Upon the Lampstand

In the New Testament, Jesus is recorded as having made a very simple yet profound statement according to Matthew 5:15-16:

People light a lamp and set it, not under the measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, and it shines upon all those in the house. Likewise let YOUR light shine before men, that they may see YOUR fine works and give glory to YOUR Father who is in the heavens [New World Translation].

Here is our translation of this teaching as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 8:16-17:

After lighting a lamp there is not one person who conceals it with something or who puts it underneath a bed. Instead the person puts it upon a lampstand so that those who come inside may see the light.

What Jesus taught is simple in that we can all relate to its truth: We don’t light lamps or turn on lights and then cover them up so that their light does not shine forth. It is profound in that we can all see how difficult something so simple can be when we think of the “light” here as involving our own works and teachings. Those lights are sometimes hard for us to let shine forth, in the right way.

Elihu Books is committed to publishing materials that openly and honestly present good reasons for beliefs. While it is true that there are times when being open and honest can create controversy or make others feel uncomfortable, if there are good reasons for what a person believes then the beliefs and their supporting reasons should be presented in the best manner possible. That is our endeavor, especially where it concerns the God Jah, Jesus of Nazareth, the Bible, and other related subjects.

Through Elihu Books we intend to light many lights and put them, not under a bed, or cover them with some other object, but “Upon the Lampstand.” Through “Upon the Lampstand” we will provide answers to questions people have about important issues and concerns. Questions received by Elihu Books through email, regular mail, from our Chat, or from questions that come to us from elsewhere will be given serious attention and responded to as appropriate either directly or through “Upon the Lampstand.”

If you have a question that has gone unanswered for a some time, or one that has just come up but that seems puzzling, you are probably not alone. So send us your question! Talk to us about what’s on your mind. If possible, we’ll put it “Upon the Lampstand” to ‘shine on all those in our house’!

What is your understanding of Philippians 2:5-9, and why does the NWT read so differently from versions like the NASB?(December 15, 2007) REVISED February 10, 2008
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Does God “know all things” that will occur, before they actually happen?(February 7, 2007) REVISED May 4, 2008
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What is your position on the use of blood, and how will this be presented in Jehovah Witnesses Defended, Third Edition? *Copies of correspondence to the Watchtower Society and with others included. (February 20, 2007) REVISED May 3, 2008
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How do you reconcile the belief in an earthly paradise for believers with the teaching of Hebrews 11:13-16 and 11:39-40?(February 25, 2007) REVISED May 4, 2008
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Abortion Questions(April 7, 2007) REVISED May 4, 2008
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Does the Bible prohibit Christians from saluting national flags or saying pledges of allegiance that do not constitute acts of worship?(May 22, 2007) REVISED May 3, 2008
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If you believe Jehovah’s Witnesses who are associated with the Watchtower Society promote certain false teachings, why do you associate yourself with them?(July 5, 2007) REVISED June 10, 2008
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Do you believe that the divine name, the tetragrammaton, was used by the writers of the New Testament?(October 13, 2007) REVISED May 4, 2008
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What is the meaning of the Greek word PAROUSIA? Is it “presence,” “coming,” or something else?(August 22, 2009)
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As a Christian Witness of Jah, what are your good reasons for celebrating or for not celebrating one holiday over another (such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Halloween), or for celebrating or for not celebrating birthdays or various other festivals?(September 10, 2009) REVISED October 15, 2009
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Since speaking in different “tongues” and “prophesying” are spoken of in the Bible as being practiced by Christians (1 Corinthians 14:22), how will a Christian determine how or if such gifts are to be practiced today?(October 12, 2009) REVISED December 28, 2009
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Why do different editions of the New World Translation (NWT) contain different footnotes to its rendering of John 8:58?(December 17, 2009)
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