Jehovah's Witnesses: Jesus is the Shepherd (1 Peter 2:25)

[Faber]

1 Peter 2:25
For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (NASB)
The "Shepherd" in 1 Peter 2:25 refers to the Lord Jesus. This is affirmed by the Watchtower.
The Watchtower: Jehovahs people constitute one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ. (John 10:16) Jesus indicated that he would be with his disciples all the days until the conclusion of the system of things. (Matt. 28:20) As heavenly King, he is in full control of all the developments that will lead to the execution of judgment against Satans world...Satan is said to be walking about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. (1 Pet. 5:8) Like a wild and ravenous predator, he is stalking the flock, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on the unwary or on those who stray. That is all the more reason why we should stay very close to the rest of the flock and to the shepherd and overseer of [our] souls. (1 Pet. 2:25) Concerning the survivors of the great tribulation, Revelation 7:17 says: The Lamb [Jesus] . . . will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life (Obey Jehovah's Shepherd's, November 15, 2013).
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013847

1 Peter 4:19
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (NASB)


That a person is to "return" by "entrusting" their souls to the Lord Jesus demonstrates that He is the Shepherd/Creator.
Why then do the Jehovah's Witnesses affirm that the Lord Jesus is the "Shepherd" as described in 1 Peter 2:25 but then deny He is the Creator as described in 1 Peter 4:19 when both have reference to returning and entrusting one's soul to Him?

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 1 by Faber]

Where is there evidence that JWs "deny" that Jesus is the Creator mentioned at I Peter 4:19?

.

[Faber]

They don't believe that the Lord Jesus is the Creator.

[JehovahsWitness]

The "Shepherd" in 1 Peter 2:25 refers to the Lord Jesus. This is affirmed by the Watchtower.

This statement is incorrect.

In the bible both Jehovah and Jesus are respectively referred to as "shepherds".

Jesus: "I am the fine shepherd" (John 10:11)
Jehovah: "Jehovah is my shepherd" (Psalms 23:1)

Thus, which of the two is being referred to would depend on the context of any given passage or text.

The paragraph in question, found in The Watchtower, November 15, 2013, states the following ...

"Like a wild and ravenous predator, he is stalking the flock, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on the unwary or on those who stray. That is all the more reason why we should stay very close to the rest of the flock and to the shepherd and overseer of [our] souls. (1 Pet. 2:25) Concerning the survivors of the great tribulation, Revelation 7:17 says: The Lamb [Jesus] . . . will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes. What better promise could there possibly be?"
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013847#h=27

You will notice that while it identifies who will shepherd the righteous in Revelation 7:17 it makes no such distinction forllowing 1 Peter 2:25.

QUESTION: Who do Jehovah's Witnesses believe is being refered to in 1 Peter 2:25?

Jehovah's Witnesses believe 1 Peter 2:25 refers to JEHOVAH. This can be seen by clicking on the reference in the New World Translation published by The Watchtower Society.

click on the image to enlarge



The above can be seen from the following references:

"Proper oversight of the congregation requires careful following of the pattern set by Christ Jesus, who is our Leader and Exemplar, Jehovah himself being the shepherd and overseer of your souls. (1 Pet. 2:25, NW) " - Watchtower June 15,1957 p.
378 paragraph 7

"we will seek to prove ourselves sons of our heavenly Father by imitating Jehovahs compassionate example. (Matt. 5:44-48) He, as the God of eternity and the Ancient of Days, is the Chief Elder, the Great Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. (1 Pet. 2:25)" - Watchtower August 1, 1974 p. 462

"What a fine example these have in Jehovah himself, the shepherd and overseer of [our] souls! (1 Pet. 2:25)" Watchtower July 1, 1976 p. 400 par 3

"Jehovah himself is the shepherd and overseer of our souls. (1 Peter 2:25) "Watchtower September 15, 1993 p. 20

". Serving willingly also means that a Christian shepherd submits to the authority of Jehovah, the shepherd and overseer of our souls. (1 Peter 2:25)" Watchtower May 15, 1993 p. 20 par 12

" ... he [a Christian Elder] will have to render an account to Jehovah, the shepherd and overseer of [our] souls. (1 Peter 2:25) " - Watchtower April 1, 2007p. 30 par 16

JW

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

SHEEP, ANIMALS and ... THE EARTHLY PARSDISE

[Faber]

See the first section of the OP where 1 Peter 2:25 is cited in reference to the Lord Jesus.

[JehovahsWitness]

They don't believe that the Lord Jesus is the Creator.

This is correct.

The Watchtower January 1st, 1986 page 29 paragraph 5 states:

"And despite being his Father's master worker, he [Jesus] never laid claim to the title of co-Creator. He glorified God as being the one and only Creator."Compare Genesis 1:26, 27; Proverbs 8:30; and Matthew 19:4"*

The bible Encylopedia Insight on the Scriptures (published by Jehovah's Witnesses) makes the following distinction

"Jehovah God as Creator of all things is the Builder par excellence. (Heb 3:4; Job 38:4-6) The Logos (Word), who became Jesus Christ, was the Master Worker that He used in creating all things. (Joh 1:1-3; Col 1:13-16; Pr 8:30)" - Vol I page 371

You will NEVER read in any Jehovah's Witness publication the term "The Creator" applied to Jesus or anyone other than Jehovah.

*The footnote to the above makes this interesting observation: It is significant that Genesis 1:26, when referring to Jehovah and his master worker [Jesus] together, says let us make, whereas the next verse uses the word create when referring to Jehovah alone. Of this Hebrew word for create, A Dictionary of the Hebrew Old Testament in English and German, by Koehler and Baumgartner, says: In the O[ld] T[estament] [this] is a theological term the subject of which is God exclusively


How do Jehovah's Witnesses explain Isaiah 44: 24?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 08#p864008

Jesus, God's "Masterworker" in Creation?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 13#p864013



Further reading: What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe
https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesse ... s-beliefs/

[Faber]

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