. Do everything you can to bring them to the truth and the simplicity of salvation.
Just watch the video because not only is this church a false prophet but it also protects the members from being charged with pedophilia which is rampant in the JW org. It's like they are part Jewish (denying the divinity of Jesus Christ) and Roman Catholics who do not report and forgive (like THEY can forgive sins) pedophiles and hide them out. Never be afraid to test your denomination. I got caught up in 2 very dangerous ones and had I not been raised right, I don't know if I'd have walked away from the faith or not. We have to protect the flock. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter replied that yes, of course he did. Jesus asked and replied 3 times then feed my flock. Feed the flock you believers and be the light of the world and salt of the earth. Light warms and salt is flavorful but it's also abrasive but healing. Sometimes the truth hurts. Lead them to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. It's not their fault but it is their responsibility to question anything that is not upheld by the KJV Bible as even Rabbis say it is the closest and very best translation, almost perfectly translated from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Be ye not deceived. Much love in Christ Jesus to all people.
Below are 2 great videos and a link. Pray and learn to UNlearn lies!
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is right to divide Peter and Paul’s ministries. Peter and Paul both preached Jesus, but in different ways.
One preached Christ according to prophecy, the other according to a mystery (Eph 1:9-10). The same Lord Jesus Christ was glorified in two different ministries.
What should not be missed is that Peter and Paul did not invent their different ministries out of thin air. It was the Holy Spirit that spoke through them.
Rightly dividing the Prophecy and Mystery is rightly dividing the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit Testifies of Jesus
Jesus said that when the Comforter was sent at Pentecost he would testify of him.
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me…” – John 15:26
When we learn to rightly divide we know it is not sufficient just to testify of Jesus, we also ask the question, “how do we testify Jesus?”
The Lord explained that the Spirit would minister in the same fashion as Jesus in his earthly ministry.
“ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” – John 14:26
Jesus was a minister of the circumcision (Rom 15:8). The Spirit through Peter at Pentecost was a minister of the circumcision as well.
A Change in Ministry
When the Lord Jesus returned to his chief persecutor, Saul, he not only dispensed his abundant grace upon him, but also gave to him a new ministry of himself.
He revealed to Paul how to minister according to a mystery (Rom 16:25).
“ But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – Gal 1:11-12
This mystery of Christ made Paul’s ministry different than the ministry of Peter who spoke only of the subjects in prophecy.
“ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” – Acts 3:24
The Spirit’s Change
At Pentecost it was the Holy Ghost that filled Peter to preach what the prophets spoke (Acts 2:4).
After the Lord Jesus Christ gave a different ministry to Paul, the Spirit changed his ministry as well, testifying of Christ according to the mystery. It was the same Spirit that filled Paul to preach the mystery of Christ.
“ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” – Eph 3:4-5
It was the Spirit working in Peter and Paul that orchestrated the transition from a ministry of Israel to a ministry about the church the new creature.
Same Spirit, Different Ministries
In order to properly rightly divide Pentecost from the Church we must rightly divide the ministry of the Spirit.
It is not enough that we see the Spirit’s ministry, we must ask, “how does he minister?” The way we preach Jesus has changed, because the Spirit changed his ministry to the church.
At Pentecost the Spirit ministered according to prophecy. Through Paul the Spirit ministered the mystery of Christ. Same Spirit, different ministries.
Learn more about the Holy Spirit here.
IS THIS WHY OUR CHURCH HAS FAILED?
I'm stunned. Was this the beginning of our fall? You get to decide for yourself. God bless and spread the Gospel according to scripture in First Corinthians 15:1-11 for there is no other Gospel of Salvation. Be blessed.
JUST A QUESTION...
Do you believe that this is a true house of worship that would please our Lord God and Savior should He attend? Remember, He sees all. Shouldn't we be respectful and reverent to Him? Somehow I cannot imagine the Apostles allowing this type of behavior to occur in their churches and please don't misunderstand, I love active and joyful praise to our Savior, Christ Jesus. After all, David tells us in Psalm 100:1 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands." I love to see Spirit in action. However, I feel many churches take this too far. The biggest issue I have in every Pentacostal Church I have ever attended is that they don't preach on anything but baptism in the Holy Spirit. I never heard one about the "serpent on the stick" that the Jews were to look at if bitten by a poisonous snake while they were wandering in the desert and what it foreshadowed, I never heard a sermon on Daniel or any book except Acts. There are 65 other books in the Bible and I want to grow in the word and in grace. Ask yourself a question, do you walk around 24/7 "feeling" saved? I don't. I don't "feel" the Holy Spirit all the time but I know I am sealed with Him. If we rely on our own feelings, what is going to happen when you encounter trials and problems in your life, when tragedy strikes or if you feel sad or alone? Our salvation is a promise not based on how you feel. It is based on the cross and His promise of salvation. You decide if this is what the early church did.
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