The preamble is clear. God says to his people: “Turn back, please, from your bad ways, and reform your ways and your practices.”
“But they said: “It is hopeless! For we will walk after our own thoughts, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his wicked heart.” (Jeremiah 18:12)
It’s a tricky verse, for it seems to indicate inner conflict. As though, they would like to shape up, but knowing their past, they figure the task is hopeless, as though anticipating that they would just start out and immediately get tripped up by something else.
‘Nah, it is not that way,’ AI told me, summing up the majority view of commentators. They don’t despair. They are defiant. They just try to put a good face on it. They are framing defiance as though it were despair.
You sure it’s not the other way around, I challenged AI—and thereby the majority of commentators. You sure it is not really despair, discouragement over their previous history of defiance? You sure it’s not like trying to break free of an addiction. You sure it’s not that they would like to, but they’ve failed so many times before that the task presents as hopeless. Society these days is empathetic towards those battling addiction.
Well, it wasn’t in those days! AI shot back. You’re doing “eisegesis”—reading today’s attitudes into the past! How are you going to be a theologian if you keep doing that?! You need more exegesis. You need to interpret passages as they would have been understood then! Draw out its meaning as they would have done it, not what you think it means today.
It is hard to argue with AI. Moreover, I do want to be a theologian, just like Pinocchio wanted to be a real boy. That’s why I was steamed when the JW o**********n built an entire meeting around the despair part of that verse and downplayed the defiance, taking for granted there would be some who wanted to repair their relationship with God. (week of 7/19/2026) I got on the phone to Bethel and complained to them. “How can you do that?” I muttered. “That’s eisegesis! Theologians say you can’t do that! Oh, how embarrassing to be out of step with smart people!”
‘Yeah, well, we don’t care,’ they told me. ‘If it can help someone, we’re going for it.’ And so the whole meeting was of people trying to come into accord with God’s purpose, either for the first time or returning to it. The task would look daunting at first. They had deviated so far. However, counsel was given that you don’t take on everything all at once. Of course you will feel despair it you look at it that way. Figure it’s like recovering from an illness. You start out very slow—broth, at first. Meetings revolve around a central theme, these days, combining whatever can be pulled out of that week’s Bible reading coupled with present needs.
I actually think that the nerdy theologians are right. It IS eisegesis the Witnesses are committing—something not allowed by the rules of theology. The overall pattern of Jeremiah IS one of God’s people being defiant. But, just how bad is the sin of eisegesis in this instance? Rather than strut around and show off how smart you are, isn’t it better to employ verses so that they help people?
For example, in the sixth chapter of Hebrews, Paul speaks “hardball” as to those who had fallen away, but then he follows with: “But in your case, beloved ones, we are convinced of better things, things related to salvation, even though we are speaking in this way.” (Hebrews 6:9) Of course. That’s what that midweek meeting did. Love hopes all things, says 1 Corinthians 13:7. Sometimes it’s wrong but it still hopes all things.
The meeting theme even dovetailed with the new study book being considered, Walk Courageously with God. This could not have been pre-planned, I don’t think, since both the Bible reading (Jeremiah 18-19) and the study book selection were separately placed on the calendar long ago. Instead, it has to be that it reflects the overall tone of meetings. Look for the good whenever one can.
Take this excerpt of paragraph 7 from that book, for instance:
“Jesus also expressed confidence in his followers. Imagine the reassuring tone of his voice when he told them: “Take courage! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33) He knew that they could follow in his footsteps—and they did. Jesus used the expression “take courage” on a number of occasions. He said it to a paralytic before assuring him that his sins were forgiven. (Matt. 9:2) He said it to a woman after healing her grievous illness. (Matt. 9:22)
These are instances of “take courage” where you might not ordinarily expect them. “Take courage” for I have conquered the world, Jesus says. That doesn’t mean that I will. “Take courage” to the man forgiven of sins. That doesn’t mean he may not commit some more. “Take courage” to the woman healed of illness. She might get sick again. But in all cases, the “take courage” is an assurance that Jesus has triumphed, is leading the way, and, through holy spirit, will help you as well.
****** The bookstore
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