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 STUDY
ARTICLE 37

Rely on Jehovah,
as Samson Did
“Sovereign Lord Jehovah, remember me,
please, and strengthen me.”—JUDG. 16:28.

SONG 30
My Father, My God and Friend

PREVIEW
Samson—the name of this Bible character is known
to many, even to people with little knowledge of the
Scriptures. His story has been featured by playwrights,
songwriters, and moviemakers. Yet, the account of his
life is no mere tale. We can learn much from this man of
great faith.
2
WHAT comes to your mind when you hear the name
Samson? You likely think of a man of outstanding
strength. That is true. But Samson made a bad de-
cision that led to painful results. Still, Jehovah fo-
cused on Samson’s overall record of faithfulness,
which He included in the Bible for our benefit.
2 Jehovah used Samson to accomplish amazing
things to help His chosen people, Israel. Centuries
after Samson’s death, Jehovah inspired the apostle
Paul to include Samson’s name in a list of outstand-
ing men of faith. (Heb. 11:32-34) Samson’s example
can encourage us. He relied on Jehovah, even dur-
ing challenging circumstances. Let us consider how
we can draw encouragement as well as learn other
practical lessons from his example.

SAMSON TRUSTED IN JEHOVAH

3 When Samson was born, the Philistines were
ruling over the nation of Israel and oppressing it.
(Judg. 13:1) Their harsh rulership brought great
1-2. Why should the account of Samson interest us?
3. What assignment did Samson receive?

SEPTEMBER 2023 3
suffering to the Israelites. Jehovah chose Samson
to “take the lead in saving Israel out of the hand
of the Philistines.” (Judg. 13:5) What a difficult
task! To fulfill this challenging assignment, Samson
would have to rely on Jehovah.
4
Consider an example of Samson’s trust in Jeho-
vah and of the support that God supplied. On one oc-
casion, a Philistine military force had come to cap-
ture Samson at Lehi, evidently in Judah. The men of
Judah were afraid, so they decided to hand Samson
over to the enemy. Samson’s own people bound him
securely with two new ropes and brought him to
the Philistines. (Judg. 15:9-13) However, “Jehovah’s
spirit empowered” Samson and he freed himself
from the ropes. He then “found a fresh jawbone of
a male donkey,” picked it up, and used it to strike
down 1,000 Philistine men!—Read Judges 15:14-16.
5
Why did Samson use the jawbone of a donkey?
It was an unconventional weapon, to say the least!
No doubt Samson knew that his success depended
on Jehovah, not on which weapon he used. Yes, this
faithful man used what was available to him to ac-
4. How did Jehovah help Samson to free himself from the Philis-
tines? (Judges 15:14-16)
5. What does Samson’s use of a donkey’s jawbone reveal about his
confidence in Jehovah?

4 THE WATCHTOWER
complish Jehovah’s will. Clearly, as a result of his
reliance on Jehovah, Samson was blessed with great
success.
6We too can be strengthened by Jehovah to ac-
complish our assignments, even those that seem
overwhelming. God can do so in a manner that may
amaze us. Trust that Jehovah, who empowered Sam-
son, will help you to do His will as long as you rely
on Him for help.—Prov. 16:3.
7 Many brothers and sisters who are involved in
theocratic construction projects have shown trust in
Jehovah. In the past, brothers usually designed and
constructed most new Kingdom Halls and other
buildings. Eventually, though, the needs of Jeho-
vah’s growing organization called for an adjustment.
6. When fulfilling our theocratic assignments, what can we learn
from Samson?
7. What example demonstrates the importance of our looking to Je-
hovah for his direction?

Samson trusted in Jehovah

and was adaptable. He used
what was available to him to
accomplish God’s will
(See paragraphs 4-5)
The responsible brothers sought Jehovah’s direction
and tried new methods, such as purchasing facilities
and renovating them. “At first, it was not easy for
some to embrace this new approach,” says Robert,
who in recent years has worked with many of our
building projects around the world. He continues:
“It was very different from what we had been doing
for years. But the brothers were willing to adapt, and
it has become evident that Jehovah is blessing these
adjustments.” This is just one example of how Jeho-
vah is guiding his people to accomplish his will. From
time to time, all of us do well to ask ourselves,
‘Am I looking for Jehovah’s direction and remaining
adaptable in my service to him?’

SAMSON TOOK ADVANTAGE OF

JEHOVAH’S PROVISIONS
8
You may have read of other instances when Sam-
son performed amazing deeds. Single-handedly, he
fought off a lion and later struck down 30 men in the
Philistine city of Ashkelon. (Judg. 14:5, 6, 19) Sam-
son knew that he could never have done such things
without Jehovah’s help. That was evident on one oc-
casion when he became very thirsty after striking
8. On one occasion when Samson became very thirsty, what did
he do?

6 THE WATCHTOWER
down 1,000 Philistines. What did he do? Rather than
depend on himself to deal with his thirst, he called
out to Jehovah for help.—Judg. 15:18.
9 Jehovah answered Samson’s cry for help by mi-
raculously creating a source of water. When Samson
drank from it, “his strength returned and he re-
vived.” (Read Judges 15:19 and footnote.) Appar-
ently, this new water source still existed years later
when the prophet Samuel was inspired to write the
book of Judges. The Israelites who saw that flowing
water may have been reminded that Jehovah can be
relied on to help his faithful worshippers in their
time of need.
10We too need to look to Jehovah for help no
matter what talents or abilities we may have or what
we have accomplished in his service. We should
modestly accept the fact that true success is possi-
ble only when we rely on Jehovah. Just as Samson
was energized when he drank the water that Jeho-
vah provided, we will be spiritually strengthened
when we take advantage of all the provisions Jeho-
vah makes available to us.—Matt. 11:28.
9. How did Jehovah respond to Samson’s plea for help? (Judges 15:
19 and footnote)
10. What is involved in our seeking Jehovah’s help? (See also pic-
ture.)

SEPTEMBER 2023 7
 Samson was energized after he drank the water that Jehovah provided.
We do well to take advantage of the provisions Jehovah
makes available to keep us spiritually strong
(See paragraph 10)

11
Consider the example of Aleksey, one of our
Russian brothers who is enduring serious persecu-
tion. What has helped him to stay strong under very
trying circumstances? He and his wife have estab-
lished a good spiritual routine. He says: “I try to
keep up with my spiritual routine of personal study
and daily Bible reading. Every morning, my wife and
I discuss the daily text and pray to Jehovah togeth-
er.” What does this teach us? Rather than depend on
ourselves, we should rely on Jehovah. How? By
building up our faith through a good routine of per-
11. How can we take full advantage of Jehovah’s help? Illustrate.

8 THE WATCHTOWER
sonal Bible study and other theocratic activities. Je-
hovah, in turn, will richly bless our efforts to serve
him. He strengthened Samson, and He can certain-
ly strengthen us.
SAMSON DID NOT GIVE UP
12 Samson was imperfect like us, so at times he
made bad choices. One decision in particular that
he made led to tragic consequences. After Samson
had served as judge for a while, he “fell in love with
a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was De-
lilah.” (Judg. 16:4) Previously, Samson had been
engaged to a Philistine woman, but that union “was
from Jehovah,” who “was looking for an opportuni-
ty against the Philistines.” Later, Samson stayed in
the house of a prostitute in the Philistine city of
Gaza. On that occasion, God empowered Samson to
carry away the doors of the city gate, weakening the
city. (Judg. 14:1-4; 16:1-3) The case of Delilah may
have been different, though, because she was likely
an Israelite.
13Delilah accepted a large sum of money from the
Philistines in return for betraying Samson. Was he
12. What bad decision did Samson make, and how could this have
differed from his earlier experiences?
13. How did Delilah maneuver Samson into a bad situation?

SEPTEMBER 2023 9
so trusting—so blinded by his love for her—that he
failed to discern what Delilah was up to? Whatever
the case, Delilah repeatedly pressured Samson to
reveal the source of his strength, and he ultimately
gave in to her demands. Sadly, Samson allowed him-
self to get into a situation that led to the loss of his
strength and the loss of Jehovah’s approval for a
time.—Judg. 16:16-20.
14 Samson experienced painful consequences be-
cause of trusting Delilah rather than Jehovah. The
Philistines captured and blinded Samson. He was
imprisoned in Gaza, whose people he had earlier hu-
miliated, and he became a lowly grinder of grain.
Then he was humiliated when the Philistines gath-
ered for a celebration. They offered a great sacrifice
to their false god Dagon, as if he had given Samson
into their hands. They brought Samson from pris-
on to the party to provide “some amusement”—to
make fun of him.—Judg. 16:21-25.
15Samson had made a serious mistake, but he did
not give up. He looked for an opportunity to fulfill
his God-given assignment against the Philistines.
14. What consequences did Samson experience because he trust-
ed Delilah?
15. How did Samson show that he again relied on Jehovah?
(Judges 16:28-30) (See cover picture.)

10 THE WATCHTOWER
(Read Judges 16:28-30.) Samson begged Jehovah:
“Let me take revenge on the Philistines.” The true
God answered Samson’s plea and restored his mi-
raculous strength. As a result, Samson was more
successful against the Philistines on this occasion
than ever before.
16 Although Samson experienced the painful con-
sequences of his mistake, he did not stop trying to
do Jehovah’s will. Even if we make a mistake and
need reproof or lose a privilege, we must not give
up. Remember, Jehovah does not give up on us. (Ps.
103:8-10) Despite our mistakes, we can still be use-
ful to Jehovah, just as Samson was.
17 Consider the example of a young brother named
Michael. He was busy in theocratic activities, serv-
ing as a ministerial servant and a regular pioneer.
Sadly, though, he made a mistake, which resulted in
the loss of his congregation privileges. “Until this
point,” he says, “things were going full steam ahead
in my service to Jehovah. Then all of a sudden, it felt
as if I had hit a brick wall. I never thought that Je-
hovah would abandon me, but I did wonder if my re-
lationship with him would ever be the same again or
16. What can we learn from Samson’s mistake?
17-18. What do you find encouraging about Michael’s example?
(See also picture.)

SEPTEMBER 2023 11
Samson likely
felt terrible about
his mistake, but he
did not give up
—neither should we
(See paragraphs 17-18)

if I would ever be able to serve him in the congrega-

tion as fully as I had.”
18
Commendably, Michael did not give up. He
adds: “I focused on repairing my relationship with
Jehovah by regularly opening up my heart to him in
prayer, studying, and meditating.” In time, Michael
regained his good standing in the congregation. He
now serves as an elder and a regular pioneer. He
notes: “The support and encouragement I received,
especially from the elders, helped me to realize that
Jehovah still loves me. I can once again serve in the
congregation with a clean conscience. This experi-
ence has taught me that Jehovah will forgive anyone
who is truly repentant.” We can be confident that
Jehovah will use us and bless us too even if we have
made mistakes, provided that we do all we can to
12 THE WATCHTOWER
correct our ways and continue to rely on him.—Ps.
86:5; Prov. 28:13.
19In this article, we have reviewed a few of the fas-
cinating events in the life of Samson. He was not
perfect; yet, he did not give up in his efforts to
serve Jehovah, even after his mistake with Delilah.
And Jehovah did not give up on him. God once
again used Samson in a mighty way. Jehovah still
considered him to be a man of outstanding faith, in-
cluding him in the list of faithful ones found in He-
brews chapter 11. How encouraging it is to know
that we serve such a loving heavenly Father who
yearns to strengthen us, especially when we are
weak! So like Samson, let us beg Jehovah: “Remem-
ber me, please, and strengthen me.”—Judg. 16:28.
19. How has Samson’s example strengthened you?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ How can you show ˛ How did Jehovah ˛ What can we learn
trust in Jehovah, empower Samson from Samson’s
as Samson did? to defeat the actions after he
Philistines? made a mistake?

SONG 3
Our Strength, Our Hope, Our Confidence
 STUDY
ARTICLE 38

Young Ones—How Will

Your Life Turn Out?
“Discernment will safeguard you.”—PROV. 2:11.

SONG 135
Jehovah’s Warm Appeal: “Be Wise, My Son”

PREVIEW
Young ones, Jehovah knows that you face challenges that
could test your friendship with him. How can you make
wise decisions that will please your heavenly Father?
We will consider the examples of three boys who became
kings of Judah. See what you can learn from their
decisions.
14
IMAGINE becoming a king of God’s people when
you are just a child or a teenager! How would you
use your power and authority? The Bible tells us
about several young ones who became kings of Ju-
dah. For example, Jehoash was just 7 years old, Uz-
ziah was 16, and Josiah was 8. Think of the pressure
they felt! Difficult as their situation was, all of them
had the help needed to overcome challenges and to
lead productive lives.
2 We are not kings or queens, but we can learn
valuable lessons from these three Bible characters.
They made good decisions, but they also made bad
ones. Using their examples, we will see why we need
to choose good associates, remain humble, and
keep seeking Jehovah.
CHOOSE GOOD ASSOCIATES
3 Imitate Jehoash’s wise decisions. When he was
young, King Jehoash made a wise decision. Being
without a father, he followed the direction of faith-
ful High Priest Jehoiada. That priest instructed
1. What difficult situation did Jehoash, Uzziah, and Josiah face?
2. Why should we give attention to the examples of Jehoash, Uz-
ziah, and Josiah?
3. How did King Jehoash respond to High Priest Jehoiada’s instruc-
tion?

SEPTEMBER 2023 15
Jehoash as if he were his own son. In response, Je-
hoash wisely decided to take the lead in pure wor-
ship and serve Jehovah. Jehoash even arranged for
Jehovah’s temple to be repaired.—2 Chron. 24:1, 2,
4, 13, 14.
4 If you are being taught to love Jehovah and to
live by his standards, you are being given a valuable
gift. (Read Proverbs 2:1, 10-12.) Parents can pro-
vide training in many ways. Consider how the father
of a sister named Katya helped her to make good de-
cisions. Each day as her father took her to school,
he would discuss the daily text with her. “Those dis-
cussions,” she says, “helped me to handle difficult
situations that came up during the day.” What,
though, if the Bible-based direction your parents
give you seems to restrict your freedom? What can
help you to accept their guidance? A sister named
Anastasia recalls that her parents took the time to
explain why they made certain rules. She states,
“That helped me to accept the limitations, not as
mere restrictions, but as loving protection.”
5 As you apply the Scriptural advice you receive,
4. How do we benefit when we treasure Jehovah’s command-
ments? (Proverbs 2:1, 10-12)
5. How will your actions affect your parents and Jehovah? (Prov-
erbs 22:6; 23:15, 24, 25)

16 THE WATCHTOWER
 It is possible today
to follow Jehoash’s
example by listening
to good associates
(See paragraphs 3, 7)

you will make your parents happy. More important,

you will make God happy and will build a lasting
friendship with him. (Read Proverbs 22:6; 23:15,
24, 25.) Does that not give you good reason to im-
itate the example of Jehoash when he was young?
6 Learn from Jehoash’s bad decisions. After Je-
hoiada died, Jehoash chose bad associates. (Read
2 Chronicles 24:17, 18.) He decided to listen to the
princes of Judah who did not love Jehovah. You
likely agree that Jehoash should have avoided those
troublemakers. (Prov. 1:10) Instead, he listened to
his so-called friends. In fact, when Jehoash’s cous-
in Zechariah tried to correct him, Jehoash had him
put to death. (2 Chron. 24:20, 21; Matt. 23:35) How
terrible and foolish! Jehoash began his life well, but
6. Whose advice did Jehoash start listening to, and with what re-
sults? (2 Chronicles 24:17, 18)

SEPTEMBER 2023 17
sadly he became an apostate and a murderer. Final-
ly, his own servants killed him. (2 Chron. 24:22-25)
How different his life would have turned out had he
continued to listen to Jehovah and to those who
loved Him! What lesson would you like to take away
from that example?
7 One lesson we can learn from Jehoash’s bad de-
cision is that we need to choose friends who will be
a good influence on us—friends who love Jehovah
and who want to make him happy. We do not need to
limit our association to those in our own age group.
Remember, Jehoash was much younger than his
friend Jehoiada. Regarding your choice of friends,
ask yourself: ‘Do they help me to strengthen my
faith in Jehovah? Are they encouraging me to live
by God’s standards? Do they talk about Jehovah
and his valuable truths? Do they show respect for
God’s standards? Do they just tell me what I might
want to hear, or do they have the courage to cor-
rect me if I stray?’ (Prov. 27:5, 6, 17) Frankly, if
your friends do not love Jehovah, you do not
need them. But if you have friends who love Jeho-
vah, hang on to them—they will be good for you!
—Prov. 13:20.
7. Whom should you choose as friends? (See also picture.)

18 THE WATCHTOWER
 8 Social media can be an efficient way to stay in
touch with family and friends. However, many peo-
ple use this form of communication to impress oth-
ers, posting photos and videos of what they have
bought or done. If you use social media, ask your-
self: ‘Is my motive to impress others? Is my goal to
build others up, or is it to boost my image? Am I al-
lowing the people who use this tool to influence my
thinking, speech, and actions in a negative way?’
Brother Nathan Knorr, who served as a member of
the Governing Body, gave this advice: “Don’t try to
please men. You will wind up pleasing no one.
Please Jehovah, and you will please all those who
love Jehovah.”
THE NEED TO STAY HUMBLE
9 Imitate Uzziah’s good decisions. As a youth,
King Uzziah was humble. He learned “to fear the
true God.” And Jehovah blessed him for most of his
68 years. (Read 2 Chronicles 26:1-5.) Uzziah de-
feated many of the nation’s enemies and strength-
ened Jerusalem’s defenses. (2 Chron. 26:6-15) Uz-
ziah was surely happy with all that God had helped
him to do.—Eccl. 3:12, 13.
8. If we use social media, what should we take into consideration?
9. What did Jehovah help Uzziah to do? (2 Chronicles 26:1-5)

SEPTEMBER 2023 19
 10Learn from Uzziah’s bad decisions. King Uzziah
was accustomed to having others follow his instruc-
tions. Did that make him think he could do any-
thing he wanted? Well, one day Uzziah decided to
enter Jehovah’s temple and presumptuously tried
to burn incense on the altar, which kings were not
allowed to do. (2 Chron. 26:16-18) High Priest Az-
ariah tried to correct him, but Uzziah got very an-
gry. Sadly, Uzziah ruined his record of faithful
service and was punished with leprosy. (2 Chron.
26:19-21) How different his life would have turned
out had he remained humble!
11When Uzziah became powerful, he forgot that
Jehovah was the Source of his strength and pros-
perity. What is the lesson? We do well to remind
ourselves that our blessings and privileges come
from Jehovah. Rather than boast about our accom-
plishments, we should give Jehovah the credit for
what we are able to do.1 (1 Cor. 4:7) We must hum-
bly realize that we are imperfect and need disci-
pline. A brother in his 60’s wrote: “I have learned
1 See the box “Beware of the ‘Humble Brag’ ” found in the jw.org arti-
cle “How Important Is Online Popularity?”

10. How did things turn out for Uzziah?

11. What actions may show whether we are humble? (See also pic-
ture.)

20 THE WATCHTOWER
 Rather than boast about our accomplishments, we should
give Jehovah the credit for what we are able to do
(See paragraph 11)

not to take myself too seriously. When I receive dis-

cipline for the childish mistakes that I sometimes
make, I try to get back up and keep moving for-
ward.” The reality is that when we fear Jehovah and
keep a humble view of ourselves, our life will turn
out well.—Prov. 22:4.

KEEP SEARCHING FOR JEHOVAH

12Imitate Josiah’s good decisions. Josiah was a
teenager when he started to search for Jehovah. He
wanted to learn about Jehovah and do His will.
12. When he was a youth, how did Josiah search for Jehovah?
(2 Chronicles 34:1-3)

SEPTEMBER 2023 21
However, life was not easy for this young king.
He had to take a stand for pure worship when
false worship was prevalent. And indeed he did!
Before Josiah was 20 years old, he began to remove
false worship from the nation.—Read 2 Chronicles
34:1-3.
13 Even if you are very young, you can decide to
imitate Josiah by searching for Jehovah and learn-
ing to appreciate His qualities. That fine course will
move you to dedicate yourself to him. What will that
dedication mean in your daily life? Luke, who got
baptized at age 14, says, “From now on, I will put
serving Jehovah first in my life and will try to make
him happy.” (Mark 12:30) What a blessing it will be
for you if you desire to do the same!
14 What challenges might you face as a young ser-
vant of Jehovah? Johan, who got baptized at age 12,
comments on the pressure that his classmates put
on him to use electronic cigarettes—vaping. To find
strength to resist that pressure, Johan reminds him-
self that vaping could negatively affect both his
health and his friendship with Jehovah. Rachel, bap-
tized at age 14, explains what helps her to cope with
the challenges she faces at school. She notes: “I try
13. What does dedication to Jehovah mean to you?
14. Give examples of how some youths are imitating King Josiah.

22 THE WATCHTOWER
to relate what I see to something spiritual. For ex-
ample, a history lesson may call to my mind a Bible
account or a prophecy. Or a conversation may re-
mind me of a useful scripture I can share with
someone.” The challenges you face may differ from
those King Josiah faced, but you can be wise and
loyal, as he was. Dealing with trials as a youth will
prepare you to face other challenges in the years
ahead.
15 As an adult, King Josiah began to have the tem-
ple renovated. During that work, “the book of Je-
hovah’s Law given through Moses” was found. On
hearing it read, the king was moved to take action
by complying with what it said. (Read 2 Chronicles
34:14, 18-21.) Would you like to read the Bible reg-
ularly? If you are trying, how is it going? Do you
keep track of verses that may help you personally?
Luke, mentioned earlier, writes down in a journal
interesting points that he finds. Would doing some-
thing similar help you to recall verses or points that
you like? The more you get to know and love the Bi-
ble, the more you will want to serve Jehovah. And
like King Josiah, you will be moved to action by
God’s Word.
15. What helped Josiah to serve Jehovah faithfully? (2 Chronicles
34:14, 18-21)

SEPTEMBER 2023 23
 16 Learn from Josiah’s bad decision. When Josiah
was about 39 years old, he made a mistake that cost
him his life. He trusted in himself instead of asking
Jehovah for guidance. (2 Chron. 35:20-25) There is
a lesson here. No matter how old we are or how
long we have been studying the Bible, we must
keep searching for Jehovah. That involves regular-
ly praying for his guidance, studying his Word, and
benefiting from the advice of mature Christians.
16. Why did Josiah make a serious mistake, and what is the lesson
for us?

Young David drew close to Jehovah.

He gained God’s approval, and his life turned out well
(See paragraph 18)

24 THE WATCHTOWER
We will then be less likely to make big mistakes and
more likely to be happy.—Jas. 1:25.
YOUNG ONES—YOUR LIFE
CAN TURN OUT WELL
17 Youth is a time of fine opportunities. The rec-
ord of Jehoash, Uzziah, and Josiah illustrates that
young ones can make wise choices and follow a
course that pleases Jehovah. True, a good outcome
is not guaranteed, as we noted. Nonetheless, we can
imitate the good that these kings did and avoid
making the mistakes they made. Then we can look
forward to a good outcome.
18 The Scriptures contain accounts of other
youths who drew close to Jehovah, had his favor,
and saw their life turn out well. David was one of
them. At a young age, he chose God’s side and lat-
er became a loyal king. Granted, he on occasion
made mistakes, but overall God approved of him.
(1 Ki. 3:6; 9:4, 5; 14:8) You can be encouraged and
motivated by studying about David’s life and faith-
ful service. Or you can focus your study project on
17. What can we conclude from the accounts of the three kings of
Judah?
18. What Scriptural examples show that your life can turn out well?
(See also picture.)

SEPTEMBER 2023 25
the example of Mark or of Timothy. You will see
that they served Jehovah from a young age and
gained a lasting record of God’s approval; it turned
out very well for them.
19
How your life turns out may be determined by
how you use it right now. Your trusting in Jehovah
and not in your own understanding will lead to His
directing your steps. (Prov. 20:24) You can have a
happy and rewarding life. Remember, Jehovah val-
ues what you do for him. What better way could you
use your life than by serving our loving heavenly
Father?
19. How can your life turn out?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Page 17: A mature sister offers wise advice to
a younger sister. Page 21: A sister who shares in an assembly part relies
on Jehovah and gives him credit.

WHAT LESSONS CAN YOU LEARN FROM THE LIFE OF . . .

˛ King Jehoash? ˛ King Uzziah? ˛ King Josiah?

SONG 144
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize!
STUDY
ARTICLE 39

Let Mildness
Be Your Strength
“A slave of the Lord does not need to fight,
but needs to be gentle toward all.”—2 TIM. 2:24.

SONG 120
Imitate Christ’s Mildness

PREVIEW
This article provides suggestions on how we can defend
our beliefs with mildness when provoked or challenged
by others.
27
HOW do you feel when a workmate or a schoolmate
asks you about your beliefs? Do you feel nervous?
Most of us do. But such a question may offer insight
into the other person’s thinking or beliefs, giving us
an opportunity to share the good news. At times,
though, a person may raise a question in a chal-
lenging manner. That should not surprise us. After
all, some have been misinformed about our beliefs.
(Acts 28:22) Furthermore, we are living in “the last
days,” a time when many are “not open to any agree-
ment” and are even “fierce.”—2 Tim. 3:1, 3.
2 You may wonder, ‘How can I be gentle and gra-
cious when someone challenges my Bible-based be-
liefs?’ What will help you? In a word—mildness. A
mild person does not get easily upset but is able to
control himself when faced with frustrations and
uncertainties. (Prov. 16:32) You may feel, though,
that it is easier said than done. How can you de-
velop mildness? How can you respond with mild-
ness when someone challenges your beliefs? And if
you are a parent, how can you help your children to
learn how to defend their faith with mildness? Let us
see.
1. What may we be asked about at work or at school?
2. Why is mildness desirable?

28 THE WATCHTOWER
 HOW TO DEVELOP MILDNESS
3 Mildness is a strength, not a weakness. It takes in-
ner strength to keep calm when facing a trying situ-
ation. Mildness is one aspect of “the fruitage of the
spirit.” (Gal. 5:22, 23) A form of the Greek word ren-
dered “mildness” was at times used to describe a wild
horse that had been tamed. Picture a wild horse that
becomes gentle. That is, gentle, yet strong. As hu-
mans, how can we develop mildness and at the same
time be strong? Not by sheer willpower. A key is pray-
ing for God’s spirit, asking him to help us culti-
vate this beautiful quality. Experience shows that this
can be done. Many Witnesses have responded mildly
when confronted by opposers, leaving a favorable im-
pression on observers. (Read 2 Timothy 2:24, 25.)
How can you make mildness one of your strengths?
4 The Bible contains many accounts that highlight
the value of mildness. Take the example of Isaac.
When he settled in the Philistine territory of Gerar,
his envious neighbors stopped up wells that his fa-
ther’s servants had dug. Instead of fighting for his
rights, Isaac moved his household farther away and
dug other wells. (Gen. 26:12-18) But the Philistines
3. Why can it be said that mildness is a strength, not a weakness?
(2 Timothy 2:24, 25)
4. What can we learn about mildness from the example of Isaac?

SEPTEMBER 2023 29
claimed that the water in this location was also theirs.
Despite this, Isaac acted peacefully. (Gen. 26:19-25)
What helped him to remain mild even when oth-
ers seemed determined to provoke him? He sure-
ly observed the example of his parents, learning
much from the peaceful ways of Abraham and “the
quiet and mild spirit” of Sarah.—1 Pet. 3:4-6; Gen.
21:22-34.
5 Christian parents, be assured that you too can
teach your children the value of mildness. Consider
the example of Maxence, age 17. He had to deal with
angry people at school and in the ministry. His par-
ents patiently worked with him to help him cultivate
mildness. They say, “Maxence has come to under-
stand that when provoked it takes more strength to
hold back than to respond with anger or violence.”
Happily, mildness has become Maxence’s strength.
6 What can we do when we are facing a tense situ-
ation, such as when someone slanders the name of
our God or ridicules the Bible? We should ask Jeho-
vah for his spirit and for his wisdom to respond in a
mild way. What if we later realize that we did not re-
spond as well as we should have? We can pray again
5. What example shows that Christian parents can teach children
the value of mildness?
6. How can prayer help us to improve in showing mildness?

30 THE WATCHTOWER
about the matter and think of how we can do better
the next time. In turn, Jehovah will grant us his holy
spirit so that we can control our temper and show
mildness.
7 Some Bible verses can help us to control our
speech when confronted with difficult situations.
God’s spirit can bring those texts to mind. (John
14:26) For example, the principles we find in the book
of Proverbs can help us to be mild. (Read Proverbs
15:1, 18.) That Bible book also reveals the benefits of
showing restraint in tense situations.—Prov. 10:19;
17:27; 21:23; 25:15.

HOW INSIGHT HELPS US TO BE MILD

8 Insight can also help us. (Prov. 19:11) An insight-
ful person shows restraint when challenged about his
beliefs. Some questions or challenges are like ice-
bergs, the greater part lying below the surface. For
example, a hidden motive or concern may prompt a
person to ask a question. So before answering, we do
well to realize that we may not know what has moved
the person to raise the issue.—Prov. 16:23.
7. How can memorizing certain scriptures help us to control our
speech and reaction? (Proverbs 15:1, 18)
8. Why should we consider what may have caused a person to chal-
lenge our beliefs?

SEPTEMBER 2023 31
We can better respond if
we first consider that there
may be reasons why an
invitation to a birthday
party is being offered
(See paragraphs 11-12)

9Consider how Gideon responded to the men of

Ephraim. They angrily challenged him as to why he
did not call them earlier to join him in the fight
against Israel’s enemies. Was there an underlying rea-
son for their contentious attitude? Hurt pride, per-
haps? Whatever the case, Gideon wisely respected
their feelings and gave them a mild answer. The re-
sult? Disarmed, “they calmed down.”—Judg. 8:1-3.
10
Perhaps a coworker or a schoolmate questions
our Christian stand on certain moral issues. We will
do our best to defend our convictions while respect-
9. How did Gideon show insight and mildness when dealing with
the men of Ephraim?
10. What will help us to know how to answer those who question
our beliefs? (1 Peter 3:15)

32 THE WATCHTOWER
ing our listener’s view. (Read 1 Peter 3:15.) It is of-
ten helpful to view the question as a way to learn
what he cares about rather than as an attack or a
challenge. Regardless of the reason why someone has
raised an issue, we do well to respond in a gentle,
kind way. Our answer may then move him to re-
consider his viewpoint. Even if his manner seems
rude or sarcastic, our goal should be to respond
kindly.—Rom. 12:17.
11 If a workmate asks, for example, why we do not
celebrate birthdays, consider: Could he be wondering
whether we are allowed to have a good time? Or
might he feel that our position will dampen the com-
pany’s team spirit? We may be able to ease our work-
mate’s concerns by expressing how much we appreci-
ate his interest in fellow workers and assuring him
that we want to enjoy a pleasant environment at
work. That might open the way to a relaxed conver-
sation about what the Bible indicates regarding the
subject of birthdays.
12We might use a similar approach when other con-
troversial topics come up. A schoolmate might assert
that Jehovah’s Witnesses should change their view of
11-12. (a) What might we consider before answering a difficult
question? (See also picture.) (b) Illustrate how asking a question
may open the way for a conversation.

SEPTEMBER 2023 33
homosexuality. Does that reflect a misconception
about Jehovah’s Witnesses? Or could it be that he
has a friend or a relative who is a homosexual? Does
he assume that we have no love for people who pur-
sue that lifestyle? We may need to assure him that we
care for all people and that we respectfully recognize
that each person has the right to make his own
choices.1 (1 Pet. 2:17) We might then be able to high-
light the Bible’s beneficial moral standards.
13 When confronted by someone who has strong
views, we should not quickly assume that we know
what he believes. (Titus 3:2) For example, what if
your schoolmate says that it is ridiculous to believe
in God? Should you assume that he strongly believes
in evolution and knows a lot about it? Actually, he
may not have given the subject much thought. In-
stead of starting a debate about science, you can find
a way to give your schoolmate something to think
about later. Perhaps you could direct him to materi-
al about creation found on jw.org. He might later be
willing to discuss an article or a video found there.
Yes, a respectful response may move him to re-
consider his view.
1 For practical suggestions, see the article “What Does the Bible Say
About Homosexuality?” in the 2016 Awake! No. 4.

13. How might you help someone who ridicules belief in God?

34 THE WATCHTOWER
 14 A teenager named Niall used our website to over-
come misconceptions about Jehovah’s Witnesses. He
says, “I was often told by a classmate that I do not
believe in science because I trust a ‘made-up’ book
rather than facts.” When this classmate did not allow
Niall to explain his beliefs, he directed the classmate
to the jw.org section “Science and the Bible.” Later,
Niall discerned that the student had likely read the
material and was more willing to discuss the origin
of life. You might have a similar result.

PREPARE AS A FAMILY
15 Parents can effectively teach their children how
to respond mildly when their beliefs are challenged.
(Jas. 3:13) Some parents have practice sessions dur-
ing family worship. They consider topics that might
come up at school, discuss and demonstrate how to
give an answer, and teach their children how to speak
in a mild, appealing way.—See the box “Practice Ses-
sions Can Help Your Family.”
16Practice sessions can help Christians to present
convincing arguments and to convince themselves
14. How did Niall make good use of our website to help a classmate
overcome a misconception about Jehovah’s Witnesses?
15. How can parents help their children respond mildly when
schoolmates challenge their beliefs?
16-17. How may practice sessions help young ones?

SEPTEMBER 2023 35
 Practice
Sessions Can
Help Your Family
Many families find it useful during family worship to
discuss controversial subjects that may come up at
school or at work. (Prov. 9:9) For example, consider
how you would reply if someone says:

˘ “Only uneducated people believe in God.”

˘ “Evolution is a fact.”
˘ “If creation is true, who created the Creator?”
˘ “Jehovah’s Witnesses hate homosexuals.”
˘ “Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses pressure people to
change their religion?”
˘ “You have changed the Bible to fit your beliefs.”

 You can find helpful suggestions on jw.org in the article series

“Young People Ask” and “Frequently Asked Questions About
Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

36 THE WATCHTOWER
that they have sound reasons for their beliefs. The
“Young People Ask” series on jw.org includes work-
sheets for teenagers. Those are designed to help
young ones to reinforce their beliefs and to prepare
answers in their own words. By studying this series
as a family, we all can learn how to defend our faith
in a mild, appealing way.
17 A youth named Matthew explains how practice
sessions helped him. As part of their family worship,
Matthew and his parents often research topics that
might be discussed in class. He says: “We think of
what sort of scenarios might come up, and we prac-
tice how to handle them based on the research we
did. When I have clearly in mind the reasons for my
stand, I feel secure and I find it easier to be mild
when dealing with others.”
18 Of course, sound reasoning alone may not be
enough to persuade some listeners. But expressing
ourselves with tact and mildness can help. (Read Co-
lossians 4:6.) Sharing our convictions can be likened
to throwing a ball. We can toss the ball gently or hurl
it forcefully. When we throw it gently, the other play-
er is more likely to catch it and to continue playing.
Similarly, if we express ourselves with tact and mild-
ness, people may be more willing to listen and to
18. Colossians 4:6 shows the value of what?

SEPTEMBER 2023 37
continue the conversation. Of course, if someone
wants to win a debate or to ridicule our beliefs, we
are not obligated to answer him further. (Prov. 26:4)
But such a person may be the exception; some—per-
haps many—will listen.
19 Clearly, there is great value in making mildness
a personal goal. Pray to Jehovah for the strength you
need to remain mild when responding to controver-
sial questions or unjust criticism. Remember, your
mild attitude can prevent differences of opinion from
escalating into arguments. And your mild, respectful
answer may actually move some listeners to change
their view about us and about Bible truths. Be “al-
ways ready to make a defense” of your beliefs, “do-
ing so with a mild temper and deep respect.” (1 Pet.
3:15) Yes, let mildness be your strength!
19. What should motivate us to be mild when defending our be-
liefs?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ How can ˛ How can insight ˛ How can parents
we develop help us to prepare their
mildness? respond with children to defend
mildness? their faith with
mildness?

SONG 88
Make Me Know Your Ways
 STUDY
ARTICLE 40

Like Peter,
You Can Persevere
“Depart from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man.”
—LUKE 5:8.

SONG 38
He Will Make You Strong

PREVIEW
This article is designed to assure those who struggle
with weaknesses that they can overcome them and
persevere as faithful servants of Jehovah.
39
PETER had spent an entire night fishing without
catching anything. Surprisingly, Jesus said to him:
“Pull out to where it is deep, and let down your nets
for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) Peter doubted that he would
catch any fish, but he did as he was directed. The low-
ered nets began ripping apart from the weight of the
catch. Realizing that they had just witnessed a mira-
cle, Peter and those working with him were “over-
whelmed with astonishment.” Peter exclaimed: “De-
part from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man.”
(Luke 5:6-9) Peter apparently felt unworthy even to
be in Jesus’ presence.
2 Peter was right—he was “a sinful man.” The Scrip-
tures show that he sometimes said and did things that
he later regretted. Can you relate to Peter? Are you
battling a personality flaw or a persistent sinful ten-
dency? If so, you can gain hope by studying Peter’s
example. How so? Consider this: Peter’s shortcom-
ings could easily have been omitted from the Bible
record. However, they were included under inspira-
tion as lessons for us. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Learning
about this man who had weaknesses and feelings like
ours can help us to see that Jehovah does not expect
perfection from us. He wants us to persevere—to keep
trying—despite our weaknesses.

1. How did Peter react to a miraculous catch of fish?

2. Why is it helpful for us to consider Peter’s example?

40 THE WATCHTOWER
 3 Why is it necessary for us to persevere? There is
a saying, Practice makes perfect. To illustrate: A mu-
sician may spend many years mastering his instru-
ment. During that time, he may play thousands of
wrong notes, but if he keeps practicing, he will im-
prove. Even if he becomes a skilled musician, though,
he may occasionally make a mistake. Still, he does not
give up. He keeps working at his craft. In a similar
way, even after we feel that we have overcome a cer-
tain weakness, we may suffer a setback. But we still
keep working toward our goal. We all say or do things
that we later regret; nonetheless, if we refuse to give
up, Jehovah will help us to keep making progress.
(1 Pet. 5:10) Let us consider Peter’s example of per-
severance. The compassion Jesus showed him despite
his shortcomings can motivate us to continue serv-
ing Jehovah.

PETER’S STRUGGLES AND BLESSINGS

4 The Scriptures do not say why Peter described
himself as “a sinful man” or what sins he had in mind.
(Read Luke 5:5-10.) But he may have made some se-
rious mistakes. Jesus sensed Peter’s fear, which could

3. Why do we need to persevere?

4. As found at Luke 5:5-10, how did Peter describe himself, but
how did Jesus assure him?

SEPTEMBER 2023 41
have stemmed from feelings of inadequacy. Jesus
also knew that Peter could remain faithful. So Jesus
kindly told Peter to “stop being afraid.” Jesus’ confi-
dence in Peter had a lasting effect on him. Peter and
his brother Andrew later abandoned their fishing
business and became full-time followers of the Mes-
siah, a decision that led to remarkable blessings.
—Mark 1:16-18.
5 Peter had many wonderful experiences as a fol-
lower of Christ. He saw Jesus heal the sick, expel de-
mons, and even raise the dead.1 (Matt. 8:14-17; Mark
5:37, 41, 42) Peter also witnessed a vision of Jesus’
future Kingdom glory, an event that had a great im-
pact on him. (Mark 9:1-8; 2 Pet. 1:16-18) Yes, Peter
saw things he could never have anticipated. How glad
he must have been that he did not allow any negative
feelings about himself to cause him to miss out on
these blessings!
6 Despite what he had seen and heard, Peter still
struggled with his weaknesses. Consider a few exam-
1 Many scriptures cited in this article are from Mark’s Gospel. He ap-
parently recorded what he had heard from Peter, who was an eyewit-
ness of the events.

5. What blessings did Peter receive by overcoming his fears and by

accepting Jesus’ invitation?
6. Did Peter quickly overcome his weaknesses? Explain.

42 THE WATCHTOWER
 How would you respond
if you had an experience
similar to that of Peter?
(See paragraph 4)

ples. When Jesus explained how he would suffer and

die in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, Peter rebuked
him. (Mark 8:31-33) Repeatedly, Peter and the other
apostles argued about who was the greatest. (Mark 9:
33, 34) On the last night before Jesus’ death, Peter
impulsively cut off a man’s ear. (John 18:10) That
same night, Peter gave in to fear and three times de-
nied knowing his friend Jesus. (Mark 14:66-72) That
led Peter to weep bitterly.—Matt. 26:75.
7 Jesus did not give up on his disheartened apos-
tle. After Jesus was resurrected, he gave Peter the
opportunity to reaffirm his love for him. Jesus invit-
ed Peter to serve humbly as a shepherd of his sheep.
(John 21:15-17) Peter responded positively. He was in
Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and among the
first to be anointed by holy spirit.
7. What opportunity was Peter given after Jesus’ resurrection?

SEPTEMBER 2023 43
 8 Even after he became an anointed Christian, Pe-
ter had to deal with his weaknesses. In 36 C.E., Peter
was present when the uncircumcised Gentile Corne-
lius was anointed with holy spirit, which was clear ev-
idence that “God is not partial” and that Gentiles
could be part of the Christian congregation. (Acts 10:
34, 44, 45) Peter thereafter felt free to share meals
with Gentiles, something he would never have done
earlier. (Gal. 2:12) However, some Jewish Christians
felt that Jews and Gentiles should not eat together.
When some who had that viewpoint came to Antioch,
Peter stopped eating with his Gentile brothers, likely
out of fear of offending Jewish Christians. The apos-
tle Paul saw this hypocrisy and rebuked Peter public-
ly. (Gal. 2:13, 14) Despite this setback, Peter perse-
vered. What helped him?

WHAT HELPED PETER TO PERSEVERE?

9 Peter was loyal; he did not let anything cause him
to give up permanently. He demonstrated his loyalty
on one occasion when Jesus said something that his
disciples did not understand. (Read John 6:68, 69.)
Without waiting for or seeking an explanation, many
stopped following Jesus. But not Peter. He recog-
8. What serious mistake did Peter make in Antioch?
9. How does John 6:68, 69 highlight Peter’s loyalty?

44 THE WATCHTOWER
 Why are you encouraged
by the confidence that
Jesus had in Peter?
(See paragraph 10)

nized that only Jesus had “sayings of everlasting

life.”
10 Jesus did not abandon Peter. On the last night of
his earthly life, Jesus knew that Peter and the other
apostles would abandon him. Nevertheless, Jesus ex-
pressed confidence that Peter would recover and re-
main faithful. (Luke 22:31, 32) Jesus understood that
“the spirit . . . is eager, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark
14:38) Accordingly, even after Peter denied knowing
him, Jesus did not give up on his apostle. The resur-
rected Jesus appeared to Peter—evidently when Pe-
ter was alone. (Mark 16:7; Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5)
How that must have encouraged the downcast apos-
tle!
10. How did Jesus show confidence in Peter? (See also picture.)

SEPTEMBER 2023 45
 11 Jesus assured Peter of Jehovah’s support. The
resurrected Jesus provided Peter and his fellow apos-
tles with another miraculous catch of fish. (John 21:
4-6) This miracle no doubt reassured Peter that
Jehovah could easily supply the material things he
needed. Perhaps the apostle then recalled Jesus’
words that Jehovah would provide for those who keep
“seeking first the Kingdom.” (Matt. 6:33) In line with
that, Peter made the ministry, not the fishing busi-
ness, his priority. He gave a bold witness on the day
of Pentecost 33 C.E., helping thousands to accept the
good news. (Acts 2:14, 37-41) He thereafter helped
the Samaritans and the Gentiles to accept Christ.
(Acts 8:14-17; 10:44-48) Jehovah certainly used Pe-
ter in a mighty way to bring people of all sorts into
the congregation.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?
12Jehovah can help us to persevere. It may be a
struggle to carry on, especially if we are coping with
a persistent weakness. At times, our weaknesses may
seem more challenging than those that Peter faced.
But Jehovah can give us the strength not to give up.

11. How did Jesus assure Peter that Jehovah would support him?
12. Keeping Peter’s example in mind, what should we remember if
we are struggling with a persistent weakness?

46 THE WATCHTOWER
(Ps. 94:17-19) For example, one brother engaged in a
homosexual lifestyle for a number of years before
learning the truth. He decisively left those immoral
practices behind. Still, he at times struggled with
wrong desires. What helped him to persevere? He ex-
plains: “Jehovah strengthens us.” He adds: “With Je-
hovah’s spirit . . . , I have learned that it is possible
to [continue] in the way of the truth . . . Jehovah has
been able to use me, and despite my imperfections he
continually strengthens me.”
13 As we saw, Peter succumbed more than once to
fear of man. But by praying for boldness, Peter was
able to act courageously. (Read Acts 4:13, 29, 31.) We
too can overcome our fears. Consider what happened
to Horst, a young brother who lived in Nazi Germany.
More than once, he gave in to pressure at school and
said “Heil Hitler!” Rather than rebuke him, Horst’s
parents prayed with him, asking Jehovah to give him
courage. With the help of his parents and reliance on
Jehovah, Horst eventually gained the strength to
stand firm. He later observed: “Jehovah never aban-
doned me.”1
1 See Horst Henschel’s life story, “Motivated by My Family’s Loyalty to
God,” in Awake!, February 22, 1998.

13. How can we imitate the example of Peter, as recorded at Acts

4:13, 29, 31? (See also picture.)

SEPTEMBER 2023 47
Horst Henschel began
his full-time service on
January 1, 1950. Do you
think that he regretted
using his life serving
Jehovah?
(See paragraphs 13, 15)

14Jehovah and Jesus will not give up on us. Peter

was at a critical crossroads in his life after he denied
Christ. Would he quit, or would he persevere as
Christ’s disciple? Jesus had supplicated Jehovah that
Peter’s faith would not give out. Jesus told Peter
about that prayer and expressed confidence that Pe-
ter would later be able to strengthen his brothers.
(Luke 22:31, 32) How it must have reassured Peter to
think back on Jesus’ words! When we come to a
crossroads in our life, Jehovah may use caring shep-
herds to provide the assurance we need to remain
faithful. (Eph. 4:8, 11) A longtime elder named Paul
tries to provide that comfort. He asks those who feel
like giving up to reflect on how Jehovah first drew
14. How can caring shepherds assure those who feel discouraged?

48 THE WATCHTOWER
them to the truth. He then assures them that Jeho-
vah’s loyal love will not allow Him to give up on them.
He concludes, “I have seen many discouraged ones
persevere with help from Jehovah.”
15 Just as Jehovah provided materially for Peter
and the other apostles, He will care for our material
needs when we put the ministry first in our life.
(Matt. 6:33) Following World War II, Horst, men-
tioned earlier, considered pioneering. He was very
poor, though, and doubted that he could support
himself and remain in the full-time ministry. What
would he do? He decided to put Jehovah to the test,
spending the entire week in the ministry during the
visit of the circuit overseer. At the end of the week,
he was shocked when the circuit overseer handed him
an envelope from an anonymous donor. It contained
enough money to sustain him in the pioneer service
for several months. Horst viewed this gift as reassur-
ance that Jehovah would sustain him. He spent the
rest of his life putting Kingdom interests first.—Mal.
3:10.
16How happy Peter must have been that Jesus did
not depart from him, as Peter had once requested!

15. How do the examples of Peter and of Horst illustrate the truth-
fulness of Matthew 6:33?
16. Why are Peter’s example and writings worthy of our attention?

SEPTEMBER 2023 49
Christ continued to train Peter to be a faithful apos-
tle and an outstanding example for Christians. The
record of that training contains many precious les-
sons that can benefit us all. Peter shared some of
those lessons and more in two inspired letters that he
sent to congregations in the first century. The next ar-
ticle will discuss a few reminders from these letters
and how we can apply them today.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Page 48: As seen in this reenactment, Horst
Henschel’s parents prayed with him and strengthened his determination
to stand firm.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What were some ˛ What helped Peter ˛ What are some
weaknesses that to persevere? things that we
Peter had to can learn from
overcome? Peter’s example?

SONG 126
Stay Awake, Stand Firm, Grow Mighty
 STUDY
ARTICLE 41

Lessons We Can
Learn From Peter’s
Two Letters
“I intend always to remind you of these things.”—2 PET. 1:12.

SONG 127
The Sort of Person I Should Be

PREVIEW
In this article, we will see how lessons learned from
Peter’s letters can help us to endure trials. Also,
elders will be helped to see how they can fulfill their
responsibility as shepherds.
51
THE apostle Peter knew his life would soon end.
During his decades of faithful service, he walked
with Jesus, opened up new fields for preaching,
and served as a member of the governing body.
But Peter’s service was not over. In about 62-
64 C.E., he was inspired to write two letters—the
Bible books of 1 and 2 Peter. He expressed his hope
that these letters would help Christians after his
death.—2 Pet. 1:12-15.
2 Peter composed his inspired letters at a time
when his fellow believers were “distressed by vari-
ous trials.” (1 Pet. 1:6) Wicked men were trying to
introduce false teachings and unclean conduct into
the congregation. (2 Pet. 2:1, 2, 14) Christians liv-
ing in Jerusalem would soon face “the end of all
things”—the destruction of that city and of the
Jewish systems of things by Roman armies. (1 Pet.
4:7) No doubt Peter’s letters helped Christians to
see what they could do to endure present trials and
to prepare for future trials.1
1 Likely, Christians living in Palestine received both of Peter’s letters be-
fore the initial attack on Jerusalem in 66 C.E.

1. Shortly before the apostle Peter’s death, what was he inspired

to do?
2. Why were the letters Peter wrote so timely?

52 THE WATCHTOWER
 3 Although Peter addressed his letters to the first-
century Christians, Jehovah made these writings
part of His Word. So we can now benefit from those
letters. (Rom. 15:4) Living in a world that promotes
unclean conduct, we also face trials that can make
it difficult to serve Jehovah. Furthermore, we will
soon experience a tribulation greater than the one
that brought an end to the Jewish systems. We find
some vital reminders in Peter’s two letters. These
will help us to keep in expectation of Jehovah’s day,
overcome fear of man, and cultivate intense love
for one another. Such reminders can also help el-
ders see how to care successfully for the needs of
the flock.
KEEP IN EXPECTATION
4 We are surrounded by people who have no faith
in Bible prophecy. Opposers may mock us because
we have eagerly anticipated the end for many years.
Some critics claim that it will never come. (Read
2 Peter 3:3, 4.) If we hear such comments from a
householder, a workmate, or a family member, our
faith could be shaken. Peter explained what can
help us.
3. Why should we examine Peter’s inspired letters?
4. As indicated at 2 Peter 3:3, 4, what could shake our faith?

SEPTEMBER 2023 53
 5 It may seem to some that Jehovah is slow to end
the present wicked system. Peter’s words can help
us to keep the right perspective, reminding us that
Jehovah’s view of time is vastly different from that
of humans. (Read 2 Peter 3:8, 9.) To Jehovah a
thousand years are like one day. Jehovah is patient,
not wanting any to be destroyed. When his day ar-
rives, though, this system will end. What a privilege
we have to use the time that remains to give a wit-
ness to people of all nations.
6 Peter urges us to “keep close in mind” Jeho-
vah’s day. (Read 2 Peter 3:11, 12.) How? We do well
to meditate—every day, if possible—on the bless-
ings of the new world. Visualize yourself taking a
breath of really clean air, eating healthful food, wel-
coming back loved ones as they are resurrected,
and teaching people who lived centuries ago about
the fulfillment of Bible prophecies. Such medita-
tion will help to keep you in expectation and pro-
tect you against becoming indifferent to the times
we live in. By “having this advance knowledge” of
our future, we will “not be led astray” by false
teachers.—2 Pet. 3:17.
5. What will help us to keep the right perspective regarding the end
of this system? (2 Peter 3:8, 9)
6. How do we “keep close in mind” Jehovah’s day? (2 Peter 3:11, 12)

54 THE WATCHTOWER
 OVERCOME FEAR OF MAN
7 As we keep close in mind Jehovah’s day, we are
moved to share the good news with others. Still, in
some circumstances we may hesitate to speak up.
Why? We may temporarily give in to fear of man.
That happened to Peter. On the night of Jesus’
trial, Peter failed to identify himself as one of Je-
sus’ disciples and repeatedly denied even knowing
him. (Matt. 26:69-75) This same apostle, however,
could later say with conviction: “Do not fear what
they fear, nor be disturbed.” (1 Pet. 3:14) Peter’s
words assure us that we can overcome fear of man.
8 What can help us to overcome fear of man? Pe-
ter tells us: “Sanctify the Christ as Lord in your
hearts.” (Read 1 Peter 3:15.) This includes medi-
tating on the position and the power of our Lord
and King, Christ Jesus. If you feel nervous or fear-
ful when an opportunity arises to share the good
news with others, remember our King. Visualize
him ruling in heaven surrounded by countless an-
gels. Recall that he has “all authority . . . in heaven
and on the earth” and that he will be “with you
all the days until the conclusion of the system
7. How could fear of man affect us?
8. What can help us to overcome fear of man? (1 Peter 3:15)

SEPTEMBER 2023 55
of things.” (Matt. 28:18-20) Peter urges us to be
“always ready” to defend our faith. Would you like
to give a witness at work, at school, or in some oth-
er informal setting? Think in advance about when
you might be able to do so, then prepare what you
will say. Pray for courage, trusting that Jehovah
will help you overcome fear of man.—Acts 4:29.
“HAVE INTENSE LOVE”
9 Peter learned how to succeed in showing love.
He was present when Jesus said: “I am giving you
a new commandment, that you love one another;
just as I have loved you, you also love one anoth-
er.” (John 13:34) Despite that, Peter later gave in
to pressure and refused to eat with his Gentile
brothers and sisters. The apostle Paul called what
Peter did a “pretense,” or an act of hypocrisy. (Gal.
2:11-14) Peter accepted that correction and learned
from it. In both of his letters, he emphasizes that
we should not only feel love for our brothers and
sisters but also show that love.
10 Peter says that we should have “unhypocritical
9. On one occasion, how did Peter fail to show love? (See also pic-
ture.)
10. “Unhypocritical brotherly affection” is the result of what? Ex-
plain. (1 Peter 1:22)

56 THE WATCHTOWER
 Peter accepted correction from Paul. The two letters Peter
wrote teach us to show love for our brothers and sisters
(See paragraph 9)

brotherly affection” for fellow worshippers. (Read

1 Peter 1:22.) Such affection is the result of “obe-
dience to the truth.” This truth includes the teach-
ing that “God is not partial.” (Acts 10:34, 35) We
cannot obey Jesus’ command about love if we show
love to some in the congregation but not to others.
Granted, we may feel closer to some than to oth-
ers, as did Jesus. (John 13:23; 20:2) But Peter
SEPTEMBER 2023 57
reminds us that we should strive to have “brother-
ly affection”—a warm familylike attachment—for all
our brothers and sisters.—1 Pet. 2:17.
11 Peter urged us to “love one another intensely
from the heart.” In this context, to love “intense-
ly” involves stretching the limits of our natural in-
clination to love. For example, what if a brother of-
fends or hurts us in some way? Our instinct may be
to retaliate rather than to show love. Yet, Peter
learned from Jesus that retaliation does not please
God. (John 18:10, 11) Peter wrote: “Do not pay
back injury for injury or insult for insult. Instead,
repay with a blessing.” (1 Pet. 3:9) Allow intense
love to move you to be kind and considerate even
to those who may have hurt you.
12 In his first letter, Peter used the related expres-
sion “intense love.” Such love covers, not just a few
sins, but “a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:8) Perhaps
Peter recalled the lesson about forgiveness that Je-
sus had taught him years earlier. At the time, Peter
likely believed that he was being generous when he
suggested that he would forgive his brother “up to
11. What is involved in loving others “intensely from the heart”?
12. (a) What else will intense love motivate us to do? (b) What do
you want to strive to do, as illustrated in the video Preserve the Pre-
cious Gift of Unity?

58 THE WATCHTOWER
seven times.” But Jesus taught him—and us—to for-
give “up to 77 times,” meaning without limit. (Matt.
18:21, 22) If you have found it hard to apply this
counsel, take heart! All of Jehovah’s imperfect ser-
vants have at times struggled to forgive. The impor-
tant thing now is for you to take any necessary
steps to forgive your brother and to make peace
with him.1
ELDERS, SHEPHERD THE FLOCK
13 Peter surely never forgot what Jesus told him
after his resurrection: “Shepherd my little sheep.”
(John 21:16) If you are an elder, you know those
instructions apply to you too. It can be challeng-
ing, though, for an elder to find the time to care
for this important assignment. Elders must first
care for their own families physically, emotional-
ly, and spiritually. They also take the lead in the
preaching work as well as in preparing and present-
ing parts at meetings, assemblies, and conven-
tions. Some also have responsibilities as mem-
bers of Hospital Liaison Committees or accept
1 See on jw.org the video Preserve the Precious Gift of Unity.

13. What can make it challenging for elders to shepherd their broth-
ers and sisters?

SEPTEMBER 2023 59
 Loving elders, though busy, give of themselves
to shepherd the flock of God
(See paragraphs 14-15)

assignments with the Local Design/Construction

Department. Elders are truly busy men!
14 “Shepherd the flock of God,” Peter urged his
fellow elders. (Read 1 Peter 5:1-4.) If you are an
elder, we know that you love your brothers and sis-
ters and want to shepherd them. However, you may
14. What can motivate elders to shepherd the flock? (1 Peter 5:1-4)

60 THE WATCHTOWER
at times feel that you are so busy or so tired that
you cannot fulfill that assignment. What can you
do? Pour out your concerns to Jehovah. Peter
wrote: “If anyone ministers, let him do so as de-
pending on the strength that God supplies.” (1 Pet.
4:11) Your brothers and sisters may be facing
problems that cannot be fully solved in this system
of things. But remember that “the chief shep-
herd,” Jesus Christ, can help them beyond what
you can do. He can do so both today and in the new
world. God asks elders simply to love their broth-
ers, to shepherd their brothers, and to become
“examples to the flock.”
15William, a longtime elder, understands the im-
portance of shepherding. As the COVID-19 pan-
demic began, he and his fellow elders made it a pri-
ority to contact each individual in their assigned
group every week. He explains why: “Many of the
brothers were home alone with their thoughts, and
their thinking could quickly have turned negative.”
When a fellow believer is struggling, William listens
carefully to determine his or her needs and con-
cerns. Then he finds specific resources, often vid-
eos from our website, to help the fellow servant. He
15. How does one elder shepherd the flock? (See also picture.)

SEPTEMBER 2023 61
notes: “Shepherding is needed now more than ever.
We put forth great effort to help people to learn
about Jehovah; we need to make a similar effort to
shepherd the flock, helping Jehovah’s sheep remain
in the truth.”
ALLOW JEHOVAH TO FINISH YOUR TRAINING
16 We have discussed only a few lessons from Pe-
ter’s two inspired letters. Perhaps you have noted
an area in which you want to improve. For example,
would you like to meditate more often on the bless-
ings to come in the new world? Have you set the
goal of witnessing at work, at school, or in some
other informal setting? Do you see ways in which
you could show intense love for your brothers and
sisters more fully? Elders, are you determined to
shepherd Jehovah’s sheep willingly and eagerly? An
honest self-examination may reveal that you have
certain weaknesses, but do not be discouraged.
“The Lord is kind,” and he will help you to improve.
(1 Pet. 2:3) Peter assures us: “God . . . will himself
finish your training. He will make you firm, he
will make you strong, he will firmly ground you.”
—1 Pet. 5:10.
16. In what ways might we apply lessons we have learned from Pe-
ter’s letters?

62 THE WATCHTOWER
 17Peter once felt unworthy to be in the presence
of God’s Son. (Luke 5:8) But with the loving sup-
port of Jehovah and of Jesus, Peter persevered as
a follower of Christ. Peter thus was approved to
gain “entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:11) What a
reward! If you persevere as Peter did and allow
yourself to be trained by Jehovah, you too will re-
ceive the reward of everlasting life. You will “attain
the goal of your faith, your salvation.”—1 Pet. 1:9.
17. If we persevere and allow ourselves to be trained by Jehovah,
what will be the result?

WHAT REMINDERS DID PETER GIVE US ABOUT . . .

˛ keeping in ˛ overcoming fear ˛ having “intense
expectation of of man? love” for our
Jehovah’s day? brothers?

SONG 109
Love Intensely From the Heart
34567 ˙
September 2023
Vol. 144, No. 10 ENGLISH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 37: November 6-12 2
Rely on Jehovah, as Samson Did
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 38: November 13-19 14
Young Ones—How Will Your Life Turn Out?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 39: November 20-26 27
Let Mildness Be Your Strength
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 40: November 27–December 3 39
Like Peter, You Can Persevere
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 41: December 4-10 51
Lessons We Can Learn From Peter’s Two Letters

COVER PICTURE:
Jehovah strengthened Samson to execute His judgment against
the Philistines (See study article 37, paragraph 15)

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