by Bleep 65 Replies latest watchtower bible
The NWT is a theologically biased translation. It was translated by people that have remained anonymous. THe reason for their anonimity is not to keep God's word in the sotlight, but rather to hide their lack of credentials from scholars.
The NWT is best used to line the bottoms of cages inhabited by small pets.
Dawg,
Your suit jacket is best used to line the bottoms of bird cages.
Fred,
What you see is what you get. I don't hide behind some foolish Star Wars character.
Bleep and Fredhall-
All it comes down to is that you'll believe anything the Watchtower tells you. Have you actually done your own research into the translating of the NWT? or do you just take their word for it?
But does it really matter? In most Bibles the same basic principles are their; the golden rule, etc.
By far the most enlightening Bible versions are the texts of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Old Testament Hebrew) and the United Bible Societies' The Greek New Testament. Interlinear (available in both Hebrew and Greek) Bible and lexicons are great tools for extracting the pure language of the Bible. It is amazing what one can find at times hidden underneath the modern language translations!
Stinky: Don't be so quick off the mark and call Fredhall a Dub. Do a bit of research
Not just another Bible.
I can agree with that Bleep - it has less in common than the others do - a different spirit so to speak.
Bang
StinkyPantz wrote, "But does it really matter? In most Bibles the same basic principles are their; the golden rule, etc."
God asks for more than just to apply the golden rule.
WHY is love so important for Christians? Because of the kind of God they worship. The apostle John described him in these words: "God is love." (1 John 4:8) Just as many parents hope that their children will follow in their footsteps, so Jehovah God wants Christians to try to be like him. Thus, the apostle Paul urged: "Become imitators of God, as beloved children, and go on walking in love."-Ephesians 5:1, 2.
Love also balances the other Christian qualities. In the days of Jesus, the Jews-particularly their leaders-were diligent students of the Bible. But consider what Jesus said to them: "You are searching the Scriptures, because you think that by means of them you will have everlasting life; . . . but I well know that you do not have the love of God in you." (John 5:39, 42; Luke 11:42) If they had had love as well as knowledge, they would have recognized Jesus as the Messiah. As it was, most of them lost out on the opportunity to be among the first members of the Christian congregation.
Remember, too, the Roman Catholic conquistadores who carried their religion to the New World. They must have had a strong faith and a fierce zeal to accomplish what they did. But it was certainly not tempered by love. Otherwise, they would never have robbed, tortured, raped, and killed the native inhabitants of the American continents.
Here is the key.
Thus, love is the key Christian quality. Who should be the object of this love? Jesus tells us: "'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.'"-Matthew 22:37-39.
Not going to war would display that love of your neighbor.
In fact, a Christian's love goes even further. Jesus also said: "Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you; that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous." (Matthew 5:44, 45) In other words, a Christian's love embraces almost everyone! But what does this mean in practice?
If We Really Love God
For one thing, if we really want to love God, we will need to get to know him better. God himself has made that possible by providing the Bible, which is, in effect, a letter from him to us. When we receive a letter from a loved one, most of us read it immediately no matter how busy we are. Should it be any different with reading the Bible? Of course not. True, for many, life today is full of distractions, and most seem to prefer watching television to serious reading. But real Christians do not let that stop them from reading God's Word. Thus, they are like the psalmist who wrote: "My soul has kept your reminders [which today are found in the Bible], and I love them exceedingly."-Psalm 119:167.
In the Bible, God tells us how he wants us to act. Just as parents set standards of conduct for their children, Jehovah has set standards that he expects us to maintain-standards that are not negotiable. For example, the Bible tells us: "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's kingdom." (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) That is quite a list! But anyone who really loves God will be happy to take notice of it. Why? Because as the apostle John pointed out: "This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments."-1 John 5:3.
Unfortunately, many of the practices condemned in the Bible are becoming acceptable today, even among "Christian" people. A report issued in Canada by a Protestant denomination recommended considering the acceptance of homosexuals for ordination as ministers, asserted that sex without marriage may be acceptable under certain circumstances, and suggested that marital fidelity need not exclude adultery. No doubt the authors of that report wanted to appear broad-minded and caring. But were they showing love, either toward God or toward those they were encouraging in such immoral ways? Hardly, since Paul said that practicers of such things would not inherit God's Kingdom. How much more loving it is to hold fearlessly to God's standards, helping weak ones to do the same, rather than sentimentally encouraging them to follow an easier course that will eventually lead to disaster!
Moved to Share With Others
When we read the Bible, we also learn of the wonderful things God has purposed for mankind. We learn that "God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) We also learn of God's purpose to rid the earth of wickedness and bring in a peaceful, paradisaic system of things by means of his Kingdom under this same Jesus. (Matthew 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:3, 4) As the Bible promises: "Just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more . . . But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."-Psalm 37:10, 11.
In fact, the Bible's message is exactly what the human race needs. That is why it is sad to read of Christendom's missionaries who are so distracted by the poverty and injustice that they see in poorer lands that they get involved in politics and even in revolution. Revolution will not solve the problems of those countries. Do such missionaries really love God? If so, would they not show faith in his promises and point their flocks toward his Kingdom? Shepherds who really love their flocks would surely show them how obedience to God's law can help even now, rather than getting them involved in political schemes that can only end in frustration.
The truth is, the Bible's message is so wonderful that no loving person could possibly keep it to himself. That is why love moves real Christians to share what they know with others. In Christendom the work of talking to others about the Bible is usually left to a small, paid, professional class-the clergy. This has had bad results. As a Lutheran pastor admitted in the magazine Christianity Today: "The Church is weak today because spiritual leaders have failed to train a body of believers to do the same kind of work they do. Or because believers have failed to recognize and accept such a ministry."
Real Christians do "recognize and accept such a ministry." They take seriously these words of the apostle Paul: "Let us hold fast the public declaration of our hope without wavering, for he is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23) Their motive? The same as that which impelled a group of Christians in the first century who were warmly commended by the apostle Paul: "The latter are publicizing the Christ out of love."-Philippians 1:16.
Bibliography:
Watchtower 1986 6/1.
I am getting very worried about Bleep. Whenever he tries to speak, numbered paragraphs come spilling out.
Can you imagine how interesting his conversations must be :
"Hello mummy, were you aware that the Wild Beast upon which sits a group of vile religions personified "4" by a lady who looks like very much like Aunty Jill after she drank all your sherry last week "5" is going to gobble up George The Bush and The Blair Hatter for breakfast and that Uncle Teddy says it is going to happen "6" very, very soon. Did you know that Hillary Step said that If I had an original thought, it would die of loneliness "7", I like him mummy - he really seems to understands me and told me recently that if I play my cards right '8' I might be allowed to play on the highway with my hands over my eyes. Oh well mummy, I must head off for for a spot of "9" door lashing, I would not want to be found slacking when Jesus arrives to squash flat, burn and toast all our scummy neighbors. Incidentally "10" mummy, why do you keep putting a dead rat in my cornflakes?"
HS
Edited by - hillary_step on 24 July 2002 18:54:9
ok SYN. That is a good question since alot of animals today are territorial. Maybe it was becouse Jehovah didn't put the fear in the Animals. After the animals are mistreated they do not fear man. Or maybe becouse of this:
The catastrophic destruction of men and animals by an overwhelming flood in the days of Noah, 2370 B.C.E. This greatest cataclysm in all human history was sent by Jehovah because wicked men had filled the earth with violence. The survival of righteous Noah and his family, eight souls in all, together with selected animals, was by means of a huge ark, or chest.-Ge 6:9-9:19; 1Pe 3:20;"
See how it says, "together with selected animals". Maybe he forgot the sabertooth animals and the (half-human half-monkey) beasts haha.
