Q: I have found a great deal of comfort and understanding from your site. Having been confused as to how to proceed due to my concerns about the “anointed brothers of Christ” I felt utterly lost. Your letter “Be Patient and Trust Jehovah” has restored by footing and now I am committed once again to baptism.

There is one uncertainty that remains – how do I read the bible? How am I to identify those things that apply only to the anointed and those that apply to me? If the bible was written to and for the anointed how do I learn to see the parts of it that apply to me? I hope I am making sense here.

I would greatly appreciate your insight on this.
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A: Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that my site has not stumbled you. That is always my primary concern, because not everyone will find encouragement from discovering that not everything we do, teach, and believe, is from Jehovah. Jesus said: "Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing do." My website is intended for the "ailing." They are the ones who are "sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done in the midst of [us]." And, as the scripture indicates, these are the ones who are marked for survival. All of us need to endure to the end, and I hope my site is assisting in that. (Matt. 9:12; 24:13; Ezek. 9:4,6; Rev. 7:9, 13-17)

You ask how you can read the Bible and identify those things that apply only to the anointed and those that apply to you. You seem to be under the impression that "the Bible was written to and for the anointed." I know that is what the Watchtower teaches, but that is not the case in reality. The Bible was written for all of God's people, equally. When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he told him: "You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus. God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17; New International Reader's Version)

Notice how Paul reminds Timothy that he had known the Bible ever since he was “a little child,” or, as the New World Translations says, “from infancy.” Timothy was not of the anointed from “infancy,” was he? And yet, as he was studying the Scriptures, they were of benefit to him: for believing in Christ Jesus, for teaching him what is true, for correcting his mistakes, for making his life whole, and for training him to do what is right. Yes, all of us, by reading, meditating, becoming familiar with the Scriptures, and applying in our lives what we learn, all of us “can be completely prepared to do every good thing.”

As you read your Bible you will come across some things that may not apply to you personally or as directly as it would those to whom it is especially addressed. For example, in his first letter to Timothy Paul explained that a man who was desirous of being an “overseer” (NWT; “elder”-NLT; “bishop”-Amp; “church official”-CEV) in the congregation first needed to have certain qualifications. Likewise with those who would be “ministerial servants” (NWT; “deacons”-NLT; Amp; “church officers”-CEV). Although these qualifications are specifically directed to those who are thus involved, the information is equally beneficial to all of God’s people. We all should strive to be mature Christians, for we all belong within the same “household, which is the congregation of the living God, a pillar and support of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:1-13, 15)

In the same way there are some things that are addressed specifically to those whom Jehovah has chosen to eventually rule with his son in the heavens. (1 Peter 1:3,4) They too are members of “God’s household.” And whereas all of God’s people are his “temple,” the anointed occupy the position of being the “foundation” stones within the temple, while “Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone.” (1 Cor. 3:16,17; Eph. 2:19-22) They have been chosen and placed in their position by God, not because they have any special qualifications, or “by reason of [their] works, but by reason of [God’s] own purpose and undeserved kindness.” (2 Tim. 1:9) For now, their primary responsibility is to care for God’s sheep, and what Paul writes regarding elders and ministerial servants certainly also applies to these chosen ones, who in most cases would be among such ones. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

God’s purpose of having a certain number of individuals chosen and anointed for the purpose of ruling with Christ Jesus in the heavenly kingdom was a “sacred secret” that God did not reveal until the appointed time arrived for the Messiah to appear, when he began selecting the first members, starting with the twelve apostles. (1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:8-14; 3:3-5, 9-11) Thus, not much is revealed concerning them in the “Hebrew” Scriptures. That should simplify your reading of that part of the Bible. (Dan. 7:13,14, 18, 22, 27)

If there are things we don’t understand about the anointed, it’s good to keep in mind that Christ’s disciples in the first century did not understand everything about them either. Although, as Paul states, “the sacred secret was made known to me,” and he understood about the purpose of the choosing, and could personally explain the operation of God’s spirit in this, yet, he could not necessarily tell who was chosen, nor did he know the total number of those who would eventually be sealed by God. How many individual living stones would ultimately make up the completed foundation of God’s temple? That information was not revealed until the apostle John received the Revelation towards the end of the first century. (Rev. 7:4; 14:1-3)

This might be of special interest to you, because when you read your Bible you become aware that God does not markedly distinguish between those who constitute the foundation of his temple and the ones who are built upon that foundation. They all make up his holy temple “for God to inhabit by spirit.” Paul simply explains: “All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people. We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.” (Eph. 2:21,22; 4:4-6, CEV) God does not make obvious distinctions among his people. They are all one body, serving different functions. (compare 1 Cor. 12:12-31)

Jehovah does not differentiate between those who have the heavenly calling and the vast majority of his servants who will inherit the earth, as if he were partial in some way respecting them, just as elders and ministerial servants are not more important to Jehovah than his sheep they are to feed. Indeed, bad shepherds will be removed and replaced. (Jer. 23:1-4) The Bible is written for everyone, all the counsel applying equally to all. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that those who have been chosen to rule with his son have the greater responsibility. (Luke 12:48) As appointed shepherds, their heavenly reward depends upon them carrying out their assignment conscientiously, to their master’s satisfaction. The Scriptures clearly warn that wicked and oppressive anointed shepherds will be dismissed and their portion will be with the unbelievers. (Luke 12:45,46; 1 Peter 5:4)

Because of the fact that the Scriptures do not differentiate between those who are anointed and all others who will inherit the earth, many have come to the conclusion that in the first century every one was anointed and had the heavenly hope, and thus the Bible was written for them. But statistically, that would be highly improbable, since the Scriptures reveal that the total number of chosen ones will amount to only a “little flock” of 144,000. It did not take long at all for the number of disciples to increase. On the day of Pentecost alone “about three thousand souls were added” to the 120 disciples, and in addition to the “upward of [380]” disciples who were not present. The account in Acts says that many more were added to the disciples over the next few days, for “the word of God went on growing, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying in Jerusalem very much; and a great crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith.” How long or short a time would it have taken for the little flock of anointed to be completed? And keep in mind that Jehovah purposed to have his “holy ones” on hand in the “time of the end,” when they would receive the kingdom. (Luke 12:32; Acts 2:41; 4:4; 6:7; 1 Cor. 15:6; Dan. 7:21,22; 12:4)

Also, the suggestion that all were anointed in the first century contradicts the Scriptural evidence. For example, at every Memorial, as celebrated by Jehovah’s witnesses, the speaker reminds those in attendance that only the anointed are entitled to partake of the bread and wine. He stresses that it is not up to any individual to decide or choose whether they want to go to heaven. “It is Jehovah who does the choosing!” they are reminded. (Heb. 5:4) The Watchtower, June 15, 2009 (page 23) reiterates that the individuals who are "anointed by God's holy spirit and receive a heavenly calling. . . do not select this hope for themselves, but Jehovah puts his seal, or holy spirit, upon them." If that was also true in the first century, and if there was only the one hope—the heavenly one—then it is clear that unless God chose the individual and put his seal upon him, a person could not become a disciple of Christ, because there was only the one hope and God had not chosen him for it; unless everyone received the heavenly hope upon becoming a believer. But then there would be no choosing if the choosing to heavenly life was automatic. (Rom. 9:11, 16)

Compare that scenario with what the account in Acts actually tells us, namely, that “all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers.” Yes, anyone could become a believer, and from among those believers Jehovah could choose whomever he wanted to include among his anointed foundation stones, as the temple continued to grow and expand; while most other believers became part of the building that is established upon that "solid foundation," “harmoniously joined together” with fellow worshipers “into a place for God to inhabit by spirit,” just as Paul explained in his letter to the Ephesians, who themselves were “fellow citizens of the holy ones and members of the household of God.” (Acts 13:48; Eph. 2:19; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 Peter 2:4-10)

The truth is, Jehovah never intended to elevate his anointed servants above his other loyal worshipers. If we were to celebrate the Memorial just as Jesus himself instructed, that is, not forbidding anyone to obey his command to “keep doing this in remembrance of me,” there would be no way of knowing who had what hope, whether it was reserved for someone in the heavens, or here on this beautiful earth. (1 Cor. 11:23-25) It is not at all important to know who is or is not anointed, since they need to be faithful until death, otherwise they lose out on any reward. (Rev. 2:5, 16, 26,27; 3:3, 12, 21) It is only after they have received their heavenly reward that the “lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than [John the Baptist].” (Matt. 11:11)

The primary responsibility the anointed ones have, has always been the ministering to God’s household, his sheep, which is made up of all his sons and daughters. (Matt. 25:45-47; 2 Cor. 6:18) Jesus made that very clear when he asked Peter three times if Peter loved him, and every time when Peter answered in the affirmative Jesus admonished him to "feed my lambs," "shepherd my little sheep," "feed my little sheep." (John 21:15-17) Jesus asked his often-self-important disciples the searching question: “Which one is greater, the one reclining at the table or the one ministering? Is it not the one reclining at the table?” (Luke 22:27) That begs the question: Who today are reclining at the table, and who are ministering to them? When you understand that you, as the one reclining at the table and being served, are the “greater” person to Jehovah, then you will also understand what parts of the Bible apply to you, as you read it. It is God’s Word that should be the food that is served and nourishes you, helping you to grow to maturity. Regrettably, many of those appointed to do the serving have become “feeders of themselves” only, to the detriment of God’s sheep. These selfish shepherds are the ones who claim that the Bible was written for them, and them alone. This preposterous claim is seemingly causing not only you confusion, but many others as well. (Heb. 5:12-14; Ezek. 34:2-4)

Of course, there are things that Jehovah needs to explain in connection with the anointed “Israel of God,” for he had kept it a “sacred secret” throughout all those centuries until the appointed time arrived for the revealing of it. (Gal. 6:16) Rather than writing a separate book, he has explained these matters in the same Bible that is available to everyone else. A person can readily understand whether or not such information applies to him, for the holy spirit helps in instructing us in these things. (John 14:26) In times past, when Jehovah addressed his anointed priests or kings, it did not cause confusion among the rest of the people, who might have wondered if it applied also to them. (compare Deut. 17:14-20) As I mentioned earlier, some things are addressed to elders, some to ministerial servants, and still other things to God’s anointed chosen ones, although for the most part, God’s Word applies to everyone equally. For you to get the most benefit out of your reading of the Bible, that’s how you should approach it. Remember, as Paul said, the Bible was written for your benefit.

 

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