---
title: John 10:22
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/john-10-22/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/john-10-22.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: John 10:22
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# John 10:22

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "At that time the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was wintertime,"

## JW Usage

Treated as historical context only — the conversation in John 10 happened at the Festival of Dedication. The Watchtower does not press the verse for what it implies about extra-biblical commemoration, because the implication is awkward: Jesus is attending a feast not commanded in the Mosaic Law, established in 165 BC after the Old Testament canon closed.

## Protestant Usage

Hanukkah — the Festival of Dedication — commemorates the Maccabean rededication of the temple in 165 BC. It is not in the Torah; it was established after the close of the Old Testament canon by the Jewish people in memory of a redemptive work of God. Jesus observed it. If Jesus could honour an extra-biblical commemoration of God's redemptive work, the Watchtower's blanket "no extra- biblical celebrations" rule is not Jesus' rule. Pair John 10:22 with Romans 14:5-6 in the JW's own NWT — "the one who observes the day observes it to Jehovah" — and Colossians 2:16 — "do not let anyone judge you... about the observance of a festival." Paul forbids the judgment the Watchtower routinely makes.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Holidays Are Not Pagan — Read Jeremiah 10 to Verse 5](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/holidays-pagan-origin-engagement.md) — Romans 14:5-6 / Colossians 2:16-17 / Jeremiah 10:5 [Practice]