• Is Knowledge of God for the Elite Few?
    Awake!—1988 | November 8

    • Shortly before his death, when interrogated by the Jewish religious authorities about his manner of teaching, he explained: “I have spoken to the world publicly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.”​—John 18:20.

      Did you note that Jesus’ message is addressed to a vastly greater audience than just Palestine? It is directed to the whole world! Jesus did not say: ‘I have spoken the word to all people,’ that is, to all Jews. Instead, being prophetic, he selected the specific word for “world.”a Thus, Jesus preached no esoteric doctrine; it was for everyone, everywhere.

  • Is Knowledge of God for the Elite Few?
    Awake!—1988 | November 8

    • a Jesus did not use the phrase (pant·iʹ toi la·oiʹ) “to all the people,” that is, all who assembled or all of the same race; but (toi koʹsmoi) “to the world,” that is, the human race, mankind. Interestingly, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to St. John states about John 18:20: “It is noteworthy that the strongest repudiation in the Gospels of cryptic or esoteric teaching in the words of Jesus is found in Jn [John].”