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AnonymousBrother

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Posts posted by AnonymousBrother

  1. 1 minute ago, Anna said:

    I don't know about you, but I have not noticed any discussions about the overlapping generation among the friends. And in my very close circle of friends, most have admitted they have not payed much attention to it, and some even say they do not believe it. Have you found anything similar?

    Not here. In Asia things are more dedicated. How the "next phase" is calculated is not that important. They can mostly talk about it, but pay less attention to the details than the result: "Wait. Not time yet."

    I'm moving back to the US in a couple of weeks (been in Asia 24 years). But even then, the congregation I will be attending aren't that fixated on "how" just "when" (sorta speak).

  2. 1 minute ago, Anna said:

    Hey! Was that in the outline?

    It wasn't. It was an assignment to show biblical references for proper planning.

    Supposed to last 6 minutes. Took about 10 (my wife is not native speaker). No one complained and the elders just said "I never thought of it that way."

    Amazing what you can do with Scriptures and a little math . . .

  3. 2 minutes ago, Anna said:

    Once the cat is out of the bag, you can't put it back in, no matter how hard you try.

    No.

    But, you do not have to try, either.

    People should have better things to do than chase cats.

    I gave a talk about the "overlapping generations" when it was "new".

    Pointed out not to ignore things like retirement plans, etc., because this overlapping stuff could easily drag on another 100 years--likely longer as medical tech advances.

    Jehovah has his own time frame.

    We were told to be ready at any time for the fan to be hit. We weren't told to jump the gun. As many seemed want to do.

    Of course, not having been a witness back then, I cannot say about general moods and such. But I have seen many nowadays starting down the "before next decade" path. I tell them not to plan their lives around a date, and just be ready to run for the hills at any time, because the fan could be hit *tomorrow* or *one hundred years* from now.

  4. 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.

    This, to you, should be equivalent to:

    58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, "Jehovah."

    Jehovah...what? Created the world? Called light? Carried away Enoch? What?

    Or, more likely,

    58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I exist.

  5. John 15:25 However, the word that is written in their law had to be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

    John 10:33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

    So, then. Did the Jews *really have cause*? Was Jesus *rightfully* killed for blasphemy? You are saying Jesus was a sinner after all and was put to a just death?

    Ex 20:3 ( AMPC ) You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.
     
    If Jesus *had* really *ever* called himself God, he *would* have *broken* the Law. And the scriptures tell us Jesus *never* broke the Law.
  6. On 3/20/2016 at 7:21 PM, Ann O'Maly said:

    Stop trying to bend this around. You made the claim that 'most scholars disagreed' with the idea that John was targeting the Docetic heresies in 2 John. I asked you to support your claim. You could not. 'Not mentioning' does not support your assertion about disagreement either. Only one on your list expressed a disagreement. Shall we move on from this dead horse now?

    And regarding heretics in the ever-changing JW organization: today's heresy can be tomorrow's truth. Besides, the majority of those disfellowshipped are guilty of some sexual sin. Where does this fit with 2 John's warning about not greeting false teachers?

    Perhaps I should have better stated "do not support your opinion". Pretty much the same thing, just stated differently. Or just "do not seem to echo your opinion," or "have not stated agreement with your opinions" since they did not mention your opinion, which you seem to believe is paramount to scriptural interpretations. Or do you have a larger list that do "actively" support your opinion?

    Not to mention what I said was disagreeing with the view of exclusively dealing with Docetism to the exclusion of all else. You wrote:

    But the 'wicked' in this context was specifically about a kind of Gnostic Christian who taught Jesus was not a flesh-and-blood person which went against the fundamentals of the Gospel. It wasn't a generic 'any who an ecclesiastical authority deems wicked, for any number of reasons, do not speak to them at all.' If we were to shun all 'basically wicked' people we wouldn't speak to anybody at all. Cp. Luke. 11:13 (Matt. 7:11). ;)

    And that view of specificity is not supported with that list I showed you. And one of them *specifically* denied your point altogether. And that is on verse 7. But the point still remains, not about 2 John 7, but about 2 John 9~11 (which my initial comments was made from), which I have shown you from the commentaries is not exclusive to 2 John 7, which is just *one example* of false teachings/teachers John was warning about, and that you cannot seem to agree with.

    Remember: When I started, I did not even mention 2 John 7 at all. Just 2 John 9~11. You came back with 2 John 7:

     

    Quote

     

    This Scripture was particularly targeting the Docetists. Christians considered them heretics because they believed Jesus only appeared to have a human body but wasn't actually a physical being: therefore, Jesus didn't really suffer and die as a human but just gave the illusion that he did. The context of John's words makes it clear who he was warning about:

    2 John 7 - "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those not acknowledging Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist."

    Those who promoted Docetist views were wicked, according to John. This is NOT a text about judicial action, disfellowshipping and all infractions of Bible principles as perceived by the JW organizational hierarchy.

    So, while verse 7 might perhaps maybe by some odd minuscule chance, yet which is not actively supported by that list of scholars I gave you, be targeting exclusively Docetism, verses 9~11 do not.

     

  7. On 3/14/2016 at 9:52 PM, Ann O'Maly said:

    Huh?

    It was demonstrated to you in great detail (as you had only provided names but no references) that the list showed your assertion to be false. 

    But 2 John 9-11 follows on from 2 John 7's warning about Docetic heresy, doesn't it?

    Um ... so why are you defending it?

    Why?

    I have done what I said I would. Showed you many references do not support your assertions of exclusivity (BTW, "not mentioning" is *not* the same as "supporting" your position, as much as you would like otherwise).

    And since many of those on that list you care to ignore definitely state verses 9-11 are not exclusive to the one specific example of verse 7, it casts even greater doubt that their "no comment" were an assertion of your position.

    PS. What I do believe are grounds for DFing or policies thereof have no bearing on what is being discussed, unless you choose to cast them in that light (you obviously are). It is quite simple: Heretics are (ideally) DFd. Can't really help that the articles don't specify the cause of DF.

  8. 12 hours ago, Giannis Diamantis said:

    who cares what translation you use... I USE THE ORIGINAL TEXT IN "ΚΟΙΝΗ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ"

    Still a DEAD LANGUAGE.

    Sort of like ancient English, but *older*.

    OR *every single Greek* person would claim biblical infallibility. But if you care to make a FULL TRANSLATION of the ENTIRE NT TEXTS and get them past translation reviews, I might change my opinion.  Until then, I hold my position.

  9. 6 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

    AnonymousBrother, I asked you, "Which scholars disagree that John was targeting the Docetic heresies?"

    You answered with a list of names. Only one of those names expressed a disagreement that John was targeting Docetic heresies. Your new post doesn't add to the tally.

    Huh?

    Again, not clearly referenced. The second Brooke quote ("We have seen ...") comes from p. xlv. I had already taken the preceding and succeeding pages into account before I summarized Brooke's argument. Both your reproduced excerpts, as is plain from the the references to 'ch.v' and 'earlier chapters' are talking about 'the Epistle,' namely, 1 John. We, however, are focusing on 2 John. Brooke supports more my argument than yours.

    So I ask again, other than the gnostic Docetics, which other groups taught that Jesus did not come in the flesh but was an apparition?

    How in your head do you make a non-mention a 'disagreement'? Talk about 'knight-jump' reasoning!

    He already supported them in his introductory comments to 2 John, as I already pointed out. You think he changed his mind between pages?

    Other than the gnostic Docetics, which other groups taught that Jesus did not come in the flesh but was an apparition?

    Anyway, the tally of 'disagreeing scholars' from your list still comes to ...

    One.

     

    You keep jumping around, so I will pin it down once more:

    Quote

    On 2/27/2016 at 8:58 PM, AnonymousBrother said:


    2 John 9~11 (ESV)
    Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

    2 John 10 explains not to associate with those who are basically wicked.

     

    You replied:

    Quote

     

    This Scripture was particularly targeting the Docetists. Christians considered them heretics because they believed Jesus only appeared to have a human body but wasn't actually a physical being: therefore, Jesus didn't really suffer and die as a human but just gave the illusion that he did. The context of John's words makes it clear who he was warning about:

    2 John 7 - "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those not acknowledging Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist."

    Those who promoted Docetist views were wicked, according to John. This is NOT a text about judicial action, disfellowshipping and all infractions of Bible principles as perceived by the JW organizational hierarchy.

     

    You keep harping some point about 2 John 7, which I have demonstrated, is not an exclusive verse for Docetism as by that list I showed you, but could take time to find more. But the point still remains, not about 2 John 7, but about 2 John 9~11, which I have also shown you from the commentaries is not exclusive to 2 John 7, which is just one example of false teachings/teachers John was warning about, and that you cannot seem to agree with.

    As to your "hints" I disagree with this particular doctrine:

    w85 7/15

    "Did 2 John 10, which says not to receive into one’s home or to greet certain ones, refer only to those who had promoted false doctrine?
    In context this counsel concerned the “many deceivers” who had gone forth, “persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” (2 John 7) The apostle John offered directions on how Christians back there should treat one who denied that Jesus had existed or that he was the Christ and Ransomer. John directed: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.” (2 John 10, 11) But the Bible elsewhere shows that this had a wider application."


    w85 7/15 31

    "John says: “Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.” (2 John 9, 10) Those words certainly would have applied to a person who became an brother by joining a false religion or by spreading false doctrine. (2 Timothy 2:17-19) But what about those who John said “went out from us”? While Christians in the first century would know that they should not associate with an expelled wrongdoer or with an active brother, did they act similarly toward someone who was not expelled but who willfully renounced the Christian way?"


    w85 8/15 31

    "How did Christians in the first century act toward someone who was not an expelled wrongdoer, but who willfully renounced the Christian way?
    The apostle John gave counsel about persons who had ‘gone out from among us’ and about those who brought false teaching. (1 John 2:19) At 2 John 10 he advised that Christians were not to ‘receive such persons into their home’ or greet them. The word “apostasy” is from a Greek word that has the sense of ‘desertion, abandonment, or rebellion,’ and a person who had willfully and formally disassociated himself from the Christian congregation would have matched such a description. Loyal Christians would not have wanted to fellowship with such an brother.—7/15, page 31."

    W62 6/15 380

    "These repeated warnings were not amiss. Already in Timothy’s day Hymenaeus and Philetus led some away from the true faith by teaching that the resurrection had already occurred. (2 Tim. 2:17, 18) In the second and third centuries Gnostics who professed Christianity boasted that they alone had sounded the depths of knowledge. By a process of speculation they claimed to have discovered “deep things” unknown to the ordinary Christian. Unwilling to limit themselves to divinely revealed truth and asserting that it was impossible to arrive at the true teachings of Christ, they proceeded to introduce Oriental and Grecian philosophies, under the label of superior knowledge. Crude, man-made doctrines resulted, and many were turned aside to false stories. The apostle John’s statement proved correct: “Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God.”—2 John 9."

    And I can keep posting more WT articles, as well.

  10. On 3/3/2016 at 8:14 AM, Ann O'Maly said:

    OK.

    I notice that you do not give specific references or quotes to support your point. This makes it harder to verify your claim. Perhaps you just threw out names hoping some might stick. It's appears you didn't bother to actually check what they said.

    Barnes refers the reader of 2 John 7 to his notes on 1 John 4:2 where he says,

    "It is quite probable that the apostle here refers to such sentiments as those which were held by the 'Docetae;' and that he meant to teach that it was indispensable to proper evidence that anyone came from God, that he should maintain that Jesus was truly a man, or that there was a real incarnation of the Son of God."

    Verse 10: If there come any unto you - Any professed teacher of religion. There can be no doubt that she to whom this Epistle was written was accustomed to entertain such teachers.

    And bring not this doctrine - This doctrine which Christ taught, or the true doctrine respecting him and his religion.

    Quote

    Alford neither agrees nor disagrees. He doesn't mention the Docetists in his commentary.

    Exactly.

    Quote

    A.E. Brooks - The Johannine Epistles, I presume. While he questions whether John was specifically pinning down Docetism as the 'false teaching,' he does say that the "connection of the [first] Epistle with Gnostic ideas is quite apparent" (p. xliii). He also acknowledges that the recognized connection between John's First and Second Epistles with Docetism has had a long history and, while he finds it unfortunate that the term 'Docetism' has both a "wider and narrower signification," he says it can be applied in a more popular sense,

    "to characterize all teaching which denied the reality of the Incarnation, and therefore the reality and completeness of the Lord's humanity." (p. xliv) 

    This application is still pretty specific and again is not meant to be a catch-all for any infraction of an ecclesiastical authority's policies and teaching.

    I guess you care to ignore all the preceding and succeeding pages?

    Thus, if we may consider first the passages in which doctrinal 
    errors are denounced apart from those which deal with moral 
    
    § 5.] THE FALSE TEACHERS xli 
    
    dangers, the general impression left by these passages and by 
    many individual expressions which occur in them, leads to the 
    conclusion that the Epistle is directed against various forms of 
    teaching. The writer sums up the different tendencies in them 
    which seem to him most dangerous, and most characteristic of 
    the times. He sets out clearly the corresponding truths which 
    in his opinion will prove to be their safest antidote. At the 
    same time his writing may have been occasioned by one special 
    type of false teaching, or one special incident in the history of 
    his Church in connection with it. 
    We have seen, if the suggested interpretation of the Christo- 
    logical passages is in the main correct, that the author is trying 
    to strengthen his readers' defences against dangers which threaten 
    from more than one quarter. As the Epistle proceeds, however, 
    one particular danger becomes more prominent, and the passage 
    in ch. v. contains clearer reference to one definite form of error 
    than is probably to be found in the earlier chapters. Since the 
    days when Polycarp told the story of John, the disciple of the 
    Lord, and Cerinthus in the Baths of Ephesus, the view has been 
    commonly held that the Johannine Epistles, if not the Gospel 
    as well (cf. Jerome, In Joann.), were directed, at any rate in 
    part, again the heresy of Cerinthus. This view has been 
    seriously challenged by many writers. 
    Quote

    "The team at Intervarsity Press" - too vague. 

    W Hall Harris - Are you referring to his book, 1, 2, 3 John - Comfort and Counsel for a Church in Crisis? P.211 - "There is no indisputable evidence for docetism in the Johannine letters." Well, that's one scholar so far.

    The Pulpit Commentary:


    "These seducers deny 'Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh,' or they deny 'Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh.' The present participle ἐρχόμενον seems to indicate exactly the position of some of the Gnostic teachers. ... The Gnostic denied that the Incarnation could take place: no such Person as the Christ coming in the flesh was possible; that the Infinite should become finite, that the Divine Word should become flesh, was inconceivable. The teacher who brings such doctrine as this 'is the deceiver and the antichrist' about whom the elder's children had been so frequently warned."

    Docetism was a form of Gnosticism.

    >>>>>>>> So were many other things: Conclusion Docetism not "particular" target.
     
    FB Hole neither agrees nor disagrees with the idea that John was targeting Docetists because he doesn't mention them. He applies John's words to 'Modernism.'

    >>>>>>>>> Again, my point. Docetism was a major issue, yet does not get mentioned: Colcusion: Docetism not "particular" target.

    William Kelly -  neither agrees nor disagrees. He doesn't mention the Docetists but talks in generalities.

    >>>>> Again, my point. Docetism was a major issue, yet does not get mentioned: Colcusion: Docetism not "particular" target.

    J R Dummelow - his introduction to 2 John discusses the historical context of the letter and how the Docetist view, which denied Jesus' true nature, was a threat to the Christianity that John held dear. No disagreement from Drummelow.

    Yet, his comments:

    
    6. In it] ' better to make ' it ' refer not to 
    the nearest noun, ' commandment,' but to 
    ' love.' 7. Are entered into the world] rather, 
    ' are gone out into the world': cp. RV; i.e. 
    they were formerly members of the Church, 
    but have apostatised: cp. 1 Jn2i9. To con- 
    fess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is 
    with St. John the central fact of Christian 
    belief. Not to recognise in Jesus the authentic 
    
    1061 
    
    2 JOHN— 3 JOHN 
    
    14 
    
    revelation of the infinite God and the highest 
    ideal of humanity, can, in his opinion, imply 
    only moral depravity. 
    
    9. Whosoever, not transgresseth, but ' has 
    erroneous ideas.' No claim of superior know- 
    ledge can be allowed which sets aside what 
    Christ taught. Doctrine in the NT. is never 
    synonymous with ' dogma,' but means ' teaching.' 
    
    10. ' This verse reminds us that the Gospel 
    has its intolerance as well as tolerance ' (Bp. 
    Alexander). Ordinary courtesy is not for- 
    bidden, but to extend the right hand of fellow- 
    ship would be to condone and further false 
    doctrine and to share the guilt of disloyalty. 
    

    Do not seem to support your "particularly" notion.

    Leon Morris - did he do a discussion of John's letters? I cannot find one among his listed works.

    James Macknight -  A New Literal Translation, from the Original Greek, of all the Apostolical Epistles, with a Commentary, and Notes, Philological, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical. To which is added, A History of the Life of the Apostle Paul, Vol VI - an old 18th century commentary. MacKnight says that the purpose of the 2nd epistle to John was 

    "to confute the error of Basilides and his followers, who affirmed that Christ was not a real man, but only a man in appearance; consequently, that he neither did nor suffered what he appeared to do and suffer." (P. 134)

    MacKnight was mistaken in attributing the heresy to Basilides as he lived after John's letter was supposed to have been written, but it's clear that MacKnight thought John was targeting Gnostic heresy.

    >>>>>>>>>>>> But, again, not "particularly" Docetism, as you claim.

    Coffman's commentaries:

    "The heresy of the false deceivers was that of denying the Incarnation. Various scholars have identified such teachers as Docetists, Cerinthians, and Gnostics."

    >>>>>>>>>>>> But, again, not "particularly" Docetism, as you claim.

    Quote

    Nah. Your "most scholars" that "disagree" John was targeting the Docetic heresy amount to ... let me get my calculator ... a grand total of ... one.

    So basically, your statement was

    Quote

    This Scripture was particularly targeting the Docetists.

    And I've gone and shown you *how* many that disagree on that "particularly"?

    I would say I did just exactly as I said: Show you no such "particularly" exists. John was addressing more than a single heresy, covering multiple issues.

    We can keep this up, but it leads all to the same thing: You don't agree with JW doctrine.

  11. 18 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

    Many other what? Groups/people who believed Jesus was an apparition? Who?

    Which scholars disagree that John was targeting the Docetic heresies?

    Let's see for a short list: Barnes, 
    Alford,
    AE Brooks, 
    the team at Intervarsity Press, 
    W Hall Harris, 
    Pulpit commentaries, 
    FB Hole, 
    William Kelley, 
    J R Dummelow,
    Leon Morris,
    James Macknight,
    Coffman's commentaries has a slew of others, need more?
     

  12. 14 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

    ... Among a few other things, including that he would be killed (Mark 10:32-34). And he was killed. That's why John found the Docetists' teaching so offensive.

    Returning to the wider thread theme, AnonymousBrother stated:

    But this Scripture is talking about after an expulsion has taken place and welcoming the man back.

    *** w10 6/15 p. 13 Keep Building Up the Congregation ***


    “Kindly Forgive and Comfort Him”
    13 The first-century Corinthian congregation faced the situation of a man who unrepentantly practiced fornication. His conduct threatened the purity of the congregation and was a scandal even among nonbelievers. Hence, Paul rightly directed that the man be removed from the congregation.—1 Cor. 5:1, 7, 11-13.


    14 That discipline had a good effect. The congregation was protected from a corrupting influence, and the sinner was brought to his senses and to sincere repentance. On the basis of the man’s works befitting repentance, Paul indicated in his second letter to that congregation that the man should be reinstated. This was not all that was required, however. Paul also directed that the congregation “kindly forgive and comfort [the repentant sinner], that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad.”—Read 2 Corinthians 2:5-8.
     

    Again, there is no hint that the congregation's policy was (to adapt Giannis' words): "Neither we nor your family will speak to you until you prove you are remorseful and attend every congregation meeting for at least a year." 

    There were *many* others in addition to the Docetists, so I still think you want to be too specific, when most scholars also disagree.

    But, back to them main, the "hint" was there for *sincere repentance". How did they figure "sincere?"

    I know you want to find every single fault, but what it comes down to is how you interpret those scriptures. You see "tomeito" and I see "tomahto."

    I see the need to be sure someone is repentant, which the scriptures indicate takes place. You just want to take their word for it, which the scriptures do not indicate is adequate. 

    "6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow."

    How do you know it was "enough" if you cannot observe change? Take your eyes off the publications you seem to find so much fault in and tell me: How do you know? Wait for another abuse case to be reported? Then DF again?

  13. The point I am trying to make is *only* about the *waiting* period after a DF. That's why I gave you those scriptures. I cannot judge on the validity of a DF or on the reinstatement of one. You asked:

    On 2/29/2016 at 4:02 PM, Γιαννης Διαμαντιδης said:

    why someone who disfellowshipped for a reason that no longer exist must come back to the congregation ask for forgiveness and wait some time to be reinstated?

    And thus, I showed you scriptures that indicate a waiting period *is* reasonable in order for the elders to attempt to ascertain the DF person's repentance.

    If you are attempting to get a roll-back of the DF, that is something different altogether than a reinstatement.

    PS. I pretty much never quote the NWT because of argumentative feedback. I use BibleHub or Biblegateway. Didn't you notice I mentioned (ASV)?

  14. Hopefully we can stay on topic. . .Some re-posting:

    Paul *does* mention certain aspects of repentance:

    Acts 26:19-21 (ASV)
    “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 

    "performing deeds in keeping with their repentance." Repentance has to be more than just words.

    We do not have the gifts the Apostles had, nor are we Jesus. We cannot look into people's hearts to see if they are truly repentant or not.  But Paul's words indicate a "waiting" period for full re-instatement is *not* unreasonable.

    2 Cor 7:11-12 (ASV)
    For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 

    So, Paul did not just take anyone's word about repentance. He watched for signs of it.

    While the actual time might be arbitrary, the requirement for a "waiting period" is not unreasonable. How would *you* personally determine if the person is *actually* repentant?

  15. 3 hours ago, admin said:

    erything is now read by script and they constantly misread the text.....can we have them learn to speak naturally?

    no one likes prescripted speeches in reality  

    just a couple questions as I watch the ceremony. 

     

    Enroll them in the TMS?

  16. 10 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

    I can't remember Jesus teaching anything about circumcision, the question was long resolved by the time John wrote his letter, and he didn't allude to the circumcision issue here, so no, warning against the pro-circumcision lobby was not John's intent

    Again, banning Jews from Christianity is not the issue that John alludes to. 

    The doctrinal threat to Christianity was more fundamental: if Jesus didn't really die, then there was no resurrection. If Jesus wasn't resurrected, Christian faith has no basis (as Paul said in 1 Cor. 15).

    John talks about love, warns about those who teach that Jesus didn't come in the flesh and urges Christians to remain in Christ's teaching (and what exactly was Christ's teaching?). Any other perceived target is eisegesis, pure speculation. 

    You, yourself, say "alludes to". That is a *subjective* statement, whose meaning, is up to the interpretation of the listener. That you might only want to see one particular issue and ignore all other possibilities, which rely on the actual tense of how you interpret "of Christ", which, in itself, in this case, is subjective (and which the majority of scholars interpret as "Christ's teachings" not "teaching that Christ was", which lends itself open to the heresies I mentioned--and more--which you "assume" John did not mean, based on---?)

    You mentioned 

    On 2/27/2016 at 1:46 AM, Ann O'Maly said:

    as perceived by the JW organizational hierarchy.

    yet, in your own perceptions, you make the statement

    10 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

     was not John's intent

    based on your personal interpretation of "teaching of Christ" which, once again, goes against the majority of opinions in Biblical scholarship. And I would have to agree with them (which, of course, I do not always do), since it makes *much* more sense for John to be warning against those not following "the things Christ taught" (which, among other things, BTW, *was* that he came down *in the flesh* and *died* so that we may achieve salvation) as a totality and is not just a specific redundancy to what he already said in verse 7, where he condemns such, not just as sinners, but "antichrists." Not to mention, 1 John 4 already covers this particular heresy. So, saying that 2 John 9 only covers the heresy of Jesus not coming in the flesh actually seems out of place, when 1 John 4 essentially covers it already, making the level of rehash particularly insensible if that is *all* 2 John 9 is meant to cover.

    Especially when the actual wording "teaching of Christ" translates more properly as "doctrine Christ taught" (search via tufts or even biblehub).

     

  17. 33 minutes ago, Ann O'Maly said:

    But the 'wicked' in this context was specifically about a kind of Gnostic Christian who taught Jesus was not a flesh-and-blood person which went against the fundamentals of the Gospel. It wasn't a generic 'any who an ecclesiastical authority deems wicked, for any number of reasons, do not speak to them at all.' If we were to shun all 'basically wicked' people we wouldn't speak to anybody at all. Cp. Luke. 11:13 (Matt. 7:11). ;)

    So, you are saying that as long as you believe Christ came in the flesh and was resurrected, but that you had to adhere to circumcision to be saved, that was *not* John's intent? Or that you believed that Jesus was flesh and blood but forbade Jews from being Christians, that was OK?  You want to say that John *only* had *1* specific target for his warning?

    Really?O.o

  18. Mat 8:12 refers to the fleshly Israelites--once upon a time, God's Kingdom. The door was being closed to them because they were not placing faith in Jesus, while a Roman centurion was. Jesus was sounding the warning that the Gentiles were coming!

    13:38 refers to Spiritual Israel, whose seeds Jesus was planting.

  19. 11 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

    Those who promoted Docetist views were wicked, according to John. This is NOT a text about judicial action, disfellowshipping and all infractions of Bible principles as perceived by the JW organizational hierarchy.

    Well, that was why I pointed it out, since the OP said:

    And this time I want you to prove it from the scriptures -2 John 1:10

    The particular scripture is definitely not about DF and reinstatement. It is about not associating with those who are basically wicked.

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