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| The Dawn · The Herald The New Creation Frank and Ernest (broadcast) Studies in the Scriptures The Photo-Drama of Creation The Watchtower · Awake! |
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| Charles Taze Russell Jonas Wendell · William Henry Conley Nelson H. Barbour · Paul S. L. Johnson A. H. Macmillan · J. F. Rutherford |
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| Jehovah · Nontrinitarianism · Ransom Dispensationalism · Sheol and Hades Resurrection · Annihilationism |
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| William Miller · Henry Grew George Storrs · N.H. Barbour |
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Studies in the Scriptures is a series of publications, intended as a Bible study aid, containing seven volumes of great importance to the history of the Bible Students, and the early history of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Contents |
The author of Studies in the Scriptures, Charles Taze Russell, reported that he did not write them "through visions and dreams, nor by God's audible voice", but by gathering the fragments of the truth scattered for a long time. In 1886 the first volume of the series was written. Today known as The Divine Plan of the Ages, it was originally titled The Plan of the Ages under its former series name of Millennial Dawn. The name of the series was changed to Studies in the Scriptures in 1904 in order to clarify their nature as biblical textbooks.
The series was written as a Bible study aid. The intention was that by studying the Bible topically, rather than verse by verse, details of God's plan might become clearer. The series progresses from elementary topics, such as the existence of God and establishing that the Bible is God's word, to deeper subject matter throughout the series.
The series was criticized by a few early 20th century ministers as an attempt to replace the Bible. Russell's view was quite different: he believed that while the Bible had been studied through different methods, topical study was the best approach. The six volumes are in some ways written as a commentary with suggestions given to Biblical events and utterances. Pastor Russell did not claim infallibility, but declared that God's plan of salvation could not be understood independent of his writings. He is quoted in saying, "if he then lays [the Studies in the Scriptures] aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness."
Studies in the Scriptures claimed to represent that humankind had reached the end of the current era, which Jesus said would be a harvest time, during which there would be a separation between the wheat and the impure imitations.
Following Russell's death in 1916, a seventh volume - entitled The Finished Mystery - was published in 1917 and advertised as his "posthumous work". [1] This seventh volume was a detailed interpretation of the book of Revelation, but also included interpretations of Ezekiel and the Song of Solomon. An advertisement for the book in The Watch Tower called it: "the true interpretation." (1917, p.334) The book was allegedly: "of the Lord—prepared under his guidance." (p. 126)
Immediate controversy surrounded both its publishing and contents. In a short time it was established that it was largely written and compiled by two of Russell's associates, Clayton J. Woodworth and George H. Fisher, and edited by Russell's successor, Joseph Franklin Rutherford.
As elements of its theology changed over the years, the Watch Tower Society revealed a series of prophecies concerning the date of Christ's return. Jehovah's Witnesses decided to withdraw from circulation all seven volumes of Studies in the Scriptures.
Most Jehovah's Witnesses are aware of the existence of Russell's books, as they are cited in that group's other works, such as Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (their official history) and Revelation---Its Grand Climax at Hand (one of their study books). The books may also be found in the libraries maintained by the individual congregations at many of their Kingdom Halls.