Resources for conversations with JWs

Hi,

Would anyone would be able to point me to some good resources for building up my knowledge on a number of topics that have been pain points for me when talking to JWs? Let me just add first, I already own David Reed's books on Logos - they're helpful and give some direction, but no where to the depth that a Pioneer Minister or Elder would appreciate (at least the ones I have encountered thus far).

Areas I need help with:

1. Revelation: who the 144k is, Rev. 3:14 - Jesus is God's first creation, Great crowd. I already own many of G. K. Beale's works, need some additional helps.

2. Usage of the term "firstborn" in NT (Colossians 1 for instance)

3. Hell - Hades and Sheol - the grave or hell?

4. Prophecies of Daniel - their timeline for 1914 is rooted in Daniel 4

This should be enough for now, thanks in advance for your recommendations.

Cheers

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Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

1. Revelation: who the 144k is, Rev. 3:14 - Jesus is God's first creation, Great crowd. I already own many of G. K. Beale's works, need some additional helps.

Search suggestion is:

who WITHIN {Milestone <Rv7.4-8>}

2. Usage of the term "firstborn" in NT (Colossians 1 for instance)

Search suggestion is:

firstborn WITHIN {Milestone <Co1>}

3. Hell - Hades and Sheol - the grave or hell?

Search suggestion is:

([field heading,largetext] hades,hell,sheol)

4. Prophecies of Daniel - their timeline for 1914 is rooted in Daniel 4

timeline WITHIN {Milestone <Dn4>}

found one result in my library (so opened a commentary on Daniel 4)

... thanks in advance for your recommendations.

Another search suggestion is:

"Charles Taze Russell" WITHIN 33 WORDS greek

What was the Jewish reason for seeking death ? Why did the High Priest tear his garment ?

Keep Smiling [:)]

Jan Krohn

http://vintage.aomin.org/Witnesses.html

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Would anyone would be able to point me to some good resources for building up my knowledge on a number of topics that have been pain points for me when talking to JWs?

A resource to consider => Into the Light of Christianity

Keep Smiling [:)]

Phil Tuften

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/978577#Comment_978577

Not in Logos

Apostles of Denial

Crisis of Conscience

DAL

This might add to what others have suggested:

1. https://www.logos.com/product/50098/the-four-major-cults-christian-science-jehovahs-witnesses-mormonism-seventh-day-adventism

Great overviews and JW’s are included.

DAL

Scott E. Mahle

The Millennial Dawn Heresy is a fascinating, and illuminating, account by Pastor E. L. Eaton whom debated these beliefs from the very beginning. Here’s a look at the Table of Contents and the Forward.

Jerome Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/978627#Comment_978627

Don't miss what I have placed in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on all of these issues.

My book is available as a Logos resource.

I placed these topics or notes in my book as a result of four years of study JWs conducted in my home. That took place because members of my Sunday school class begged me to assist them when JWs visited their homes and would not respect the sound answers my students presented.

See especially my Subject Index entry on page 1562, "Jehovah's Witnesses: Answers to Doctrinal Errors."

Liam Maguire

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/978656#Comment_978656

There are some great insights into answering your initial questions, here. May I provide my personal two cents as someone who has engaged with JWs a fair bit? My advice to folk is to do a few things.

1. Get a good grip on the Socratic Questioning Method (http://changingminds.org/techniques/questioning/socratic_questions.htm). My experience of JWs is that they love to answer your questions, by asking Socratic questions you can challenge their theology through questioning Not only does this get folk thinking it is also less confrontational. Eg. "I'm sorry perhaps you can help me understand something. You say that Jesus is a god (John 1:1 NWT), but Psalm 96:5 says that all other gods are idols. I'm really confused, are saying that Jesus is the True God (Jehovah) or a false God (an idol?)

2. In a firm but gentle manner inform them that you are only interested in what the bible says, not the watchtower society. Stick to your guns, many JWs are good at using literature and a few memorised verses to tie Christians in knots. They are not so used to doing this without the help of "What the Bible really teachings" or "Reasoning from the Scriptures". This allows you to also avoid any conversations about 1914, and end times prophecies. However, it also means that I have to avoid quoting theologians to defend my position too, that would be hypocrisy.

3. Pick your hill and die on it. Mine is John 1:1-3. JWs are good at moving the conversation quickly through a series of select verses, usually in a forward direction to REvelation. This is so they can move your conversation to an area that they want to talk about. I try to do this by gently but firmly refusing to budge. "I'm sorry, I still have questions about this verse, can we please try to answer those before we move on? WOuld that be ok?" or "I'm not comfortable changing the subject until we've dealt with this issue. Can you help me do that first?" Again this helps you avoid the sticky subject on end times prophecies.

4. Avoid Greek and Hebrew. Chances are you are not a language scholar (or you wouldn't be asking the question), neither am I, neither are they. When appeals to Greek grammar or translation are made in John 1:1 or Colossians 1. I simply reply, "I wouldn't know I can't speak Greek/Hebrew. Can we please work with the English translations that I have right now? For example, [provide suitable cross-reference that strengths your fortified position (point 3)]." This way you're deflecting the diversion, and redirecting the conversation along lines that will best serve the presentation of the gospel.

I hope that helps a bit. Personally, I find spending a few moments reframing the terms of engagement at the start so that you are in the driving seat (As Greg Koukl would say) means that I spend less time chasing end times prophecies and arguments about words and more time reasoning that Jesus is the Christ.

A couple more things to check out:

- Proving Jesus is God on a Napkin https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/how-to-use-the-back-of-a-napkin-to-prove-to-a-jehovahs-witness-that-jesus-is-god/

- Much of what I have said is a result of the lessons learnt in Tactics by Greg Koukl https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tactics-Game-Discussing-Christian-Convictions-ebook/dp/B001NLKXIO First half is very good, the second half less so.

Encourage your thoughts and feedback. :-)

JohnB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/978787#Comment_978787

That looks good from my much more limited contacts. I will file it.
We appeared to become black-listed after a couple of studies while in our previous house - we would still get the door knockers but although we agreed to be visited, the invitation was never followed up!