Von Christian
II can’t tell you how often I used to hear as a Jehovah’s Witness that I „must not miss a meeting“. As a former or active Jehovah’s Witness, I’m sure you can confirm that. I feel like I’ve heard and read this countless times. In the Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY, I have already found 40 results for the German text „miss a meeting“ and 125 results for the German „miss meetings“. Then Hebrews 10:24, 25 is usually quoted (usually only excerpts) and Proverbs 18:1.
And this pattern is not only found among Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is therefore a good idea for everyone to take a closer look at the methodology, arguments and biblical texts.
I remember, for example, how the term ’Teffpunkt’ (‚meeting place‘), which was commonly used in German congregations, was no longer to be used, but the official term ‚meeting for the preaching service‘. A circuit overseer also emphasised this. After all, attending this ‚meeting‘ was compulsory! And that was exactly the point: Not loving care but compulsory attendance at meetings and conventions. Always coupled with the advice that otherwise you would become selfish and fall away from the faith, which of course scares you.
You don’t believe that? Here are a few quotes:
Isolating ourselves instead of enjoying regular Christian fellowship at meetings can be damaging to us. It can lead to our ‘seeking our own selfish longings.’ (Prov. 18:1) So we are wise to ask ourselves, ‘Is it my custom to attend all the meetings and benefit from them?’—Heb. 10:24, 25.
Wachttower 2013 2/15 p. 23 Beware of the Intentions of the Heart
Peter showed genuine faith by gathering with his brothers despite his low spirits. When one is burdened by sadness or regret, isolation is tempting but dangerous. (Prov. 18:1) The wise course is to stay close to fellow believers and regain spiritual strength.—Heb. 10:24, 25.
Imitate Their Faith p. 202 par. 20
True Christians are organized to support and encourage one another. A lone mountaineer can decide where he wants to climb, and he does not have to look after less experienced climbers. However, if he has an accident or gets into difficulty, he will be in serious danger, as there will be no one to assist him. Isolating oneself is truly unwise. (Proverbs 18:1) For Christians to carry out Jesus’ command, they must help and support one another. (Matthew 28:19, 20) The Christian congregation provides much-needed Biblical instruction, training, and encouragement for all to keep going and not to give up. Where would one go to be instructed in Jehovah’s ways if there were no organized Christian meetings for instruction and worship?—Hebrews 10:24, 25.
Wachttower 2011 6/1 p. 14-15 Does God Have an Organization?
The last quote from the 2011 Watchtower is particularly interesting. The article is about God having an organisation. Why Proverbs 18:1 and Hebrews 10:24, 25 are applied in this way becomes clear from the concluding paragraph:
Genuine love for God and love for Bible truth have drawn millions to an organization that meets these and other Biblical criteria. As an organized and unified body of people, Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide endeavor to do God’s will. They are assured of his promise: “I shall reside among them and walk among them, and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16) This wonderful blessing can be yours too if you worship Jehovah God with his organization.
Wachttower 2011 6/1 p. 15 Does God Have an Organization?
So it is always about the fact that there is only one organisation that is from God. The message is: ‚All the others are not of God. And so you have to go to these meetings because otherwise you are not where ‚God is‘. And where else are you going to get ’spiritual food‘? It’s not wise and even dangerous if you don’t go. Then you are isolating yourself and that will end badly for you. Because you will only follow your desires and reject wisdom.
And this has been emphasised again and again for decades:
How, then, can we individually build to greater maturity and become effective teachers? In addition to personal study of the Bible we need the rich association of fellow Christians at all congregational meetings.
To profit regularly from the latest revealed truths from the Temple, flowing down through Jehovah’s channel-like organization, be sure to attend these meetings.
Yes, for compelling reasons we should form the good habit of regular meeting attendance, if we have not already done so.
Watchtower 1963 6/1 p. 336-337, par. 11
The intention is very clear: only those who can be indoctrinated several times a week in the meetings remain in line with the Watchtower organisation:
Do you ever feel spiritually weak? Examine yourself. Very likely you have not been going to meetings regularly. You lack association with your brothers. When one begins missing meetings one is withdrawing from Jehovah’s organization, and that is when one begins to become weak. He ceases to express himself or make a public declaration of his hope. In these last days of the Devil’s organization this is no time to take chances.
Watchtower 1955 1/1 p. 19 p. 7
Is this loving care or is a threatening backdrop being created here for other reasons? The answer is not difficult.
But enough quotes from the Watchtower for now. Is it even true what the Watchtower keeps writing? Are these two Bible texts even applied correctly?
Hebrews 10:24,25
In the context of the meetings, Hebrews 10:24, 25 is often introduced in a certain way:
In response to the Bible’s injunction [German Watchtower: biblical commandment] ‘not to forsake gathering together,’ the Witnesses came up with an ingenious solution—Nicaragua’s first floating Kingdom Hall!—Hebrews 10:25.
Watchtower 2009 9/1 p. 26
Now please read the verses and the chapter and ask yourself whether this is a commandment like the 10 commandments or the two that Jesus emphasised. No, of course it is not a biblical commandment. And apart from Hebrews 10:25, no other text is quoted. I wonder why?
By the way: Have you noticed the often omitted second part of the verse? „and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.“ it says. What day? When was the letter to the Hebrews written? By the way, its author is unknown and not Paul (see my video The Canon of the New Testament – Part 17: The Writers of the New Testament). There are various interpretations of what is meant by the day. The letter was probably written in the years before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. It is therefore worth thinking about whether the text was written for a specific time or is applicable to all times. In any case, it would be good to understand a text as a whole before applying it.
Incidentally, the Greek here stands for coming together, which only occurs exactly twice in the New Testament:
ἐπισυναγωγὴν (episynagōgēn) is also used in 2 Thessalonians 2:1
We read:
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered [ἐπισυναγωγῆς (episynagōgēs)] to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.
2 Thessalonians 2:1,2 NIV
That’s interesting. The word is only used twice at all. In Hebrews 10:25, the reason for coming together is that they see the day approaching. And in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 the same word is used for the union with the Lord Jesus Christ at his return, with the warning in verse 2 that some claim that the day of the Lord is already here.
How should we understand Proverbs 18:1?
A few other quotes from the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
We can regain the proper viewpoint by joining our brothers in worship instead of isolating ourselves (Ps 73:17; Pr 18:1; w20.12 19 ¶15-16)
Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook—2024, August 2024
Those three examples teach us another important lesson—we should not isolate ourselves from Jehovah and his people. (Prov. 18:1)
Watchtower 2019, June p. 18, par. 16
But is Proverbs 18:1 really about attending meetings, whether of Jehovah’s Witnesses or any other groups and churches? We should not read anything into the Bible (eisegesis), but let the Bible speak for itself (exegesis).
However, this is not so easy with Proverbs 18:1, because the Hebrew text is short and quite obscure for us today. In fact, modern translators have always inserted words to make sense of the Hebrew. And since the King James Version, many have followed a rendering. This also suited all churches and is therefore still used.
Are there any ancient sources that can help us here? Yes, namely the Greek Septuagint and the Aramaic text. And what does the Septuagint and the Aramaic text say?
He who follows his desire separates himself, / he runs against all wisdom. (Einheitsübersetzung)
An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. (NIV)
In his idleness one meditates on lust and mocks at good instruction. (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.(Brenton Septuagint Translation und andere Übersetzungen der Septuaginta)
Those making excuses are rejected by friends,And they’ll always be spoken of poorly. (2001 Translation, takes into account the Septuagint)
Proverbs 18:1
The ancient translators were much closer to it and had a completely different understanding of Proverbs 18:1 than today’s translators of the Masoretic Hebrew text. You are probably as surprised as I am. But we wouldn’t have had to be if we had read all the texts compiled in Proverbs. Let’s read the first 4 in context:
Those who avoid other people think only of themselves and their own desires; they fiercely resist everything that is supposed to make them realise this.
A fool doesn’t even try to understand anything. He just wants to show everyone how clever he is.
Those who renounce God inevitably become guilty. But guilt brings shame and scorn.
A person’s words can be a source from which wisdom gushes forth constantly; inexhaustible and of profound truth.
Proverbs 18:1-4 Hoffnung für alle
So Proverbs 18 is not at all about meetings and fellowship with a particular church, group or whatever.
The application of Proverbs 18:1 by Jehovah’s Witnesses and others now not only appears to be questionable. It is wrong. And yet it is precisely this text that is used again and again. And no other text – also interesting, isn’t it?
And what did Jesus say?
Jesus also had something to say on the subject, but he is not quoted so often:
For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst
Matthew 18:20 NASB
Incidentally, the text is only very rarely used in the Watchtower literature. Sometimes in connection with meetings with only a few people present. But I found this eisegesis surprising:
In context, this statement applies to Christian elders who are meeting to handle serious problems between individuals, but in principle, it also applies to our meetings. (Matthew 18:20)
Watchtower 2006 11/1 p. 28-29, par. 5
Can’t we get together with other Christians?
Of course, it also becomes problematic when people start to differentiate between Christians on the basis of their denomination. For example, if you deny that God’s Holy Spirit can work in them. Jehovah’s Witnesses sound like this:
Further, you learn that this [Christ’s ransom sacrifice] is not an isolated action on your part but that you must faithfully and regularly assemble with God’s people, “not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day [of the old world’s end] drawing near.” (Heb. 10:25, NW) Where can you assemble with such people to study such things? Certainly not in the majority of church organizations today where people have been members for forty or fifty years and still are unable to explain the elementary doctrines of Christianity. But you do meet people who can give you such encouragement, and you really do study God’s Word when you attend the regular meetings at the more than 14,000 Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the world.
Watchtower 1955 7/15 p. 423-424
Conclusion
If you once again hear the argument that you must obey the command in Hebrews 10:24,25 to attend the meetings because otherwise you are separating yourself according to Proverbs 18:1 just to follow your own desires and rejecting all wisdom, then remember our analysis of these Bible passages.
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