From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jehovah's Witnesses have published
various books and brochures for use in their door-to-door
evangelism. When interested individuals are encountered, Witnesses
attempt to initiate a home Bible study course, using a current
publication that outlines their primary beliefs and interpretations
of the Bible. The Witness then visits the student on a regular
basis, generally considering a chapter on each visit, depending on
the student's circumstances.
Students are encouraged to examine the material prior to the
arrival of the Bible study conductor, using the questions at the
bottom of each page, to "help prepare the student for the Bible
study".[1] It is
also recommended that the student have a Bible at hand to refer to
the cited scriptures. Jehovah’s Witnesses customarily read each
paragraph aloud together with the student, and then ask the
question(s) provided for that paragraph.[2]
Jehovah's Witnesses previously offered their literature for a
price determined by the branch office in each country, to cover
printing costs.[3] Since
2000, Jehovah's Witnesses have offered their publications free of
charge globally.[4]
Printing is funded by voluntary donations from Witnesses and
members of the public.[5]
Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed to invite donations when
offering literature.[6]
Primary
Bible study aids
What Does the
Bible Really Teach?
What Does the Bible Really Teach? is a book
used to conduct Bible studies. More than 99 million copies have
been produced in nearly 200 languages since the book was released
in 2005.[7] It is
informally known as 'the Bible Teach book'.
What Does the Bible Really
Teach?
Each chapter begins with questions to focus the reader on what
will be studied in that chapter. The book is purposely written in
simple language, with an appendix containing further information on
various doctrinal matters.[2]
The book is intended to help teach people from various educational
levels and religious backgrounds. The stated purpose of the
publication is to study the material at whatever pace is required
by the student to understand the information, rather than
completing an entire chapter per session. The publishers encourage
instructors to discuss the illustrations with the student, along
with examples relevant to the student's own experiences.[2]
According to the 2007 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses,
nearly a year after the launch of the book, it had already reached
a circulation of 47 million copies in 155 languages;[8] this
rose to 79 million by mid-2008.[9]
Knowledge That
Leads to Everlasting Life
In 1995, Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life was
published, and became the primary publication used for Bible
studies. It is known informally as 'the Knowledge book'.
The title is derived from John 17:3. Its publishers claimed that
the Knowledge book "presents the truth in a positive way
without dwelling on false doctrines."[10]
In 1998, Knowledge became a softcover release; a large
print edition was added in 2001.[11] By
2004, the title's distribution surpassed 93 million copies in 161
languages.[12]
You Can Live
Forever in Paradise on Earth
You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth
In 1982, the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on
Earth became the main publication used by Jehovah's Witnesses
to lead Bible studies; by 1984 its distribution already exceeded 15
million.[13] The
title was updated in 1989, and eventually surpassed 81 million
copies in 131 languages.[14][15] It is
known informally as 'the Live Forever book'.[16]
The Truth That Leads
to Eternal Life
The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life
The book, The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life was
published in 1968 and revised in 1981.[17] It is
informally known as 'the Truth book'.[18] In
the first three years of its circulation more than 400,000 people
studied the book and were eventually baptized.[19]
World
record
The 1990 edition of the Guinness Book
of Records included this book under its heading "Highest
Printings". According to the Guinness Book, by May 1987
the Truth book had reached 106,486,735 copies, in 116
languages.[20] By
1997, it had a circulation of 107,000,000 in 117 languages.[21]
"Let
God Be True"
From 1946 to 1968, Jehovah's Witnesses used the book, "Let
God Be True", which was published in approximately 19,250,000
copies in 54 languages.[21]
The title is based on a phrase taken from Romans 3:4, "But let God be found
true, though every man be found a liar".
Among other publications, the convicted Japanese assassin Kimihiro Nakata transcribed
Let God Be True into Braille during the time between his conversion
to Jehovah's Witnesses and his execution in 1959.[22]
Secondary Bible study
aids
"Keep Yourselves in
God's Love"
"Keep Yourselves in God's Love", 2008
|
Worship the Only True God, 2002
|
The book "Keep Yourselves in God's Love" was released
at Jehovah's Witnesses' 2008 summer conventions, and was soon
scheduled for use at their midweek
Congregation Bible Study.[23] This
publication is the one recommended as the second text for use with
a particular Bible student. It is sometimes reviewed with a
baptized Witness who had been inactive for some time, although the
2002 publication Draw Close to Jehovah is also used for
that purpose. The title is derived from the New World Translation's
rendering of Jude 20-23.
Other secondary Bible study
aids
Before the 2008
release of "Keep Yourselves in God's Love", Jehovah's
Witnesses recommended that a student who completed the study of a
primary Bible study aid should continue his studies using the 2002
book Worship the Only True God.[24]
Previously, the similar 1983 book United in Worship of the Only
True God had been the recommended secondary study aid,[25][26][27]
although study conductors were at times not encouraged to continue
with a second book for every student.[28]
Tertiary Bible study
aids
Jehovah's Witnesses have specifically recommended the occasional
use of additional publications during a student's Bible study.
What Does God Require of
Us?
The brochure, What Does God Require of Us? was released
in 1996. It was recommended as a study aid to be considered with
Bible students to lead into studying the Knowledge
book.[29]
Other
brochures
- Jehovah’s Witnesses—Unitedly Doing God’s Will
Worldwide
- Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Twentieth Century[30]
Other publications for
evangelizing
While nearly all publications of Jehovah's Witnesses have been
used in evangelizing, some have been particularly conspicuous.
- Magazines - Each
year since 1997, the Watch Tower Society has printed about 900
million copies of The
Watchtower and Awake! magazines
for the public.[31][32]
- Tracts - Jehovah's
Witnesses have distributed "uncounted billions of tracts" to
interested persons.[33]
- Multilanguage - The 2004 publication Good News for People of
All Nations has a brief Bible message in over a hundred
languages.
- Video - Since the 1912
release of the first part of the milestone film The Photo-Drama of
Creation, the Watch Tower Society has programmed video for
the public. They began free showings of The New World Society
in Action in 1954 and The Happiness of the New World
Society in 1955, portions of which are reproduced in the 2004
independent documentary Knocking. Beginning in 1990 with
Jehovah’s Witnesses — The Organization Behind the Name,
the Society began to release a series of videos for home viewing,
and recommended their use with Bible students.
See also
References
- ^
What Does The Bible Really Teach? © Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society of Pennsylvania 2005. | p. 7 Is This What God
Purposed?”
- ^ a
b
c
Watchtower Society. “Teach What the Bible Really Teaches.” The
Watchtower 15 Jan. 2007: 24-25.
- ^
Our Kingdom Ministry, October 1984 p. 8
- ^
Since 1990, the "complete donation basis" had been used in the
United States; see Our Kingdom Ministry, May 1990, page
7.
- ^
2001 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 18
- ^
Our Kingdom Ministry, January 2006, p. 5 "How to Offer the
Bible Teach Book"
- ^
Jehovah's Witnesses Official
Media Web Site: Our Public Ministry
- ^
2007 Yearbook of Jehovah's
Witnesses. p. 28.
- ^
Awake!: 32, 2008
- ^
"Return to Those Who Showed Interest", Our Kingdom
Ministry, December 1995, page 8, "The [Knowledge]
book is designed to teach the truth quickly. ...It presents the
truth in a positive way without dwelling on false doctrines."
- ^
"Announcements", Our Kingdom Ministry, December 2001, page
7, "New Publications Available:...Knowledge That Leads to
Everlasting Life—Large Print—English
- ^
"A Letter From the Governing Body", 2004 Yearbook of Jehovah's
Witnesses, page 4
- ^
Understanding Sectarian Groups in America by George W.
Braswell, ©1986, Broadman Press, page 83, "You Can Live Forever
in Paradise on Earth, published in 1982, has become a
best-selling book. Through 1983 more than fifteen million copies
had been [distributed]"
- ^
"A Far-Reaching Educational Program", Awake!, December 22,
2000, page 5
- ^
"Who Will Survive the Day of Jehovah?", The Watchtower,
May 1, 2002, page 23
- ^
"Gathering “the Desirable Things” in Poland", The
Watchtower, July 15, 1992, page 23, "By means of the book
You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, some have even
been taught to read. ...[One person] ran up to the sister, took the
Live Forever book from her hands"
- ^
Yearbook of Jehovah's
Witnesses. 2000. p. 78.
- ^
The Watchtower: 26. 1 May
2004.
- ^
Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p.
105.
- ^
Awake! October 8,
1990, p. 28.
- ^ a
b
The
Watchtower January 15, 1997, p. 25.
- ^
"Japan", 1998 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, pages
76-77
- ^
"Announcements", Our Kingdom Ministry, November 2008, page
3, "Beginning the week of February 23, 2009, we will study “Keep
Yourselves in God’s Love” at the Congregation Bible Study."
- ^
"The Bible Teach Book—Our Primary Bible Study Aid", Our Kingdom
Ministry, January 2006, page 1, "Is there a provision for a
Bible student to study a second book after completing What Does
the Bible Really Teach? Yes. If it is evident that a
student is making progress, although slowly, and is developing
appreciation for what he is learning, the Bible study may be
continued using the book Worship the Only True God."
- ^
"Study Live Forever and United in Worship Books",
Our Kingdom Ministry, September 1993, page 3, "Tracts,
brochures, magazines, and books—all can be used to initiate home
Bible studies... However, there are two books in particular that
should be studied with new ones to help them understand basic
doctrines of the Bible as well as Christian standards for living.
They are: You Can Live
Forever in Paradise on Earth and United in Worship of
the Only True God. It is recommended that as soon as
reasonably possible, those conducting home Bible studies in other
publications change over to one of these books."
- ^
"Question Box", Our Kingdom Ministry, April 1987, page 4,
"Home Bible studies should be continued with new persons until they
have completed studying the two books that will establish them in
the truth, such as You Can Live
Forever in Paradise on Earth and United in Worship of
the Only True God...even if the person gets baptized before
finishing both books."
- ^
"Question Box", Our Kingdom Ministry, May 1986, page 8,
"The home Bible study should continue until the completion of the
two books You Can Live
Forever in Paradise on Earth and United in Worship of
the Only True God, even if the student becomes qualified and
is baptized before the two books are finished."
- ^
"Jehovah’s Sheep Need Tender Care", The Watchtower,
January 15, 1996, page 17, "After an individual has completed his
Bible study in the Knowledge
book and has been baptized, it may not be necessary to conduct a
formal study with him in a second book, such as United in
Worship of the Only True God.
- ^
Our Kingdom Ministry, July 1999, page 2, Question Box
- ^
"“To the House of Jehovah Let Us Go”", Our Kingdom
Ministry, April 1993, pages 3-4, "The weekly Bible study
should include instruction that will help students appreciate the
organization... The brochures Jehovah’s Witnesses in the
Twentieth Century and Jehovah’s Witnesses—Unitedly Doing
God’s Will Worldwide discuss major facets of the organization
and how they may benefit us."
- ^
"“Is Your Heart Upright With Me?”", The Watchtower,
January 1, 1998, page 17, "Watch Tower Society...printed more than
one billion magazines."
- ^
"The First One a Hundred Years Ago", Awake!, December 22,
2000, page 19
- ^
"Witnesses to the Most Distant Part of the Earth", Jehovah's
Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, ©1993 Watch Tower,
page 520, "The records are incomplete; but the reports that are
still available show that in 294 languages, 10,107,565,269 books,
booklets, brochures, and magazines, as well as uncounted billions
of tracts, were put into the hands of interested people between the
years 1920 and 1992."
External
links
Wikis
Map
Search