Why isn't it written "Bible" on the JW bible?

by JH 4 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  JH

  A few years back, a person who didn't like JW's too much asked me why the word Bible wasn't written on the front cover of our bible. I told him that it was written holy scriptures and it meant the same thing.

  On my french JW bible, it is written "Les Saintes Ecritures" which means Holy Scriptures.

  I think he asked me a good question. Would there be a reason why they didn't put "Holy Bible" on their bibles? Maybe they know that this version is slightly doctored to their advantage, so they omit to write bible on it, not to be sued one day.

  Should the word Bible be written on the JW Holy Scriptures book?
• 

  Celia

  The JW leadership has tried very hard over the years to be different than the rest of Christianity, particularly the Catholic Church. That's why they decided that Jesus was not killed on a cross but a stake, decided that birthday celebrations were a no-no, even the birth of Christ.... etc.
• 

  jws

  I doubt it's to avoid a lawsuit. I think it's more a case of thought manipulation through the use of words. JWs often use alternate words for things that people would easily recognize by more common names. Why call it a Kingdom Hall instead of a church? Why call them elders instead of pastors? It's all part of a mental distinction. These alternate phrases form a mental division between them and the rest of the world. Calling it the "New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures" tells you it's not interchangeable with any "Bible" you might happen to find in a bookstore.
• 

  blondie

  JH, good question.

  I found only one reference on the CD:

  5/15/59 WT p

  320

  The New World Translation of the Holy Bible is available in the Christian Greek Scriptures and four volumes of the Hebrew Scriptures (one more volume to be printed).

  But the reference NWT brought out in 1985 is referred to this way:

  Officially:

  1/15/85 WT

  p. 26

  release of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References.

  But the on as:

  3/15/89 WT p. 19

  see New World Translation Reference Bible, page 1580, section 6B.

  Blondie

  PS Just a side thought, the NWT did not come out all in one piece. First the "Christian Greek Scriptures" came out, the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures then segments of the "New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures." I think the final full Bible came out in 1961. So the term "Bible" had not been used in the title all those volumes so they might have just followed suit with the final full volume to say "New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures."
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  integ

  Some "brothers" have special binding on their NWT'S that say "HOLY BIBLE". Most are elders that i've noticed.