| Subject: Jehovah's witnesses and the other sheep |
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Free-in-Christ
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Date Posted: 11:03:21 10/10/04 Sun
What if the ‘other sheep’ of John 10:16 actually are the gentile believers that came to Christ following His resurrection? What would this mean for the Watchtower Organization, since so much is riding on their interpretation of this passage?
It would mean that there are not 2 classes of Christian, one with a different hope than the other, but that the hope laid out in the NT for Christians is one that all those who have faith in Christ can hope for.
It would mean that all Christians have the hope that the NT offers to all who have faith in Christ, that is, heaven.
It means that the resurrection hope that Paul talks of at 1 Corinthians 15 is the true and only biblical hope, and that there is not in fact another one that was not spoken of in the Bible, but mysteriously known to the WT. All Christians will have a glorious powerful, spiritual, incorruptible, immortal body as Paul states.
Christians can read the bible without wondering if that was written to and for them, or to another group of Christians.
It would mean that the NT was written to all Christians down through the ages, not just 144,000.
It would mean that nothing biblical happened in 1935, when the Witnesses say that the main calling for the 144,000 came to its end.
That there is no difference between those who claim to be of the little flock and the other sheep, other than one was a Jew and one was a Gentile, but now they are both ‘one flock’ being lead by Christ, the one Shepard of the sheep.
It would mean that Christ is, after all, the mediator between God and man, not God and a few select, or 144,000, men.
It would mean that the WT can add this to the list of theological errors that they have taught, all the while claiming to be divinely appointed by Christ, and to be ‘God’s sole means of communication.”
It would mean that each year the Witnesses all get together and symbolically reject the Blood and Body of Christ by their not obeying His words to partake of the emblems.
It would mean that all Christians should and must eat of the loafs and drink the wine at the memorial celebration, or else they would ‘have no life’ in themselves.
Most bible commentators today believe that the ‘other sheep’ (allos probaton) of John 10:16 are the Gentiles believers who were at the time of Christ words not yet being preached to concerning the Christ. I believe that when Christ words are read in context in John chapter 10, and when Paul’s related words in Ephesians 2:11-18 are taken into consideration, the biblical evidence is overwhelming that the ‘allos probaton’ of John 10:16 are the non-Jewish believers, people from the nations, and not a group of people who 2000 years later think that Jesus was speaking of them as a second class of not spirit anointed christians without a heavenly hope. If there were a second class of christians different from other christians with a different hope, you would naturally expect Paul or one of the apostles to comment on them, since they would be the majority of Christians, but we find no articulation of this group in the bible, that is why the WBTS have to say that the bible was not written for them, but to the 144,000, who are also seen as the ‘little flock’ of Luke 12:32. Thus this begs the question, why would the ‘other sheep’ group even read the bible, since it wasn’t written to them, and they would not know if any of it applied to them? And all the more so since the WT is telling them that Jesus isn’t even their mediator! Thus the WT creates a situation where the JW not only has no mediator, but also can’t even begin to understand the bible since it wasn’t even a book that was written to them, and only mentions them a few times. No wonder the average JW has to rely on the WT so much, after all, their salvation itself is impossible without their association with the Watchtower organization. Thus, the WT has placed itself as the mediator between God and the rest of mankind, since it is the one leading them to salvation.
Christ words in John 10 are as follows..
16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I surrender my soul, in order that I may receive it again.” 18
Thus you have two folds of sheep, but Christ Himself would bring them together by His death, and the two folds would become ‘one flock.’ Christ also says of the ‘other sheep’ that he would also ‘bring’ these with Him. Since Jesus says in John 14:2-4 that there were many abodes in heaven, and he would also come again and receive them, it is logical to say that just as he was planning to bring Israel with him to His Fathers house, so to he would open the way for the gentiles to be with him.
The two groups seen in the bible are always the Israelites and the gentiles, Jew and non-Jew. That is how the biblical language separates people, and I believe that the only biblical separation possible with John 10:16 and the 2 folds who, under the leadership and death of the one Shepard, Jesus, become one again, is the biblical distinction between the Jews and gentiles. Indeed, that biblical distinction between Jews and the gentiles (or Greeks) is presented and expounded upon all through the NT. Note, for example, the following examples, of the distinction between these two groups.
(John 14:2-4 )
2 In the house of my Father there are many abodes. Otherwise, I would have told YOU, because I am going my way to prepare a place for YOU. 3 Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for YOU, I am coming again and will receive YOU home to myself, that where I am YOU also may be. 4 And where I am going YOU know the way.”
(Acts 10:34-36)
“For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, 35 but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 He sent out the word to the sons of Israel to declare to them the good news of peace through Jesus Christ: this One is Lord of all [others].
(Acts 15:7-9)
: “Men, brothers, YOU well know that from early days God made the choice among YOU that through my mouth people of the nations should hear the word of the good news and believe; 8 and God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving them the holy spirit, just as he did to us also. 9 And he made no distinction at all between us and them, but purified their hearts by faith.
(Romans 10:11-13)
” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for there is the same Lord over all, who is rich to all those calling upon him. 1
(Romans 11:24) For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature and were grafted contrary to nature into the garden olive tree, how much rather will these who are natural be grafted into their own olive tree!
(1 Corinthians 12:13)
13 For truly by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink one spirit.
(Galatians 3:26-29)
26 YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus. 29 Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.
(Colossians 3:11)
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, foreigner, Scyth´i•an, slave, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.
Perhaps the most powerfully and remarkably parallels Christ words at John 10:16 are found in Ephesians 2:11-18.
*** Rbi8 Ephesians 2:11-18 ***
11 Therefore keep bearing in mind that formerly YOU were people of the nations as to flesh; “uncircumcision” YOU were called by that which is called “circumcision” made in the flesh with hands— 12 that YOU were at that particular time without Christ, alienated from the state of Israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise, and YOU had no hope and were without God in the world. 13 But now in union with Christ Jesus YOU who were once far off have come to be near by the blood of the Christ. 14 For he is our peace, he who made the two parties one and destroyed the wall in between that fenced them off. 15 By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, that he might create the two peoples in union with himself into one new man and make peace; 16 and that he might fully reconcile both peoples in one body to God through the torture stake, because he had killed off the enmity by means of himself. 17 And he came and declared the good news of peace to YOU, the ones far off, and peace to those near, 18 because through him we, both peoples, have the approach to the Father by one spirit.
Right here in the text, Paul, using a different analogy than Christ used, creates the same picture, showing that the apostles and disciples understood Christ illustration of the 2 groups to be that of the Jews and gentiles. All the same elements are presented. In Ephesians 2 you have two groups of people who are separated by the wall, which Christ by his death abolishes, uniting the two peoples into one, all in union with Jesus Christ, the head.
John 10- Two fold of Sheep
Eph 2- Two peoples
John 10- Other sheep hear Christ voice
Eph 2- Gentiles hear the gospel message
John 10- Christ death brings together into one Flock
Eph 2- Christ death brings together into unity with Himself
John 10- both sheep fold become one flock
Eph 2 – Both parties made one
John 10- Both folds to be lead by Christ
Eph 2- Both Jews and gentiles lead by Christ
Thus, when you allow the bible to interpret itself, you come to a clear and scriptural understanding of who the ‘other sheep’ of John 10:16 are. They are, as Christians have long understood, the gentile believers who have faith in Christ and by His death are sanctified and lead to the Father. The Watchtower has misapplied this verse and added post biblical theology to fit their 2 class system of Chirstians, making the bible a book that, like the Catholics have falsely taught, is not a book for all men, but only for a privileged few. They have made Christ the mediator, not for mankind, but only for a select few, and the marvelous hope that the bible gives to all Christians, they have again, said that that hope is not really available for all mankind. By the unscriptural interpretation that they have placed on the ‘other sheep’ of John 10:16, the Watchtower religion has taken away many truths in the bible, and have had to add lie upon lie to sustain their interpretation. How much better it is to allow the bible to speak and interpret itself, then have to create the post-biblical distinctions that the Witnesses are currently teaching.
Free in Christ
Daniel Michaels
philoalethinos@yahoo.com
Note 1.
Interestingly, although the WT identifies the 144,000 of Revelation 7 as the ‘little flock’ in Luke 12, the ‘other sheep’ in John 10 are also said to become intergraded into the ‘one flock.’ Thus, since both folds of sheep are to become ‘one flock” and Christ states that the ‘little flock’ is to be given the kingdom, the ‘other sheep’ would also be among those who are given a kingdom that flesh and blood cannot inherit. Thus there is one God, one Faith, one Lord, and also, according to Christ, ‘one flock.’
Note 2.
Robinsons Word Pictures
Joh 10:16 - Other sheep (alla probata). Sheep, not goats, but "not of this fold" (ek tęs aulęs tautęs). See verse 1 for aulę. Clearly "his flock is not confined to those enclosed in the Jewish fold, whether in Palestine or elsewhere" (Westcott). Christ's horizon takes in all men of all races and times (Joh 11:52; 12:32). The world mission of Christ for all nations is no new idea with him (Mt 8:11; Lu 13:28). God loved the world and gave his Son for the race (John 3:16), Them also I must bring (kakeina dei me agagein). Second aorist active infinitive of agô with dei expressing the moral urgency of Christ's passion for God's people in all lands and ages. Missions in Christ's mind takes in the whole world. This is according to prophecy (Isa 42:6; 49:6; 56:8) for the Messiah is to be a Light also to the Gentiles. It was typified by the brazen serpent (Joh 3:14). Christ died for every man. The Pharisees doubtless listened in amazement and even the disciples with slow comprehension. And they shall hear my voice (kai tęs phônęs mou akousontai). Future middle indicative of akouô with the genitive phônęs. These words read like a transcript from the Acts and the Epistles of Paul (Ro 9-11 in particular). See especially Paul's words in Ac 28:28. Present-day Christianity is here foretold. Only do we really listen to the voice of the Shepherd as we should? Jesus means that the Gentiles will hearken if the Jews turn away from him. And they shall become one flock, one shepherd (kai genęsontai mia poimnę, heis poimęn). Future middle indicative of ginomai, plural, not singular genęsetai as some MSS. have it. All (Jews and Gentiles) will form one flock under one Shepherd. Note the distinction here by Jesus between poimnę (old word, contraction of poimenę from poimęn, shepherd), as in Mt 26:31, and aulę (fold) just before. There may be many folds of the one flock. Jerome in his Vulgate confused this distinction, but he is wrong. His use of ovile for both aulę and pomnion has helped Roman Catholic assumptions. Christ's use of "flock" (poimnę) here is just another metaphor for kingdom (basileia) in Mt 8:11 where the children of the kingdom come from all climes and nations. See also the various metaphors in Eph 2 for this same idea. There is only the one Great Shepherd of the sheep (Heb 13:20), Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Note 3.
Some who have not read first hand the WT publication might not know that many JW’s don’t even have the Lord Jesus as their personal mediator. Note the following WT article.
*** ws chap. 1 pp. 10-11 The Desire for Peace and Security Worldwide ***
Likewise, the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members.
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