Loyalty to the Governing Body? Timeline to Change

by blondie 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  blondie

  https://jwfacts.com/watchtower/governing-body.php

  Here is an example how the WTS has "adjusted" scripture

  The Governing Body has gone as far as to change the text of Micah 6:8 in their 2013 New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) in order to be able to demand loyalty. Early versions of the NWT used the word "kindness", in line with Strong's Concordance.

  NWT 1961 - Micah 6:8 "And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God?"

  In 2013, NWT changed "kindness" to "loyalty", despite few other translations using the concept of loyalty (ERV, MSG) or faithfulness (HCSB, NET).

  NWT 2013 - Micah 6:8 "And what is Jehovah requiring of you? Only to exercise justice, to cherish loyalty, And to walk in modesty with your God!"

  This change in the 2013 edition has opened way for Watchtower leaders to start using Micah 6:8 in application to themselves.

  "Today, as in the past, Jehovah wants all of his servants to be loyal to him and respect those whom he allows to have authority.—Read Micah 6:8." Watchtower Simplified 2016 Feb p.22

  
  
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  WingCommander

  OMG, that is absolutely SINISTER and down-right blasphemous! It's changes like this combined with the control, money grab, the very real passage of time (not even supposed to still be in this Old System of Things in 2025!) that have solidified the fact that I was born and raised in a cult. I feel so bad for my late parents whom were exposed and then finally suckered in the mid-70's into this cult. SMH. What a waste of time and youth.
  
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  TonusOH

  Jehovah wants all of his servants to be loyal to him and respect those whom he allows to have authority.

  It sounds like they want all of the perks of being in charge, but none of the responsibility.
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  Earnest

  This change in translation was discussed previously here.
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  Balaamsass2

  Wow....just wow. Who are the REAL apostates?

  They want millions of JWs to bow down and worship them.
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  Vidqun

  Blondie, interesting observation. As above translations quoted and the aforementioned thread indicate, it is a complicated Hebrew concept, not readily translated by English. This is what a few dictionaries bring out:

  The active nature of ḥeseḏ is underlined by the use of the verb ʿāśâ in Zec. 7:9 and Ps. 109:16. Similarly, the pl. ḥasāḏîm in 2 Ch. 32:32; 35:26; Neh. 13:14 refers to the “good deeds” of Hezekiah, Josiah, and Nehemiah; in Neh. 13:14, this phrase is reinforced by the explanatory clause “that I have done for (ʿāśâ + be) the house of God and its furnishings.” In the broader context of ḥeseḏ we also encounter the verbs gāmal, “render” (Prov. 11:17), ḥāraš, “devise” (Prov. 14:22), rāḏap̱, “pursue” (Prov. 21:21), and the hiphil of yṭb, “make good” (Ruth 3:10); in the opposite sense we find mûš + min, “refuse” (Job 6:14 conj. For ms). The ʾahaḇaṯ ḥeseḏ of Mic. 6:8 also belongs here, on account of the parallel ʿaśôṯ mišpāṭ. On the basis of these observations, we can draw the general conclusion that the concept ḥeseḏ includes an element of action.
  

  Hans-Jürgen Zobel, “חֶסֶד,” in Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, ed. G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, trans. David E. Green (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986), 48–49. Most recently G. Fohrer, Das Buch Hiob. KAT, XVI (1963), 161.

  —1. joint obligation between relatives, friends, host and guest, master and servant; closeness, solidarity, loyalty.
  —2. ח׳ in God’s relationship with the people or an individual, faithfulness, goodness, graciousness (HALOT).

  Conclusion: Mic. 6:8 points to our relationship with God, thus faithfulness, goodness, graciousness, are to be preferred. Joint obligation, thus loyalty would be used for human relationships. TDOT also brings out that the word hhesed requires an action: "love kindness," in parallel with "exercise justice." Therefore I would stick with the meaning of NW84.
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  slimboyfat

  I think they changed “loving kindness” to “loyal love” throughout the Hebrew Bible, it was not peculiar to this verse. Personally I liked “loving kindness” better but maybe that is just because of familiarity. It was in the kingdom songs and everything: “his loving kindness will follow me”, and so on. I guess they’ve probably changed the lyrics to the songs too.

  What I never realised as a JW is that the phrase “loving kindness” is very prominent in Buddhism. I don’t know if the GB is aware of that or if it played any part in dropping the phrase. Probably not. It seems just an attempt to replace a particlar idiosyncratic translation of Fred Franz with something that is more understandable and perhaps closer to the original meaning.
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  NotFormer

  Remember that when you're tempted to think that the WT is pursuing a "kinder,gentler" approach. They've literally edited kindness* out of their bible in favour of loyalty. 🙄

  *In the NKJV, it's "mercy", with "or 'lovingkindness''" as a footnote. I thought I'd better do an "other translations" comparison before commenting.