Examples of Bias/Discrepancies in the New World Translation

by Londo111 83 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • Mebaqqer2
    Mebaqqer2

    I think that a clear example of bias is to be found in this passage:

    For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "For this very cause I have let you remain, that in connection with you I may show my power, and that my name may be declared in all the earth." -Romans 9:17 NWT

    The Greek text here reads εξηγειρα σε and is to be translated as "I have raised you up" with God as the subject and Pharaoh as the object. The passage thus means that God "raised up" Pharaoh, either in the sense of bringing him into existence or in placing him in power (cf. BDAG s.v. εξεγειρω 4 & 5), for the express purpose of destroying him so that the whole world will know the power of God. However, the view of God in this verse, as well as this chapter as a whole, which emphasizes man's utter lack of power before God's omnipotence, runs counter to Jehovah's Witnesses as well as other Christian's conceptions of free will so that it must be minimized and interpreted in keeping with those views. Jehovah's Witnesses for their part have chosen to impose on to the text their particular interpretation rather than try to interpret the words as they appear. They then attempt to justify this interpolation with the following footnote:

    "I have let you remain," J17,18,22; ?AB, "I have raised you up"; Ex 9:16 in LXX, which Paul here quotes, "you have been preserved."

    Their citation of three manuscripts here (?AB), which is actually the same reading of εξηγειρα σε as their base text of Westcott-Hort, shows that they clearly know what the Greek text actually says and how it is to be translated, but instead of following that Greek text they have cited 3 J-References to "confirm" their translation and claimed that Paul is quoting the Septuagint which reads "you have been preserved." In point of fact, however, Paul's citation of Exodus 9:16 here departs from the Septuagint's translation at several points, most importantly in not following its reading of διετηρηθης ("you have been preserved") but instead writing εξηγειρα σε ("I have raised you up"). The J-References for their part simply import over the Hebrew text from Exodus 9:16 thus reading he'emadtika (hiphil perfect, lit. "I made you stand") and not "I have let you remain" as their footnote maintains. However, even if the J-References had read "I have let you remain," these translations from 19th and 20th century would not constitute any evidence that Paul's own wording is to be overridden here. One should note that Paul's word choice here in fact brings his citation of Exodus 9:16 into greater conformity to the Hebrew text than the passive translation of the Septuagint and this may in fact have been the reason why his citation does not follow the Septuagint here. One should also note that Paul's word choice is serviceable to his argument made through the context as a whole where Jacob was chosen over Esau "though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad" (Rom 9:11), election "depend[s] not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy" (Rom 9:14), and men are "what is molded" by God the "molder" and thus have no right to ask him "why have you made me thus" (Rom 9:20). Thus the ultimate reason why the New World Translation is translated the way it is here is simply to avoid the unsavory conclusion that this passage teaches that it was God who made Pharaoh the way he was.

    -Mebaqqer

  • TTWSYF
    TTWSYF

    Another example of bias in translating that has yet to be brought up is 2 Peter 1;1 Compare the NWT with others and see this bias. Although, interesting to see the New American Standard translation too [halfway down]

    NWT- 2Pet 1; 1 Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith, held in equal privilege with ours, by the righteousness of our God and [the] Savior Jesus Christ:

    New International Version(©1984)
    Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

    New Living Translation(©2007)
    This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

    English Standard Version(©2001)
    Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

    New American Standard Bible(©1995)
    Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

    King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

    International Standard Version(©2008)
    From: Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus, the Messiah. To: Those who have received faith that is as valuable as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah.

    Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
    Shimeon Petraus, a Servant and an Apostle of Yeshua The Messiah to those who, equal in honor with us, were worthy for the faith by the righteousness of Our Lord and Our Savior Yeshua The Messiah.

    GOD'S WORD® Translation(©1995)
    From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who have obtained a faith that is as valuable as ours, a faith based on the approval that comes from our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

    King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

    American King James Version
    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

    American Standard Version
    Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the'saviour Jesus Christ:

    Douay-Rheims Bible
    Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained equal faith with us in the justice of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

    Darby Bible Translation
    Simon Peter, bondman and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have received like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:

    English Revised Version
    Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:

    Webster's Bible Translation
    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

    Weymouth New Testament
    Simon Peter, a bondservant and Apostle of Jesus Christ: To those to whom there has been allotted the same precious faith as that which is ours through the righteousness of our God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

    World English Bible
    Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

    Young's Literal Translation
    Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who did obtain a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:

    dc

  • Londo111
    Londo111

    bttt

  • NeverKnew
    NeverKnew

    If I learned that the Bible I was relying on was written by a bunch of high school graduates with no real formal Greek or Hebrew training, that's all I'd have to hear. That translation would be in the next week's trash collection pickup.

    This would leave me two options: Rely on the generally accepted (albeit possibly biased) translations or start working on my Greek and Hebrew language formal class training.

    End of story for me.

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