First, [many] are mistaken as to who said that apostates are “mentally diseased.” The Watchtower article was quoting GOD’S WORD at 1 Tim. 6:3-5. So it is God Himself who uses the term “mentally diseased” or “mentally depraved” of those who teach contrary doctrine!!
Second, you notice that critics of [Jehovah's] Witnesses must always in some way misrepresent what was said by Witnesses. The article was not talking about "those who leave" the Witnesses but about a specific group: Apostates.
So as usual, you will notice that those who criticize the Witnesses require from their hearers an ignorance of the Bible (or blindness). Because when they criticize the Witnesses they end up criticizing God Himself and His Word!! That is called blasphemy!
Lexicons, dictionaries, commentaries and other versions make it clear what God has said here. The Greek word (NOSWN) literally does denote a sickness or disease–in this case of the mind! The NIV says they have "corrupted minds" in verse 5!
NWT: "If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, 4 he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words...men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth."
RSV, ESV: "...among people who are depraved in mind."
ROTHERHAM: "... diseased about questionings,..."
Gill: "but doting about questions and strifes of words: or he is "sick or diseased"; his mind is distempered; he is like one in a fever, that is delirious;"
Barnes' Notes: "But doting. Marg., sick. The Greek word— nosew —means properly to be sick; ...The meaning here is, that such persons had a sickly or morbid desire for debates of this kind. They had not a sound and healthy state of mind ...They were like a sickly man, ...a diseased appetite."
MH: "Observe, Men of corrupt minds are destitute of the truth.."
OLB Lexicon: "1) to be sick 2) metaph. of any ailment of the mind 2a) to be taken with such an interest in a thing as amounts to a disease"
Vines': "noseo signifies "to be ill, to be ailing," whether in body or mind; hence, "to be taken with such a morbid interest in a thing as is tantamount to a disease, to dote," 1 Tim. 6:4 (marg., "sick"). Notes: (1) Noseo, "to be sick," is used metaphorically of mental ailment, in 1 Tim. 6:4, "doting" (marg., "sick")."
Thayer's: "{3552} nosew , ..."to be sick"; metaphorically, of any ailment of the mind ...to be taken with such an interest in a thing as amounts to a disease, to have a morbid fondness for, 1Timothy 6:4"
The Watchtower article only applied this to Apostates--those who have once been JWs and rather than just leave peacefully have now turned on and attacked true Christians using deceptions, misrepresentations and lies.
While the Watchtower only applied this to "Apostates" God's Word actually applied it to ANYONE who "teaches false doctrines" (NIV)!!!
No, people who believe incorrectly and even criticize the true Christian religion are not “automatically mentally diseased." Some are just ignorant like the Apostle Paul before his conversion. However, ANYONE who purposely continues to use misrepresentations and lies to argue against Biblical Truth is mentally warped!
...
It is ludicrous to accuse God of being unfair for calling non-believers "mentally diseased" and "corrupted in mind." And it is just as ludicrous to criticize the Witnesses when they pass on God's thinking by quoting the Bible!
Source: This is an answer given by Bar_Anerges to a question from Yahoo! Answers.
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Second, you notice that critics of [Jehovah's] Witnesses must always in some way misrepresent what was said by Witnesses. The article was not talking about "those who leave" the Witnesses but about a specific group: Apostates.
So as usual, you will notice that those who criticize the Witnesses require from their hearers an ignorance of the Bible (or blindness). Because when they criticize the Witnesses they end up criticizing God Himself and His Word!! That is called blasphemy!
Lexicons, dictionaries, commentaries and other versions make it clear what God has said here. The Greek word (NOSWN) literally does denote a sickness or disease–in this case of the mind! The NIV says they have "corrupted minds" in verse 5!
NWT: "If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, 4 he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words...men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth."
RSV, ESV: "...among people who are depraved in mind."
ROTHERHAM: "... diseased about questionings,..."
Gill: "but doting about questions and strifes of words: or he is "sick or diseased"; his mind is distempered; he is like one in a fever, that is delirious;"
Barnes' Notes: "But doting. Marg., sick. The Greek word— nosew —means properly to be sick; ...The meaning here is, that such persons had a sickly or morbid desire for debates of this kind. They had not a sound and healthy state of mind ...They were like a sickly man, ...a diseased appetite."
MH: "Observe, Men of corrupt minds are destitute of the truth.."
OLB Lexicon: "1) to be sick 2) metaph. of any ailment of the mind 2a) to be taken with such an interest in a thing as amounts to a disease"
Vines': "noseo signifies "to be ill, to be ailing," whether in body or mind; hence, "to be taken with such a morbid interest in a thing as is tantamount to a disease, to dote," 1 Tim. 6:4 (marg., "sick"). Notes: (1) Noseo, "to be sick," is used metaphorically of mental ailment, in 1 Tim. 6:4, "doting" (marg., "sick")."
Thayer's: "{3552} nosew , ..."to be sick"; metaphorically, of any ailment of the mind ...to be taken with such an interest in a thing as amounts to a disease, to have a morbid fondness for, 1Timothy 6:4"
The Watchtower article only applied this to Apostates--those who have once been JWs and rather than just leave peacefully have now turned on and attacked true Christians using deceptions, misrepresentations and lies.
While the Watchtower only applied this to "Apostates" God's Word actually applied it to ANYONE who "teaches false doctrines" (NIV)!!!
No, people who believe incorrectly and even criticize the true Christian religion are not “automatically mentally diseased." Some are just ignorant like the Apostle Paul before his conversion. However, ANYONE who purposely continues to use misrepresentations and lies to argue against Biblical Truth is mentally warped!
...
It is ludicrous to accuse God of being unfair for calling non-believers "mentally diseased" and "corrupted in mind." And it is just as ludicrous to criticize the Witnesses when they pass on God's thinking by quoting the Bible!
Source: This is an answer given by Bar_Anerges to a question from Yahoo! Answers.