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Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), or Pastor Russell, was an American prominent early 20th century Christian restorationist minister from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, and founder of what is now known as the Bible Student movement.〔Parkinson, James ''The Bible Student Movement in the Days of CT Russell'', 1975〕 After his death, Jehovah's Witnesses and numerous independent Bible Student groups developed from this base. Beginning in July 1879 Russell began publishing a monthly religious journal, ''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence''. The journal is now published by Jehovah's Witnesses on a semi-monthly basis under the name, ''The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom''. In 1881 he co-founded Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society with William Henry Conley as president; in 1884 the corporation was officially registered, with Russell as president. Russell wrote many articles, books, tracts, pamphlets and sermons, totaling approximately 50,000 printed pages. From 1886 to 1904, he published a six-volume Bible study series originally entitled ''Millennial Dawn'', later renamed ''Studies in the Scriptures'', nearly 20 million copies of which were printed and distributed around the world in several languages during his lifetime. (A seventh volume was commissioned by his successor as society president, Joseph Rutherford, and published in 1917.) The Watch Tower Society ceased publication of Russell's writings in 1927,〔WTB&TS, "God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached" (1973) page 347〕 though his books are still published by several independent groups. Russell was a charismatic figure, but claimed no special revelation or vision for his teachings and no special authority on his own behalf. He stated that he did not seek to found a new denomination, but intended to gather together those who were seeking the truth of God's Word "during this harvest time".〔''Zion's Watch Tower'', Sept. 15, 1895, pg 216: Quote: "Beware of "organization." It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others' consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours."〕〔Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 4 ''The Battle of Armageddon'', 1897, pp 157–159〕〔Daschke, Dereck and W. Michael Ashcraft, eds. ''New Religious Movements.'' New York: New York UP, 2005.〕 He wrote that the "clear unfolding of truth" within his teachings was due to "the simple fact that God's due time has come; and if I did not speak, and no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out."〔(''Zion's Watch Tower,'' July 15, 1906, p. 229 ).〕 He viewed himself—and all other Christians anointed with the Holy Spirit—as "God's mouthpiece" and an ambassador of Christ.〔 Later in his career he accepted without protest that many Bible Students viewed him as the "faithful and wise servant" of Matthew 24:45.〔''Watch Tower'', March 1, 1923, pages 68 and 71.〕 After his death, the ''Watch Tower'' said that he had been made "ruler of all the Lord's goods".〔 After Russell's death, a crisis arose surrounding Rutherford's leadership of the society, culminating in a movement-wide schism. As many as three-quarters of the approximately 50,000 Bible Students who had been associating in 1917 had left by 1931. This shift resulted in the formation of several groups that retained variations on the name ''Bible Students''. Those who maintained fellowship with the Watch Tower Society adopted the name ''Jehovah's witnesses'' in 1931, while those who severed ties with the Society formed their own groups including the Pastoral Bible Institute in 1918, the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement in 1919, and the Dawn Bible Students Association in 1929. ==Early life== Charles Taze Russell was born to Scotch-Irish parents, immigrant Joseph Lytel Russell (d. December 17, 1897) and Ann Eliza Birney (d. January 25, 1861), on February 16, 1852 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Russell was the second of five children, of whom two survived into adulthood. His mother died when he was 9 years old.〔''Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose,'' 1959, p. 17〕 The Russells lived for a time in Philadelphia before moving to Pittsburgh, where they became members of the Presbyterian Church. When Charles was in his early teens, his father made him partner of his Pittsburgh haberdashery store. By age twelve, Russell was writing business contracts for customers and given charge of some of his father's other clothing stores.〔''Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom,'' 1993, p. 42〕 At age thirteen, Russell left the Presbyterian Church to join the Congregational Church. In his youth he was known to chalk Bible verses on fence boards and city sidewalks in an attempt to convert unbelievers; he particularly noted the punishment of hell awaiting the unfaithful.〔''Overland Monthly'' February 1917 pg 129: "Up to the age of fifteen ... his favorite teacher was Spurgeon, because, as he said, "he peppered it hot," his claim being that if one believed a thing he should tell it with all his might. So at the age of fifteen he used to go about the city of Pittsburg on Saturday evenings with a piece of chalk writing on the fence boards and telling the people not to fail to attend church on Sunday, so that they might escape the terrible hell in which he so firmly believed."〕 At age sixteen, a discussion with a childhood friend on faults perceived in Christianity (such as contradictions in creeds, along with medieval traditions) led Russell to question his faith. He investigated various other religions, but concluded that they did not provide the answers he was seeking.〔''The Bible Student Movement in the Days of CT Russell,'' 1975, p. A–1〕 In 1870, at age eighteen, he attended a presentation by Adventist minister Jonas Wendell. Russell later said that, although he had not entirely agreed with Wendell's arguments, the presentation had inspired him with a renewed zeal and belief that the Bible is the word of God.〔''Zion's Watch Tower,'' June 1, 1916 p. 170: "Though his Scripture exposition was not entirely clear, and though it was very far from what we now rejoice in, it was sufficient, under God, to reestablish my wavering faith in the Divine inspiration of the Bible, and to show that the records of the Apostles and the Prophets are indissolubly linked. What I heard sent me to my Bible to study with more zeal and care than ever before, and I shall ever thank the Lord for the leading; for although Adventism helped me to no single truth, it did help me greatly in the unlearning of errors, and thus prepared me for the Truth."〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Charles Taze Russell」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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