A Great "Paradigm" Established For Our Examination
Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 5:46 pm
A GREAT "PARADIGM" ESTABLISHED FOR OUR EXAMINATION
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company, updated in 2009 and published by Houghton Mifflin Company...tells us much about the actual word "Paradigm."
For example, it tells the following on this particular word:
[Middle English, example, from Late Latin paradgma, from Greek paradeigma, from paradeiknunai, to compare : para-, alongside; see para-1 + deiknunai, to show; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]
Also, http://www.dictionaryboss.com reveals the following on this word:
1. One that serves as a pattern or model.
2. A set or list of all the inflectional forms of a word or of one of its grammatical categories: the paradigm of an irregular verb.
3. A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.
Usage Note: Paradigm first appeared in English in the 15th century, meaning "an example or pattern," and it still bears this meaning today. Example: Their company is a paradigm of the small high-tech firms that have recently sprung up in this area.
For nearly 400 years paradigm has also been applied to the patterns of inflections that are used to sort the verbs, nouns, and other parts of speech of a language into groups that are more easily studied. Since the 1960s, paradigm has been used in science to refer to a theoretical framework, as when Nobel Laureate David Baltimore cited the work of two colleagues that "really established a new paradigm for our understanding of the causation of cancer." Thereafter, researchers in many different fields, including sociology and literary criticism, often saw themselves as working in or trying to break out of paradigms. Applications of the term in other contexts show that it can sometimes be used more loosely to mean "the prevailing view of things." The Usage Panel splits down the middle on these nonscientific uses of paradigm. Fifty-two percent disapprove of the sentence. The paradigm governing international competition and competitiveness has shifted dramatically in the last three decades.
End of quote.
We here, at the YORWW Congregation, like to call it, a para ["beside"] digm ["example" or "pattern,"] toward a great, "mental discipline" or "teaching" namely, God's Word. Yes, we sincerely believe, this ultimately, is how one must come to understand the bible itself, God's Word, to fully appreciate exactly what Jehovah is showing and telling us thru prophecy, symbolism or even historical aspects of the bible.
Therefore, based upon the above, we find this word (paradigm), quite unique & helpful in assisting us to a greater understanding of this great "mental discipline," yes God's Word itself, as it was originally intended by Jehovah, in the beginning. Thus, it is by coming to know this very word, which is closely associated with the Greek word mysterion or the expression, the "mystery of God," that we (YORWW Congregation) believe, one can finally, finally, come to a complete understanding of the original 6,000-year old, Great "Mystery" of Jehovah God, which has been held secret up till now in this present age, because of being held in the Almighty grasp of the Great "August One" Himself, Jehovah God. However, it is shortly, yes in our day, shortly to be revealed to all mankind. In fact, the following information we believe, will help us, do just that. Yes ... All praise and honor to Jehovah, for finally, "revealing" His Will & Wisdom ... for all to see ... Amen! -- See Genesis 3:15; Daniel 2:22, 28; Revelation 5:1.
In God’s Word, we find the following admonition:
(1 Corinthians 10:11) 11 Now these things went on befalling them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived.
(Romans 15:4) 4 For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.
What happened in the first century that “we” as God’s Name People are suppose to see or pay attention to? What occurred at that time period that is to be an example for us today? How are we to be instructed and also warned in this time period. And finally why would this first century “paradigm” or "beside-example" as the word means, actually give us HOPE?
Well, we must ask such questions because we have learned that Jehovah's witnesses, God's Name People of our modern day and time, have actually BROKEN GOD'S HOLY COVENANT, since the revealing of the infamous, clandestine ADULTEROUS RELATIONSHIP and AFFAIR of the Watchtower Society being NGO Supporters of the United Nations Organization. They have now become bonafide spiritual "adulteresses" in God's eyes as described by the anointed Christian inspired writer "James" of the first century. Yes, they are genuine violators of the Christian Covenant established by Jesus Christ with Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931. They can even be said to have "despised" God's Holy Covenant! (Leviticus 4:3; Ezekiel 16:59; James 4:4)
(For more detail information on the Spiritual Adultery of the Watchtower Society and its impact up all Jehovah's witnesses worldwide see the following link: Prostitute Sisters "Oholah" & "Oholibah" Revealed)
Now I, for one take what God’s Word the Bible says to heart. I take it very seriously, do you? Did you know that taking the bible seriously could save your very life? But let’s get back to this great “paradigm” I have been referring to.
In the first century, when Jesus started his ministry, there was only one covenant in place, the Mosaic Law Covenant for which Moses was the accepted Mediator and Messiah. It was the law of the land. That is why so much is written in the New Testament that shows that everyone referred to “the Law” or Moses as their ‘authority’ on everything. The Pharisees referred to Moses in this way (Luke 5:14, 16:31, 20:37, 24:44; Mark 12:26; John 7:19-23, 8:5). Jesus also referred to Moses and the Law on many occasions as did the apostles. (Matthew 19:7-8, 22:24; Mark 7:10, 10:3, 12:19; Luke 20:28). No one could say or preach or teach a thing different than what was written in the Law. If they did then they would be charged with “blasphemy” or they could be stoned for it. People simply did not accept anything if it was different than what was written in the Law.
For example, the Law forbade the eating of blood and the people knew this. This explains why some of Jesus’ followers thought it “shocking” when Jesus spoke to them of their needing to “eat his flesh and drink his blood.” As John 6:60 says:
Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said: “This speech is shocking; who can listen to it?”
These people had an aversion to learning anything new. Even when the disciple Stephen was teaching things that they had not heard before and could not refute , they became so upset with him that they resorted to hiring men to lie about what he was teaching so that they could shut him up. The account reads this way:
(Acts 6:8-14) 8 Now Stephen, full of graciousness and power, was performing great portents and signs among the people. 9 But certain men rose up of those from the so-called Synagogue of the Freedmen, and of the Cy•re´ni•ans and Alexandrians and of those from Ci•li´cia and Asia, to dispute with Stephen; 10 and yet they could not hold their own against the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say: “We have heard him speaking blasphemous sayings against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the older men and the scribes, and, coming upon him suddenly, they took him by force and led him to the San´he•drin. 13 And they brought forward false witnesses, who said: “This man does not stop speaking things against this holy place and against the Law. 14 For instance, we have heard him say that this Jesus the Naz•a•rene´ will throw down this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
In spite of this show of respect for this law, this nation, under the leadership of the Pharisees and Sadducees, did not take pains to make sure that they were in compliance with this Law and so became guilty of breaking these commands laid upon them by Jehovah through Moses. Their situation was so bad that Jesus said of them as recorded at Matthew 15:8, 9, this:
“This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.” They had totally rejected the Mosaic Law that they claimed to be following and were following “teachings of men,” thus rejecting God’s commands, yes even “despising” God’s Holy Covenant. (Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 16:59)
How would Jehovah respond to this situation with His Name People? Many years before he had his prophet, Jeremiah, write this:
“Look! There are days coming,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; not like the one that I concluded with their forefathers in the day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt,” which covenant of mine they themselves broke, although I myself had husbandly ownership of them,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.” (Jeremiah 31:31, 32)
Yes, he would offer them a new covenant, one that they would keep because as he said at Jeremiah 31:34, “they would all of them know me, from the least of them even to the greatest one of them.” Of course, Israel took no note of Jeremiah’s prophecy as they did not believe that Jehovah would reject this covenant that they claimed so much allegiance to and had been around for such a long period of time. No, Jehovah would not reject this covenant in favor of another one. But we all know the history of this nation as they refused to acknowledge or accept this new covenant that Jehovah mediated through his son, Jesus and which only a remnant of Israel accepted. They were now cast off as a nation and Gentiles were accepted into the nation as replacements for them. The Roman army destroyed their nation, killing a million Israelites and taking many thousands into captivity. (Romans 11:25, 26)
This then is the paradigm or “besides example” that we, as modern-day Israel can learn from.
But, how would Modern-day Israel respond to this paradigm? Let’s give this question some consideration. Do you know what would be said TODAY about any person that would try to teach God’s Name People something DIFFERENT than what Moses or Jesus taught??? LOL! You would be told you were perverting the “good news,” declaring something other than what you had accepted (Galatians 1:6-9) or you were being corrupted or seduced away from the truth (2 Cor. 11:2-4). Teaching something different than what Jesus had taught…wow, you would be blaspheming Jesus and Jehovah God, especially if it had anything to do with a covenant change. Their reaction is the same as that of 1st century Israel. Interesting, isn’t it!?
In both cases, in the first century and now, ONLY Jehovah God has the right to change covenants or say whom His Messiah is or His Prophet is going to be. This is especially true when His People have not obeyed his commands. But these people, God’s Name People, in both cases—first century and today, thought they could JUDGE such a thing. Wow, they actually thought that they could just say how things were going to be, huh? Is this not presumptuousness’ on their part? Yes, I think so! Wow, now I did not think that Jehovah’s Witnesses today were as SELF RIGHTEOUS as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, did you? I would have thought they would have learned something since then, would you have also thought this?
How many times have you heard this thought in the kingdom hall or out in service that, “if I were around in Jesus’ day that I would have listened to Jesus. And I would have something to say to those Pharisees too!” In Jesus’ day, only a few Jews listened to the message he had. “A few” compared to the whole nation of Jews at the time. Others did listened at Pentecost after Holy Spirit was poured out, but still not many listened to Jesus nor to his disciples whom he sent to them.
So today, as we look at this ‘paradigm’ or "beside-example set before us in the bible, can we see what we just considered as a warning or see it as “instruction” for HOW we ought to conduct ourselves today? Is it an example for us to follow or should we steer clear of those examples? Have we come to recognize that these examples in the first century have great meanings for us today? Is there more we need to learn about the first century that may apply to God’s Name People today?
Would we react by “shutting” our ears like the Pharisees did and also seek to “destroy” the messenger of a new covenant? Something to consider, I think. Yes, if we deliberately "shut our eyes" in the face of all these established things before us, then it becomes FOR US, yes exactly as described below, where it says:
"For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and THEY HAVE SHUT THEIR EYES"; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn -- and I would heal them." (Acts 28:27 NRSV)
Yes, Jehovah says, His Own Name People were doing this deliberately, on purpose! This is a sad situation as God's People today are in the same dilemma as their first century counterpart. And how are they responding? They are refusing his Hand again, His New arrangement for a renewed covenanted relationship with Him, through the "MEANS" that He chooses to "save." (Acts 28:28) Yes, they have willingly, again in our day and time, yes, "shut their eyes" so that they cannot see what God is plainly telling them. Think about it.
So then, how does this paradigm give us hope,...real hope, I say? Well for one thing, isn't it true the first century Jewish people [God’s Name People] did not have this particular example to look at or examine? Also, isn't it true they did not even have the benefit of the New Testament in written form, when Jesus first preached this new "gospel" or message? But we, as God’s Name People today, do, so we can learn from it so as not to make the same mistakes as God’s Name People in the past have. We are reminded of familiar scripture that brings this point home:
(2 Timothy 3:16-17) 16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.
____________________________________________________________
Review Questions For Article: A Great "Paradigm" Established For Our Examination
1. What principle do we learn from 1 Corinthians 10:11 and Romans 15:4?
2. What grave situation are Jehovah’s Witnesses, God’s Name People, in today?
3. Since the Jews in the first century viewed the Law Covenant as their “authority” on everything, how did they react to anyone they thought was speaking against it?
4. How did the nation view anyone who attempted to teach them anything “new” or something they had never heard before?
5. What was the true situation that existed as far as their obeying this Law Covenant according to Matthew 15:8, 9? (See also Isaiah 24:5, 6)
6. When offered the opportunity to repent of their sins against the Mosaic Covenant, how did the nation react with and what results?
7. Today, if someone attempted to teach Jehovah’s Witnesses a doctrine that appeared to be different than what Jesus taught, what would be their reaction to this person?
8. In the first century, how did the Jewish leaders react to the messenger of the “new covenant? Why?
9. What attitude would Jehovah’s Witnesses not want to imitate as described in Acts 28:27?
10. Why would it be to their benefit that Jehovah’s Witnesses learn from the paradigm or beside example recorded in the Bible?
To get the answers for the review questions CLICK HERE.
***
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company, updated in 2009 and published by Houghton Mifflin Company...tells us much about the actual word "Paradigm."
For example, it tells the following on this particular word:
[Middle English, example, from Late Latin paradgma, from Greek paradeigma, from paradeiknunai, to compare : para-, alongside; see para-1 + deiknunai, to show; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]
Also, http://www.dictionaryboss.com reveals the following on this word:
1. One that serves as a pattern or model.
2. A set or list of all the inflectional forms of a word or of one of its grammatical categories: the paradigm of an irregular verb.
3. A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.
Usage Note: Paradigm first appeared in English in the 15th century, meaning "an example or pattern," and it still bears this meaning today. Example: Their company is a paradigm of the small high-tech firms that have recently sprung up in this area.
For nearly 400 years paradigm has also been applied to the patterns of inflections that are used to sort the verbs, nouns, and other parts of speech of a language into groups that are more easily studied. Since the 1960s, paradigm has been used in science to refer to a theoretical framework, as when Nobel Laureate David Baltimore cited the work of two colleagues that "really established a new paradigm for our understanding of the causation of cancer." Thereafter, researchers in many different fields, including sociology and literary criticism, often saw themselves as working in or trying to break out of paradigms. Applications of the term in other contexts show that it can sometimes be used more loosely to mean "the prevailing view of things." The Usage Panel splits down the middle on these nonscientific uses of paradigm. Fifty-two percent disapprove of the sentence. The paradigm governing international competition and competitiveness has shifted dramatically in the last three decades.
End of quote.
We here, at the YORWW Congregation, like to call it, a para ["beside"] digm ["example" or "pattern,"] toward a great, "mental discipline" or "teaching" namely, God's Word. Yes, we sincerely believe, this ultimately, is how one must come to understand the bible itself, God's Word, to fully appreciate exactly what Jehovah is showing and telling us thru prophecy, symbolism or even historical aspects of the bible.
Therefore, based upon the above, we find this word (paradigm), quite unique & helpful in assisting us to a greater understanding of this great "mental discipline," yes God's Word itself, as it was originally intended by Jehovah, in the beginning. Thus, it is by coming to know this very word, which is closely associated with the Greek word mysterion or the expression, the "mystery of God," that we (YORWW Congregation) believe, one can finally, finally, come to a complete understanding of the original 6,000-year old, Great "Mystery" of Jehovah God, which has been held secret up till now in this present age, because of being held in the Almighty grasp of the Great "August One" Himself, Jehovah God. However, it is shortly, yes in our day, shortly to be revealed to all mankind. In fact, the following information we believe, will help us, do just that. Yes ... All praise and honor to Jehovah, for finally, "revealing" His Will & Wisdom ... for all to see ... Amen! -- See Genesis 3:15; Daniel 2:22, 28; Revelation 5:1.
In God’s Word, we find the following admonition:
(1 Corinthians 10:11) 11 Now these things went on befalling them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived.
(Romans 15:4) 4 For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.
What happened in the first century that “we” as God’s Name People are suppose to see or pay attention to? What occurred at that time period that is to be an example for us today? How are we to be instructed and also warned in this time period. And finally why would this first century “paradigm” or "beside-example" as the word means, actually give us HOPE?
Well, we must ask such questions because we have learned that Jehovah's witnesses, God's Name People of our modern day and time, have actually BROKEN GOD'S HOLY COVENANT, since the revealing of the infamous, clandestine ADULTEROUS RELATIONSHIP and AFFAIR of the Watchtower Society being NGO Supporters of the United Nations Organization. They have now become bonafide spiritual "adulteresses" in God's eyes as described by the anointed Christian inspired writer "James" of the first century. Yes, they are genuine violators of the Christian Covenant established by Jesus Christ with Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931. They can even be said to have "despised" God's Holy Covenant! (Leviticus 4:3; Ezekiel 16:59; James 4:4)
(For more detail information on the Spiritual Adultery of the Watchtower Society and its impact up all Jehovah's witnesses worldwide see the following link: Prostitute Sisters "Oholah" & "Oholibah" Revealed)
Now I, for one take what God’s Word the Bible says to heart. I take it very seriously, do you? Did you know that taking the bible seriously could save your very life? But let’s get back to this great “paradigm” I have been referring to.
In the first century, when Jesus started his ministry, there was only one covenant in place, the Mosaic Law Covenant for which Moses was the accepted Mediator and Messiah. It was the law of the land. That is why so much is written in the New Testament that shows that everyone referred to “the Law” or Moses as their ‘authority’ on everything. The Pharisees referred to Moses in this way (Luke 5:14, 16:31, 20:37, 24:44; Mark 12:26; John 7:19-23, 8:5). Jesus also referred to Moses and the Law on many occasions as did the apostles. (Matthew 19:7-8, 22:24; Mark 7:10, 10:3, 12:19; Luke 20:28). No one could say or preach or teach a thing different than what was written in the Law. If they did then they would be charged with “blasphemy” or they could be stoned for it. People simply did not accept anything if it was different than what was written in the Law.
For example, the Law forbade the eating of blood and the people knew this. This explains why some of Jesus’ followers thought it “shocking” when Jesus spoke to them of their needing to “eat his flesh and drink his blood.” As John 6:60 says:
Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said: “This speech is shocking; who can listen to it?”
These people had an aversion to learning anything new. Even when the disciple Stephen was teaching things that they had not heard before and could not refute , they became so upset with him that they resorted to hiring men to lie about what he was teaching so that they could shut him up. The account reads this way:
(Acts 6:8-14) 8 Now Stephen, full of graciousness and power, was performing great portents and signs among the people. 9 But certain men rose up of those from the so-called Synagogue of the Freedmen, and of the Cy•re´ni•ans and Alexandrians and of those from Ci•li´cia and Asia, to dispute with Stephen; 10 and yet they could not hold their own against the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say: “We have heard him speaking blasphemous sayings against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the older men and the scribes, and, coming upon him suddenly, they took him by force and led him to the San´he•drin. 13 And they brought forward false witnesses, who said: “This man does not stop speaking things against this holy place and against the Law. 14 For instance, we have heard him say that this Jesus the Naz•a•rene´ will throw down this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
In spite of this show of respect for this law, this nation, under the leadership of the Pharisees and Sadducees, did not take pains to make sure that they were in compliance with this Law and so became guilty of breaking these commands laid upon them by Jehovah through Moses. Their situation was so bad that Jesus said of them as recorded at Matthew 15:8, 9, this:
“This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.” They had totally rejected the Mosaic Law that they claimed to be following and were following “teachings of men,” thus rejecting God’s commands, yes even “despising” God’s Holy Covenant. (Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 16:59)
How would Jehovah respond to this situation with His Name People? Many years before he had his prophet, Jeremiah, write this:
“Look! There are days coming,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; not like the one that I concluded with their forefathers in the day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt,” which covenant of mine they themselves broke, although I myself had husbandly ownership of them,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.” (Jeremiah 31:31, 32)
Yes, he would offer them a new covenant, one that they would keep because as he said at Jeremiah 31:34, “they would all of them know me, from the least of them even to the greatest one of them.” Of course, Israel took no note of Jeremiah’s prophecy as they did not believe that Jehovah would reject this covenant that they claimed so much allegiance to and had been around for such a long period of time. No, Jehovah would not reject this covenant in favor of another one. But we all know the history of this nation as they refused to acknowledge or accept this new covenant that Jehovah mediated through his son, Jesus and which only a remnant of Israel accepted. They were now cast off as a nation and Gentiles were accepted into the nation as replacements for them. The Roman army destroyed their nation, killing a million Israelites and taking many thousands into captivity. (Romans 11:25, 26)
This then is the paradigm or “besides example” that we, as modern-day Israel can learn from.
But, how would Modern-day Israel respond to this paradigm? Let’s give this question some consideration. Do you know what would be said TODAY about any person that would try to teach God’s Name People something DIFFERENT than what Moses or Jesus taught??? LOL! You would be told you were perverting the “good news,” declaring something other than what you had accepted (Galatians 1:6-9) or you were being corrupted or seduced away from the truth (2 Cor. 11:2-4). Teaching something different than what Jesus had taught…wow, you would be blaspheming Jesus and Jehovah God, especially if it had anything to do with a covenant change. Their reaction is the same as that of 1st century Israel. Interesting, isn’t it!?
In both cases, in the first century and now, ONLY Jehovah God has the right to change covenants or say whom His Messiah is or His Prophet is going to be. This is especially true when His People have not obeyed his commands. But these people, God’s Name People, in both cases—first century and today, thought they could JUDGE such a thing. Wow, they actually thought that they could just say how things were going to be, huh? Is this not presumptuousness’ on their part? Yes, I think so! Wow, now I did not think that Jehovah’s Witnesses today were as SELF RIGHTEOUS as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, did you? I would have thought they would have learned something since then, would you have also thought this?
How many times have you heard this thought in the kingdom hall or out in service that, “if I were around in Jesus’ day that I would have listened to Jesus. And I would have something to say to those Pharisees too!” In Jesus’ day, only a few Jews listened to the message he had. “A few” compared to the whole nation of Jews at the time. Others did listened at Pentecost after Holy Spirit was poured out, but still not many listened to Jesus nor to his disciples whom he sent to them.
So today, as we look at this ‘paradigm’ or "beside-example set before us in the bible, can we see what we just considered as a warning or see it as “instruction” for HOW we ought to conduct ourselves today? Is it an example for us to follow or should we steer clear of those examples? Have we come to recognize that these examples in the first century have great meanings for us today? Is there more we need to learn about the first century that may apply to God’s Name People today?
Would we react by “shutting” our ears like the Pharisees did and also seek to “destroy” the messenger of a new covenant? Something to consider, I think. Yes, if we deliberately "shut our eyes" in the face of all these established things before us, then it becomes FOR US, yes exactly as described below, where it says:
"For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and THEY HAVE SHUT THEIR EYES"; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn -- and I would heal them." (Acts 28:27 NRSV)
Yes, Jehovah says, His Own Name People were doing this deliberately, on purpose! This is a sad situation as God's People today are in the same dilemma as their first century counterpart. And how are they responding? They are refusing his Hand again, His New arrangement for a renewed covenanted relationship with Him, through the "MEANS" that He chooses to "save." (Acts 28:28) Yes, they have willingly, again in our day and time, yes, "shut their eyes" so that they cannot see what God is plainly telling them. Think about it.
So then, how does this paradigm give us hope,...real hope, I say? Well for one thing, isn't it true the first century Jewish people [God’s Name People] did not have this particular example to look at or examine? Also, isn't it true they did not even have the benefit of the New Testament in written form, when Jesus first preached this new "gospel" or message? But we, as God’s Name People today, do, so we can learn from it so as not to make the same mistakes as God’s Name People in the past have. We are reminded of familiar scripture that brings this point home:
(2 Timothy 3:16-17) 16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.
____________________________________________________________
Review Questions For Article: A Great "Paradigm" Established For Our Examination
1. What principle do we learn from 1 Corinthians 10:11 and Romans 15:4?
2. What grave situation are Jehovah’s Witnesses, God’s Name People, in today?
3. Since the Jews in the first century viewed the Law Covenant as their “authority” on everything, how did they react to anyone they thought was speaking against it?
4. How did the nation view anyone who attempted to teach them anything “new” or something they had never heard before?
5. What was the true situation that existed as far as their obeying this Law Covenant according to Matthew 15:8, 9? (See also Isaiah 24:5, 6)
6. When offered the opportunity to repent of their sins against the Mosaic Covenant, how did the nation react with and what results?
7. Today, if someone attempted to teach Jehovah’s Witnesses a doctrine that appeared to be different than what Jesus taught, what would be their reaction to this person?
8. In the first century, how did the Jewish leaders react to the messenger of the “new covenant? Why?
9. What attitude would Jehovah’s Witnesses not want to imitate as described in Acts 28:27?
10. Why would it be to their benefit that Jehovah’s Witnesses learn from the paradigm or beside example recorded in the Bible?
To get the answers for the review questions CLICK HERE.
***