Verified answer

Greetings,

We prefer the more accurate term “increasing light.”

But your question is kinda illogical. “New” or “increasing light” is an illustration for gaining a improved understanding due to an increase in knowledge.

When you understand what the figurative language is illustrating it is easy to see the answers. An increase in *knowledge* allows people to “see” more clearly as if the “light” got brighter. Just as with literal light, you don’t refer to it as “old light” nor do you normally wonder when it begin or where it went as the sun gets higher in the sky.

Now, it is true that Witnesses have at times changed their beliefs. But of course even the Apostles had to change their beliefs regarding their understandings of end-times (Lk.19:11; 24:21; Ac.1:6). But, as they gained an increased knowledge they gained a better understanding of what Christ taught just as it would be with true Christians down through the centuries.

Unreasonable critics of Jehovah’s Witnesses would like to keep us ignorant of the fact that the Witnesses application of Pro. 4:18 is not new, nor unique to us. Many Protestant and Catholic commentators have applied the "expanding light" to an increase in Bible understanding:

In fact, in his attempt to explain why the Trinity was not taught until the fourth century, Gregory Nazianzen in his 32nd Oration (XXVI, XXVII), states that God used *gradually increasing light* to introduce the change to a belief in a Triune God!!

Gill's Expositor says: "that shineth more and more... or "enlightening": it shines clearer and clearer, ...the light of the knowledge of Christ the way, though it is imperfect, yet capable of being increased, and is increased by means of the ministry of the word,.. Light into the Gospel, and the doctrines of it, increases yet more and more...when the light of knowledge will be clear and perfect."

Clarkes' Commentary Dan.11:1: "It is the usual method of the Holy Spirit to make the latter prophecies explanatory of the former; and thus revelation "is a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

R. Haldane's Exposition on Romans:

"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

This very same principle are found in Arthur Pink's principles of Bible interpretation: He lists the "law of progress" and says: "The path of Truth is like that of the just: it "shineth more and more." And he specifically mentions increasing light regarding prophecy.--A W Pink Interpretation of the Scriptures, 1990 rp., 33-53, 56-62

We can also find this exact use of Proverbs 4:18 in many other reference works such as "The Pulpit Commentary," The Lutheran "Kretzmann Commentary," "Vincent's Word Pictures 1Jo 1:7, "Girdlestone's Synonyms of the OT," Milton S. Terry's "Biblical Dogmatics," "Barnes' Notes on Rev. and Dan 12:4" and many others!!

Below is a quote from the 19th century revivalist and theologian, Charles G.Finney. It is taken from the introduction to his 1878 edition of Systematic Theology:

"I have not yet been able to stereotype my theological views, and have ceased to expect ever to do so. The idea is preposterous. None but an omniscient mind can continue to maintain a precise identity of views and opinions. Finite minds, unless they are asleep or stultified by prejudice, must advance in knowledge. The discovery of new truth will modify old views and opinions, and there is perhaps no end to this process with finite minds in any world. True Christian consistency does not consist in stereotyping our opinions and views, and in refusing to make any improvement lest we should be guilty of change, but it consists in holding our minds open to receive the rays of truth from every quarter and in changing our views and language and practice as often and as fast, as we can obtain further information. I call this Christian consistency, because this course alone accords with a Christian profession.

"A Christian profession implies the profession of candor and of a disposition to know and obey all truth. It must follow, that Christian consistency implies continued investigation and change of views and practice corresponding with increasing knowledge. No Christian, therefore, and no theologian should be afraid to change his views, his language, or his practices in conformity with INCREASING LIGHT."

Having to correct misinterpretations is not proof that a religion is not God's organization, or that an individual is not a Christian. A failure to correct false doctrine or actions when presented with solid evidence would be!

Yours,

BAR-ANERGES

You know what you should do next time? List maybe two ot three concerns you have with them and cite the sources. That way people know that they really happened. You include no proof for that long list. I am not agreeing or disagreeing that you got it all right. But people have no choice but to take that at face value. Also if you had a shorter list, we would be able to address it. How can we respond to all of that with the space provided?

We are only human and are trying to adjust our thinking in line with the scriptural admonition to "abstain from blood." But the important thing is that we have always rejected strongly false and God-dishonoring doctrines and practices. You are really only talking about one issue here: blood. We have for the most part been consistent about staying away from whole blood and tweaked the details here and there.

Edit: Even if all you have listed is true, medical science is a rapidly changing process. If there is new medicine and technology, we adapt to new findings and make our adjustments around available data at the time.