J. T. Smith
Tampa 10, Florida
So often today we are approached by those of the "Watch Tower" group known as the Jehovah's Witnesses. We realize, of course, that there are many things taught by this group that are un-Scriptural. Yet, in this article, we wish to focus our attention upon the name they are using. The word "Jehovah" is not found in the New Testament, and according to YOUNG'S ANALYTICAL CONCORDANCE to the BIBLE, the word was used only FOI,'R times in the Old Testament (Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; Isa. 26:4). So, actually the passage that these "so-called" Jehovah's Witnesses use (Isa. 43:12) does not use this word, but the word is here translated "Lord." Therefore, if they were right in applying this passage to themselves (which they are not) it should be "Lord's Witnesses." But, perhaps the greatest "blunder" is when these people refer to themselves as "witnesses." The word "witness" means, "one who beholds or has personal knowledge of anything." (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary.) We, today, would not be called upon to give testimony as a "witness" of an automobile accident that we had only READ ABOUT and had not actually seen. How then, could we be a witness for Jehovah whom we have never seen, and whom we have never had speak directly to us? The Apostles were Christ's witnesses (Acts 1:8). Yet, those who claim to be "Jehovah's Witnesses" could not even be Christ's witnesses, for they have never seen Christ. The system we live by today is based upon FAITH, and the Hebrew writer said in Heb. 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN." Jesus said to Thomas, "Blessed are they that have NOT SEEN (are not witnesses, JTS) and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Hence, these people have MIS-USED the Scriptures, MIS-USED the English language, and will be lost eternally for having violated God's Word. Truth Magazine, VIII: 1, p. 1c October 1963 |