THIS WEEKS WATCHTOWER STUDY...
It was brought to my attention that in paragraph 12, the Society says the 'glorious ones' mentioned at 2 Peter 2:8,9 are the elders. So I decided to analyze this thoroughly.
I listed to the Watchtower study that Lizzy had posted, and this part of the study didn't quite seem to jive. Nowhere in the scriptures are humans ever called 'glorious ones'. So, I read the entire passage, comparing these verses in particular, among the various translations along with the ... moreTHIS WEEKS WATCHTOWER STUDY...
It was brought to my attention that in paragraph 12, the Society says the 'glorious ones' mentioned at 2 Peter 2:8,9 are the elders. So I decided to analyze this thoroughly.
I listed to the Watchtower study that Lizzy had posted, and this part of the study didn't quite seem to jive. Nowhere in the scriptures are humans ever called 'glorious ones'. So, I read the entire passage, comparing these verses in particular, among the various translations along with the original Greek.
In 2 Peter 2, the term often translated as “glorious ones” is the same word used for “dignitaries”, or “celestial beings”, depending on the Bible version, and it comes from the Greek word:
δόξας (doxas) → literally “glories,” implying beings of great honor, majesty, or spiritual rank.
One thought conveyed by scholars is that this is possibly speaking of fallen angels, or angels with great spiritual rank in general.
When considering the broader context of the entire chapter 2 of 2 Peter, it is about:
- Rebellion,
- False teachers,
- Presumption, and
- Disrespect for authority.
Peter apparently is contrasting arrogant humans who dare to “slander the glories” with angels, who—despite their greater power and rank—do not speak abusively against such beings before God.
Peter's argument is essentially that "Even angels, who are stronger and holier, don’t rail against these powerful spiritual beings before God… but these presumptuous men do so boldly."
This being said, these glorious ones are most certainly:
- Not human rulers,
- Not ordinary believers, and
- NOT congregation elders.
When cross-referencing a comparison with Jude 1:8-9, it indicates angels refusing to insult powerful spiritual authorities, again reinforcing the non-human, supernatural identity of the “glories.”
MY FINAL TAKE...
The Governing Body is continuing to mold their specific narrative without regard to what the actual scripture is really indicating.
