Elihu

Elihu, the young spokesman in the book of Job, was first explicitly identified as a prophetic type in the verified publications of 1929. He was said to picture God's anointed messengers, including Christ Jesus as Head and the members of his body. This identification was repeated in 1930, 1934, and 1935, while a 1939 statement particularly emphasized the faithful members of Christ's body. In 1942 the application became more organizationally specific: Elihu represented the Society acting for the anointed remnant. In 1943 he was associated with the faithful and wise servant class, its Head, and the Watchtower Society representing the remnant. In 1957 the identification was narrowed to the spiritual governing body of the anointed remnant. This interpretation was repeated in 1960, 1961, and 1966. Two articles published in September 1966 distinguished the prophetic drama's first-century application from its modern application: the September 1 article suggested that Elihu corresponded to the governing body of the newly established Christian congregation at Pentecost in 33 C.E., whereas the September 15 article reaffirmed his identification with the modern governing body associated with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and its publishing work. No explicit prophetic type-and-antitype identification was verified in the Russell period (1877–1916), the Franz period (1977–1991), or the Governing Body period (1992–2000). Publications in those later periods mainly discussed Elihu as a historical example of wise counsel, humility, courage, and defense of God's righteousness, without explicitly announcing the abandonment or replacement of the former prophetic identification.