Above is the Codex Sinaiticus in facsimile format. The codex is the oldest complete copy of the New Testament we have and contains about 1/2 of the Old Testament. Together with the Codex Vaticanus 1709 and Codex Alexandrinus these form the Greek text Bible Students consider more reliable and tend to consult when we go back to the Greek text. For the Old Testament text we tend to go with the Masoretic text in Hebrew as represented by the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, Fortunately for most, computer programs, several of them for free, make it much easier to wade through the texts than our forebears found it. But one thing to keep in mind as well is that Charles Taze Russell primarily used the King James Version as his go to English Bible and that Bible is still something of a standard among us today. So, what have our studies using the method outlined earlier led us to? what do we believe the bible teaches when we rely on the Bile alone?
I found this statement of believe on the website for The International Bible Students Association and it pretty much covers the core beliefs we have as a movement:
1. Both the Old and New Testament are Jehovah's inspired words; the primary source of all Truth.
2. Man did not evolve but was created.
3. Jehovah created his only-begotten Son, Jesus. Jesus created all other things.
4. Jesus descended from heaven to earth and was born of Mary as a perfect human man, not as God in flesh.
5. God raised Jesus from death in a Spirit body, not in a physical body of flesh.
6. The Holy Spirit is Jehovah's active power and force, not a person.
7. The Trinity is no where found or taught in the Bible.
8. Man is mortal and does not possess an immortal soul. The soul ceases to exist after death.
9. There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished. "Hell" is from the same Greek and Hebrew words for "grave," describing the sleep of death, not eternal torment.
10. We are now living in the "time of the end".
11. Jesus returned and has been invisibly present on earth since the early days of the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society.
12. The 144,000 of Revelation 7 are the anointed Bride of Christ in heaven.
14. Earth will never be literally destroyed or completely depopulated.
15. In the Kingdom, Christ will rule the earth in righteousness and peace.
16. By their faithfulness to God, the obedient of mankind will be granted what our original parents lost-everlasting life in human perfection on a paradise earth.
While this is is not completely inclusive and there are some differences among the Bible Students on other beliefs, it does form a good working list to go from and we will go through it in our posts to come and explain exactly what in God's word led us to these beliefs. We will also go over some of those other beliefs we hold and show the biblical basis for them as well.
Tchau!
No comments:
Post a Comment