A Composite Slave?
Regarding the question raised by Jesus: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?”
In its July 15, 2013 issue The Watchtower society published its most up to date understanding:
“that slave is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ’s presence. Throughout the last days, the anointed brothers who make up the faithful slave have served together at headquarters. In recent decades, that slave has been closely identified with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” -The Watchtower July 15, 2013 page 22 paragraph 10.
Prior to this it was understood that the slave was all anointed ones on earth, but they were represented by the governing body:
“The faithful and discreet slave today is represented by the Governing Body, who take the lead and coordinate the Kingdom-preaching work throughout the earth. The members of the Governing Body are experienced, spirit-anointed elders. The Watchtower February 15, 2009 page 28 paragraph 17.
But this was not the understanding from the beginning of the organization. Commenting on the belief of C.T. Russell, the 1973 book “God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached states:
“Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, its first issue being that of July, 1879, with an initial edition of 6,000 copies. Its editor and publisher was a member of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bible study group, namely, Charles Taze Russell. This studious Christian took note of Jesus’ illustration of the “faithful and wise servant” -Matthew 24:45, Authorized Version, and published his understanding of it in the Watch Tower issue of November, 1881, page 5. In the fourth- and fifth-last paragraphs of the article “In the Vineyard,” he said:
We believe that every member of this body of Christ is engaged in the blessed work, either directly or indirectly, of giving meat in due season to the household of faith. “Who then is that faithful and wise servant whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household,” to give them meat in due season? Is it not that “little flock” of consecrated servants who are faithfully carrying out their consecration vows—the body of Christ—and is not the whole body individually and collectively, giving the meat in due season to the household of faith—the great company of believers?
Blessed is that servant -the whole body of Christ- whom his Lord when he has come -Gr. elthon- shall find so doing. “Verily, I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” “He shall inherit all things.”
From this it is clearly seen that the editor and publisher of Zion’s Watch Tower disavowed any claim to being individually, in his person, that “faithful and wise servant.” He never did claim to be such. However, he did continue to edit the Watch Tower magazine down to the day of his death on October 31, 1916. He organized Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in the year 1881 and got it incorporated under State of Pennsylvania law in December, 1884. He also authored and published the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures during the years 1886-1904, as well as published many booklets on Bible themes and engineered the world-famous Photo-Drama of Creation, which began to be shown in January of 1914 and was thereafter displayed around the earth. He delivered innumerable public lectures all around the globe. His death occurred during his last public lecture tour across the United States of America. It cannot be successfully disputed that, till his death in 1916, he lovingly served as a part of the “faithful and discreet slave” class in giving to the Master’s domestics “their food at the proper time.” -God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached pages 345-346 paragraphs 30-31.
However, this book does not present a totally accurate picture. Actually, for a time it was believed and taught in the society’s publications that Russell himself was that faithful and discreet slave:
“Brother Russell’s wife publicly expressed the idea that Russell himself was the faithful and wise servant. The view that she voiced concerning the identity of the ‘faithful servant’ came to be generally held by the Bible Students for some 30 years. -Jehovah’s Witnesses Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom page 143. This appeared in The Watchtower July 15, 1906 page 215.
“Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell’s writings believe that he filled the office of “that faithful and wise servant,” and that his great work was giving to the household of faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation.” -The Watchtower December 1, 1916 taken from Russell’s Biography page 356.
“Pastor Russell being the messenger to the Laodicean Church, and occupying the position of the Lord’s special servant to give the Household of Faith meat in due season..” -The Finished Mystery page 4.
“The Lord Jesus, in his great prophetic statement in Matthew 24:45-47, made known the fact that at the end of the age he would be present and would have a special servant whom he would “make ruler over all his house to give meat in due season to the household.” For many years Christian people of all denominations have been looking for the manifestation of that promised servant. For several years some have recognized, and now many more are recognizing, that Pastor Russell is that servant.” -The Watchtower November 1, 1917 page 319.
“Therefore fulfilled prophecy, or physical facts, and the circumstantial evidence are conclusive proofs that Brother Russell filled the office of that faithful and wise servant.” -The Watchtower March 1, 1922 page 74.
“The view generally held, that Pastor Russell himself was the “faithful and wise servant” of Matthew 24:45-47, created considerable difficulty for some years. The insistence that Russell had been “that servant” led many to regard Russell in what amounted actually to creature worship. They believed that all the truth God had seen fit to reveal to his people had been revealed to Russell, and now nothing more could be brought forth because “that servant” was dead.” -Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose page 69.
The book mentions the insistence that Russell was that servant led many to creature worship. But from where did this insistence come?
“There was some resistance from those who were not progressive and who did not have a vision of the work that lay ahead. Some insisted on living in the past, in the time of Pastor Russell, when the brothers in general had viewed him as the sole channel of Scriptural enlightenment. It was the published and accepted thought down till 1927 that he was “that servant” of Matthew 24:45.” -Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose page 95.
Notice that it was the published and accepted thought that Russel was “that servant”. If indeed the editor and publisher of the Watchtower disavowed any claim of being the faithful and discreet slave, why did the Watchtower, for several years actively promote him as being such? Actually, this was not the only scriptural term applied to Russell. An article in the November 1, 1917 Watchtower entitled “A Tribute to the Seventh Messenger” states:
“God used the Prophet Ezekiel to foretell the event” that were to come to pass upon Christendom. He used Pastor Russell as an antitype of Ezekiel to make clear to Bible students the real meaning of these events as they came to pass…
The great drama of the Gospel Age opened with the apostle Paul as the chief messenger, or angel, to the Church. It closes with Pastor Russell as the seventh and last messenger to the Church militant. For the other five epochs of the Church, the Lord provided messengers in the order named; St. John, Arius, Waldo, Wycliffe and Luther. Each in his turn bore the message due to be understood during the epoch he represented. The two most prominent messengers, however, are the first and the last: St. Paul and Pastor Russell. The Watchtower November 1, 1917 page 319.
Although this would amount to a form of apostolic succession, I could find no evidence that the term was ever used by the society. The seventh messenger concept was an interpretation of Revelation 1:20:
As for the sacred secret of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars mean the angels of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands mean the seven congregations. Revelation 1:20.
The seven congregations Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, were interpreted to mean seven epochs in the history of the church, each with their individual messenger or angel that served during that time period. Russell was viewed as completing an Elijah work as the seventh angel or messenger during the Laodicean period.
It must be remembered that for the Bible students, what was published in the literature was to be viewed as present truth from God. Anyone in disagreement was seen to be in opposition to God.
“Jesus clearly indicated that during his second presence he would have amongst the church a faithful and wise servant, through whom he would give to the household of faith meat in due season. The evidence is overwhelming concerning the Lord’s second presence, the time of the harvest, and that the office of “that servant” has been filled by Brother Russell. This is not man worship by any means. It matters not who Charles T. Russell was-whether he was a doctor, a hod-carrier or a seller of shirts. St. Peter was a fisherman: St. Paul a lawyer. But these matters are immaterial. above all, these men were the chosen vessels of the Lord. Regardless
of his earthly avocation, above all, Brother Russell was the Lord’s servant. Then to repudiate him and his work is equivalent to a repudiation of the Lord, upon the principle heretofore announced. -The Watchtower May 1, 1922 page 132.
When a man is appointed a ministerial servant does he know? How about an elder? Circuit overseer? Surely they know when they are appointed to such positions. How then can it be possible for those in the most important position, that of serving as God’s sole channel for providing spiritual food for all mankind, the “faithful and discreet slave” not to know in 1919 that they were appointed?
Five years later, the February 15, 1927 issue of the Watchtower contained a study article devoted to the identity of the faithful and wise servant in which Rutherford publicly repudiated the Lord:
“There seems to be no ground, within the meaning of the Scriptures, for concluding that “the faithful and wise servant” refers to any individual person, but does have reference to the feet members of Christ on earth…
Some have claimed that the scripture, “The faithful and wise servant,” specifically applies to Brother Russell. He never made that claim himself. That Brother Russell was greatly used of the Lord no one can doubt who knew him. That the Lord used him more wonderfully than anyone on earth since St. Paul’s day there can be no doubt. But that does not at all affect the explanation of this scripture. It is clearly manifest from the scriptures hereinbefore cited that the elect Servant of God is Christ, Jesus the Head and his body members; and that Christ Jesus speaks of these faithful members as a part of himself. To say that “that faithful and wise servant” specifically applies to one individual and to none other would imply that a large proportion of the body members of Christ could not be classed either as faithful or wise. That would be doing violence to the scripture. -The Watchtower February 15, 1927 page 56 paragraphs 48,54,55.
Regarding this change, the book “Jehovah’s Witnesses Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom” states:
“The understanding expressed by Brother Russell in 1881 that the faithful and wise servant was in reality a collective servant, made up of all the members of the spirit-anointed body of Christ on earth, was reaffirmed in The Watch Tower of February 15, 1927.—Compare Isaiah 43:10. (Proclaimers pg.143)
This demotion of Russell was a logical necessity. If Russell was the servant who provided “meat in due season”, then there could be no more “meat” because Russell was dead. Yet Rutherford was continually issuing new “meat” in the form of prophecies and new interpretations. The initial solution to this problem was presented in the book The Finished Mystery. In an interpretation of Revelation 8:3 the book stated:
“And another angel.-Not the “voice of the Lord” mentioned in the preceding chapter, but the corporate body-the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, which Pastor Russell formed to finish his work. This verse shows that, though Pastor Russell has passed beyond the veil, he is still managing every feature of the Harvest work. -The Finished Mystery page 144.
Russell, as “that servant”, had received his reward and was now in heaven supervising the work from there!
The interpretation of the seven epochs and angelic messengers was changed in 1928:
“The scriptures and the facts strongly support the conclusion that the Philadelphia period of the church began about 1874 and ended about 1918, and that the Laodicean period began about 1919 and is not yet completed…
It has been suggested that there are seven individuals who constitute the seven messengers to the church and that John was one of them. That conclusion is not supported by the scriptures. On the contrary, the entire body of the anointed ones, faithful and acting under the direction of the Head Christ Jesus, constitute the messengers of or to the respective periods of the church.” -The Watchtower October 15, 1928 page 307 pars. 6,7.
This new view held for the next 80 years.
As regards the question: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?” The Watchtower May 15, 1986 answered in this way:
“When Jesus Christ was on earth, Israel was still God’s channel. Any who wished to serve Jehovah had to do so in association with his chosen nation. John 4:22. But Moses had shown that the privilege of being stewards of “the things revealed” also carried responsibilities. He said: “The things revealed belong to us and to our sons to time indefinite, that we may carry out all the words of this law.” -Deuteronomy 29:29. That “time indefinite” came to an end in 33 C.E. Why? Because, as a nation, the Jews failed to ‘carry out all the words of the law.’ Particularly, they failed to welcome the Seed, Jesus Christ, even though the Law had been, in effect, a “tutor leading to Christ.” -Galatians 3:24. Because of this failure, Jehovah chose another channel for “the things revealed.”
“What was this new channel? Paul identified it to the Ephesians when he wrote that “there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose that he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord.” -Ephesians 3:10, 11. Yes, it was the Christian congregation, born at Pentecost 33 C.E.,that was entrusted with the new “things revealed.” As a group, anointed Christians served as “the faithful and discreet slave” appointed to provide spiritual food at the proper time. -Matthew 24:45. Christians were now “stewards of sacred secrets of God.”—1 Corinthians 4:1.” -The Watchtower May 15, 1986 page 11-12 pars. 9-10.[1]
At this point we are led to think that there can only be one composite slave and that since 33 C.E., the Christian congregation as a whole served as that slave. The article cites 1 Corinthians 4:1 where Paul shows that he understood all Christians to be stewards. This being the official teaching of Jesus parable, it was assumed that from time to time other anointed Christians around the world would have a share in feeding the domestics by contributing to what appeared in the literature as spiritual food. However, in reality, anointed Christians outside of Headquarters had nothing to do with the dispensing of spiritual food. All of the literature was written and approved at headquarters.
In 1931 J.F. Rutherford abolished the editorial committee:
“This journal, The Watchtower, is one of the means used by the Lord amongst men to teach his people. The Watchtower is controlled by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. The Board of Directors, seeing no Scriptural or other reason why an Editorial Committee should exist or appear in The Watchtower, by resolution abolished the Editorial Committee. In the place and stead of the Editorial Committee you will observe there appears this text : “And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isaiah 54: 13, A.R.V. The Watchtower December 1, 1931 page 360 paragraph 26.
“As you know, for some years there have appeared on the title page of The Watchtower the names of an editorial committee, provision for which was made several years ago. During the fiscal year, at a meeting of the board of directors a resolution was adopted abolishing the editorial committee.” -1932 Yearbook page 35.
During his presidency J.F. Rutherford took credit for nearly all the material that appeared in print, although, in reality most of it was written by Fred W. Franz. During the presidency of N.H. Knorr, Franz, as vice president of the Society for some 32 years, did much of the writing for the magazines and for the convention programs. To my knowledge the society has never acknowledged any anointed member outside of Bethel, even anonymously, for their share in providing spiritual food of a doctrinal nature.
Further explaining their understanding of a singular “slave class” down through time, The March 1, 1981 Watchtower states:
“This “slave” is a servant of the Master Christ Jesus and his Father, Jehovah. -Compare Matthew 10:24, 25. And a servant can be a collective group. In the past, the entire nation of Israel was Jehovah’s servant, or slave. He said to them: “You, O Israel, are my servant.” -Isaiah 41:8, 9; 44:21. This one servant was composed of individuals, as Isaiah 43:10 shows in stating: “‘You are my witnesses -plural-,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘even my servant -singular- whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and have faith in me.’” These Israelites of ancient times were Jehovah’s “special property,” a “holy nation.” -Exodus 19:5, 6. Even though not every individual shared in administrating the nation’s affairs, all individuals made up the one people, God’s “servant.” Only a few shared in writing or copying the Holy Scriptures, yet the apostle Paul could say of the people of Israel: “They were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements of God.” -Romans 3:1, 2. To these belonged the covenants, the Law and the promises. Romans 9:3-5. So the entire nation was Jehovah’s collective, or composite, “servant,” while it, at the same time, was made up of individuals, his “witnesses.”-The Watchtower March 1, 1981 page 25.
So in 1981 it was reasoned that since, not just the administrators, but the entire nation of Israel was the composite servant, this must be true of spiritual Israel. Like Israel, not every Christian shared in writing or copying the Holy Scriptures, still it was through the entire Christian congregation that the greatly diversified wisdom of God was made known. -Ephesians 3:10,11. Hence the entire congregation must be the composite faithful and discreet slave of Jesus parable. But does Paul say in Ephesians that the entire congregation is a composite faithful and discreet slave that would supply food to the domestics?
“This was so that now, through the congregation, there might be made known to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places the greatly diversified wisdom of God.” Ephesians 3:10.
Or rather is his point that the congregation serves as an example of the wisdom of God to the angels? Notice that Paul says this was for the benefit of not the earthly governments and authorities but those in the heavenly places. He makes no mention of Jesus parable of the faithful and discreet slave. His focus is clearly not on Christians being a conduit or channel of truth to humans. In harmony with this, the Apostle Peter indicates that the angels are very much interested in the outworking of God’s purpose:
It was revealed to them that they were ministering, not to themselves, but to you, regarding what has now been announced to you by those who declared the good news to you with holy spirit sent from heaven. Into these very things, angels are desiring to peer. 1 Peter 1:12.
So far we have seen that the society’s understanding of this parable as being one prophesied servant has led to several changes as they have searched for the correct application of who or what that one should be, whether person or class of persons. We could describe their view as comprised of the following 3 elements:
- That servant would be exclusively responsible for feeding, that is interpreting and explaining the scriptures as God’s channel of communication, to themselves and the world.
- That servant would occupy a preeminent position of authority over his fellow servants, since repudiation of that servant would amount to a repudiation of the Lord.
- This person or composite group would come into existence, receive an appointment and begin functioning at a certain point in time until the master arrives.
These three elements combined lead inevitably to legitimizing and perpetuating a human authority structure with either one human or a group of humans in place as leaders. But how does this square with Jesus words that your leader is one, the Christ? Matthew 23:10.
Interestingly, when the view prevailed that Russell was regarded as “that servant”, it was admitted that this resulted in, for 11 years after his death, the tendency towards creature worship. If this can happen with one person why not a society or body of persons?
But when was this slave given the assignment to feed the domestics? When was it appointed over all Jesus belongings? Is there one appointment or two?
[1] See also The Watchtower February 1, 1995 pages 12-13 paragraph 15.