"Who is that Faithful and Wise Servant"?

[KingdomLeast]

The question of whether “the faithful and wise servant” is an individual Christian or a group of Christians is not easily answered from Matthew 24 alone, but Luke 12 elaborates.

We might expect Jesus to repeat important teachings several times in his ministry. Luke might give us the first time Jesus spoke of the faithful and wise servant, while Matthew writes topically and may cite the last time Jesus spoke of it.

Matthew 24 concludes with accounts of “the faithful and wise servant” and “that evil servant.” The timing is apparently between “the Son of man cometh” (24:44) and the “ten virgins who “went forth to meet the bridegroom” (25:1), which places it somewhere during “the last day” of this Age. The Matthew account is not necessarily clear whether the two servants are two individuals or two groups.

Most commentaries state that this is a parable, but Jesus doesn't introduce it as a parable.

So what say ye?

 

[Serenity]

The question of whether “the faithful and wise servant” is an individual Christian or a group of Christians is not easily answered from Matthew 24 alone, but Luke 12 elaborates.

We might expect Jesus to repeat important teachings several times in his ministry. Luke might give us the first time Jesus spoke of the faithful and wise servant, while Matthew writes topically and may cite the last time Jesus spoke of it.

Matthew 24 concludes with accounts of “the faithful and wise servant” and “that evil servant.” The timing is apparently between “the Son of man cometh” (24:44) and the “ten virgins who “went forth to meet the bridegroom” (25:1), which places it somewhere during “the last day” of this Age. The Matthew account is not necessarily clear whether the two servants are two individuals or two groups.

Most commentaries state that this is a parable, but Jesus doesn't introduce it as a parable.

So what say ye?

My thought is that it can't be just one individual. The reason that it cannot is that that the servant provides food to the master's household of servants. The household of faith spans more than one generation, so one person's lifespan would be far too limited to provide spiritual food to the household of faith.

 

[Watchman]

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed?

This is part nine in the review of the July 2022 Watchtower. 9. Jesus foretold that during the time of the end, he would appoint a “faithful and discreet slave” to provide spiritual food. So we would expect that

e-watchman.com

The Faithful Slave and the Last Days

Wednesday, December 16 Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?—Matt. 24:45. The faithful slave must be made up of anointed Christians on earth. Such ones are called “a royal priesthood” and have been commissioned to “‘declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called

e-watchman.com

Appointment of the slave

QUESTION: Since I have learned that Jesus has not appointed the slave yet and it is for a future time; I have being wondering who actually is feeding us now? Was Br. Russell actually used by Jehovah? I actually like to think so...

e-watchman.com

 

[KingdomLeast]

My thought is that it can't be just one individual. The reason that it cannot is that that the servant provides food to the master's household of servants. The household of faith spans more than one generation, so one person's lifespan would be far too limited to provide spiritual food to the household of faith.

Not necessarily. We have the Bible, and ALL the Bible writers are long gone and dead, but we still have their words. So, Jehovah fed His people through His Word. Let's say He chose ... say C.T. Russell, Well over 100 years ago. It would not matter if Russell's been dead for 100 years, his works live on, to continue to feed us. Christian bookstores are filled with commentaries and dictionaries and interlinears written over 100 years ago to help us understand the scriptures. Those authors are long dead, but they still help us understand.

I guess the problem with thinking it's a group, like the Governing Body, is that every time there is a rotation of members on the GB, doctrinal and organizational changes occur.

 

[Serenity]

Not necessarily. We have the Bible, and ALL the Bible writers are long gone and dead, but we still have their words. So, Jehovah fed His people through His Word. Let's say He chose ... say C.T. Russell, Well over 100 years ago. It would not matter if Russell's been dead for 100 years, his works live on, to continue to feed us. Christian bookstores are filled with commentaries and dictionaries and interlinears written over 100 years ago to help us understand the scriptures. Those authors are long dead, but they still help us understand.

I guess the problem with thinking it's a group, like the Governing Body, is that every time there is a rotation of members on the GB, doctrinal and organizational changes occur.

I don't think it's necessarily the governing body, as not all of them may necessarily be "faithful or wise". I think Russell was something. I'm just not quite sure what exactly. He definately gave very strong indications of having God's spirit, and yet I don't think he was right about everything.

 

[KingdomLeast]

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed?

This is part nine in the review of the July 2022 Watchtower. 9. Jesus foretold that during the time of the end, he would appoint a “faithful and discreet slave” to provide spiritual food. So we would expect that

e-watchman.com

The Faithful Slave and the Last Days

Wednesday, December 16 Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?—Matt. 24:45. The faithful slave must be made up of anointed Christians on earth. Such ones are called “a royal priesthood” and have been commissioned to “‘declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called

e-watchman.com

Appointment of the slave

QUESTION: Since I have learned that Jesus has not appointed the slave yet and it is for a future time; I have being wondering who actually is feeding us now? Was Br. Russell actually used by Jehovah? I actually like to think so...

e-watchman.com

Okay, Robert, I read all three linked articles above. Let me ask

1. You deny an invisible presence as taught by the GB, right? Yet you make mention of the presence, so what is the presence to you?
2. From what I read, you believe the FDS is an individual, but hasn't been appointed yet?

 

[KingdomLeast]

I don't think it's necessarily the governing body, as not all of them may necessarily be "faithful or wise".

So then the question is, IF ... "That Servant" is a CLASS, does God deal with them as a CLASS or as INDIVIDUALS? After all, the decisions that come down from the "FDS Class" is not from INDIVIDUALS, but collectively as a CLASS.

I think Russell was something. I'm just not quite sure what exactly. He definitely gave very strong indications of having God's spirit, and yet I don't think he was right about everything.

From my research, not even the Bible Students in his day or even today, believe that Russell was "That Servant". The more conservative ones believe he was and is, but there is a faction that doesn't believe he was. The group that broke away in 1909, who still exist today, don't promote or circulate any of Russell's writings, although they held to many of the basic beliefs. The Layman's Home Missionary Movement started by Paul S.L. Johnson in 1918 (who BTW believe the door to the high calling is closed) believe he was. Most will believe he was the Seventh Messenger to the Church.

Perhaps Russell was the forerunner of the FDS. Although at one time this was a teaching of the GB, they eventually demoted Russell, since they believe that the FDS was chosen in 1919. That would discount Russell as he died in 1916.

 

[Serenity]

So then the question is, IF ... "That Servant" is a CLASS, does God deal with them as a CLASS or as INDIVIDUALS? After all, the decisions that come down from the "FDS Class" is not from INDIVIDUALS, but collectively as a CLASS.

From my research, not even the Bible Students in his day or even today, believe that Russell was "That Servant". The more conservative ones believe he was and is, but there is a faction that doesn't believe he was. The group that broke away in 1909, who still exist today, don't promote or circulate any of Russell's writings, although they held to many of the basic beliefs. The Layman's Home Missionary Movement started by Paul S.L. Johnson in 1918 (who BTW believe the door to the high calling is closed) believe he was. Most will believe he was the Seventh Messenger to the Church.

Perhaps Russell was the forerunner of the FDS. Although at one time this was a teaching of the GB, they eventually demoted Russell, since they believe that the FDS was chosen in 1919. That would discount Russell as he died in 1916.

Your question and thread title is, "Who Is The Faithful And Wise Servant?" The same question that Jesus asked, to which we don't know the answer presently, but will be determined by Christ.

If the "servant" is a class and the GB is that "servant", this may be possible, if you just say "servant" and not necessarily faithful and wise, because whether they have been faithful and discreet, or not, is to be determined at Christ's return and by Jesus Christ. Also, whether they have NOT been faithful and discreet, and/or are of the evil slave class is also determined by Christ at his return, as well , and also whether they have just been ignorant and did things deserving of strokes simply out of pure ignorance. Christ Jesus is the one who has been appointed to judge. All Christians are judged individually, but together, make up whatever class they prove to be part of. Some may prove faithful, some may prove to be ignorant, some may be of the evil slave class.

"Therefore, do not judge anything before the due time, until the Lord comes. He will bring the secret things of darkness to light and make known the intentions of the hearts, and then each one will receive his praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5

Is it our place to judge the house servant of another? To his own Master he stands or falls. Romans 14:4