Aid to Bible Understanding: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT [[Jehovah's Witnesses reference works]] |
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'''''Aid to Bible Understanding''''' was the first doctrinal and biblical [[encyclopedia]] of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. The book, now out of print, was published in part in 1969, and in full in 1971 by the [[Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania]]. It was superseded in 1988 by the two-volume work ''[[Insight on the Scriptures]]''. It is also referred to as the '''''Aid Book'''''. |
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==Contents== |
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The first 544-page volume, released on July 9, 1969 at the "Peace on Earth" International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, contains articles on biblical topics listed alphabetically from ''[[Aaron]]'' through to ''[[Exodus]]''. The completed work, released in 1971 at the "Divine Name" convention, contains [[cross-reference]]d articles on over 4000 subjects.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Watchtower|title=1,001 Questions Answered|page=31|date=15 July 1980}}</ref> It has 1,696 pages, contains color maps on its end sheets and some black and white illustrations within with the text, but is not indexed. |
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==Background== |
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The writing of and research for ''Aid Book'' lead to different interpretations of [[Bible]] verses and seems to have been a catalyst for Jehovah's Witnesses to adjust [[doctrine]]s after its publishing. For example, in the mid 1970's the [[Watchtower Society]] delegated oversight of congregations and branch offices to committees of elders. (''See [[Nathan Knorr#Organizational_adjustments]]''.) The commentary on the subjects "Older Man" and "Overseer" in the 1971 publishing of this book had called into question the use of individual elders as overseers, or single points of authority, within the religion's [[Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses|organizational structure]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Crisis of Conscience|author=Franz, Raymond|publisher=Commentary Press|date=1983|pages=23–25}}</ref> |
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Controversy also arose regarding the ''Aid Book'' as high-profile members of the religion who contributed to its articles eventually left the organization. (''See [[Raymond Franz#Joining Jehovah's Witnesses' World Headquarters|Raymond Franz]]''.) Officially, the encyclopedia has an anonymous author, the [[Legal instruments of Jehovah's Witnesses|Watchtower Bible and Tract Society]], though the organization states that over "250 researchers ... contributed to the work".<ref>{{cite book|title=Aid to Bible Understanding|page=5|publisher=Watchtower Society}}</ref> [[Raymond Franz]], a former member of the Governing Body<ref>''1973 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', page 257</ref>, claimed to be one of these researchers and says the vast majority of the contributions submitted could not be used because of [[credibility]] or superficiality.<ref>{{cite book|title=Crisis of Conscience|author=Franz, Raymond|publisher=Commentary Press|date=1983|page=20}}</ref> Franz adds that [[Nathan H. Knorr]] appointed [[Lyman Alexander Swingle|Lyman Swingle]] (who later became a member of the [[Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses|Governing Body]]), Edward Dunlap of the [[Gilead school]] staff, along with Franz in the Writing Department, as the primary writers. [[Frederick W. Franz]], the organization's vice president, advised these writers when scholarly questions arose, or referred them to secular [[bible commentary|Bible commentaries]] held at the world headquarters' library.<ref>{{cite book|title=Crisis of Conscience|author=Franz, Raymond|publisher=Commentary Press|date=1983|pages=21–23}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:1969 books]] |
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[[Category:1971 books]] |
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[[Category:Encyclopedias on religion]] |
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[[Category:Jehovah's Witnesses literature]] |
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[[id:Aid to Bible Understanding]] |
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[[el:Βοήθημα για την Κατανόηση της Βίβλου]] |
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[[hu:Segítség a Biblia megértéséhez]] |
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Revision as of 04:31, 9 May 2009
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