Thursday, May 8 2025 Can individuals understand the Bible?

[PJ54]

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Thursday, May 8 2025​

My heart is steadfast, O God.—Ps. 57:7.

Study God’s Word and meditate on it. Just as a tree can stand strong if it has deep roots, we can remain firm if our faith is deeply rooted in God’s Word. As a tree grows, its roots grow deeper and spread farther. When we study and meditate, we strengthen our faith and deepen our conviction that God’s ways are best. (Col. 2:6, 7) Reflect on how Jehovah’s instruction, guidance, and protection helped his servants in times past. For example, Ezekiel paid close attention as an angel took detailed measurements of the visionary temple. This vision strengthened Ezekiel, and it provides us with practical lessons about how we can uphold Jehovah’s standards for pure worship. (Ezek. 40:1-4; 43:10-12) We also benefit when we take time to study about and meditate on the deeper things of God’s Word. We can have a steadfast heart, trusting fully in Jehovah.—Ps. 112:7. w23.07 18 ¶15-16
Examining the Scriptures Daily—2025​

Can individuals understand the Bible?

(Question #7) Can individuals read & understand the Bible alone, or do they need an organization and it's publications to do so? __________ Since the time when God made a covenant with Abraham Jehovah's purpose has always been in

e-watchman.com

(Question #7) Can individuals read & understand the Bible alone, or do they need an organization and it’s publications to do so?

__________

Since the time when God made a covenant with Abraham Jehovah’s purpose has always been in connection with an organization of people. The nation of Israel accomplished the initial phase and Christ’s congregation will be used to bring about the completion. In connection with the Christian organization, one of its organizers, the apostle Paul, explained that God gave gifts in men in the form of prophets and evangelizers and teachers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.

So, even if it were possible that someone read and understood the Bible on their own, unless they were in some way connected to Christ’s congregation they could not really accomplish anything. Jesus explained it this way, saying: “Remain in union with me, and I will remain in union with you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in union with me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in union with me and I in union with him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing at all. If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is thrown out like a branch and dries up. And men gather those branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

It’s a wheel within a wheel and watchtower plays out the above scripture at John 15 like no other “organisation”. An untold number are there to learn and imbibe the truth and many others there for their own devices and they will shrivel and dry up upon the vine as much as the others who will bear fruit.

 

[SusanB]

Or they could be “lopped off” if they fail to stay faithful or become arrogant towards the “branches” or the “root”.

Romans 1:17-24: “However, if some of the branches were broken off and you, although being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the richness of the olive’s root, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If, though, you are arrogant toward them, remember that you do not bear the root, but the root bears you. You will say, then: “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true! For their lack of faith, they were broken off, but you are standing by faith. Do not be haughty, but be in fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Consider, therefore, God’s kindness and severity. There is severity toward those who fell, but toward you there is God’s kindness, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise, you too will be lopped off. And they also, if they do not remain in their lack of faith, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them back in. For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature and were grafted contrary to nature into the garden olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!”

 

[SusanB]

Isaiah 63:15-19: “Look down from heaven and see From your lofty abode of holiness and glory. Where are your zeal and your mightiness, The stirring of your compassions and your mercy? They are withheld from me. For you are our Father; Although Abraham may not know us And Israel may not recognize us, You, O Jehovah, are our Father. Our Repurchaser of long ago is your name. Why do you, O Jehovah, let us wander from your ways? Why do you let our hearts become hard, so that we do not fear you? Return, for the sake of your servants, The tribes of your inheritance. Your holy people possessed it for a short time. Our adversaries have trampled on your sanctuary. For too long we have become like those you never ruled over, Like those never called by your name.”

 

[Watchman]

I would only add that my understanding of prophecy is based upon the Watchtower being what it claims to be: Jehovah's earthly organization. In that respect, although I am an individual, no human has taught me these things since the Watchtower regards my stance as apostasy. But since the Watchtower is the object of Jehovah's denunciation, the insights given me by the spirit would not have taken place apart from the organization.

 

[MyGodisJehovah30]

Can individuals understand the Bible?

(Question #7) Can individuals read & understand the Bible alone, or do they need an organization and it's publications to do so? __________ Since the time when God made a covenant with Abraham Jehovah's purpose has always been in

e-watchman.com

View attachment 8715
(Question #7) Can individuals read & understand the Bible alone, or do they need an organization and it’s publications to do so?

__________

Since the time when God made a covenant with Abraham Jehovah’s purpose has always been in connection with an organization of people. The nation of Israel accomplished the initial phase and Christ’s congregation will be used to bring about the completion. In connection with the Christian organization, one of its organizers, the apostle Paul, explained that God gave gifts in men in the form of prophets and evangelizers and teachers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.

So, even if it were possible that someone read and understood the Bible on their own, unless they were in some way connected to Christ’s congregation they could not really accomplish anything. Jesus explained it this way, saying: “Remain in union with me, and I will remain in union with you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in union with me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in union with me and I in union with him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing at all. If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is thrown out like a branch and dries up. And men gather those branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15

Did brother Charles Taze Russell and his study group, need an Organization and its publications, when they had first begun studying and understanding the basic truths in the bible?

Sure, brother Charles Taze Russell had learned and was influenced by others, however, he didn't rely heavily upon an Organization or its publications.

 

[SusanB]

Did brother Charles Taze Russell and his study group, need an Organization and its publications, when they had first begun studying and understanding the basic truths in the bible?

Sure, brother Charles Taze Russell had learned and was influenced by others, however, he didn't rely heavily upon an Organization or its publications.

However, the facts show that Jehovah did bless the efforts of Charles Taze Russell and his study group. What they accomplished is actually amazing when you consider that they were renegades. The work that they did, at least the teachings that were actually based on the scriptures, seems to have endured the test of time as well as being “seeded” in various areas around the world. How could a human alone accomplish that? The pyramid stuff pretty much disappeared. And then again we have the “deceptive influence” that has endured (having morphed into the 1914 fraud), which Jehovah is allowing and using to be a source of judgment.

During my youth, I had never heard my mother mention anything about Jehovah’s Witnesses until I started studying with them in 1989. Then, after I shared with her the information that I was learning, she told me about some Witnesses who came to her door in the 60’s. She never forgot the questions they asked her and they asked her if she was one of the 144,000 who were going to heaven. That one question stuck in her mind for 30 years even though she thought they were ridiculous for asking it.

I see a similar amazing thing in the content and volume of work and insight provided by Brother Robert King. Even though the regulars on this forum are few in number, his reach to others who have come and gone is still amazing and these truths that he promotes and that are all scripturally sourced and backed are things that will endure and no doubt stick with the person. The volume and quality of his information is unique as far as I can tell.

 

[MickHewitt]

I would only add that my understanding of prophecy is based upon the Watchtower being what it claims to be: Jehovah's earthly organization. In that respect, although I am an individual, no human has taught me these things since the Watchtower regards my stance as apostasy. But since the Watchtower is the object of Jehovah's denunciation, the insights given me by the spirit would not have taken place apart from the organization.

I'm ten years as student of you Robert: For many years I was jealous of your blessed gift: 'Who is this that knows more of my bible than me!' Until I prayed and let Jehovah know of my jealousy I started to understand things more clearly. My reply from Jehovah was 'Mick where was you when I was looking for a Watchman? "Why Mick you were so demented with my organisation that you took the opportunity to justify your delving back into debaurchary!" Since then my understanding has stabilized my spirit and have began to grow into these Christian clothes.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

I'm ten years as student of you Robert: For many years I was jealous of your blessed gift: 'Who is this that knows more of my bible than me!' Until I prayed and let Jehovah know of my jealousy I started to understand things more clearly. My reply from Jehovah was 'Mick where was you when I was looking for a Watchman? "Why Mick you were so demented with my organisation that you took the opportunity to justify your delving back into debaurchary!" Since then my understanding has stabilized my spirit and have began to grow into these Christian clothes.

Don’t beat yourself up too much Mick. None of us are deserving. There is a great deal of peace at the lowest table and it’s the equality of and in heart that is the reward for all. Who is to say that your reward is not the greatest of all rewards. We live, and not only live, but know why we live. The peace of Jehovah exceeds even the emotion of the heart to express it, and within that, every last desire of the heart will be achieved and fulfilled.

 

[Brother Obvious]

Whatever Things Are True:​

Philippians 4:8—“Whatever Things Are True, . . . Continue Considering These Things”​

1 Timothy 6:20​

guard what has been entrusted to you: Here Paul includes the Scriptural truths with which Timothy was entrusted. (1Th 2:4; 2Ti 1:14; compare Ro 3:2 and study note.) The term rendered “what has been entrusted” was sometimes used of valuables deposited in a bank. It could also denote objects given to someone to care for, which is how it is used in the Greek Septuagint. (Le 6:2, 4 [5:21, 23, LXX]) Timothy was to guard the sacred message, not by locking it away for safekeeping, but by passing it along carefully and accurately when teaching. (2Ti 2:2) He would thus help guard, or protect, precious truths from being changed or corrupted by promoters of “empty speeches” and “the falsely called ‘knowledge.’”

empty speeches: “Empty sounds.” Here Paul uses a Greek expression that denotes “talk that has no value,” and some Bible translations have rendered it “empty chatter” and “pointless discussions.” Such speech was based on speculation rather than on solid truths from God’s Word. It was empty in that it was of no value in building faith. (1Ti 1:6; 2Ti 4:4; Tit 3:9) Even worse, such chatter or discussion would often violate what is holy, that is, it would be profane or irreverent. Those who were involved in such discussions substituted the truths of God’s Word with the mere thoughts of men. Paul warned Timothy to have nothing to do with such speech.—1Ti 4:7 and study note; 2Ti 2:16.

The falsely called “knowledge”: The “knowledge” Paul refers to is not fit to be called knowledge; he asserts that it is a mere sham. It finds no support in God’s Word. In fact, it contains contradictions, conflicting ideas or arguments and, even worse, ideas that contradict inspired writings. In this letter, Paul has repeatedly warned Timothy of the divisive, empty words of false teachers, who make a show of their learning and seek to influence the congregation. (1Ti 1:4, 7; 4:1-3, 7; 6:3-6) False ideas about “knowledge” (Greek, gnoʹsis) persisted. In the second century C.E., some groups of apostate Christians were known for calling themselves Gnostics, that is, “those possessing knowledge."