Tattoos - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Tattoos - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Are tattoos for Christians today? (Search For Bible Truths)

Should I Get a Tattoo? (g03 9/22 pp. 25-27; Watchtower Online Library)

Listed references to tattoos from Watchtower publications/articles (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Wormwood - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Wormwood - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

What is Wormwood as read at Rev. 8:10,11? (Search For Bible Truths)

Not uncommon for the Bible to use stars in a figurative sense (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Wormwood and spiritual poisoning (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Mary - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

MARY (Mother of Jesus) - Links to Information INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Mary (Search Results From The Watchtower Online Library)

Myth 5: Mary Is the Mother of God (JW.ORG)

Is Mary the “Mother of God”? Was Mary always a virgin? (Pastor Russel)

Meat - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Meat - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Meat (Insight-2 p. 357; Watchtower Online Library)

Did Humans Eat Meat Before The Flood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Did humans eat meat before the flood? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Did animals eat meat before the statement at Gen. 1:30? Will all animals will be vegetarian in the new world? How can we account for meat-eating animals apparently at creation being equipped as meat eaters? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Should Christians eat red meat since it may contain a trace of blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Beth - Sarim - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Beth Sarim - Criticism By Opposers of Jehovah's Witnesses is Overhyped, Outdated and Hypocritical (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

J. F. Rutherford and "Beth-Sarim" (Search For Bible Truths)

Russell's "Pyramid Chronology" & Rutherford's "Beth-Sarim" (Search For Bible Truths)

Beth-Sarim (Pastor Russell)

Is Remembering a Child's Adoption Day Equal to Celebrating a Birthday?

Unlike birthdays or other holidays or similar customs, there are no pagan origins or associations connected to adoptions. And unlike birthday celebrations, the Bible does not put adoption in a bad light.

In the Hebrew Scriptures adoption is not dealt with from the viewpoint of legal procedure, but the basic idea is set forth in several cases such as Abraham and his slave Eliezer (Gen. 15:2-4); Rachel and Leah and the children born to Jacob by their handmaids (Gen. 30:3-8, 12, 13, 24); and Pharaoh's daughter and Moses. (Ex. 2:5-10)

By prudently reflecting on the joyfulness of the event of adopting a child is similar to that of celebrating a wedding anniversary. Consider what the 10/15/98 Watchtower mentioned about wedding anniversaries:

"It thus would not be strange that a couple might on their wedding anniversary take time to reflect on the joyfulness of that event and on their resolve to work for success as a couple. Whether they focus on this happy occasion in private, just as a couple, or they have a few relatives or close friends with them would be for them to decide. The occasion should not become a mere excuse for a large social gathering. On this occasion Christians would want to be guided by the principles that apply every day of their lives. So whether one takes note of a wedding anniversary or not is a personal matter. —Romans 13:13, 14."

For more, see:

ADOPTION - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Blood / Blood Transfusions

Click on any of the following links to view:

Blood - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Blood Transfusions (Bible View) Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

BLOOD (Insight-1 pp. 344-346; Watchtower Online Library)

How Can Blood Save Your Life? (JW.ORG)

God's View of Blood - Index (God's View of Blood)

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Refuse Blood Transfusions? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Why Does God Regard Blood as so Important? (Search For Bible Truths)

What is the scriptural basis for the abstinence of blood and is it relevant for Christians today? (Search For Bible Truths)

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses "Abstain From Blood"? (Search For Bible Truths)

How important is it for Christians to "abstain from blood"? (Search For Bible Truths)

Was The Decree to "Abstain From Blood" Only a Temporary Requirement or Obligation to Christians? (Search For Bible Truths)

Could a Christian Have Any Grounds to Ignore The Prohibition on Blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Could God's Moral Principle on Blood be Set Aside in Times of Emergency? (Search For Bible Truths)

Were the commands concerning blood only meant for the Mosaic law? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is the Eating or Drinking of Blood Fundamentally Different From Accepting a Blood Transfusion? (Search For Bible Truths)

Should Christians Donate Blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is Refusal of Blood a Form of Suicide? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is Acts 15:29 only talking about the use of 'ceremonial blood' in pagan rituals? (Search For Bible Truths)

Does God's Moral Principle Concerning Blood Also Apply to Human Blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Should Christians eat red meat since it may contain a trace of blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is animal bone marrow acceptable to eat? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Why did the Israelites use blood in sacrifices? (Search For Bible Truths)

Blood as Medicine And The Role of Your Conscience (Search For Bible Truths)

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses allow the use of autologous blood (autotransfusion), such as by having their own blood stored and later put back into them? (Search For Bible Truths)

Are there any treatments other than blood transfusions for those who suffer from myelodysplastic syndrome? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

There are different types of treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. (Myelodysplastic Syndromes Treatment; Natl. Cancer Institute)

Should Christians accept bone marrow transplants? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

What does it mean to take God's name "in vain"? (Ex. 20:7)

Ex. 20:7 in the ASV says:

"Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

Note how other translations render the same verse:

"Do not use my name for evil purposes..." (Good News Translation)

"Never use the name of the LORD your God carelessly..." (God's Word Translation)

""You are not to use lightly the name..." (Complete Jewish Bible)

"You are not to make use of the name...for an evil purpose..." (Bible in Basic English)

“You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way..." (NWT)
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The context of this Scripture additionally aids to understanding the intended meaning.

God’s name Jehovah was made known in a special way when he delivered the Israelites from Egypt as his chosen nation. He put His name on that people and gave them His law: “And now 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. And you yourselves will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Ex. 19:5, 6) The Israelites agreed to obey and be Jehovah’s special property with his name on them. They were warned: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way.” (Ex. 20:7) NWT

So when this third one of the Ten Commandments says not to take God’s name in vain or in a worthless way, it means much more than not using his name in profanity. It means that those who agree to be God’s people bear his name and must obey the laws and commands and principles his name stands for; otherwise they are taking his name in a worthless way and will not go unpunished.

This law forbids the misuse of God’s name. But it does not forbid the respectful use of his name.
 
There is nothing in the Scriptures that says that this name should not be used. God said not to take His name “in vain,” or “in a worthless way.” But that does not mean that we should not use the name. Rather, it means that servants of Jehovah should not do things that discredit his name. God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

A significant example of taking God’s name in a worthless way is that of the mighty Egyptian Pharaoh. Sneeringly he replied to Moses and Aaron, who appeared before him in God’s name: “Who is Jehovah, so that I should obey his voice . . . ? I do not know Jehovah at all.” His words and actions declared his utter disrespect for Jehovah God and his glorious name. (Ex. 5:2)

For more, see:

God's Name - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

“You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way.” (Ex 20:7) (Insight-2 pp. 1085-1087; Watchtower Online Library)

The Third Commandment (g04 1/22 pp. 5-9; Watchtower Online Library)
The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.” Hence, God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

“To avoid the risk of taking God’s name (YHWH) in vain, devout Jews began to substitute the word ʼǎdōnā(y) for the proper name itself." (Rbi8 pp. 1561-1562 1A The Divine Name in the Hebrew Scriptures; Watchtower Online Library)

What does it mean to "take the lord's name in vain"? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

How Important is God's Name? (Search For Bible Truths)

Fossils - Links to Information

(Also see the "Dinosaurs" Category.)

Click on any of the following links to view:

Fossils - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Fossils (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Does Science Contradict the Genesis Account? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is the Earth really only 10,000 years old? (Search For Bible Truths)

Fasting - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

FASTING - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Fasting—Does It Draw You Closer to God? (w09 4/1 pp. 27-29; Watchtower Online Library)

Is Fasting for Christians? (Search For Bible Truths)

Savior - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Savior - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Isa. 43:11 / 2 Pet. 3:18 Jehovah only Savior; Jesus Savior (Examining the Trinity)

Title Confusion Trick "Saviour" (Is. 43:11) (Examining the Trinity)

A short exchange on "savior" and Isaiah 43:11 (IN Defense of the NWT)

Beard - Links to Information

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BEARD - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

BEARD (Insight-1 pp. 266-267; Watchtower Online Library)

Should Christian Men Today Wear Beards? (Search For Bible Truths)

Jehovah's Witnesses - Are Wearing Beards Discouraged? (Defending Jehovah's Witnesses)

"Would it be proper for Christian men to wear a neatly trimed beard? We all know in biblical times Christian men had them including Jesus." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Appearance (Physical) (Search For Bible Truths)

Should Christian Men Today Wear Beards?

During Jesus' time on earth it was customary to wear beards. Christians came first from a Jewish background, and Jewish men wore beards. Beards were a sign of maturity, wisdom, and piety.

Today Christian ministers, like the early Christians, are concerned with neatness and cleanness, but they strive to dress inconspicuously, so that their appearance does not in any way detract from the dignity or the effectiveness of the message they bear. (2 Cor. 6:3, 4) In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God’s ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth. They know that people are watching true Christians very critically and that to a great extent they judge the entire congregation and the good news by the minister’s appearance as a representative of the congregation.

Also see:

Jehovah's Witnesses - Are Wearing Beards Discouraged? (Defending Jehovah's Witnesses)

"Would it be proper for Christian men to wear a neatly trimed beard? We all know in biblical times Christian men had them including Jesus." (JWQ&A)

Appearance (Physical) (SFBT)

Born Again - Links to Information

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BORN AGAIN - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

BORN AGAIN - What Does It Mean? (w09 4/1 pp. 1-2; Watchtower Online Library)

Born Again (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Canaan - Links to Information

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CANAAN (Land) - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

CANAAN (Son of Ham) - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

CANAAN (Insight-1 pp. 399-406; Watchtower Online Library)

Why Canaan was punished? (Genesis 9:20-27) (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Torment / Ba·sa·ni´zo

(Also see TORMENT - Links to Information; INDEX; Watchtower Online Library.)

The Greek word ba·sa·ni´zo (and related terms) occurs over 20 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures. It basically meant “test by the proving stone [ba´sa·nos]” and, by extension, “examine or question by applying torture.” Lexicographers point out that in the Christian Greek Scriptures it is used with the sense of ‘vexing with grievous pains; being harassed, distressed.’—Mt 8:29; Lu 8:28; Re 12:2.

The Bible used ba·sa·ni´zo in a number of instances. For example, a manservant afflicted with paralysis was “terribly tormented” (NW) or “racked with pain” (NE) by it. (Mt 8:6; compare 4:24.) Also, Lot “used to torment his soul” (Ro) or “was vexed” (Mo, RS) by the lawless deeds of the people of Sodom. (2Pe 2:8) The word is even used in regard to the difficult progress of a boat.—Mt 14:24; Mr 6:48.

The Greek noun ba·sa·ni·stes´ occurring at Matthew 18:34 is rendered “jailers” in some translations (AT, Fn, NW; compare Mt 18:30) and “tormentors” or “torturers” in others. (AS, KJ, JB) Torture was sometimes used in prisons to obtain information (compare Ac 22:24, 29, which shows that this was done, although ba·sa·ni´zo is not used here), so ba·sa·ni·stes´ came to be applied to jailers. Regarding its use at Matthew 18:34, The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia observed: “Probably the imprisonment itself was regarded as ‘torment’ (as it doubtless was), and the ‘tormentors’ need mean nothing more than jailers.” (Edited by J. Orr, 1960, Vol. V, p. 2999) Thus, the mentioning in Revelation 20:10 of ones who will be “tormented day and night forever and ever” evidently indicates that they will be in a condition of restraint. That a condition of restraint can be spoken of as “torment” is indicated by the parallel accounts at Matthew 8:29 and Luke 8:31.

Some commentators have pointed to Biblical instances of the word “torment” to support the teaching of eternal suffering in fire. However, as just indicated, there is Scriptural reason to believe that Revelation 20:10 does not have that sense. In fact, verse 14 shows that “the lake of fire” in which the torment occurs, actually means “the second death.” And though Jesus spoke of a certain rich man as “existing in torments” (Lu 16:23, 28), Jesus was not describing the literal experience of a real person but, rather, was setting forth an illustration. Revelation provides a number of other instances where “torment” clearly has an illustrative or symbolic sense, as is evident from context.—Re 9:5; 11:10; 18:7, 10. - Insight, Vol.2, "Torment"