Jehovah's Witness Literature

by David A. Reed

Publisher:

Baker

, 1993

Overview

Jehovah's Witness Literature: A Critical Guide to Watchtower Publications is an up-to-date review of more than 100 years of writings. Arranged chronologically, the book is divided into four main eras: the Russell era from 1879 to 1916, the Rutherford era from 1917 to 1942, the Knorr era from 1942 to 1977 and the Franz era from 1977 to 1992. Reed discusses the books, periodicals, booklets, tracts and pamphlets that were published during each period, and the pinpoints the place of each significant piece of literature in the historical development of the sect and its theology.

More About This Resource

With a twice-monthly printing in excess of 16 million copies per issue, The Watchtower magazine now approaches the circulation of such all-time favorites as Reader’s Digest and T.V. Guide and easily outsells the combined total of Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report. Jehovah's Witness Literature will educate you on the message and intentions of Watchtower publications.

From the Introduction

In view of the fact that JW literature is the chief means of propagating this false gospel, Christians engaged in defending the faith cannot afford to be ignorant of the books and magazines being delivered to their doors and to the doors of their relatives, friends, and neighbors. As Paul quoted Greek altar inscriptions and “your own poets” when he talked to the men of Athens, we may find it helpful to be familiar with what the Watchtower has written when we talk with Jehovah’s Witnesses (Acts 17:23, 28). But, since the sheer volume of such material is overwhelming, a guide to Jehovah’s Witness literature is needed. This book is intended to meet that need.

Contents

• Origins
• An Overview
• The Charles Taze Russell Era: 1879-1916
• The Joseph F. Rutherford Era: 1917-1942
• The Nathan H. Knorr Era: 1942-1977
• The Frederick W. Franz Era: 1977-1992
• The Milton G. Henschel Era Begins
• Watchtower Bible Commentaries

Top Highlights

“In fact, the authorship of Watchtower publications is such a closely guarded secret that the few disclosures that have been made public have been revealed by ‘apostate’ ex-Witnesses, persons whom loyal JWs are forbidden to speak to and whose works they are forbidden to read.” (Page 17)

“The 11.5 million people who attend JW kingdom halls and who read these publications are taught to view such changes not as the product of shifts in majority opinion at headquarters but as ‘new light’ or ‘new truths’ from God.” (Page 21)

“This shift in power at the top was reflected by a dramatic reversal in teaching as new Watchtower publications began once again to proclaim views that had been espoused earlier but that were rejected during the liberal period.” (Page 20)

“ closer inspection reveals considerable fluctuation in belief over the years.” (Page 18)

“Russell himself died suddenly two years after the prophetic failure, but his successors Joseph Franklin Rutherford and later Nathan Homer Knorr took the organization Russell left behind and built it into a worldwide publishing empire.” (Page 15)

Product Details

• Title: Jehovah’s Witness Literature: Critical Guide to Watchtower Publication
• Author: David A. Reed
• Edition: electronic ed.
• Publisher: Baker
• Print Publication Date: 1993
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Jehovah’s Witnesses › Bibliography
• ISBN: 080100182
• Resource ID: LLS:44.0.4
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-28T20:21:18Z

About David A. Reed

This resource's final chapter, entitled "The Author's Testimony", follows David Reed's journey from agnosticism to zealous Jehovah's Witness and finally to Bible-believing Christian. This story will undoubtedly aid the reader during conversations with Jehovah's Witnesses by giving a first-hand account of why he left the Watchtower for Christianity. David A. Reed has authored several other works on Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons including Answering Jehovah's Witnesses Subject by Subject, Jehovah's Witness Literature, and How to Rescue Your Loved One from the Watch Tower.