The biases of the earlier iteration of the NWT have been known and discussed from the appearance of the first appearance in 1950, and I assume the revised edition will be affected by the same prejudicial biases. One can cynically subscribe to the view that this is a financial bonanza and possibly a distraction from the imminent centenary of that distant significant date.
My interest will be to see how the impact of this revision evolves, particularly in the area of the WTS's support material and on the impact its release will have on Witnesses. Some preliminary thoughts are:
1. Does the NT still accept the 27 NT books provided to it by the 4th century Trinitarian Church, including Athanasius and the Roman Emperors?
2. Does the OT retain an allegiance to the Hebrew text or to the Septuagint (for example with Jeremiah, especially in regards to the "70 years")?
3. Will it say the changes are due to a better understanding, to Lower Criticism, additional information since the last release of the NWT, to recognition that the MSS evidence shows that the text is unreliable and has to be reconstructed by Lower Critics?
4. Which text(s) does the revised NWT rely on (eg., Westcott-Hort; Textus Receptus; MT; variety of LXX), or had it constructed its own source from a selection from many sources (eclectic)?
5. How will the WTS manage the transition from the previous version to this one?
6. Will any JW prefer to refer to the earlier version? If so, what will the WTS's attitude be to those who do not change over?
7. Will the over familiarity with the earlier text unnerve any? (Over time, they managed to wean a previous generation on to their translation).
Mostly, I guess I am interested in the last question; so I would like to hear any anecdotal evidence (not assumptions or hearsay).
Can anyone tell me how I may obtain a soft copy of the revised NWT as well as any supporting material produced by the WTS?
Doug