Big mess for the JW's.
A. The flip-flop
Titus 2:14 in the 1985 New World Translation
who gave himself for us that he might deliver us from every sort of lawlessness and cleanse for himself a people peculiarly his own, zealous for fine works.
1. The Jehovah's Witnesses make it clear that the pronoun "his" refers to Jehovah.
Kingdom Ministry—1979: This month we will have many occasions to demonstrate our zeal for Jehovah by our preaching and disciple-making work. May we continue to be a "people peculiarly his own, zealous for fine works."—Titus 2:14. (Zealously Preaching and Making Disciples, page 3)
2. The Jehovah's Witness make it clear that the pronoun "his" refers to Christ.
The Watchtower: The apostle Paul states that Christ has cleansed for himself "a people peculiarly his own, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:14) (Youths, Make It Your Choice to Serve Jehovah, July 1, 2006, page 30)
The mess for the JW's gets worse.
B. That Christians are the "special possession" of Christ demonstrates our worship of the Lord Jesus.
Titus 2:14 in the 2013 New World Translation
who gave himself for us to set us free from every sort of lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people who are his own special possession, zealous for fine works.
Titus Study Notes—Chapter 2: Christ's followers have been cleansed and “set free” by means of the “precious blood” of his ransom sacrifice. (1 Pe 1:18, 19; Heb 9:14) So they can rightly be called "his own special possession." According to one lexicon, the Greek word Paul uses for "his own special possession" can include the idea of being a “costly possession and a distinctive treasure.” This wording echoes what Jehovah told the ancient nation of Israel: "You will certainly become my special property [or, "my treasured possession"] out of all peoples. (Ex 19:5; see also De 7:6; 14:2.)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070802
The Watchtower: At Mount Sinai, he said to them: “If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property out of all other peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me.” (Ex. 19:5) In the book of Deuteronomy the expression "a special property" occurs three times, and the context in each instance strongly emphasizes the right viewpoint and course of action as to worship and ownership. (Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18) (Settling the Issue of Ownership, October 1, 1974, page 597-598)
Based on the evidence from their own writings, Jesus is Jehovah and should be worshiped.
A. The flip-flop
Titus 2:14 in the 1985 New World Translation
who gave himself for us that he might deliver us from every sort of lawlessness and cleanse for himself a people peculiarly his own, zealous for fine works.
1. The Jehovah's Witnesses make it clear that the pronoun "his" refers to Jehovah.
Kingdom Ministry—1979: This month we will have many occasions to demonstrate our zeal for Jehovah by our preaching and disciple-making work. May we continue to be a "people peculiarly his own, zealous for fine works."—Titus 2:14. (Zealously Preaching and Making Disciples, page 3)
2. The Jehovah's Witness make it clear that the pronoun "his" refers to Christ.
The Watchtower: The apostle Paul states that Christ has cleansed for himself "a people peculiarly his own, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:14) (Youths, Make It Your Choice to Serve Jehovah, July 1, 2006, page 30)
The mess for the JW's gets worse.
B. That Christians are the "special possession" of Christ demonstrates our worship of the Lord Jesus.
Titus 2:14 in the 2013 New World Translation
who gave himself for us to set us free from every sort of lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people who are his own special possession, zealous for fine works.
Titus Study Notes—Chapter 2: Christ's followers have been cleansed and “set free” by means of the “precious blood” of his ransom sacrifice. (1 Pe 1:18, 19; Heb 9:14) So they can rightly be called "his own special possession." According to one lexicon, the Greek word Paul uses for "his own special possession" can include the idea of being a “costly possession and a distinctive treasure.” This wording echoes what Jehovah told the ancient nation of Israel: "You will certainly become my special property [or, "my treasured possession"] out of all peoples. (Ex 19:5; see also De 7:6; 14:2.)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070802
The Watchtower: At Mount Sinai, he said to them: “If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property out of all other peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me.” (Ex. 19:5) In the book of Deuteronomy the expression "a special property" occurs three times, and the context in each instance strongly emphasizes the right viewpoint and course of action as to worship and ownership. (Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18) (Settling the Issue of Ownership, October 1, 1974, page 597-598)
Based on the evidence from their own writings, Jesus is Jehovah and should be worshiped.
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