1 John 2:27
1 John 2:2727And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
The Watchtower does not emphasise this verse, as it directly undermines the claim that believers require the Governing Body's publications to understand Scripture. When addressed, it is reinterpreted to mean that the anointing merely confirms what the organisation already teaches — the Spirit validates the channel rather than teaching individuals directly.
John writes that the anointing "teaches you about all things" and "you do not need anyone to teach you." This does not eliminate the role of teachers (), but it does deny any organisation a monopoly on spiritual understanding. The verse affirms the Spirit's direct witness to every believer — the same principle behind the Berean commendation in , where checking an apostle's teaching against Scripture was praised, not condemned. The Watchtower's 1981 admission that independent Bible reading leads to conclusions contradicting JW doctrine (particularly on the deity of Christ) only strengthens the verse's implication: the Spirit, working through Scripture, teaches truths the organisation has reason to suppress. reinforces the point — "one is your Teacher," the Christ, not a governing body.