Why do the Jehovah’s Witnesses not encourage people to study early church history?

Ignatius was an early bishop of Antioch who was martyred in Rome, being devoured by wild beasts. He lived around 35–110 AD and was a disciple of Peter, Paul and John. His letter to the Ephesians, Ignatius begins:

“Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which is at Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most happy, being blessed in the greatness and fulness of God the Father, and predestinated before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through the true passion by the will of the Father, and Jesus Christ, our God: Abundant happiness through Jesus Christ, and His undefiled grace.”

Then in chapter 1 of this letter to the Ephesians he wrote.

“Being the followers of God, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of God, ye have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you.

In chapter 7:

“There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible,— even Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In Chapter 18 Ignatius wrote:

“For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost. He was born and baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.

His other letters are similarly full of the Jesus Christ as Lord. There is no doubt that the early church recognised that Jesus was part of the Godhead as was the Holy Spirit.

In chapter 8 of his letter to Polycarp he writes,

“I pray for your happiness for ever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom continue ye in the unity and under the protection of God.”

In 230 AD a villa was constructed with a beautiful mosaic. This mosaic has at its centre two fish, an early Christian synbol

The Greek word for “fish” (ΙΧΘΥΣ - Ichthys) was used as an acronym summarising core Christian beliefs:

• Ι (Iēsous) → Jesus

• Χ (Christos) → Christ

• Θ (Theou) → God’s

• Υ (Huios) → Son

• Σ (Sōtēr) → Saviour

This translates to “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour.”

What is even more significant is that the mosaic has an inscription which reads ‘Jesus is God’. This was what early Christians accepted and was confirmed a hundred years later at the Council of Nicea (325AD)