Teaching authority among Jehovah's Witnesses

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Bible verses quoted from the New World Translation except where noted

The spiritual authority among Jehovah's Witnesses is vested the Faithful and Discreet Slave (also known as the remnant,^[1] the anointed,^[2] God's "prophet"^[3], and God's channel''^[4]), which is a term used to refer to the remaining (living) portion of the group of 144,000 people with a heavenly hope.^[5] They teach that these 144,000 will eventually rule over the earth from heaven, along with Jesus, as Kings and Priests.^[6]

1 Current Doctrine
2 History of Teaching Authority
3 Notes, References, Sources
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Current Doctrine

Jehovah's Witnesses believe only 144,000 humans and Jesus Christ are ever going to be rewarded with immortal heavenly life as spirit creatures. The rest of the faithful will be rewarded with eternal life on a paradise earth. They teach that Jesus was the first to be rewarded with heavenly immortality, but that Revelation 7:4 and Revelation 14:1, 3 refer to a literal number (144,000) of additional people who will become "self-sustaining," that is, not needing anything outside themselves (food, sunlight, etc.) to maintain their own life.^[7]

Collectively, these 144,000 are believed to be the "little flock" of Luke 12:32, the "twenty-four elders" in Revelation^[8], and the "Israel of God"^[9].

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jehovah began choosing these 144,000 at Pentecost in 33 CE when Holy Spirit anointed disciples gathered in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:1-4) Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the sum total of all those anointed by Holy Spirit, from Pentecost 33 CE until present day, does not exceed 144,000 individuals.^[10] They believe the majority of these have died already. The Witnesses teach that in the Spring of 1918 Jesus resurrected all those of the 144,000 who had died to heavenly life as spirit creatures. They also teach that those of the 144,000 who die since 1918 are instantaneously resurrected to heavenly life at the time of their death.

According to Jehovah's Witnesses, "the faithful and discreet slave" of Matthew 24:45 ("a faithful and wise servant" KJV) is the remaining ones of the 144,000, or "the remnant," as a distinct class of people. They believe that "Christ uses this body to publish information on the fulfillment of Bible prophecies and to give timely direction on the application of Bible principles in daily life."^[11]

[edit] History of Teaching Authority

Matthew 24:45 depicts a "faithful and discreet slave" who is "appointed over" others to "give them their food at the proper time." The belief that the "food," or "meat," is symbolic food referring to spiritual nourishment has never left the interpretation applied by Jehovah's Witnesses. However, the doctrine regarding identity of the Faithful and Discreet Slave has experienced major revision.

In the early history of Jehovah's Witnesses, before they took that name, Charles Taze Russell (Pastor Russell) initially taught the "faithful and wise servant" was the entire body of true Christians. After about 1896, Russell began to see himself as fulfilling the role of "that servant." He explains his change of views in the 1 March 1896 Watch Tower: "In our examination of this text we seem to have treated the term ‘that servant’ as though the Spirit had erred in saying ‘that servant’ when it meant servants (plural), and we applied it to all true servants of God. Since then we have been met from various quarters with objections to so general an application, and the suggestion that it would be wrong to allow modesty or any other consideration, good or bad, to warp our judgment in the exposition of the inspired Word; to which proposition we agree." (Reprints, p. 1946) Later in the 15 April 1904 Watch Tower, Russell explained that the "servant" was an individual and not a group: "but since the servant mentioned is to dispense food to the other members of the body, his fellow-servants, the term seems to be limited to some particular individual." (Reprints, p. 3356) He generally was cautious not to claim the title boldly, but he allowed others to identify him as such. For example, Russell as editor of the Watch Tower published letters from readers referring to him as the "faithful servant." (15 November 1915 Watch Tower, p. 351; Reprints, p. 5804) At his death in 1916, the Watch Tower reported that in private conversations Russell admitted that he was the "faithful and wise servant."^[12] (Matthew 24:45 KJV) This view of C.T. Russell being "that slave" was taught up until 1927 in The Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Presence: "No one in present truth for a moment doubts that Brother Russell filled the office of the 'faithful and wise servant', whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season'."^[13]

In 1927 Russell's successor, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, published an article in The Watchtower to the effect that the "faithful servant" was a class of people, not an individual. Jehovah’s Witnesses--Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom concludes that "...the idea that Russell himself was the faithful and wise servant...came to be generally held by the Bible Students for some thirty years." (1896-1927)^[14]

In subsequent years it became unclear whether the title was being applied to the Watch Tower Society or some other group. Some statements specifically applied the verse to the organization: "The Father is the great Provider of spiritual food, and he delegates to his organization the duty of preparing and serving this life-sustaining 'meat in due season'. The table is the Lord’s, he sits at the head, and the children seated at the table are waited on and served and helped by the mother organization.—Matt. 24:45; Ps. 23:5; Isa. 25:6"^[15]

In the year 1951, for the first time, a clear division was drawn between the "faithful and discreet slave" as a class of people and the organization: "Christ Jesus approved of his remnant as a 'faithful and discreet slave' and set this slave class over all his earthly belongings. Then by the theocratic organization Jehovah led them from one truth to another, opening the eyes of their hearts and the ears of their understanding to see and hear these truths."

From that year forward, the teaching regarding the Faithful and Discreet Slave has been consistent. Jehovah's Witnesses believe this remnant to be over all Jesus' earthly belongings. This remnant is believed to exercise all teaching authority among Jehovah's Witnesses as it pertains to doctrine and articles of faith. None of Jehovah's Witnesses claim infallibility on any teaching. However, Jehovah's Witnesses are told: "a mature Christian...does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and 'the faithful and discreet slave.'"^[16] Publicly rejecting any teaching can result in disfellowshipping.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that after a period of examination by Jesus of all churches claiming to be Christian, this remnant was recognized by Jesus, in 1919, as the only true Christians. They further believe that Jesus uses this group exclusively as the only means of communicating God's messages to all the earth. This belief is the basis for calling this group God's Channel.