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 STUDY
ARTICLE 6

Jehovah’s Forgiveness
—Why We Appreciate It
“God loved the world so much that he gave his
only-begotten Son.”—JOHN 3:16.

SONG 18
Grateful for the Ransom

FOCUS
To build appreciation for Jehovah’s forgiveness of our
sins by understanding the basis for that forgiveness.
2
IMAGINE a young man who has been brought up in
a wealthy family. One day tragedy strikes; his par-
ents are killed in an accident. The news is devastat-
ing to him. However, another shock awaits this
young man. He learns that his parents squandered
the family fortune and that they acquired huge
debts. Now imagine that instead of inheriting their
wealth, he inherits their debts, and creditors are
demanding payment. The debt is far beyond his
ability ever to repay.
2 In some ways, our situation is like that of
this young man. Our original parents, Adam and
Eve, were perfect and lived in a beautiful paradise.
(Gen. 1:27; 2:7-9) They had the prospect of en-
joying a rich, endless life. But then everything
changed. They lost their Paradise home as well as
their prospect of everlasting life. What inheritance
could they pass on to their future children? The Bi-
ble tells us: “Through one man [Adam] sin entered
into the world and death through sin, and so death
spread to all men because they had all sinned.”
(Rom. 5:12) The inheritance Adam passed on to us
is sin, resulting in death. This inherited sin is like a
1-2. In what way is mankind’s situation like that of the young man
mentioned in paragraph 1?

FEBRUARY 2025 3
huge debt, one that none of us can pay off.—Ps.
49:8.
3
Jesus likened sins to “debts.” (Matt. 6:12; Luke
11:4) When we sin, it is as if we incur a debt to Je-
hovah. We have to pay the penalty for the sin.
Should this debt be left unpaid, it would be can-
celed only when we die.—Rom. 6:7, 23.
4
Is it possible for us to regain all that Adam and
Eve lost? Not on our own merits. (Read Psalm 49:
7-9.) Without help, we would have no hope for a fu-
ture life or a resurrection. In fact, our death would
be just like that of animals.—Eccl. 3:19; 2 Pet. 2:12.
5
Thinking back to the young man mentioned at
the outset, how would he feel if a wealthy man of-
fered to pay off all his debts? No doubt, the young
man would be moved by deep appreciation to ac-
cept that generous offer. In a similar way, our lov-
ing Father, Jehovah, has given us a gift that pays
for the debt of sin that we have inherited from
3. Why can our sins be likened to “debts”?
4. (a) Without help, what would happen to all sinners? (Psalm 49:
7-9) (b) To what does the word “sin” refer in the Bible? (See the box
“Sin.”)
5. How has our loving Father helped us with our inherited debt of
sin? (See cover picture.)

4 THE WATCHTOWER
 Sin
The word “sin” in the Bible can refer to several things:
˙ first, the original sin, or transgression, that Adam
committed against Jehovah God.—Gen. 3:17-19;
Rom. 5:14, 17.
˙ second, the imperfect inclination that has been
passed down to each one of us because of Adam’s sin.
—Ps. 51:5.
˙ third, any wrong deeds (whether intentional or
unintentional) that we may commit because of this
inherited defect.—John 8:34; Jas. 1:14, 15.

Adam. Jesus explained it this way: “God loved the

world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone exercising faith in him might not
be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Additionally, this same gift allows us the possibili-
ty of establishing a good relationship with Jeho-
vah.
FEBRUARY 2025 5
 6
How can we benefit from this amazing gift and
have our sins, or “debts,” forgiven? The answer
to that question is found in the Bible’s use of
such terms as reconciliation, atonement, propitia-
tion, ransom, redemption, and being declared righ-
teous. In this article, we will discuss the meaning of
each of these concepts. As we meditate on these ex-
planations, our appreciation for the basis of Jeho-
vah’s forgiveness will grow.
THE GOAL: RECONCILIATION
7
In addition to losing the prospect of everlasting
life, Adam and Eve lost their precious relationship
with their Father, Jehovah. Originally, Adam and
Eve were part of God’s family. (Luke 3:38) But
when they disobeyed Jehovah, they were expelled
from his family before they started to have chil-
dren. (Gen. 3:23, 24; 4:1) As their descendants, we
therefore need to be reconciled to Jehovah. (Read
Romans 5:10, 11.) In other words, we need to de-
velop a good relationship with him. According to
one reference work, the Greek word used here for
“reconcile” can mean to “make a friend out of an
6. What Bible terms will we consider in this article, and why?
7. (a) What else did Adam and Eve lose? (b) As descendants of
Adam and Eve, what do we desperately need? (Romans 5:10, 11)

6 THE WATCHTOWER
enemy.” Amazingly, Jehovah is the one who took
the initiative to make this possible. How?
THE ARRANGEMENT: ATONEMENT
8 Atonement is the arrangement Jehovah put in
place for restoring a good relationship between
him and sinful humans. It involves exchanging one
thing for another of equal value. In this way, some-
thing that is lost or destroyed can be regained or
replaced. The Christian Greek Scriptures use a re-
lated term that is similar in meaning to “atone-
ment,” propitiation. (Rom. 3:25) Propitiation is the
act that allows one to be at peace with God and to
have a good relationship with him.
9 To enable the Israelites to enjoy a good rela-
tionship with him, Jehovah instituted a temporary
arrangement for the forgiveness of their sins. In Is-
rael, Atonement Day was observed annually. On
that day, the high priest would offer animal sac-
rifices on behalf of the people. Of course, ani-
mal sacrifices could not completely atone for any-
one’s sins because animals are inferior to humans.
But as long as the repentant Israelites offered the
8. What is (a) atonement? (b) propitiation?
9. What temporary arrangement did Jehovah make so that the sins
of the Israelites could be forgiven?

FEBRUARY 2025 7
sacrifices that Jehovah required, he was willing to
forgive their sins. (Heb. 10:1-4) In addition, that
arrangement and their regular sin offerings im-
pressed on the minds of the Israelites the serious-
ness of their sinful state and their great need for a
permanent solution.
10
Jehovah had a permanent arrangement in
mind for the forgiveness of sins. He arranged for
his beloved Son to be “offered once for all time to
bear the sins of many.” (Heb. 9:28) Jesus gave “his
life as a ransom in exchange for many.” (Matt. 20:
28) What is a ransom?
THE PRICE: THE RANSOM
11
According to the Bible, a ransom is the price
paid to bring about atonement and reconciliation.
From Jehovah’s standpoint, it provides the basis to
restore what was lost. In what way? Remember,
Adam and Eve lost their perfect life along with the
prospect of living forever. So the ransom would
 In some languages, the term “ransom” is translated with an expres-
sion that literally means “the price of life,” or “the payment made.”

10. What permanent arrangement did Jehovah make for the for-
giveness of sins?
11. (a) According to the Bible, what is a ransom? (b) What would
be needed for this ransom to be paid?

8 THE WATCHTOWER
need to be a price of equal value to what was lost.
(1 Tim. 2:6) It could be paid only by an adult man
who (1) was perfect; (2) had the potential of living
forever on earth; and (3) was willing to give up, or
to sacrifice, that life for us. Only then could the life
of that person replace, or atone for, the life that
was lost.
12 Consider three reasons why Jesus was able to
pay that ransom price. (1) He was perfect—“he
committed no sin.” (1 Pet. 2:22) (2) Because of
that, he had the potential of living forever on earth.
(3) He was willing to die and give up that life for
us. (Heb. 10:9, 10) As a perfect man, Jesus was the
equal of the first man, Adam, before he sinned.
(1 Cor. 15:45) So by Jesus’ death, he was able to
atone for Adam’s sin, that is, to replace what Adam
had lost. (Rom. 5:19) Jesus thus became “the last
Adam.” There is no need for another perfect per-
son to come and pay for what Adam lost. Jesus
died “once for all time.”—Heb. 7:27; 10:12.
13What, then, is the difference between the
atonement arrangement and the ransom? The
atonement arrangement is the action God takes
12. Why was Jesus able to provide the necessary ransom price?
13. What is the difference between the atonement arrangement
and the ransom?

FEBRUARY 2025 9
to restore a good relationship between him and
mankind. The ransom is the price paid to make
atonement possible for sinful mankind. This price
is represented by Jesus’ precious blood poured out
in our behalf.—Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14.
THE RESULTS: REDEMPTION AND
BEING DECLARED RIGHTEOUS
14 What are the results of the atonement arrange-
ment? The Bible uses several expressions to high-
light the benefits. Although the meanings of these
words overlap, each word emphasizes a certain as-
pect of the atonement arrangement that opens the
way for Jehovah’s forgiveness. As we analyze these
words, we will also see how they affect us person-
ally.
15 In the Bible, redemption refers to the releasing,
or acquittal, that results because of the payment of
the ransom. The apostle Peter expressed it this way:
“You know that it was not with corruptible things,
with silver or gold, that you were set free [lit., “you
were ransomed; you were redeemed”] from your
futile way of life handed down to you by your fore-
14. What will we now consider, and why?
15-16. (a) In the Bible, to what does the word “redemption” refer?
(b) How does this affect us?

10 THE WATCHTOWER
fathers. But it was with precious blood, like that of
an unblemished and spotless lamb, that of Christ.”
—1 Pet. 1:18, 19; ftn.
16 Because of the ransom sacrifice, we can be set
free from the oppressive rule of sin and death.
(Rom. 5:21) Certainly, we have good reason to feel
deeply indebted to Jehovah and Jesus for the re-
demption that comes from the precious blood, or
life, of Jesus.—1 Cor. 15:22.
17 Being declared righteous means that the charges
against us have been dropped and that our record
has been expunged, or wiped clean. By doing this,
Jehovah does not violate his own standards of jus-
tice. He does not declare us righteous on our own
merit; nor does he condone our sins. But because
of our faith in the atonement arrangement and the
ransom price that was paid, Jehovah has a basis for
canceling our debts.—Rom. 3:24; Gal. 2:16.
18What does this mean for each of us? Those who
have been selected to rule with Jesus in heaven
have already been declared righteous as children of
God. (Titus 3:7; 1 John 3:1) Their sins have been
forgiven. They no longer have, as it were, a criminal
17-18. (a) What does being declared righteous mean? (b) How
does this affect us?

FEBRUARY 2025 11
What It Means for Us
RECONCILIATION:
Jehovah’s goal, or purpose, for
imperfect humans to establish
a good relationship with him
ATONEMENT
(and PROPITIATION):
Jehovah’s arrangement to
restore peaceful relations
between him and sinful
humans
RANSOM:
The price paid—Jesus’ shed
blood—to bring about our
atonement (and propitiation)
REDEMPTION:
A result of the atonement
arrangement; the release, or
acquittal, from punishment for
our debts
DECLARED RIGHTEOUS:
Another result of the
atonement arrangement;
our “criminal record” is
wiped clean
record, and thus they qualify to be in the Kingdom.
(Rom. 8:1, 2, 30) Those who have an earthly hope
have been declared righteous as friends of God,
and their sins are forgiven. (Jas. 2:21-23) The
great crowd, who will survive Armageddon, have
the prospect of never dying at all. (John 11:26)
“The righteous” and “the unrighteous” who are
sleeping in death are in line to be resurrected.
(Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29) Eventually, all obedient
servants of Jehovah on earth will “have the glori-
ous freedom of the children of God.” (Rom. 8:21)
What an amazing blessing comes from the atone-
ment arrangement—total reconciliation with our
Father, Jehovah!
19Truly, our situation was once like that of the
young man mentioned earlier who lost everything
and inherited a huge debt he could never repay. But
thanks to Jehovah, we have help. Our situation has
changed because of the atonement arrangement
and the payment of the ransom. Our faith in Jesus
Christ allows us to be redeemed, or set free, from
sin and death. Our sins can also be canceled, and
our criminal record, erased. Most important of all,
19. How has our situation changed for the better? (See also the box
“What It Means for Us.”)

FEBRUARY 2025 13
though, we can now have a good relationship with
our loving heavenly Father, Jehovah.
20
As we meditate on what Jehovah and Jesus
have done for us, our heart is filled with apprecia-
tion. (2 Cor. 5:15) Without their help, we would
have no hope at all! But what does Jehovah’s for-
giveness really mean for us individually? That is
what we will discuss in the next article.
20. What will we discuss in the next article?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Cover: Jesus preached the good news about
Jehovah’s forgiveness based on the ransom sacrifice. (John 3:16) Then
he willingly offered up his own life in order to provide that ransom.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What is the goal of Jehovah’s forgiveness of our sins?

˛ What is the basis for Jehovah’s forgiveness of our sins?

˛ How are we affected by Jehovah’s forgiveness of our sins?

SONG 10
Praise Jehovah Our God!
 STUDY
ARTICLE 7

Jehovah’s Forgiveness
—What It Means for You
“With you there is true forgiveness.”—PS. 130:4.

SONG 15
Praise Jehovah’s Firstborn!

FOCUS
By examining some vivid word pictures found in the Bible,
we will increase our appreciation for the true forgiveness
Jehovah grants us as individuals.
15
“I FORGIVE YOU.” How refreshing those words
can be, especially if you know that you said or did
something that hurt someone! But what does the
phrase “I forgive you” really mean? Is the person
you hurt saying that your friendship has been ful-
ly restored? Or does he simply mean that he does
not want to talk about the issue anymore? The for-
giveness humans extend can be complicated.
2 The way Jehovah forgives us imperfect humans
is very different from the way we forgive one an-
other. The forgiveness Jehovah extends is unique.
The psalmist said of Jehovah: “With you there is
true forgiveness, so that you may be held in awe.”
(Ps. 130:4) Yes, Jehovah’s forgiveness is “true for-
giveness.” He sets the ultimate standard of what
forgiveness really means. In some cases, Bible
writers used a Hebrew word for forgiveness that is
never used to describe human forgiveness.
 The original Hebrew text uses the expression “the forgiveness,” which
implies that this is the only true forgiveness, despite there being other
forms of forgiveness. Many translations of the Bible miss this impor-
tant distinction, but the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
does not, making it unique in its rendering of Psalm 130:4.

1. Why is the forgiveness humans extend often complicated?

2. How has Jehovah’s forgiveness been described in the Scrip-
tures? (See also footnote.)

16 THE WATCHTOWER
 3 When Jehovah forgives someone, that person’s
sin is wiped out. The damaged relationship is en-
tirely restored. Jehovah’s forgiveness is amazingly
complete and generous.—Read Isaiah 55:6, 7.
4 If Jehovah’s forgiveness differs from ours, how
can we as imperfect humans possibly understand
its true meaning? Jehovah helps us by using vivid
word pictures to describe his forgiveness. In this
article, we will examine some of them. They will
show us how Jehovah removes sin and, at the same
time, restores the relationship that has been dam-
aged by sin. As we review these illustrations, we
will deepen our appreciation for our tender Father,
who expresses his forgiveness in so many ways.
JEHOVAH REMOVES SIN
5 In the Bible, sins are often likened to heavy
burdens. King David described his own sins
this way: “My errors loom over my head; like
a heavy burden, they are too much for me to
bear.” (Ps. 38:4) But Jehovah pardons the sins
3. How is Jehovah’s forgiveness different from ours? (Isaiah 55:
6, 7)
4. How does Jehovah help us to understand the true meaning of
forgiveness?
5. What happens when Jehovah pardons our sins?

FEBRUARY 2025 17
of repentant wrongdoers. (Ps. 25:18; 32:5) The
Hebrew expression translated “pardon” basically
means to “lift up” or “carry.” We might think of Je-
hovah as a strong man who figuratively lifts the
burden of sin off our shoulders and carries it away.
6 Another word picture shows just how far away
Jehovah carries our sins. Psalm 103:12 tells us: “As
far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, so far off
from us he has put our transgressions.” East is the
farthest point from west. The two points never
meet. In other words, Jehovah takes our sins as far
away from us as we can imagine. What a reassur-
ing way to describe his forgiveness!
7 Even though Jehovah figuratively takes our
sins far away from us, does he keep holding on to
them? No. King Hezekiah wrote of Jehovah: “You
have thrown all my sins behind your back.” Or as
the footnote puts it, “you have removed all my
sins from your sight.” (Isa. 38:9, 17; ftn.) This
word picture shows that Jehovah takes the sins of
repentant ones and throws them out of view. This
statement could also be rendered: “You have made
6. How far off does Jehovah carry our sins?
7. How does the Bible describe what Jehovah does with our sins?
(Micah 7:18, 19)

18 THE WATCHTOWER
[my sins] as if they had not happened.” The Bible
further emphasizes this point in another word pic-
ture, recorded at Micah 7:18, 19. (Read.) There
Jehovah is spoken of as throwing our sins into the
depths of the sea. In ancient times, it would have
been impossible for someone to retrieve an ob-
ject that had been hurled into the depths of the
sea.
8 By means of these word pictures, we have
learned that when Jehovah forgives us, he relieves
us of the burden of our sins. Truly, as David said,
“happy are those whose lawless deeds have been
pardoned and whose sins have been covered; happy
is the man whose sin Jehovah will by no means take
into account.” (Rom. 4:7, 8) That is true forgive-
ness!
JEHOVAH WIPES OUT SIN
9 Jehovah uses other word pictures to help us
appreciate how by means of the ransom sacri-
fice, he wipes out the sins of repentant ones. Fig-
uratively, Jehovah is spoken of as washing and
rinsing away these sins. This results in purifying
8. What have we learned so far?
9. What word pictures does Jehovah use to explain the extent of his
forgiveness?

FEBRUARY 2025 19
the sinner. (Ps. 51:7; Isa. 4:4; Jer. 33:8) Jeho-
vah himself describes the results of this process:
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be
made as white as snow; though they are as red as
crimson cloth, they will become like wool.” (Isa. 1:
18) It is extremely difficult to remove scarlet or
crimson stains from a cloth. Yet, by means of this
word picture, Jehovah assures us that our sins can
be washed clean so thoroughly that they are no
longer visible.
10 As mentioned in the preceding article, sins are
also likened to “debts.” (Matt. 6:12; Luke 11:4) So
every time we sin against Jehovah, it is as if we are
going further and further into debt. We owe him a
huge amount! But when Jehovah forgives us, it is
as if he cancels the debt that would otherwise be
charged against our account. He does not demand
repayment of sins that have been forgiven. What a
refreshing illustration to describe the relief we feel
when Jehovah forgives us!
11Jehovah does not simply cancel our debts, or
sins; he blots them out. (Read Acts 3:19.) When a
10. What other word picture does Jehovah use to illustrate the
magnitude of his forgiveness?
11. What does it mean when the Bible says that our sins are “blot-
ted out”? (Acts 3:19)

20 THE WATCHTOWER
debt is canceled, we might imagine a large X be-
ing drawn across the account. However, the num-
bers beneath that X may still be legible. But to
blot something out is different. To understand this
word picture, we need to remember that in ancient
times the ink used was a mixture that included car-
bon, gum, and water. A person could take a wet
sponge and wipe the writing away. So when a debt
was “blotted out,” it vanished completely. Traces
of what was written before were not visible to the
naked eye. The record became nonexistent. How it
warms our heart to know that Jehovah not only
cancels our sins but also blots them out complete-
ly!—Ps. 51:9.
12Jehovah uses a similar word picture to de-
scribe how he blots out sins. He declares: “I will
blot out your transgressions as with a cloud and
your sins as with a thick cloud.” (Isa. 44:22) When
Jehovah forgives, it is as if he were using a thick
cloud to hide our transgressions so that they dis-
appear from sight altogether.
13What does this mean for us? When Jehovah
forgives our sins, we should not feel that we will
12. What does the word picture involving a thick cloud mean for us?
13. When Jehovah forgives our sins, how do we feel?

FEBRUARY 2025 21
bear the stain of such sins for the rest of our life.
By means of the blood of Jesus Christ, our debts
are completely canceled. Even the record of those
debts is no longer discernible. This is what the true
forgiveness that comes from Jehovah means for us
when we repent of our sins.
JEHOVAH RESTORES
A GOOD RELATIONSHIP
14 The true forgiveness that comes from Jehovah
allows us to have a good relationship with him. It
helps us to avoid being overcome by feelings of
guilt. We do not need to be afraid that Jehovah is
secretly harboring resentment and is looking for a
way to punish us. There is no threat of that hap-
pening. Why can we trust Jehovah when he says
that he forgives us? The prophet Jeremiah quotes
Jehovah as saying: “I will forgive their error, and
I will no longer remember their sin.” (Jer. 31:34)
When referring to these words, the apostle Paul
used a similar expression, saying: “I will no longer
call their sins to mind.” (Heb. 8:12) But what does
that really mean?
15 In the Bible, the expression “remember” does
14. Why can we trust Jehovah’s forgiveness? (See also picture.)
15. In what sense does Jehovah no longer remember our sins?

22 THE WATCHTOWER
 The forgiveness
that our heavenly
Father extends allows
us to have a good
relationship with him
(See paragraph 14)

not always refer to someone recalling something

or thinking about it. Rather, it can involve some-
one taking action. The criminal hanging on the
stake next to Jesus requested: “Jesus, remem-
ber me when you get into your Kingdom.” (Luke
23:42, 43) He was not simply asking Jesus to think
about him at that time. Jesus’ response indicated
that he would take action to resurrect this crimi-
nal. So, then, when Jehovah says that he no longer
remembers our sins, he means that he will not take
action against us. He will not punish us sometime
in the future for sins that he has forgiven.
The Bible uses another word picture to help us
16

understand the freedom that comes from true

16. How does the Bible describe the freedom that comes from true
forgiveness?

FEBRUARY 2025 23
How Jehovah In the Bible, Jehovah uses vivid word
pictures to describe his forgiveness and
Forgives Us to help us understand its true meaning

He removes sin

“Pardoned” “As far off as “You have “You will throw

(Ps. 32:5) the sunrise is thrown all my all their sins into
from the sunset” sins behind the depths of
(Ps. 103:12) your back” the sea”
(Isa. 38:17) (Mic. 7:19)

He wipes out sin

“Though your sins “Forgive us “So as to get your “I will blot out your
are like scarlet, our debts” sins blotted out” transgressions
they will be made (Matt. 6:12) (Acts 3:19) as with a cloud”
as white as snow” (Isa. 44:22)
(Isa. 1:18)

24 THE WATCHTOWER
He restores a good relationship

“I will no longer “You were set “Because of his wounds

remember their sin” free from sin” we were healed”
(Jer. 31:34) (Rom. 6:18) (Isa. 53:5)

forgiveness. Because of our sinful nature and

inclination, we are likened to “slaves of sin.”
But thanks to Jehovah’s forgiveness, we are like
slaves who have been “set free from sin.” (Rom. 6:
17, 18; Rev. 1:5) Yes, Jehovah’s forgiveness gives
us the exhilarating feeling of being set free from
slavery.
17 Read Isaiah 53:5. The final word picture we
17. How does forgiveness result in healing? (Isaiah 53:5)

FEBRUARY 2025 25
will discuss likens us to people who have a
deadly disease. Because of the ransom sacrifice
that Jehovah provided through his Son, we are
figuratively spoken of as being healed. (1 Pet. 2:24)
The ransom makes possible the full repair of our
relationship with Jehovah, which has been dam-
aged by spiritual sickness. Just as a person who
has been healed of a serious illness feels intense
joy, we too rejoice when we are healed spiritually
and regain Jehovah’s favor as a result of his for-
giveness.

WHAT JEHOVAH’S FORGIVENESS

MEANS FOR US
18 What have we learned by examining the word
pictures found in the Bible regarding Jehovah’s
forgiveness? When he forgives, he does so com-
pletely and permanently. This allows us to have a
good relationship with our heavenly Father. At the
same time, we remember that true forgiveness is a
gift. It comes from Jehovah’s love and undeserved
kindness, which he expresses to sinful mankind. It
18. What have we learned by examining the various word pictures
found in the Bible regarding Jehovah’s forgiveness? (See also the
box “How Jehovah Forgives Us.”)

26 THE WATCHTOWER
is not a right that humans can demand.—Rom.
3:24.
19 Read Romans 4:8. How grateful each one of
us should be that Jehovah is the God of “true for-
giveness”! (Ps. 130:4) However, our being forgiv-
en is dependent on something important. Jesus
explained: “If you do not forgive men their tres-
passes, neither will your Father forgive your tres-
passes.” (Matt. 6:14, 15) Obviously, then, it is vital
for us to imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness. But how
can we do that? Our next article will show us what
this involves.
19. (a) For what should we be grateful? (Romans 4:8) (b) What will
we discuss in the next article?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ How does the Bible describe the way Jehovah removes our sins?

˛ How do we know that Jehovah wipes out our sins?

˛ What does Jehovah’s true forgiveness mean for you?

SONG 46
We Thank You, Jehovah
STUDY
ARTICLE 8

Jehovah’s Forgiveness
—How Can You
Imitate It?
“Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must
also do the same.”—COL. 3:13.

SONG 130
Be Forgiving

FOCUS
This article will discuss practical steps we can take to
forgive someone who has offended us.
28
DO YOU find it difficult to forgive others? Many
of us do, especially when someone says or does
something that hurts us deeply. However, we can
overcome our hurt feelings and be forgiving.
For example, consider the experience of a sister
named Denise, who showed extraordinary for-
giveness. In 2017, Denise and her family had just
visited the newly opened World Headquarters of
Jehovah’s Witnesses. While they were on their way
home, another driver lost control of his car and
hit their vehicle. Denise lost consciousness in the
accident. When she woke up, she learned that her
children were badly injured and that her husband,
Brian, had been killed. Reflecting on that moment,
Denise says, “I felt broken and confused.” Lat-
er, she learned that the driver had not been im-
paired or distracted, and she prayed to Jehovah
for peace.
2The driver who hit them was charged with
manslaughter. If convicted, he could be impris-
oned. However, the court informed Denise that
the outcome of the man’s sentencing depended on
 Some names have been changed.

1-2. (a) When may we find it especially difficult to forgive some-

one? (b) How did Denise show forgiveness?

FEBRUARY 2025 29
her testimony. Denise says: “I felt as if somebody
had cut open my stitches and dumped a gallon of
salt in my wound, as I had to relive the worst mo-
ments of my life.” Just a few weeks later, Denise
sat in a courtroom and prepared to address the
man who had caused her family so much pain.
What did she say? Denise asked the judge to show
mercy to the man. When she finished speaking,
the judge broke down in tears. He said: “In all my
25 years as a judge, I have never heard anything
like this in my courtroom. I never hear the vic-
tim’s family plead for mercy in behalf of the de-
fendant. I never hear words of love and forgive-
ness.”
3 What helped Denise to be forgiving? She med-
itated on Jehovah’s forgiveness. (Mic. 7:18) When
we appreciate the forgiveness that Jehovah has
shown us, we will be motivated to be forgiving to-
ward others.
4 Jehovah wants us to forgive others just as
freely as he has forgiven us. (Read Ephesians 4:
 In such a situation, each Christian must make a personal decision
about what action to take.

3. What moved Denise to forgive?

4. What does Jehovah want us to do? (Ephesians 4:32)

30 THE WATCHTOWER
32.) He expects us to be ready to forgive those
who hurt us. (Ps. 86:5; Luke 17:4) In this article,
we will consider three things that will help us to
be more forgiving.
DO NOT IGNORE YOUR FEELINGS
5 We may be deeply hurt because of what some-
one says or does to us, especially if that person is
a close friend or family member. (Ps. 55:12-14) At
times, the emotional pain we suffer can be likened
to being stabbed. (Read Proverbs 12:18.) We may
try to suppress or ignore our hurt feelings. But
doing so might be like getting stabbed and then
leaving the knife in the wound. Similarly, we can-
not expect our hurt feelings to get better if we
simply ignore them.
6 When someone offends us, our initial reaction
may be to get angry. The Bible acknowledges
that we may become wrathful. However, it warns
against allowing that emotion to dominate us. (Ps.
4:4; Eph. 4:26) Why? Because our emotions often
lead to actions. And anger seldom leads to good
5. According to Proverbs 12:18, how might we feel when someone
offends us?
6. How may we react when someone offends us?

FEBRUARY 2025 31
What if We Have Been
Traumatized by Someone?
We do well to remember that when we forgive
someone, we are not condoning that person’s
actions or allowing him to take advantage of us.
Instead, we decide to let go of our resentment and
anger. In that way, we do not allow the person who
caused us trauma to continue to victimize us. By
letting go of our resentment, we are really giving
ourselves a gift. It allows us to heal and move on
with our life. Of course, even when we decide to
let go of our resentment and anger, we need never
forget that the person is still accountable to Jehovah
for what he has done. Thus, in a sense, letting go of
our resentment and anger is another way in which
we follow the psalmist’s inspired advice: “Throw your
burden on Jehovah.” (Ps. 55:22) We leave the matter
with Jehovah, trusting that he will judge the person
who deeply hurt us. And Jehovah judges matters far
better than we can. So he will provide a more just
outcome than we could ever hope to achieve on our
own.

32 THE WATCHTOWER
 Getting angry is a reaction,
but remaining angry is a choice

results. (Jas. 1:20) Remember, getting angry is a

reaction, but remaining angry is a choice.
7 When we have been treated badly, we might
feel other painful emotions. For example, a sister
named Ann says: “When I was a child, my dad left
my mom and married my nanny. I felt abandoned.
When they had children, I felt replaced. I grew up
feeling unwanted.” A sister named Georgette de-
scribes how she felt when her husband was un-
faithful to her: “We had been friends since child-
hood. We were pioneer partners! My heart was
broken.” And a sister named Naomi says: “I never
imagined that my husband would hurt me. So
when he confessed that he had been viewing por-
nography and hiding it from me, I felt deceived
and betrayed.”
8 We cannot control what others say or do to us,
7. What other feelings might we experience when someone
hurts us?
8. (a) What are some reasons why we should forgive others?
(b) What benefits do we receive when we forgive? (See the box
“What if We Have Been Traumatized by Someone?”)

FEBRUARY 2025 33
but we can try to control our response. And often
the best response is to forgive. Why? Because we
love Jehovah, and he wants us to be forgiving. If
we remain angry and do not forgive, we are like-
ly to act foolishly and perhaps suffer physically.
(Prov. 14:17, 29, 30) Note the example of a sister
named Christine. She says: “When I am consumed
by my hurt feelings, I smile less. I tend to make
poor food choices. I don’t get enough sleep, and
it’s more difficult to control my emotions, which
in turn affects my marriage and my relationships
with others.”
9 Even if the person who hurt us never takes re-
sponsibility for his actions, we can lessen the dam-
age he caused us. How? Georgette, mentioned ear-
lier, says: “It took some time, but I let go of my
resentment and anger toward my ex-husband. As
a result, I felt immense peace.” When we let go of
resentment, we prevent our heart from becoming
damaged by bitterness. We also give ourselves a
gift—we can start to move on and enjoy our life
once again. (Prov. 11:17) But what if after ac-
knowledging your feelings, you are still not ready
to forgive?
9. Why should we let go of resentment?

34 THE WATCHTOWER
 DEALING WITH
YOUR FEELINGS
10How can you overcome hurt feelings? One
way is by giving yourself time to heal. After receiv-
ing medical care, a person who has been severely
injured needs time to heal physically. In a similar
way, we may need time to heal emotionally before
we are ready to forgive someone from the heart.
—Eccl. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:22.
11Pray, asking Jehovah to help you to be forgiv-
ing. Ann, mentioned earlier, explains how prayer
helped her. She says: “I asked Jehovah to forgive
each of us in the family for things we did not han-
dle well. Then I wrote a letter to my dad and his
new wife and told them that I forgave them.” Ann
admits that doing so was not easy. But she says: “I
hope that by my trying to imitate Jehovah’s for-
giveness, my dad and his wife will be moved to
learn more about Jehovah.”
 See on jw.org the videos for the original songs “Forgive One Anoth-
er,” “Forgive Freely,” and “Friends Again.”

10. Why should we allow ourselves time to heal emotionally? (See

also pictures.)
11. How can prayer help you to be forgiving?

FEBRUARY 2025 35
 12 Trust Jehovah, not your feelings. (Read
Proverbs 3:5, 6.) Jehovah always knows what is
best for us. (Isa. 55:8, 9) And he will never ask us
to do something that will harm us. Thus, when he
encourages us to be forgiving, we can be confident
that doing so will benefit us. (Ps. 40:4; Isa. 48:17,
18) On the other hand, if we trust our feelings, we
may never be able to forgive. (Prov. 14:12; Jer.
17:9) Naomi, quoted earlier, says: “At first, I felt
justified for not forgiving my husband for viewing
pornography. I was afraid that he would hurt me
again or that he would forget how much damage
he caused. And I reasoned that Jehovah under-
12. Why should we trust Jehovah instead of our feelings? (Proverbs
3:5, 6)

36 THE WATCHTOWER
 Just as a physical injury
requires proper care and
time to heal, so does an
emotional injury
(See paragraph 10)

stood my feelings. But I began to realize that just

because Jehovah understands my feelings, it does
not mean that he agrees with them. He knows how
I feel and that it takes time to heal, but he also
wants me to be forgiving.”
CREATE POSITIVE FEELINGS
13 When we forgive someone who hurt us deep-
ly, we want to do more than simply decide not to
talk about what happened. If the person who hurt
us is also our Christian brother or sister, our goal
 Although viewing pornography is sinful and hurtful, it does not give
the innocent mate grounds for a Scriptural divorce.

13. According to Romans 12:18-21, what do we need to do?

FEBRUARY 2025 37
Three Steps to Forgiveness

DO NOT IGNORE YOUR FEELINGS

˙ We cannot expect our hurt feelings
to get better if we ignore them.

DEAL WITH YOUR FEELINGS

˙ Give yourself time to heal.
˙ Ask Jehovah to help you combat
resentment.
˙ Trust Jehovah, not your feelings.

CREATE POSITIVE FEELINGS

˙ Try to see the person as Jehovah
sees him.
˙ Ask Jehovah to help you to forgive.
˙ Tell the person that you have
forgiven him.
is to make peace. (Matt. 5:23, 24) We choose to
replace our anger with mercy and our resentment
with forgiveness. (Read Romans 12:18-21; 1 Pet.
3:9) What can help us to do that?
14 We should strive to see the person who of-
fended us as Jehovah does. Jehovah chooses to
look for the good in people. (2 Chron. 16:9; Ps.
130:3) We will usually find what we are looking for
in people—be it the good or the bad. When we look
for the good in others, we will find it easier to for-
give them. For example, a brother named Jarrod
says, “I find it easier to forgive a brother when I
compare his offense to the long list of things that
I like about him.”
15Another important thing to consider doing is
to tell the person that you have forgiven him or
her. Why? Note what Naomi, quoted earlier, says:
“My husband asked me, ‘Have you forgiven me?’
When I opened my mouth to say, ‘I forgive you,’ I
choked. I realized that I hadn’t truly forgiven him
in my heart. In time, I was able to express those
three powerful words, ‘I forgive you.’ I couldn’t
14. What should we strive to do, and why?
15. Why may it be helpful to tell someone that you have forgiven
him?

FEBRUARY 2025 39
believe the relief it brought to my teary-eyed hus-
band and the closure that I felt. Since then, I have
rebuilt my trust in him and we are best friends
again.”
16Jehovah wants us to be forgiving. (Col. 3:13)
Even so, we may struggle to forgive others. But we
can do it if we do not ignore our feelings and make
the effort to deal with them. Then we can create
new, positive feelings.—See the box “Three Steps
to Forgiveness.”
FOCUS ON THE BENEFITS
OF BEING FORGIVING
17We have many reasons to be forgiving. Con-
sider just some of them. First, we imitate and
please our merciful Father, Jehovah. (Luke 6:36)
Second, we show gratitude for the forgiveness Je-
hovah has kindly extended to us. (Matt. 6:12) And
third, we enjoy better health and keep our friend-
ships strong.
When we forgive others, we may experience
18

unexpected blessings. For example, note what

16. What have you learned about forgiveness?
17. How does being forgiving benefit us?
18-19. What may result from our being forgiving?

40 THE WATCHTOWER
happened to Denise, mentioned earlier. Although
she did not know it at the time, the man who
caused the accident planned to end his life after
his trial. However, he was so moved by Denise’s
forgiveness that he began studying the Bible with
Jehovah’s Witnesses.
19We may feel that forgiving someone is one of
the hardest things we will ever have to do—but it
may also be one of the most rewarding. (Matt. 5:7)
Therefore, may we all do our best to imitate Jeho-
vah’s forgiveness.

WHEN SOMEONE OFFENDS YOU, . . .

˛ why shouldn’t you ignore your feelings?

˛ what can help you deal with your feelings?

˛ how can you create positive feelings?

SONG 125
“Happy Are the Merciful!”
 LIFE STORY

“I Was Never
Alone”
AS TOLD BY
ANGELITO BALBOA

MANY circumstances in life can make us feel

lonely: the loss of loved ones, unfamiliar
surroundings, and physical isolation. I have
experienced all of these. Yet, looking back
on my life, I now realize that I was never truly
alone. Allow me to tell you what has led me to
that conclusion.

MY PARENTS’ EXAMPLE
Father and Mother were devout Catholics. But
when they learned from the Bible that God’s
name is Jehovah, they both became zealous Jeho-
vah’s Witnesses. Father stopped carving images of
42 THE WATCHTOWER
Jesus. Instead, he used his carpentry skills to con-
vert the ground floor of our home into the first
Kingdom Hall in San Juan del Monte, a suburb of
Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
After I was born in 1952, my parents included
me in the excellent spiritual education they had
been providing to my four older brothers and three
older sisters. As I grew up, my father encouraged
me to read a chapter of the Bible every day, and he
studied many different theocratic publications with
me. Occasionally, my parents invited traveling over-
seers and representatives from the branch office
to stay at our home. As a family, we drew great
joy and encouragement from the experiences these
brothers shared with us, which motivated us all to
make the ministry a priority in our life.
My parents left me a legacy of faith. After my
dear mother died from an illness, Father and I be-
gan pioneering together in 1971. But then in 1973
when I was 20 years old, my father died. Losing
both my parents left me feeling empty and alone.
But the “sure and firm” hope found in the Bible
helped me to stay anchored and kept me emotion-
ally and spiritually stable. (Heb. 6:19) Not long af-
ter my father’s death, I accepted a special pioneer
FEBRUARY 2025 43
assignment on the isolated island of Coron, in the
province of Palawan.
ALONE DURING
CHALLENGING ASSIGNMENTS
I was 21 when I arrived on Coron. As a city boy, I
was surprised to discover an island with little elec-
tricity, running water, or motorized transportation.
Although there were a few brothers, I had no pio-
neer partner and sometimes had to preach alone.
For the first month, I missed my family and my
friends terribly. At night, I would gaze at the starry
sky as tears rolled down my face. I felt like quitting
my assignment and returning home.
During those solitary moments, I would pour
out my heart to Jehovah. I’d recall encouraging
thoughts that I had read in the Bible and our publi-
cations. Psalm 19:14 often came to mind. I realized
that Jehovah would be “my Rock and my Redeem-
er” if I meditated on things that pleased him, such
as his activities and qualities. The Watchtower arti-
cle entitled “You Are Never Alone” was of great
help to me. I read it again and again. In a sense, I
was alone with Jehovah at such times, and that
 See The Watchtower of September 1, 1972, pp. 521-527.

44 THE WATCHTOWER
 With my parents and Serving in Palawan—together with Adel
family members and our children, Samuel and Shirley

gave me precious opportunities to pray, study, and

meditate.
Not long after arriving on Coron, I was appoint-
ed as an elder. As the only elder, I began conduct-
ing the weekly Theocratic Ministry School, Service
Meeting, Congregation Book Study, and Watch-
tower Study. I also delivered the public talk every
week. One thing was sure—I no longer had time to
feel lonely!
I enjoyed a productive ministry on Coron—some
of my Bible students eventually got baptized. But
FEBRUARY 2025 45
there were also challenges. Sometimes, I had to
walk half a day to reach the territory, not knowing
where I would sleep when I arrived. The congrega-
tion territory also included many smaller islands.
I often traveled by motorboat through stormy seas
to reach them, even though I did not know how to
swim! Through all these challenges, Jehovah pro-
tected and sustained me. Later, I realized that Je-
hovah was preparing me for greater challenges in
my next assignment.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
In 1978, I was assigned to Papua New Guinea,
north of Australia. Papua New Guinea is a moun-
tainous country, almost the size of Spain. I was
amazed to discover that the population of about
three million spoke over 800 languages. Fortu-
nately, most people could speak Melanesian Pid-
gin, commonly called Tok Pisin.
I was temporarily assigned to an English congre-
gation in the capital, Port Moresby. But then I
moved to a Tok Pisin congregation and took a lan-
guage class. I used what I was learning in class
in the preaching work. This helped me to learn the
language more quickly. Before long, I was able to
46 THE WATCHTOWER
deliver a public talk in Tok Pisin. Imagine my sur-
prise when less than a year after I arrived in Papua
New Guinea, I was assigned to serve as a circuit
overseer for the Tok Pisin congregations in several
vast provinces.
Because the congregations were far apart, I had
to organize numerous circuit assemblies and do a
lot of traveling. At first, I felt very isolated in un-
familiar surroundings—a new country, a new lan-
guage, and new customs. I could not travel be-
tween congregations by land because of the
mountainous and rugged terrain. So I had to trav-
el by airplane almost every week. Sometimes, I
was the only passenger in a rickety single-engine
plane. I found those trips to be as nerve-racking as
traveling by boat!
Few people had telephones, so I communicated
with the congregations by letter. Often, I arrived
before my letters and had to ask around to locate
the publishers. Each time I found the brothers,
though, I was welcomed with such appreciation
that I remembered why I was making all these ef-
forts. I experienced Jehovah’s support in many
ways, and my relationship with him grew im-
mensely.
FEBRUARY 2025 47
 At my first meeting on a coastal island called
Bougainville, a couple, all smiles, approached me
and asked, “Do you remember us?” I recalled wit-
nessing to this couple when I first arrived in Port
Moresby. I had started a Bible study with them be-
fore turning them over to a local brother. They
were now both baptized! This was one of the many
blessings I received during my three years in Pa-
pua New Guinea.
A BUSY LITTLE FAMILY
Before leaving Coron in 1978, I came to know
a charming, self-sacrificing sister called Adel. She
was regular pioneering while raising her two chil-
dren, Samuel and Shirley. At the same time, she
looked after her elderly mother. In May 1981, I re-
turned to the Philippines to marry Adel. After our
marriage, we regular pioneered and cared for the
family together.
Despite having a family, in 1983, I was reappoint-
ed as a special pioneer and assigned to Linapa-
can Island, in the province of Palawan. The whole
family moved to this isolated place where there
were no Witnesses. Adel’s mother passed away
about a year later. However, we kept busy in the
48 THE WATCHTOWER
ministry, which sustained us through our loss. We
started so many progressive Bible studies on Lina-
pacan that before long we needed a small King-
dom Hall. So we built one ourselves. Just three
years after our arrival, we were delighted to see
110 people attend the Memorial, many of whom
progressed to baptism after we left.
In 1986, I was assigned to the island of Culion,
where there was a colony of leprosy patients. Af-
ter that, Adel was also appointed as a special pio-
neer. At first, we were nervous about preaching to
people who were disfigured by leprosy. But the
local publishers assured us that those who suf-
fered from this illness had received treatment and
that there was little risk of contagion. Some of

With Adel

FEBRUARY 2025 49
these patients attended meetings in a sister’s
home. We soon adapted and found it very reward-
ing to share our Bible hope with people who felt re-
jected by both God and mankind. It was delightful
to see people who were seriously ill find joy in the
prospect of one day having perfect health.—Luke
5:12, 13.
How did our children adjust to life on Culion?
Well, Adel and I invited two young sisters from Co-
ron to join us so that our children could have
some good association. Samuel, Shirley, and these
two young sisters enjoyed a productive ministry of
their own, studying with many children while Adel
and I studied with the parents of these children.
In fact, at one point we were studying with 11 fam-
ilies. Soon, we were conducting so many progres-
sive Bible studies that we were able to form a new
congregation!
At first, I was the only elder in the area. So
the branch office asked me to conduct the weekly
meetings for the eight publishers in Culion and
then to do the same for the nine publishers in a vil-
lage called Marily, which was a three-hour boat
journey away. After meetings there, as a family,
we walked through a mountainous region for many
50 THE WATCHTOWER
 Coron

Culion Marily PHILIPPINES

Halsey

Linapacan
Island

THE PROVINCE
OF PALAWAN

hours to conduct Bible studies in a village called

Halsey.
Eventually, we saw such abundant harvests in
Marily and in Halsey that we built Kingdom Halls in
both locations. As on Linapacan, the brothers and
interested ones provided most of the materials
and labor. The hall in Marily could accommodate
200 people and was expandable, which allowed us
to hold assemblies there.

GRIEF, LONELINESS,
AND RENEWED JOY
In 1993 when the children were grown up, Adel
and I began circuit work in the Philippines. Then in
FEBRUARY 2025 51
2000, I attended the Ministerial Training School to
be trained as an instructor for that school. I felt in-
adequate for the task, but Adel always encouraged
me. She reminded me that Jehovah would give
me the strength to carry out this new assignment.
(Phil. 4:13) Adel spoke from experience because
she was accomplishing her assignment while deal-
ing with health problems.
In 2006 while I was instructing, Adel was diag-
nosed with Parkinson’s disease. We were shocked!
When I proposed ending our assignment to care
for her, Adel replied, “Please find a doctor who can
help me with my sickness, and I know Jehovah will
help us to carry on.” For the next six years, Adel
continued in her service to Jehovah without com-
plaining. When she could no longer walk, she
preached from her wheelchair. When she could
hardly talk, she answered in one or two words at
meetings. Right up until her death in 2013, Adel
regularly received messages of appreciation for
her beautiful example of endurance. I had spent
over 30 years with Adel, a faithful and loving com-
panion, so when she fell asleep in death, I was
once again overwhelmed with feelings of grief and
loneliness.
52 THE WATCHTOWER
 Adel had wanted me to continue in my assign-
ment, so I did. I kept myself busy, which helped me
to cope with loneliness. From 2014 to 2017, I was
assigned to visit Tagalog-speaking congregations
in countries where the work was restricted. After
that, I visited Tagalog congregations in Taiwan, the
United States, and Canada. In 2019, I conducted
English-language classes for the School for King-
dom Evangelizers in India and in Thailand. I have
found great joy in all these assignments. I am the
happiest when I am fully engrossed in Jehovah’s
service.
HELP IS NEVER FAR OFF
In each new assignment, I have come to love
the brothers and sisters I meet, so leaving them
is never easy. At such times, I have learned to
trust in Jehovah completely. I have regularly expe-
rienced his support, and this has helped me to ac-
cept wholeheartedly any changes that come along.
Today, I am a special pioneer in the Philippines. I
have settled into my new congregation, which has
become a supportive and caring family. I am also
proud to see Samuel and Shirley imitating their
mother’s faith.—3 John 4.
FEBRUARY 2025 53
 Yes, I have experienced many trials in my life, in-
cluding watching my dear wife suffer and die from
a debilitating illness. I have also had to adapt to
many new circumstances. Yet, I have seen that Je-
hovah “is not far off from each one of us.” (Acts
17:27) Jehovah’s hand is “not too short” to support
and strengthen his servants, even in isolated terri-
tories. (Isa. 59:1) Jehovah, my Rock, has been with
me throughout my life, and I am so grateful to him.
I was never alone.

The congregation has become my caring family

How to Be a True Friend
HAVE you ever felt that you had to face your prob-
lems alone? We are living in “critical times hard to
deal with” that can make us feel discouraged and iso-
lated. (2 Tim. 3:1) However, we do not have to deal
with life’s challenges on our own. The Bible highlights
the value of having true friends in “times of distress.”
—Prov. 17:17.

HOW TRUE FRIENDS CAN HELP

The apostle Paul benefited from the friendships
that he had with his traveling companions. (Col. 4:7-
11) When Paul was imprisoned in Rome, his friends
performed tasks that Paul was unable to do himself.
For example, Epaphroditus supplied Paul with needed
items that the brothers and sisters in Philippi sent.
(Phil. 4:18) Tychicus delivered Paul’s letters to differ-
ent congregations. (Col. 4:7; see study note.) With
the support of his friends, Paul carried out his min-
istry despite being under house arrest or being isolat-
ed in prison. How can you be a true friend today?
Modern-day examples show the value of being a
true friend. Consider a sister who proved to be a
friend for Elisabet, a regular pioneer in Spain. When
FEBRUARY 2025 55
her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the
sister sent Elisabet many encouraging text messages
based on Bible verses. “These messages,” says Elisa-
bet, “empowered me to face each day without feeling
alone.”—Prov. 18:24.
We can strengthen our friendships with fellow be-
lievers by supporting them in congregation activi-
ties. For example, could you offer to drive an elderly
brother or sister to the meeting or out in the minis-
try? If you do, you will likely enjoy an interchange of
encouragement. (Rom. 1:12) However, some Chris-
tians are unable to leave their home. How can we be
a true friend to them?

BE A TRUE FRIEND TO THOSE

WHO ARE HOUSEBOUND
Some fellow believers have health issues or
other circumstances that prevent them from attend-
ing meetings in person. Consider the example of Da-
vid, who was diagnosed with lymphoma. For over six
months, he received chemotherapy. Throughout the
treatment, David and his wife, Lidia, attended meet-
ings virtually.
What support did they receive from their friends in
the congregation? After each meeting, some of those
at the Kingdom Hall would make an effort to talk to
56 THE WATCHTOWER
David and Lidia via videoconference. In addition,
when David and Lidia gave comments, they later re-
ceived encouraging text messages from fellow believ-
ers. The result? David and Lidia felt less isolated.
Could we include those who are housebound in our
ministry? With some small adjustments, we can show
that we have not forgotten those who face such limi-
tations. (Prov. 3:27) Why not schedule some time
with them to do letter writing or telephone witness-
ing? Those who are housebound may be able to tie in
to meetings for field service by videoconference. Da-
vid and Lidia appreciated this arrangement. David ex-
plains, “Just being with our preaching group for a
brief discussion and prayer gave us a massive boost.”
Further, if circumstances make it safe and fitting to
do so, could you from time to time arrange to bring

Despite being under house

arrest, the apostle Paul
accomplished his ministry
thanks to the loyal support
of his friends
a Bible student to a housebound publisher’s home to
conduct the study there?
When we work along with our housebound broth-
ers and sisters and observe firsthand their endearing
qualities, we draw closer to them. For instance, when
you share in the ministry with such publishers and
you take notice of how they skillfully use God’s Word
to reach someone’s heart, you likely feel drawn to
them even more. When you support fellow believers
in spiritual activities, you may well enlarge your circle
of friends.—2 Cor. 6:13.
Paul found comfort in having his friend Titus with
him. (2 Cor. 7:5-7) This account reminds us that we
can provide comfort not only by expressing sympathy
for those in need but also by being with them and do-
ing what we can to support them.—1 John 3:18.

BE A TRUE FRIEND DURING

TIMES OF PERSECUTION
Our brothers and sisters in Russia have set a
beautiful example in showing support for one anoth-
er. Consider the experience of Sergey and his wife,
Tatyana. After their home was searched by the po-
lice, they were taken for questioning. Tatyana was re-
leased first and returned home. Sergey relates: “As
soon as [Tatyana] arrived home, one brave sister
58 THE WATCHTOWER
Involve those who are
housebound in your ministry

showed up at our door. More friends came and

helped us with getting our apartment back in order.”
Sergey adds: “I have always liked Proverbs 17:17,
where it says: ‘A true friend shows love at all times
and is a brother who is born for times of distress.’
These words have taken on even greater meaning to
me during this time of persecution when I am unable
to cope on my own. Jehovah has provided friends
who are fearlessly at my side.”
As we face ever more difficult situations, we need
friends to lean on. We will need them even more dur-
ing the great tribulation. So let us make every effort
to be a true friend now!—1 Pet. 4:7, 8.
 See on jw.org the article “Jehovah Has Provided Friends Who Are
Fearlessly at My Side.”

FEBRUARY 2025 59
A Simple Question
That Anyone Can Ask
Mary and her husband, John, live in a part of the
world where the good news can be shared with
many foreign workers from the Philippines. During
the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary successfully started
Bible studies not only in the country where she lives
but also in other places in the world. How did she
do it?
Mary would ask her Bible students, “Do you know
anyone else who would like to study the Bible?” If
they said yes, she would ask to be introduced to
them. Asking this simple question often has good
results. Why? Because people who appreciate God’s
 Names have been changed.

60 THE WATCHTOWER
Word usually want to share what they learn with
family members and friends they care about. What
has been the result of asking this question?
Mary’s Bible student Jasmin introduced her to four
new Bible students. One of them, Kristine, enjoyed
her study sessions so much that she asked Mary to
study with her twice a week. When Mary asked if
she knew anyone else who wanted to study the Bi-
ble, Kristine said, “Yes, I will introduce my friends to
you.” Within a few weeks, Kristine introduced Mary
to four friends who wanted to study. Later, Kristine
introduced her to other friends, some of whom re-
peated the process with still others.
Kristine also wanted her family in the Philippines
to learn about the Bible. So she spoke to her daugh-
ter, Andrea. Initially, Andrea thought, ‘The Witnesses
are a cult, they do not believe in Jesus, and they use
only the Old Testament.’ But after just one study,
her misconceptions cleared up. During her studies,
she would exclaim, “As long as the Bible says so, it
must be true!”
In time, Andrea introduced Mary to two friends
and a workmate who started studying. Also, un-
known to Mary, Andrea’s blind aunt, Angela, was lis-
tening in on their studies. Then one day, Angela
FEBRUARY 2025 61
asked Andrea to introduce her to Mary and request-
ed her own Bible study. Angela loved what she was
learning. Within a month, she memorized many
scriptures and wanted to study four times a week!
With Andrea’s help, Angela started to attend the
meetings regularly via videoconferencing.
When Mary learned that Kristine’s husband, Josh-
ua, was lingering in the background during Kristine’s
studies, Mary asked him if he would like to join.
Joshua remarked, “I will just listen, but don’t direct
any questions to me; if you do, I will walk out.” With-
in the first five minutes of the study, he asked more
questions than Kristine did and wanted to continue
with the Bible discussions.
Mary’s simple question led to numerous Bible
studies. With several of them, she made arrange-
ments for the students to be helped by fellow Wit-
nesses. In total, Mary started 28 Bible studies in
four different countries.
Jasmin, the first student mentioned in this experi-
ence, got baptized in April 2021. Kristine got bap-
tized in May 2022 and has returned to the Philip-
pines to be with her family. Two other students who
had been introduced to Mary by Kristine also got
baptized. Angela got baptized a few months later
62 THE WATCHTOWER
and now serves as a regular pioneer. Kristine’s hus-
band, Joshua, and their daughter, Andrea, as well as
several other students are making good progress.
In the first century, the good news spread quickly
between family members and friends. (John 1:41,
42a; Acts 10:24, 27, 48; 16:25-33) Why not ask your
Bible students and other interested ones, “Do you
know anyone else who would like to study the Bi-
ble?” Who knows how many studies could be start-
ed as a result of this simple question that anyone
can ask?
34567 ˙
February 2025
Vol. 146, No. 2 ENGLISH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 6: April 14-20 2
Jehovah’s Forgiveness—Why We Appreciate It
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 7: April 21-27 15
Jehovah’s Forgiveness—What It Means for You
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 8: April 28–May 4 28
Jehovah’s Forgiveness—How Can You Imitate It?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LIFE STORY 42
“I Was Never Alone”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How to Be a True Friend 55
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Simple Question That Anyone Can Ask 60

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