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Authority and accountability · Claim record

In August 1981 The Watchtower said of those who 'say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home' that 'through such “Bible reading,” they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago'.

Claim ID claim-authority-1981-bible-reading-alone-linked-to-apostasyConcerns 15 August 1981Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 August 1981 Verified

In August 1981 The Watchtower said of those who 'say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home' that 'through such “Bible reading,” they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago'. The Watchtower, 15 August 1981

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Serving Jehovah “Shoulder to Shoulder””

15 August 1981 · pp.25-30 · par. 14 (p. 28) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago”

Describes those who leave as having 'an independent, faultfinding attitude' like Satan and as trying to draw others away from the spiritual food 'spread at the Kingdom Halls'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened the WOL document; page marker confirms p. 28. IMPORTANT: the wording suggested in the brief ('returned to the darkness') does NOT appear; the actual wording is 'reverted right back to the apostate doctrines'. Use the verified wording only.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1981-0815-shoulder-to-shoulder

Claim page

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