Who is the "faithful and discreet slave?"

In their New World Translation of the Bible, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WTBTS) translates Matthew 24:45 thus: "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?" However, every other translation renders it properly--"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?"

So then, who does the WTBTS consider to be the "faithful and discreet slave?" Well, today they would say it is the WTBTS. However, at one time, Charles Taze Russell--the founder of Zion's Watch Tower, the forerunner to WTBTS--considered himself to be that "faithful and discreet slave."

Below are some excerpts from 6 Screens of the Watchtower, where you can read the whole thing.

There is absolutely no evidence that Jesus was referring to the Watchtower organization when he used this term "faithful and discreet slave", which lies as further proof that the Watchtower Society takes scriptures out of context and twists them to support their own teachings. Simply put, Jesus was using a parable to display contrast. Jesus contrasts two possible ways that a disciple could carry out the task of being put in charge of his master's household. Each servant has a choice to be "faithful" or unfaithful (evil slave). Those who are faithful and wise will be rewarded, those who are not will be punished. If a parent tells their teenager not to have a party when they leave for vacation, the teenager has two approaches to behavior while their parents are gone. They could be "faithful" and obey the command, or they could be "unfaithful" and suffer the consequences. After examination of this, it is transparent that the passages from the book of Matthew are not in reference to a "Governing Body" of so-called anointed men in Brooklyn New York.

The Watchtower Society stands alone in their rendering of the term "faithful and discreet slave". All other translations render the term "faithful and wise servant" or "faithful and sensible slave". Why would the Watchtower Society render it differently? The intent of the word "discreet" is what needs to be examined. By altering the word "wise" or "sensible" to "discreet", the Watchtower Society is able to pull off a level of secretiveness, appearing to have special knowledge from God that is restricted to a small group. This particular spelling of the word is intentional to imply an esoteric description of the men in Brooklyn. To the average Jehovah's Witness, the Governing Body comprised from the faithful and discreet slave appear to be untouchable or unworthy of their presence. Most Jehovah's Witnesses do not even know the names of these men they are slavishly devoting their lives to, let alone have a desire to meet them in person.

Although it is unknown to most Jehovah's Witnesses, Charles Taze Russell's Bible Students originally referred to the term in its correct rendering "faithful and wise servant". Charles Taze Russell (founding father of the Watchtower Society's theological error) was once considered the "faithful and wise servant."