Watch Tower publications at hand or in the library of the local Kingdom Hall.

As you keep up with the advancing light of Bible truth, remember that your purpose in studying is to learn how the Scriptures apply to you and your personal relationship to Jehovah God and his kingdom under Christ. Ask yourself during periods of study: “Have I got all that is in this scripture or paragraph? How does this verse or thought fit into the pattern of healthful teaching I have already learned? Do I understand the principles taught by this text? Have I observed its prophetic content? What Christian doctrine does it teach? Does this instruction affect my dealings with others? How?” Note any interesting background facts provided. Concentrate your attention on “digesting” as much as you can of the “solid food” necessary to your Christian maturity and victory in the fight of faith.—Heb. 5:14.

By making sure of the important things and building your faith on the accurate knowledge of God’s Word you will be able to preach and teach with authority, as Jesus did. (Matt. 7:28, 29) Your words will carry weight and conviction, enabling you to fulfill your Christian duty to build others up with truth and love. (Eph. 4:15) Your avoiding speculation and unprofitable questions will demonstrate your meekness and willingness to await Jehovah’s due time to provide further information on any matter, if it be his will. This he can easily do by further enlightening our understanding of the Bible, by bringing to pass events foretold therein, or even by resurrecting the dead with their detailed knowledge of past events. By waiting upon Him and his organization all of Jehovah’s servants will speak in agreement, being “fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought,” to his praise and our eternal welfare.—1 Cor. 1:10.

Let us make the wisest use of our time, then, avoiding unprofitable questions and always remembering Paul’s counsel: “Learn the rule: ‘Do not go beyond the things that are written.’”—1 Cor. 4:6.

Questions From Readers

● Why does the King James Version at 1 Timothy 3:1, 2, speak of “bishops” and at 1 Timothy 3:8, 10, 12, 13, of “deacons,” whereas the New World Translation terms the former “overseers” and the latter “ministerial servants”?—R. H., United States.

The religious words or titles “bishop” and “deacon” are simply words that have been more or less closely transliterated into the English language; that is, they are carried over much like the way they appear in the Greek instead of being translated. These two words are epískopos and diákonos. To illustrate: “Logos” and “Christ” are transliterated because they are titles. If not used as titles, they would be “word” and “anointed.”

In the days of the apostles there were no titles for servants among the Christian congregations and so in the letters of Paul these words should have been translated. However, at an early time the apostate church made titles out of these designations and applied them to men who held positions corresponding to the form of service or office that is described by these Greek words. This falling away was foretold by the apostle Paul at Acts 20:29, 30.

The King James Version was translated at the express command of King James of England by men who belonged to the Church of England and in which there were officers known as “bishops” and “deacons.” So instead of translating the Greek words epískopos and diákonos according to what they literally mean, the King James Version translators rendered them as titles.

However, the New World Translation as well as certain others, such as An American Translation, do not render epískopos and diákonos as titles but according to the meaning of the words, as “overseers” or “superintendents” and as “assistants” or “ministerial servants.” The American Standard Version gives in the footnote the alternate reading of “overseer” in each instance where “bishop” is used in the text. Avoiding such man-made titles is in harmony with the sentiments expressed by faithful Elihu: “Let me not, please, show partiality to a man; and on an earthling man I shall not bestow a title; for I certainly do not know how I can bestow a title; easily my Maker would carry me away.”—Job 32:21, 22.

Announcements

COURAGEOUS MINISTERS ASSEMBLIES

In many places on two continents these three-day Christian assemblies are at the door! Are you ready? There is still time to prepare to attend one near you, but act now! It will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Request your rooms at once. Write WATCHTOWER CONVENTION at one of the addresses listed below.

UNITED STATES

JUNE 29–JULY 1: Casper, Wyo., 826 East A, Casper. Mobile, Ala., 2453 Emogene St., Mobile. Shreveport, La., 7033 Brandtway St., Shreveport.

JULY 6-8: Grand Island, Nebr., 825 N. White, Grand Island. Jackson, Tenn., 819 N. Royal St., Jackson. Johnstown, Pa., 605 Franklin St., Johnstown. Ogden, Utah, 660 W. 24th St., Ogden. Worcester, Mass., 44 Randolph Rd., Worcester 6. Yakima, Wash., 112 W. Lenox Ave., Yakima.

JULY 13-15: Columbus, Ga., 4000 Beallwood Ave., Columbus. Greensboro, N C., 918 Glenwood Ave., Greensboro. Hammond, Ind., 636 Conkey St., Hammond. La Crosse, Wis., 418 N. 16th St., La Crosse. Oakland, Calif., 1739 Eighth Ave., Oakland 6. Pomona, Calif., 1546 Garey Ave., Pomona. Pueblo, Colo., 523 E. Pitkin, Pueblo. Saginaw, Mich., 2112 W. Genesee St., Saginaw. Sheboygan, Wis., 1324 Michigan Ave., Sheboygan. Toledo, Ohio, 2409 Wayne St., Toledo 9. Trenton, N.J., 2044 Greenwood Ave., Trenton 9. Tucson, Ariz., 207 W. Flores St., Tucson. West Palm Beach, Fla., 532 Iris St., West Palm Beach.

JULY 20-22: Cape Girardeau, Mo., 313 N. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau. Helena, Mont., 1018 Cole St., Helena. Jersey City, N.J., 582 Bramhall Ave., Jersey City 4. Lexington, Ky., 746 N. Broadway, Lexington. Lima, Ohio, 1401 S. Sugar St., Lima. Northridge, Calif., 7441 Tampa St., Reseda. Springfield, Mo., 534 W. Catalpa, Springfield. Timonium, Md., 1625 Bellona Ave., Lutherville, Md.

JULY 27-29: Bakersfield, Calif., 1631 Lake St., Bakersfield. Canton, Ohio, 416 High Ave. SW., Canton 11. Eureka, Calif., 1324 5th St., Eureka. Fargo, N. Dak., 1014 S. 19th St., Moorhead, Minn. Jackson, Mich., 219 W. Prospect St., Jackson. Orlando, Fla., 1701 Lee St., Orlando. San Angelo, Tex., 1502 N. Magdalen St., San Angelo. Terre Haute, Ind., 303 S. 14th St., Terre Haute. Utica, N.Y., 910 Kellogg Ave., Utica.

AUG. 3-5: Charleston, W. Va., 812 Bigley Ave., Charleston 2. Longview, Wash., 1206 Douglas, Longview. Macon, Ga., 2230 Menden Ave., Macon. Manchester, N.H., 450 Hanover St., Manchester.

AUG. 10-12: Costa Mesa, Calif., 2277 Canyon Dr., Costa Mesa. Peoria, Ill., 127 W. Duryea Ave., Peoria Heights.

AUG. 17-19: Hutchinson, Kans., 328 East B, Hutchinson.

AUG. 24-26: San Antonio, Tex., (Spanish only), 114 Apperson Ave., San Antonio 7.

CANADA

JULY 6-8: Moose Jaw, Sask., 302 Athabasca St. E., Moose Jaw.

JULY 13-15: Nanaimo, B.C., 305 Prideaux St., Nanaimo.

JULY 20-22: Kamloops, B.C., 260 Leigh Rd., North Kamloops. Prince Albert, Sask., 1204 3d Ave. W., Prince Albert.

JULY 27-29: Edmonton, Alta., 12425 125th St., Edmonton. Quebec, Que., (French only), 215 rue Anna, Quebec 8.

AUG. 3-5: Hamilton, Ont., 64 1⁄2 Wentworth St. N., Hamilton. Lethbridge, Alta., 125 13th St. N., Lethbridge.

AUG. 10-12: Brandon, Man., 834 10th St., Brandon.

AUG, 17-19: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., 54 Wellington St. W., Sault Ste. Marie.

AUG. 24-26: Moncton, N.B., 15 Granville Dr., Moncton, Corner Brook, Newf., 34 Country Rd., Corner Brook.

BRITISH ISLES

JUNE 22-24: Belfast, Northern Ireland, Kingdom Hall, Magdala St., Belfast. Plymouth, Dev., Kingdom Hall, Gordon Terrace, Mutley, Plymouth, Dev.

JUNE 29–JULY 1: Liverpool, 57b Breck Rd., Anfield, Liverpool 4. Portsmouth, Hants, Kingdom Hall, Raglan St., Portsmouth, Hampshire.

JULY 6-8: Leeds, Kingdom Hall, Stocks Lane, Town St., Bramley, Leeds. Southend, Kingdom Hall, Fairfax Dr., Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

JULY 13-15: Coventry, War., Kingdom Hall, Holyhead Rd., Coventry, Warwickshire. Edinburgh, Scotland, 5 Millar Place, Edinburgh 10.

FIELD MINISTRY

What joy there is in helping other persons to gain knowledge of the Word of God! That is the work that Jehovah’s witnesses will be doing during June as they offer to all persons the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures on the small contribution of $1 and then make return visits on obtainers to aid them in Bible study.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

July 22: Foretelling Him to Whom All People’s Obedience Belongs, ¶1-30. Page 360.

July 29: Foretelling Him to Whom All People’s Obedience Belongs, ¶31-61. Page 367.