Monday, April 29 2024 The Bible in the Age of Technology

[PJ54]

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Monday, April 29 2024​

You accepted it not as the word of men but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God.—1 Thess. 2:13.

Jehovah’s gift, the Bible, is filled with his wisdom. The Bible’s counsel has a positive effect on people. The Bible changes lives. When the first books of the Bible were composed, Moses told God’s people, the Israelites: “This is no empty word for you, but it means your life.” (Deut. 32:47) Those who obeyed the Scriptures could enjoy a successful and happy life. (Ps. 1:2, 3) Time has not drained God’s Word of its power to improve people’s lives. The wise principles found in the Bible are everlasting; they have proved to be beneficial to people living in every time period. As we read that sacred book and meditate on what we learn, the Author uses his powerful holy spirit to help us see how we can apply the Bible’s counsel in our life. (Ps. 119:27; Mal. 3:16; Heb. 4:12) Yes, the Bible’s living Author is eager to help you. What an incentive to read the Bible regularly! w23.02 3 ¶5-6
Examining the Scriptures Daily—2024​

The Bible in the Age of Technology

Saturday, May 21 This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.—Matt. 24:14. Jesus’ disciples knew that they could not accomplish the preaching work on their own. Jesus had said that he would

e-watchman.com

Saturday, May 21 2016​

This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.—Matt. 24:14.

Jesus’ disciples knew that they could not accomplish the preaching work on their own. Jesus had said that he would be with them and that the holy spirit would assist them. In some respects, circumstances existing in the world of that day may have been favorable for Kingdom preaching. The book Evangelism in the Early Church states: “Probably no period in the history of the world was better suited to receive the infant Church than the first century AD . . . By the second century Christians . . . began to argue that it was a divine providence which had prepared the world for the advent of Christianity.” To what extent God maneuvered first-century developments to make extensive preaching work possible, the Bible does not say. But this much is certain: Jehovah wanted the good news to be preached, and Satan did not.

COMMENTARY​

To what extent the world was well-suited in the first century to facilitate the Christian preaching work, the modern era has been even more favorable.
If any one thing could be pointed to as the most significant invention as far as the work of Christians is concerned it would have to be the printing press. As if to underscore that fact, in 1456 the very first book published by Johannes Gutenberg was the Bible. And when the empires of Europe began to colonize the world the colonists took their Bibles with them.

Because of having suffered religious persecution in England and Holland the original pilgrims that came to America imparted a spirit of freedom that was legally enshrined in the Bill of Rights. That laid that groundwork for a favorable political environment. As a result, in the 1800’s numerous Bible societies sprang up, both in England and America, along with various sects that promoted the Bible. Hence, after the American Civil War the environment was perfect for the beginning of another phase of preaching spearheaded by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

Since the late 1800’s countless inventions have been utilized by the Watchtower in their mission to make disciples. For example, C.T. Russell utilized the telegraph to wire his sermons to newspaper publishers. During the 1920s and 30’s J.F. Rutherford adopted the newly emerging radio revolution to broadcast his sermons to millions. Thomas Edison’s phonograph was developed into a portable record player that Jehovah’s Witnesses used to use on door steps and in sound cars.

More recent inventions have empowered Christians to publish their message on the world wide web in hundreds of languages. Now Jehovah’s Witnesses use smart phones and tablets in their ministry.

At some point, though, this favorable environment will change. It will not be gradual, but suddenly, overnight. This catastrophe is foretold in the Hebrew prophecy of Joel.

 

[Watchman]

jw dot org actually has some useful information about the Bible

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/has-the-bible-been-changed/

 

[Watchman]

Posted a new article on e-watchman

You made me as strong as a mountain

God allowed David to undergo many trials and hardships. One might suppose that if David had remained a shepherd, his life would have been much easier. But Jehovah anointed him, at least in a token way. His anointing occurred when Israel’s judge, Samuel, poured fragrant oil upon the

e-watchman.com

 

[Paul H]

Dutch translation: e-Watchman article: "You made me as strong as a mountain"

U MAAKTE ME ZO STERK ALS EEN BERG

God liet toe dat David destijds vele beproevingen en ontberingen moest ondergaan. Men zou kunnen veronderstellen dat indien David gewoon een eenvoudige herdersjongen was gebleven, dat zijn leven in dat geval ook veel gemakkelijker voor hem zou zijn geweest. Echter werd hij door Jehovah gezalfd...

e-watchman.nl

"God’s spirit began to work upon David, and in short order, he was impelled onto the battlefield with a sling and a stone facing down the hulking giant, Goliath. The source of David’s power was no secret. He told the Philistine moments before he slung a stone into Goliath’s massive skull that he was coming to him with the name of Jehovah. And that was that."

"His own son, Absalom, usurped the throne and tried to have David put to death. Once again, David’s enemies were persons in his own household, and he was forced to vacate the comforts of his palace and become a fugitive. As king, David wielded immense power, yet he could not prevent his own son from driving him off the throne that Jehovah had given him."


"But the remaining ones who are in union with Christ when he comes will fulfill the prophetic psalm. Even though they will be killed by their enemies, they will not see the pit. No! Not even for a nanosecond. Because, in the blink of an eye, they will be changed from flesh to spirit. Thereafter, they will praise Jehovah in his very presence forever."