transgressor to account and give him a tongue-lashing? Is that necessary? Perhaps the wrong was unintentional. Note how the Scriptures say to handle the situation: “Brothers, even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to restore such a man in a spirit of mildness, as you each keep an eye on yourself, for fear you also may be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1) The goal is to restore the one who has erred, not to whip him. This calls for a spirit of mildness. The result will be an upbuilding of the one who has erred.

16. How did Elihu manifest the right viewpoint in counseling Job?

¹⁶ In this connection, note how Elihu introduced his counsel to Job: “O Job, please hear my words, and to all my speaking do give ear. Look, Please! I have to open my mouth; my tongue with my palate has to speak. My sayings are the uprightness of my heart, and knowledge is what my lips do utter sincerely. . . . If you are able, make reply to me, array words before me; do take your station. Look! I am to the true God just what you are; from the clay I was shaped, I too. Look! No frightfulness in me will terrify you, and no pressure by me will be heavy upon you.” And then he went on to reason on the situation with Job. But note how Elihu approached the problem. He entreated Job. He made it clear that before God he did not feel at all superior to Job and that there was no cause for Job to be terrified at what he was going to say. What a fine way to handle the situation!—Job 33:1-7.

17. What advice did the apostle Paul give Timothy on admonishing others, and how was the situation to be handled when a person was found to make a deliberate practice of sin?

¹⁷ It is just such a manner that Paul recommended to Timothy when he said: “Do not severely criticize an older man. To the contrary, entreat him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters with all chasteness.” (1 Tim. 5:1, 2) Yet when wrongdoers make a practice of sin and show no sincere repentance, what needs to be encouraged is right conduct, not the wrongdoer. When such willful transgression has been thoroughly proved, it is time to apply the counsel found later on in the same chapter, at 1 Timothy 5:20: “Reprove before all onlookers persons who practice sin, that the rest also may have fear.”—Heb. 12:7-11.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

18. (a) How many people actually influence the lives of others, so how should that influence be used? (b) When speaking about Christian overseers or to those who are desirous of enlarging their privileges of service, how can we be upbuilding, and what examples show the importance of this?

¹⁸ Whether in the home or elsewhere, whether one is a congregation overseer or not, there are opportunities for all to upbuild and encourage one another. Everyone influences those around him. He can build up or he can tear down; he can stimulate or he can create indifference. Whether he wants to or not, he has influence. Let that influence be for good. Such will be the case with our speech if we follow the fine counsel recorded at Colossians 3:8, 9: “Put them all away from you, wrath, anger, injuriousness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of your mouth. Do not be lying to one another.” If we have taken good things into our minds, if our hearts are filled with wholesome desires, what we speak will be upbuilding; for out of the heart’s abundance the mouth speaks. (Matt. 12:34, 35) If our hearts are good, we will not speak disrespectfully or slightingly of Christian overseers or of counsel received through Jehovah’s organization, as did Diotrephes, but we will reckon to be “of double honor” those who are faithfully presiding over God’s congregation. (3 John 9; 1 Tim. 5:17) Nor will we speak discouragingly to those who are desirous of enlarging their privileges of service, perhaps taking up full-time pioneer service or moving out to some locality where the need for Kingdom ministers is great. We will not be like the faithless spies who discouraged the Israelites with defeatist reports so that they wanted to turn back to Egypt and not go on to the Promised Land. Rather, like faithful Joshua and Caleb, we will urge them to show courage by taking hold of the service privileges that are open to them.—Num. 13:27–14:9.

19. What are some other ways in which we can encourage one another?

¹⁹ By our very zeal and faithfulness in the service of God we can be a source of strength to one another. By our example of zealous participation in the ministry we help others to do the same. As we relate to others the fine experiences we enjoy in the ministry, as we share with them the gems of knowledge that we glean from our Bible study, we encourage one another, just as the apostles did when they visited with their Christian brothers. (Acts 15:3, 30, 31) By our concern for those who are sick and afflicted, and for those imprisoned for righteousness’ sake, by our keeping in touch with them and visiting them where this is possible, we strengthen their hearts. (2 Cor. 7:6, 7; Acts 28:15) By our refusal to compromise with Satan’s world we help others to stand firm. And by our willingness, not merely to inconvenience ourselves, but even to risk our life and freedom where necessary in order to upbuild one another, we give one another courage to speak God’s Word without fear. May all of Jehovah’s dedicated witnesses continue to make full use of such opportunities to encourage one another.

20. As to “building one another up,” what advice is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15?

²⁰ So let us consider the needs of those around us, let us copy the example of our Father in heaven and his Son by encouraging others. “Therefore keep comforting one other and building one another up, just as you are in fact doing.” In speaking about and working with your Christian overseers, upbuild them and the viewpoint of others toward them. “We request you, brothers, to have regard for those who are working hard among you and presiding over you in the Lord and admonishing you; and to give them more than extraordinary consideration in love because of their work. Be peaceable with one another.” On the other hand, you who are overseers, do not dishearten, but rather encourage your brothers. “Admonish the disorderly, speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all.” No matter who we are or who it is with whom we have contact, whether at home, in the Christian congregation or in our secular work, “see that no one renders injury for injury to anyone else, but always pursue what is good toward one another and to all others.” (1 Thess. 5:11-15) Yes, let us encourage one another.

The First Bible Printed in America

The first Bible ever printed in America is no longer intelligible to anyone. The last man who could read it died in 1895. It was translated by John Eliot into the language of the Massachusetts Indians in 1663. It was entitled: “MAMUSSE WUNNEETUPANATAMWE UPBIBLUM GOD naneeswe NUKKONE TESTAMENT MEQUOSHKINNUMUK kah wonk WUSKU TESTAMENT—THE WHOLE HOLY HIS BIBLE GOD both OLD TESTAMENT and also NEW TESTAMENT.” Book collectors gladly pay up to $7,500 for a copy of the translation, even though it cannot be read by them.