The Watchtower, February 15, 1943
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“JEPHTHAH’S DAUGHTER” TESTIMONY PERIOD
The month of February has been thus designated. By reading the Bible account at Judges 11 persons of good-will toward God’s kingdom who present themselves to his victorious King, the Greater Jephthah, for him to dispose of them in Jehovah’s service will recognize themselves as part of the “Jephthah’s daughter” class. All such are invited to join the anointed remnant of Jehovah’s witnesses in this month-long testimony period. This period begins a three-month campaign for subscriptions for The Watchtower The regular year’s subscription rate of $1.00 will be asked, but, according to the Lord’s generosity and to make the offer especially attractive, the book The New World and the booklet Peace—Can It Last? will be added as a premium with each year’s subscription. The goal for the three months is 100,000 subscriptions, at least, in the United States and territories So get your instructions and your equipment and complete your arrangements now. Avoid getting off to a slow start, but make the midwinter month of February a period that will count toward reaching your personal quota and helping m making the nation-wide quota, yes, exceeding it.
"WATCHTOWER” STUDIES
Week of March 21: “Endurance amid World Crisis,” fl 1-22 inclusive, The Watchtower February 15, 1943. Week of March 23: "Endurance amid World Crisis,” 23-45 inclusive, The Watchtower February 15, 1943.
1943 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
The year 1942 has been a most eventful and thrilling year m the experiences and activities of Jehovah’s witnesses You may now get a world view of such exploits and their lasting benefit to men of good-will by reading the annual report as prepared by the president of the Watchtower Society. This is published in the 1943 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses, now off the press. Also contained therein are the yeartext for 1943 and explanatory comment thereon, together with a stirring text and comment for each day of the year. As to the courage, strength, joy and vision to be derived therefrom, and also as to the need and usefulness of such throughout the year by Christians, there is hardly any need of comment. Due to the limited edition a contribution of 50c is asked per copy of the 1943 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses. Companies should combine individual orders and forward same to us with remittance, to expedite the handling thereof and to make for postage savings.
CALENDAR, 1943
The yeartext for 1943 is “More than conquerors through him that loved us”. (Romans 8: 37) Keep this text daily before you during 1943. This service calendar is yours at 25c a copy, or five copies mailed to one address on a contribution of $1.00. Companies should please combine orders and send through the company servant.
Vol. LXIV
February 15, 1943
No. 4
ENDURANCE AMID WORLD CRISIS
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." — Mark 13:13.
JEHOVAH is the prime target of attack by all the foes, demon and human, of an enduring righteous new world. He will survive the final crisis that is now upon the doomed and unsatisfactory old world. “They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; . . . thou, O Jehovah, wilt abide for ever; and thy memorial name unto all generations.” (Ps. 102: 26, 12, Am. Rev. Ver.) The old world will not survive the zenith of the crisis at the universal war of Armageddon, but Jehovah’s Word, the Bible, which fanatical religionists incited by papal Rome have repeatedly consigned to the flames, will survive and be completely fulfilled. “The word of the Lord endureth for ever.” (1 Pet. 1:25) Whosoever now trusts in that Word and obeys its expression of its Author’s will finds strength to endure in the mounting world crisis. He enjoys a certain hope of life without end in the new world of righteousness. The old world and its backers must pass away; “but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:17) It is the highest wisdom to serve Jehovah.
2 Wide-awake persons need not be informed that there is world opposition to the service of Jehovah God; they have observed it for themselves. The great wave of anti-Jewish sentiment as fanned by Roman Catholic dictators now in power has served the Devil’s purpose to bring the name of Jehovah into great contempt and under great reproach. However, the terrific opposition to Jehovah God is brought out more clearly into the open by the great persecution upon non-Jews, Christians, who declare the name of Jehovah and his Theocratic Government by his Messiah, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses. The bitter persecution they suffer is not particularly by those whom “Christendom” calls “pagan” or “heathen”; it is by zealous members of the religious organizations that assume the name “Christian”. It is very plain that the proclamation of Jehovah’s holy name and Righteous Government by his Anointed has split “Christendom” wide open. Like nothing else it has tested her as to her claims to love God and to desire his kingdom by Christ Jesus.
1. In this mounting world crisis, who and what will survive or endure and live in the new world, as stated in the Bible?
2. By what is the world opposition to Jehovah God brought most clearly into the open? and thereby who particularly is proved to be foremost in opposition and untrue to professions of love?
3 The effect has been the same as when the Son of Jehovah God first came to earth and appeared among men. He said: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43) As a result the religious nation to which he came was split. The majority turned against him and viewed him as an impostor, a criminal deserving to be pinned to a tree at Calvary. At the same time they still professed to hold to the God in whose name he came and for the vindication of which name he died. Only a remnant of the Jews accepted him as Jehovah's promised Messiah, the Christ, the One anointed to be the King of the foretold Theocratic Government of blessings.—Rom. 11: 5, 7; John 1: 11.
4 Christ Jesus predicted that it would be so. When he sent forth his twelve apostles preaching, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” he warned them, saying: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Jesus did not advise any “good neighbor” policy or compromise with religion, but added: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross [of reproaches for preaching the kingdom of God and Jehovah’s name], and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10: 34-38) Jesus’ declaration of his Father's name and proclamation of His “kingdom of heaven” slit not merely families on the issue, but also the relationships between employer and employee, master and slave, political ruler and citizens, clergyman and religious “flock”.
3. How has ‘'Christendom” been affected the same way as the Jews when Jehovah's Son first came and appeared among men?
4. How did Jesus forewarn that It would be thus, and what various relationships were affected by his declaration of God's name and proclamation of the Kingdom?
5 Nineteen centuries have passed since that warning was first given, but time has not changed or disproved the truth of Christ’s words. Human nature has not changed, except that selfishness has taken deeper root and wickedness and violence have increased. Religion has not changed, because it is and always has been demonism, and the demons have not changed. They become only more malignant and desperate in their hard-hearted opposition to Jehovah God and the promised Kingdom of his glorified Son. Jesus said that, to the very end of the world and after the operation of religion down to that time, the resistance and animosity of religious leaders to the only Government of salvation would not lessen but would spread world-wide. Jesus’ words to his followers engaged in preaching “this gospel of the kingdom”, and which words apply at the end of the world, read today as follows: “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.” “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.”—Matt. 24:7-9,13,14; Mark 13:13.
BOWING AT THE NAME
6 The above admonition to endurance during this most critical stage of world history agrees with the previous admonition Jesus gave in connection with the preaching of the Kingdom and the opposition to be met because thereof. “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hatod of all men for my name's sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:21,22) “For my name's sake” does not apply merely to the name “Jesus” or the name “Christ”. “Christendom” has taken that name, and her hundreds of thousands of religious buildings called “churches” and “cathedrals” have paraded that name as if great lovers thereof. They profess great love with their mouths, yet their heart is not in their words, but is far removed from the One their hypocritical lips name.—Isa. 29:13.
7 Hatred “for my name’s sake” means hatred for what the name actually represents. Because Jesus faithfully endured in his integrity toward God even to the shameful death, it is written, “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2: 9-11) Before ever Jehovah exalted his faithful Son and Witness to a glorious heavenly station second only to His own, God’s Son already had the name “Jesus” and “Christ”. Hence the “name” that God gave him at the time of his exaltation must refer to his lofty office, namely, that of Jehovah’s Vindicator and the King of Jehovah’s Theocratic Government, which Government is the capital or chief organization of Jehovah’s universal organization. Hence the Son's official name is above every other name save that of Jehovah himself, because Jehovah is Supreme. As it is written: “The head of Christ is God.” —1 Cor. 11: 3.
5 How has the passing of nineteen centuries since not disproved or changed the truth of Christ’s words, and how does his prophecy on the "end of the world” show It would be thus?
6 What previous admonition did Jesus give concerning the opposition, division and hatred for his name's sake, and what is it that shows that "name's sake" does not mean merely his name in itself?
7 As to the hatred “for my name's sake”, what does the name actually mean, and what “name” did God give his Son at the time of his exaltation to heaven?
8 Billions of religionists have pronounced the words “Jesus” and “Christ” and literally bent their knees and heads thereat, but they have never recognized his office as Jehovah’s Vindicator and King, because they have never bowed to his office and discharged their obligations to that “name” or office. Millions in “Christendom” still bow and name the name of “Jesus Christ” in their religious buildings, but do not do so “to the glory of God the Father”. Rather they curse the name of Jehovah, who is “God the Father” toward Jesus, and they piously issue forth from their religious-worship places to mob, persecute, arrest, condemn, and suppress, and even to kill the inoffensive Jehovah's witnesses. Why? Because Jehovah’s witnesses do bow their knee to the name or kingly office of Jesus as their Leader, Savior and reigning King, and publicly, from house to house, they go, their tongues confessing to friend and foe alike that Jesus Christ is Lord, Master, Owner of all that gain life, and that his kingdom has begun to rule amidst the enemies for the vindication of Jehovah’s name. And this they do “to the glory of God the Father”. Every creature that attains to life in the New World, whether in heaven or on earth, will likewise have to recognize the high office Jehovah conferred on Christ Jesus at his resurrection. That office Jehovah put into active operation in A.D. 1914, which marked the end of Satan’s uninterrupted rule or “world”. Every such creature that lives in the New World will have to acknowledge Jesus Christ as one of the “Higher Powers” with Jehovah. He will have to live in accordance with that fact, fully bowing to all responsibilities and obligations owed to Jesus’ “name” or exalted office.
8. (a) Why have the religionists, in spite of all their outward expressions and motions, not in reality confessed and bowed the knee at Jesus’ name and to God’s glory? (b) What therefore will all who attain life in the New World have to recognize and acknowledge, and how?
9 Instead of a “good neighbor” policy and a world conversion obtaining at the world’s end, Jesus foretold that then a division of the peoples into two general groups would take place and that he would be the cause of it. As a part of his prophecy on the visible proofs of the end of the world, Jesus said: “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt. 25: 31-33) At Jesus’ first coming in the humiliation of flesh as a man he did not come to send a peace with religion. He wielded a sword of war against religion and cut a clear line of separation between religionists and believers who worshiped Jehovah and served Him as Christ Jesus taught. At that time he sent forth his faithful disciples boldly declaring, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” because Christ Jesus the heavenly appointed King was at hand, present among his religious enemies. — Luke 17: 21, margin.
10 The proclamation of the Kingdom as at hand was the cause responsible for dividing the people at the Lord’s first coming. Likewise since A.D. 1914 it must be that the instrument the King and Judge on his throne uses for the separating of the people as “sheep” and “goats” is the “preaching of this gospel of the kingdom”. The Lord Jesus prophesied that at the end of the world and after the World War this Kingdom gospel must and would be preached to all nations. It is only reasonable, then, that the effect of this preaching in these “last days” would be exactly the same on religious “Christendom” as when Christ Jesus was bodily present in religious Jewry. It is even so, as the facts at hand show. By the sending forth of Jehovah’s witnesses to all the world to preach the established kingdom of God to all countries, the royal Judge Christ Jesus has gathered all nations before his throne. He has turned his attention toward them. Although the blinded and unbelieving nations of “Christendom” do not actually see the King and Judge upon his throne, yet by his message proclaimed to them the nations have been put on notice that Jehovah’s King was enthroned in 1914 and that now Jehovah commands all rulers and nations to “fear God” and “honour the King” and to submit to these two “Higher Powers”.—Rom. 13: 1.
9 (a) What division at the end of the world did Jesus foretell? and who would be responsible for it? (b) At his first coming what did Jesus send as to religion, and what proclamation did be send forth his disciples to make, and why?
10. What instrument likewise does the Lord Jesus use for dividing the people as “sheep" and "goats”, and how has he gathered all nations before him to this end?
11 The fact that all the nations hate and persecute Jehovah’s witnesses is ample evidence that those religion-dominated nations have taken notice of the message of Jehovah’s kingdom and vengeance. They are being judged thereby and are shaping their own destiny accordingly. Again the division of the peoples of the nations is cutting across all family, party, labor, commercial and religious ties. No section of human society is beyond feeling the effects of the Kingdom proclamation. All quarters, particularly those of “Christendom”, are being searched for the Lord's “sheep”, and Jehovah has sent forth his “fishers” and thereafter his “hunters” to “fish them" and to “hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks". — Jer. 16:16.
12 The divinely stated rule, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4), now applies to all the scriptures of the whole present- day Bible. That includes the First Epistle of the apostle Peter. Therefore his words have special application to these days when the Kingdom’s establishment in 1914 and the end of the world are being announced in all the habitable earth. The apostle's letter was addressed directly to those Christians begotten of God’s spirit and anointed as his witnesses. Such are elected to be associated with Christ Jesus in the Kingdom if they continue faithful unto death. Being in line for Jehovah’s Government of the New World and being called out from the world which lies under Satan the wicked one, these “elect" ones of God were “strangers and pilgrims” to this world amidst which they found themselves. They have been “scattered” throughout all the earth for the preaching of the Kingdom gospel. (1 Pet. 1: 1-5) Now the trial of God’s elect is reaching its climax as the battle of Armageddon is being approached. Not only a remnant yet on earth of the “elect” find themselves “strangers and pilgrims”, but also the Lord’s “other sheep” respond to the Kingdom proclamation and come out from the worldly organization and are gathered to the “one fold” with the remnant. (John 10: 16) Thereby they too become “strangers and pilgrims” with the remnant. — 1 Pet. 2:11.
THE JEWISH CRISIS
13 In the apostle Peter’s day on earth the King's presence and his coming Government had been preached to Peter’s own nation, “Israel after the flesh,” the Jews circumcised in the flesh. In his First Epistle, chapter two, verses 3-10, Peter mentions how the Jews as a nation under their religious leaders stumbled over the Messianic King, Christ Jesus the Lord, who was symbolized as Jehovah’s precious, elect Stone in Zion. Despite the King’s refusal by his own people after the flesh, Jehovah’s purpose proceeded unchanged, unaffected. He exalted the rejected Stone to be the Chief Corner Stone in the building of The Theocratic Government. Under it all who share in the Government and all subjects thereof must submit themselves. Concerning this Peter records the division which took place among those hearing the Kingdom message and shows that a faithful remnant from among the Jews assembled themselves to the King, the Stone. These were built up in him unto a spiritual house of God or temple, wherein God might dwell by his spirit or power for the accomplishment of his holy purpose.
11 What proves that all nations have taken notice of the message of Jehovah's kingdom and vengeance, and across what ties, section, and quarters is the division work cutting?
12. (a) According to what stated rule does the First Epistle of Peter specially apply since 1914, and to whom was the epistle directly addressed? (b) In what sense are such ones now “strangers and pilgrims" and "scattered", and who today are associated with these in such position?
13. In Peter’s day what action did his nation take toward Jehovah's Elect Stone laid in Zion, and how did a remnant act and come into relationship with God's temple?
14 Inasmuch as only a remnant were available from the natural Jews Jehovah visited the Gentiles. Sending the apostle Peter as his first ambassador to them, Jehovah invited them to assemble unto the Stone, his anointed King, and to be brought into the spiritual temple class and become part of Jehovah’s “holy nation” and “people for his name”. (Acts 15: 14-18) Thus the division of the peoples by the message was not confined to the Jewish nation. It also extended to the Gentiles who were reached by the apostles and their co-workers bearing the news concerning Jehovah’s King, the Stone. As the relationship of believers to others who remained in the world was affected or altered thereby, the apostle Peter by inspiration wrote them on how to conduct themselves toward such unbelievers.
15 Peter’s record of the unfaithfulness of the Jewish nation in refusing Jehovah's King was also prophetic. Why? Because that refusal of “Israel after the flesh” was but a miniature fulfillment of the very prophecies of Isaiah which Peter quoted. (Isa. 8: 14, 15; 28: 16) The major, final or complete fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the “stone of stumbling” and “rock of offence” must take place to fully verify the prophecies and carry out all their details.
16 Unfaithful Israel, with its opportunities for “the kingdom of heaven”, foreshadowed unfaithful “Christendom”, more highly favored with opportunities toward that same Kingdom. The Jewish nation, in the end of Jehovah’s dealing with it as a people, rejected the One he sent to them as King. So now in the end of the world, when Jehovah’s judgment casts off “Christendom” as untrue to her name, she likewise chooses “Caesar” (worldly politics) as king and rejects God’s kingdom by his enthroned Son. She hates and persecutes those who proclaim the coming of Jehovah’s King and kingdom. However, nineteen hundred years ago there was a remnant of the Jews which did not go in the disobedient and faithless way of their nation, but ‘feared Jehovah and honored his King’. Likewise since the beginning of judgment at the temple of God in 1918 there has appeared a faithful remnant of spiritual ones out of all professing “Christians”. These have assembled unto the established Kingdom, and as its ambassadors to all nations they have gone forth to “advertise the King and the Kingdom”. The Lord’s “other sheep” join them in this.
14 Whom did Jehovah God then visit, and how? and why did the apostle Peter write the believers as to their relationship to others?
15 Why was Peter's record of the Jewish nation's refusal of Jehovah's King also prophetic?
16 How did unfaithful Israel with its Kingdom opportunities foreshadow "Christendom", and how has a remnant manifested itself in both cases?
“DESPOTS” AND DOMESTICS
17 The spiritual remnant and the earthly “other sheep” bow the knee to the “name” of the King and confess to his lordship “to the glory of God the Father”. This forthright position which they have taken has brought them into great difficulty. Despite such difficulty with unbelieving, rebellious “Christendom”, they may not compromise. They do not propose to do so. Hence the apostle Peter’s words prove timely and give them right counsel as to how to deal with those in the world from whom the Lord s “sword” has caused a division. In Peter’s time not all the believers were engaged in full-time service of preaching the Kingdom. Some were tied up as servants to masters. Whether these were bondslaves under Roman law or were servants working off a debt by personal service to their debtor, Peter does not state. His language indicates they were under obligation; and, whether for a time or for all their present life, they could not legally get loose, but must perform service to the master. What attitude should such ones under obligation take toward their masters, especially if the servants became Christians and the masters did not? What position today must those of the remnant and “other sheep” take toward employers when earthly circumstances such as personal obligations and the laws of “Caesar” require them to do secular work, preventing them from devoting all their time to preaching the Kingdom gospel from door to door? Also what should married persons do, that is, the Christian members toward the unbelieving ones in the marital tie? The Lord God inspired the apostle to write faithful counsel.
18 Leaders of labor unions have objected to the writings of the apostles on the relations between employer and employee. Such labor unionists, misunderstanding, have condemned the apostles as approving of slavery and the exploitation of labor by the employer class. That is an unjustified condemnation. The apostles could not be labor union advocates. They were ambassadors of God’s Kingdom, under which there will be no need for the laboring class to organize to protect their human rights; for the King will have abolished all slavery and cracked all oppressive ones, whether industrial, political, or religious. One thing the apostles did, and that was what their commission from God required them to do, namely, to preach the good news of the Kingdom. They were not authorized to meddle in worldly affairs, in the vain hope of trying to reform the world and by human efforts to perfect man’s condition, so to make God’s kingdom unnecessary. The folly of this is seen in the present-day condition after centuries of meddling in such matters by Roman Catholic priests and other religious clergy. The apostles were living in a Rome-dominated world, and if Caesar and his government did not choose to emancipate the slaves, that was Caesar’s business. The apostles and their associates obeyed the command of Jesus Christ to “render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s’’. (Matt. 22: 21) They wrote, not to leaders of organized labor or other men of the world, but to God’s “elect”, to those who were “strangers and pilgrims” toward this world, and they wrote concerning the “things that are God’s”. Hence the passing of judgment thereon by worldly men is excluded as not being their business.
17 (a) Why do Peter’s words on this subject prove timely for God’s remnant and the “other sheep” now? (b) What was the situation then of many Christian believers with respect to personal freedom to preach the Kingdom, and what questions therefore arose then, and arise now, because of such situation?
18 (a) Why have labor union leaders objected to the writings of the apostles? (b) Why could the apostles not be labor union advocates, and why Is it outside their business for such labor unionists and other worldly men to offer such criticisms?
19 The Christian’s primary work on earth now, that to which he is called of God and commissioned, is to follow Christ as a preacher of the glad tidings of the Kingdom. Whether he is employed part of the time as the apostle Paul once was for a short period (Acts 18:1-4), or can devote all his time to ministering God’s Word from house to house, his calling and commission do not change. He must be a witness for Jehovah and must put the declaration of Jehovah’s name first. (Isa. 61: 1-3; 1 Cor. 9: 16) In the light of this the apostle’s next words must be understood. “Servants, be subject to your masters [(Greek) despotes] with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently! but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” – 1 Pet. 2:18-20.
19 (a) What is the Christian's primary work on earth now, and does his situation as to time for such work change his calling and commission? (b) This throws light, then, on the understanding of what words of Peter concerning subjection of servants to masters?
20 “Servants,” here, is better translated “household servants” or “domestics”. (Emphatic Diaglott; Rotherham) The converted centurion Cornelius had such “household servants”. (Acts 10:7) The word “masters” is in the Greek text “despots”, that is, those who command and are at the head of anything. (Parkhurst) The apostle Peter had just instructed the Christian “strangers and pilgrims” to “fear God”; wherefore the fear which the Christian “household servants” or “domestics” should exercise toward their “masters” (despotes) would not be a fear to do the things of God, but a fear as to their business relationship. It would not be a fear that would cause them to smother their fear of God and break his commandments. It would not be a fear of human masters because men ‘are able to kill the body’. (Matt. 10: 28) Nor would it be a “fear of man” that “leadeth into a snare” and makes one a victim and a prisoner in spirit to men who set traps to catch men for the Devil’s organization. (Prov. 29:25) It is not a fear that would cause the servants to fail or refuse to preach the gospel outside of business hours or “off duty” or when even business circumstances allowed; nor would it terrify them into silence. “Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled,” writes Peter, “but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man [including a master] that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”—1 Pet. 3:14,15.
21 Hence “being subject to masters with all fear" means to recognize the position of the employer and what is his due therefore, and to fulfill all proper business requirements and regulations and render efficient service. So doing, the worker will not get the displeasure of his employer respecting work done or turned out. Such displeasure is what the servant should fear. He sees to it that the master to whom his services are owed or sold does not suffer loss or damage due to failure or improper performance on his part.
22 To be considered together with Peter’s instruction are the words of the apostle Paul: “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters [despotes] worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters [despotes], let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.” (1 Tim. 6:1, 2) “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters [despotes], and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:9,10) To the same effect are the instructions at Ephesians 6:5-7 and Colossians 3:22,23. Thus God’s Word shows that by being a proper, conscientious worker in secular employment one gives no occasion to the enemy for faultfinding or for bad reflections to be cast upon the Lord’s organization and upon the message and the witness work with which the servant is known to be associated. His honesty to his “master” is a testimony to his faith.
20 (a) What do the words “servants” and “masters" here signify? (b) Although being “subject ... with all fear", what fear would it be improper for “servants" to exercise toward “masters"?
21 What, then, does ‘being subject to masters with all fear mean?
22 What words of instruction on the same subject does the apostle Paul and what la the purpose in being thus subject to masters?
CALLED TO SUFFER FOR WHATT
23 Peter instructs being subject to the good and gentle masters and to the “froward”, that is, “the perverse” (Diaglott; Rotherham), or “harsh, difficult to please”. (Parkhurst) In what way “froward”, “perverse,” or “hard to please"? In simply the matter of physical secular work? No! for such work you should be doing right; but in a higher matter, namely: That although a Christian is in the service employ of a master "according to the flesh”, yet he is primarily a servant of Jehovah God and must be an active publisher of the Kingdom as Christ Jesus was on earth; and that he so acts aside from his earthly employment. Such Christian has made a full consecration of himself to God through Christ Jesus, who bought him with his own precious blood. So, regardless of the dislike or objections of earthly employers, he seeks to be faithful, above all, to the obligations of his consecration to serve Jehovah God conscientiously as Christ Jesus set the example.
24 The Christian employee should see to it that he does not suffer because of shortcomings, indifference, carelessness or neglect at his assigned duties: No merit attaches to patiently enduring buffeting or being cuffed for such faults or sins. What, however, if the servant is faithful at his job and his “master” mistreats him and discriminates against him only because his employee faithfully serves as a witness for Jehovah? Then when the “servant” endures such sufferings without bitterness, malice or retaliation, he is suffering wrongfully and it is “for conscience toward God” and for well-doing in God’s service. The enduring of such “grief”, wrongfully administered, is for the vindication of God's name. To quote the apostle: “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” —1 Pet. 2: 20.
25 Only viewed from the above standpoint can the apostle’s next words be correctly grasped: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Pet. 2:21-24) Merely being buffeted around by an employer or master because of being an obligated, helpless employee or slave with no recourse to civil law, that is not the thing which the servant of Jehovah is called to endure with longsuffering and without sinning in return. Such suffering bears no resemblance to the sufferings of Jesus Christ, who was not in the employ of any earthly “master", and it could not be compared by the apostle with what the Savior endured. Why not? Because the reason for such suffering and the reason for bearing up without sin under the suffering would not be the same as in Jesus’ case. There is no record that Jesus suffered buffetings wrongfully as the “carpenter’s son” at Nazareth up till his thirtieth year, when he left the shop and went to Jordan river to be baptized by John. The suffering to which all Christ’s followers are called must be the same in the case of the “household servant” subject to an earthly “master" as in the case of one who is devoting his entire time like Jesus to preaching God’s Word from house to house and not subject to any master in secular employment for a livelihood.
23 In which way are some masters “froward”. or “hard to please” by Christians, in simply the matter of physical secular work or otherwise?
24 When, and when not. does an employee suffer wrongfully “for conscience toward God”, taking it patiently?
25 According to the case of Jesus as a carpenter up to thirty years of age, why could not buffetings of a Christian by his employer merely as an employee be the sufferings to which a Christian is called?
26 In the world many innocent persons are enduring sufferings wrongfully inflicted by those over them, but such are not the sufferings to which the follower of Christ Jesus is called. Also Jesus did not suffer just because he “did no sin”. His sufferings are not recorded as already begun before his baptism while he was leading a sinless life in the despised city of Nazareth in Galilee. Hence those who think that being honest, upright, energetic and productive and without reproach as a worker in some commercial, industrial, agricultural, or domestic occupation or employment is all there is to being a Christian and letting one’s light shine are mistaken. Such professed “Christians” do not at all see the issue involved, but count on self-righteousness or so-called “character”.
27 What, then, is it that distinguished the suffering of Christ Jesus from that of humankind for whom he died? What is the reason for the Christlike suffering to which his followers are called and by which he left them an example that they should follow his steps? The records of the apostles all agree to it that the special and decisive sufferings of Christ Jesus began after he was baptized in symbol of his consecration to do Jehovah God’s will and after he refused to come to terms with the Devil in the forty days of temptation and after he went forth from the wilderness and began manifesting Jehovah’s name and preaching the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 3:13-17; 4:1-17) Hence he suffered for God’s kingdom and its righteousness. His followers are therefore confronted with the following questions: Will we suffer for righteousness’ sake, as did he? Will the pressure of persecution on the part of an earthly “master” turn us aside? Are we serving God for selfish gain rather than love of righteousness? Will we as servants of God abandon Jehovah’s cause because of unwarranted opposition, that is, opposition only because we serve Him? To these questions the answer must be a decisive No. if we would faithfully follow our heavenly Master; ‘'because Christ also suffered for us [for our guidance, and not for wrongdoing or sins], leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”—1 Pet. 2: 21.
26 Up to the time of his baptism did Jesus suffer because be “did no sin”? and therefore is one's being an irreproachable, productive worker or employee all there is to being a Christian?
27 Beginning with what course of action did Jesus’ sufferings start, and with what questions as to suffering are his followers confronted?
28 The truth leaps forth, then, that Christ Jesus suffered over the great primary issue of universal domination. That is, Who shall exercise the universal rule, Satan the Devil or Jehovah God by his “kingdom of heaven”? This leading issue must be settled once and for all, and to the vindication of Jehovah's name. The “kingdom of heaven” is the means by which Jehovah will vindicate his name; and his beloved Son, Christ Jesus, is chosen to be the Head and Chief One in that Theocratic kingdom. As one of the necessary steps to the final vindication of Jehovah’s name and the settling of the controversial issue Jehovah’s beloved Son came to earth and endured suffering as the “man Christ Jesus”.
29 It was the unfaithful lesser son of God, Lucifer, who forced the issue of universal domination before all creation. This made necessary the sufferings of the ever faithful, pre-eminent Son of God, Christ Jesus. It was at the time of earth's creation and the installing of the perfect man Adam and his equally perfect wife Eve in the garden of Eden that Lucifer began grasping after the universal domination. Lucifer had by Jehovah been appointed as invisible overlord or covering cherub over the perfect human pair in Eden, to whom Jehovah had issued the divine mandate to fill the earth with a righteous race. Lucifer was seized with the selfish ambition to be like Almighty God and to make himself a mighty one equal with God, in fact, displacing Jehovah God. He saw in Adam and Eve the stepping-stones to setting himself up as an independent ruler and god and eventually wresting the universal domination out. of the hands of Jehovah God. — Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:13-15.
28 What truth leaps forth, then, as to the reason or cause for he take of which Christ Jesus suffered and endured?
29 Who was it that forced the issue of universal domination before all creation, and due to what ambition?
30 By deception of Eve and by appeal to Adam’s awakened selfishness the rebellious Lucifer, now Satan the adversary, led them astray and established himself over them as independent of Jehovah God’s domination. From there, with his success over Adam and Eve as an argument, Satan proceeded to seduce legions of hitherto-holy angels, in his ambition to “exalt my throne above the stars of God”. Then he charged God’s entire universal organization from top to bottom with being held to Jehovah God by ties of self-interest and not for the simple joy and privilege of glorifying Jehovah. Boasting of his power, Satan the Devil then challenged God to put that charge to the test by proving that God could put creatures on earth who would unselfishly remain true to Jehovah God for his glory and whom Satan the Devil could not cause to break integrity toward God and forsake His domination. Satan repeated this false charge and challenge in the days of the righteous man Job. (Job 1: 9-11; 2: 4, 5) Satan failed with Job, as with all the faithful men of old, from Abel down to John the Baptist. But the answer to Satan was not complete with just those imperfect men of unbreakable integrity.
31 In Eden Jehovah God had promised that the “seed of the woman”, not the woman Eve, but God’s faithful woman, his organization, would bruise Satan’s head; also that as a test of the integrity of the woman’s Seed Satan would bruise the heel of the Seed. (Gen. 3:15) No faithful man of integrity on earth could bruise the head of the mighty spirit prince, Satan the Devil, and hence God assigned that privilege to his foremost son, his beloved, only- begotten Son. This faithful Son must meet the challenge of Satan and fully answer it and thereby vindicate his Father’s name; and Satan the great Serpent must bruise the Son’s heel for a complete test of His unblamable integrity toward God. Hence Jehovah sent his Son to the testing ground, the earth, to be “made flesh” and become “the man Christ Jesus”. After he had proved his integrity under test unto the death on the tree, then Jehovah God would restore him to the spirit realm, by exalting him to be the Head of God’s new creation, “the kingdom of heaven,” The Theocratic Government, God’s capital organization.
32 As Job was a prophetic figure of Christ Jesus and suffered for the vindication of Jehovah’s name, so Christ Jesus as the Greater Job must suffer. Why must he be permitted to suffer? To prove that Satan is a liar and Jehovah God is true and the rightful possessor of the universal domination, thereby vindicating God the Father’s name. For what must he suffer? Not for committing sin nor for canceling the sin of humankind, but for doing the will of the great Theocrat, Jehovah God, the Most High and All-wise. It was not his undeserved sufferings, but the shedding of his blood and his death as a perfect man that redeemed what Adam forfeited through sin. It cleansed away the sin of repentant and converted sinners. Thus Jesus “his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree’’ on which he died. But did the Jews have Jesus nailed to the tree that he might die as man’s redeemer and as the remover of the sin of all believers in him? Not at all. Another thing and far more important was at issue. What was that? The vindication of Jehovah’s name by the “kingdom of heaven’’.
30 How did Satan proceed to realize his ambition both in earth and in heaven, and what challenge did he then make to God as touching men on earth?
31 Why did Jehovah's promise in Eden require him to send bis only begotten Son to earth to suffer?
32 (a) To prove what fact must Jesus be permitted to suffer? (b) Why could Jesus' sufferings not be for the cancellation of mankind's sin? and for what, therefore, must be suffer?
33 After his baptism Jesus went forth in his Father’s name and declaring that name. Hence he exposed and condemned religion with its traditions of men as misrepresenting Jehovah God and reproaching his name. Further, Jesus announced himself as the Son of God and ambassador of His kingdom. He boldly preached that kingdom of God up and down the land, publicly and in homes of the people. (Luke 8:1) He began the gathering of those to be associated with him in the kingdom of heaven. Being for Jehovah's kingdom first, last and all the time, he resisted all efforts of the Devil and his demons to force him to abandon God’s side and make common cause with the Devil’s organization and its religion. Being anointed to preach the good tidings of the Kingdom to the meek, he refused to stop preaching the Kingdom, even when it finally meant his being charged with sedition and subversive activities before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. He refused to deny or disown Jehovah’s kingdom. He showed no guile was to be found in his mouth when he admitted to Pilate that He was its anointed King, saying: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) Finally, with the charge of Kingdom activities posted above his head on the tree, Jehovah’s “Faithful and True Witness” died, proving that Jehovah’s kingdom and the vindication of Jehovah’s name by that kingdom are more important than human salvation and that such issues are the cause for which he suffered at the hands of the demons and their religious agents on earth.
34 In thus enduring the sufferings for God’s name and kingdom without committing the sin of rebellion against God and ruining his integrity, Jesus left the proper example for all his followers who will be associated with him in the Kingdom. Suffering for any other cause would be without effect in God’s sight, that is, not affording the sufferer a share with Christ Jesus in the vindication of his Father's name. The Kingdom issue determines what must be or what constitutes the “much tribulation” through which the footstep followers must “enter into the kingdom of God”. — Acts 14:22.
33 From after his baptism and down to bis death, what public activities of Jesus and what final consequences thereof proved the issue for which be suffered and died?
34 How does this example left by Jesus show by which sufferings it is that one shares in vindicating God’s name and enters the Kingdom?
35 Suffering for sins inherited from rebellious Adam or for sins individually committed has no part in proving one worthy for the Kingdom. Hence Peter says: “That we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:24,25) That great Shepherd and Overseer to whom the straying and sin-ailing sheep return is Jehovah. To him the Good Shepherd Christ Jesus brings back the sheep of the “little flock” and also now the “other sheep”. All these the Devil with his religion has been trying to drive away and hold away from Jehovah, the great Caretaker of souls. All these “sheep” may no longer live unto sin, which sin is to be friends of this world and to take part in its course of opposition to God and his Kingdom. The “sheep” must live unto righteousness, the righteousness of the New World under God’s kingdom, that they may hold fast their integrity in the love of righteousness and prove the Devil a liar. Such righteousness means to do works of righteousness according to Jesus’ example; and that means to “keep the commandments of God” to be his witness and thus to share in “the testimony of Jesus Christ”. So doing, they will suffer as Christ Jesus did, and for like reasons; and the enduring of such suffering is acceptable with God as being in the vindication of his name.—Matt. 5: 10-12.
THE HOUSEHOLD IN THE CRISIS
36 Predicting conditions during the time of world crisis at the end of Satan’s rule Jesus said that the message of his presence and of his kingdom would cause cleavages in family relationships. Hence his apostle Peter, writing under divine guidance and inspiration for our day, indicates that the test of devotion to the Kingdom and of integrity toward God would also be upon females as well as males, and that the women as well as men must be faithful witnesses for Jehovah and his King. “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [behavior] of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” —1 Pet. 3:1-4.
35 (a) Who it the “Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” to whom the sheep are brought back? (b) Why may sot the “sheep" lire unto sin? and what are the works of righteousness which they must henceforth do?
36 Besides employer-employee relationships, what other relationship did peter Indicate would suffer cleavages due to the Kingdom message, and what instruction did he therefore give to the women?
37 Wives of unbelieving husbands should perform their housewifely duties as long as their husbands are content to dwell with them. The apostle Paul adds: "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.” (1 Cor. 7:15) Peter's words do not say or imply that the wife who is a Jehovah’s witness should not testify by word of mouth to her husband as much and as long as she can and it is acceptable to him. But if he refuses, then she should let her example of unswerving devotion to Jehovah and his kingdom testify and exercise its power toward the husband. Her “chaste behavior” means making no friendship with the unclean world and keeping herself unspotted therefrom, because of the fear of Almighty God.—Jas. 1: 27; 4: 4.
38Christian wives are not instructed to go unclothed, without “putting on of apparel”, but the apostle Peter means they do not adorn themselves with merely the material things which God has put on this earth and overlook the chief adornment which must pass the inspection, not in the sight of any creature husband, but "in the sight of God”. While they do and ought properly to present an outwardly decent appearance as to person and attire, the outward adornment to attract the eye of human creatures for admiration is not the thing for which they strive. It is that they may not by an unseemly outward appearance reflect upon the message which they bear and its effect upon the lives of the message bearers. In their hearts they have something which outward adorning can never put in or on creatures of the world, namely, ‘‘the hidden man of the heart.” Their heart or affection which moves them into action is set on the Kingdom. What they are and live for is Jehovah’s Kingdom by Christ.
39 They do not keep this consecrated self of Kingdom devotion hidden away in their heart, with benefit to no one outside in the darkness of this world crisis. It is written: “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed [to confess him].” (Rom. 10:10, 11) Hence they take part in the witness work to all nations, and thus confess the Lord God and his King and show what is in their hearts. (Joel 2: 28) It is only by thus testifying and taking on the appearance of a witness for the glorious Jehovah and his beauteous King that they identify themselves as ambassadors and representatives of the Righteous Government of the New World, the “world without end”.
37 What proper duties should Christian wives perform, and how far should they testify to husbands by word of mouth and by “chaste behavior"?
38 In what sense, or for what purpose, are the wives not to indulge in “outward adorning", and what is “the hidden man of the heart" that should be their adorning?
39 Why, and how, must this “hidden man of the heart” manifest itself?
40 Being subject to a husband that obeys not the word does not mean they renounce their subjection to God’s will to be Jehovah’s witness. But if, for engaging in the witness work in obedience to God’s commandment, they are made to endure sufferings at the hand of such husband, they then bear it with a “meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price”. They engage in no fruitless controversies, but manifest willingness to suffer reproaches not only at the hands of outside foes but also at the hands of household opposers. Their keeping on serving Jehovah despite suffering speaks louder than mere words, and silences debate.
41 “For after this manner, in the old time, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” (1 Pet. 3:5,6) The subjection of such "holy women” pictured the subjection of Christians to the Theocratic rule, because such women were joined to men devoted to Jehovah God and his purpose, and not to men disobedient to God’s word of promise and his commandments. Abraham was used as a type of Jehovah God the Father in bringing forth the seed in whom all believing families of the earth shall be blessed: “which seed is Christ.”—Gal. 3:8,16.
42 Sarah also believed God's promise and exercised faith in his power. Therefore in her extreme old age and by God's miraculous power she became a mother, the mother of her only son, Isaac, and this Isaac was used to typify Christ Jesus. (Rom. 4:19,20; Heb. 11:11,12) Hence Sarah herself was used to type God’s woman, that is, his organization Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, which brings forth the Seed which blesses all the nations that turn to Jehovah. Sarah’s calling Abraham "lord” not merely indicated that the man is the head of the woman (1 Cor. 11: 3), but rather showed that Jehovah’s organization, including Christ Jesus, acknowledges and subjects itself to Jehovah God as "Lord”, the Supreme One, the great Theocrat.
40 In what sense, then, must they be in subjection to their husbands and how and why do they manifest the “meek and quiet spirit”?
41 What does the subjection of the “holy women” of old to husbands such as Abraham picture now?
42 Whom did Sarah therefore picture, and what did her calling Abraham “lord” indicate or show for our instruction?
43 Those women that follow the Greater Sarah’s example, “whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement,” are the Christian women who are "begotten of God’s spirit or power and who become faithful children of his organization Zion. Sarah’s husband Abraham was a witness for Jehovah and forsook the old world and looked ahead to the righteous New World and served Jehovah’s purpose in its behalf. Sarah subjected herself to Abraham in this course and cooperated with him in being a witness for God and in serving the interests of the New World. This she did, not being put in fear by any terror from men, but following with Abraham whithersoever Jehovah God led him. Thus may Christian women well cooperate with faithful husbands in the witness work for Jehovah. But, regardless of what the husband is, they should show themselves of God's organization (“Sarah”) by being subject to the Greater Abraham in holiness of devotion to him and his Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus. They should adorn themselves with the identity of a witness of Jehovah by engaging in the declaration of his name and kingdom throughout the earth and thus prove themselves “labourers together with God”, the Greater Abraham. (1 Cor. 3: 9; 2 Cor. 6: 1) Their perfect love for God will cast out all fear interfering with service to God. It will embolden them to witness in this day of judgment and to endure in the ministry of God’s Word. — 1 John 4: 17,18.
43 Who are the “daughters” that follow Sarah’s example, and how do they, like her, do well, being “not afraid with any amazement"?
44 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7) This agrees with the counsel at Ephesians 5:21-33. Greatly favored are those households where the sword of God's Word concerning Jehovah’s King and Kingdom has not divided the unity of those in natural relationship, in this time of world crisis. Their test of integrity should come from some other source, and, to be sure, will come. All together seeking to win the precious prize of life everlasting for God’s vindication and service, they should seek to help one another to win, in vindication of Jehovah’s name. The stronger should be considerate and help the weaker, that such may become strong to ‘bear everyone his own burden' toward the Lord God.
45 Especially should this indivisible unity and loving helpfulness be true of the “household of faith”, where relationship to one another is based on faith and faithfulness to God and Christ Jesus. Thus the members thereof will not be hindered in realizing answers to their prayers for God’s grace to endure whatever may be let come and, through all, to maintain their integrity to Him for His vindication.
44 What should be the effort of all households where no divisions have been caused by the “sword” of God’s Word and where there are weak members and all are “heirs together of the grace of life’’?
45 Where especially should such unity and helpfulness be true, and how would their prayers be affected thereby?
WATCHTOWER BIBLE COLLEGE OPENS
FEBRUARY 1 marked the opening of the Watchtower Bible College of Gilead, located nine miles north of Ithaca, New York, and in the highlands to the east of beautiful Lake Cayuga The entire student body of one hundred fully ordained and practicing ministers of the gospel, also officials of the Watchtower Society, the college faculty and invited guests were present at the dedication exercises. Promptly at eight a. m. the Watchtower president, N. H. Knorr, who is also president of the college, mounted the podium in the main assembly hall of the central college building, Gilead. After a brief prayer to Jehovah God by one of the faculty members, President Knorr delivered the address of welcome and dedication, of 30 minutes’ duration. Because of its importance The Watchtower prints the complete speech, following this announcement.
Brother Knorr then introduced the Society’s vice-president. Being also attorney for the Society, the vice-president appropriately spoke for ten minutes on the purpose of the college in its relation to the law of God as supreme and the laws of the various countries to which the graduates will be sent.
The secretary-treasurer of the Society then spoke. In keeping with his particular service during the successive administrations of three Society presidents, this aged brother emphasized the Lord’s provision of the college as to financing and maintaining it without cost to the students.
One of the directors of the New York corporation followed showing it was in keeping with God’s due time to institute the college now and that it was a visible indication of the nearness of the battle of Armageddon.
Then Brother Knorr presented the four instructors constituting the teaching faculty, and who are also representatives of the Society. Each teaches two subjects. Some further pertinent remarks, and Brother Knorr dismissed the assembly with prayer. Ten minutes later, at 9: 35 a. m., the bell rang, with all students and instructors at their places in their respective classrooms.
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