WoW, you and I really think very alike! I had been planning on making a post about this, long ago. Because this issue is very important, much more so than most people understand. I really don`t understand why this isn`t discussed more on this forum. Because, if you pick up a NWT and start reading it, of course JW-doctrine will seem to be the correct interpretation of the Bible. They have rewritten it, to fit their doctrine! And the consequences of this, is just appaling, because it means taking brainwashing and indoctrination one step further! When a young person now grows up as a JW, that person won`t know what the Bible really says, because he/she has been reading the NWT all his/her life! And it is impossible, at least difficult, to question a religion that has it`s own Bible, tailormade to fit it`s already established doctrine!
Ok, here are some more, I haven`t figured them out myself, I found them on another "apostate" site: I have added end edited some to the commentaries.
Genesis 1:1-2
NWT: In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of [the] watery deep; and God's active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.
NIV: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
NASB: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
KJV: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(My opinion: The Trinity-teaching may or may not be correct, I don`t know, but it is still unethical of the WTS to "remove" all doubt)
Zechariah 12:10
NWT: And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and entreaties, and they will certainly look to the One whom they pierced through, and they will certainly wail over Him as in the wailing over an only [son]; and there will be a bitter lamentation over him as when there is bitter lamentation over the firstborn [son].
NIV: And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
NASB: I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
KJV: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
(My opinion: Again, an attack on anything that might indicate that the Trinity-teaching could be correct. Many christians interpret this passage as a Messianic prophecies, because God (Yahweh/Jehovah) is speaking in the first person about Him being the one who will be pierced through. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize this as well. The implications are clear. Since this was God’s prophecy about what would happen to Him, and Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, then Jesus must be God, at least this is a very valid interpretation. In fact, in the NWT Zechariah 12:1 indicates these are the “words of Jehovah.”The NWT translators apparently missed the inclusion in this verse of the Hebrew ayth, which Strong’s indicates it is a contraction of a word that gives the meaning of “self.” )
Mathew 14:33 (among others)
NWT: Then those in the boat did obeisance to him, saying: “You are really God’s Son.”
NIV: Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
NASB: And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"
KJV: Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
(My opinion: Whether or not Jesus was God or not, it is wrong to change anything, for other than clear linguistic reasons! The WTS has changed this verse, because they think it`s wrong for Jesus to be worshipped. In their eyes, he is clearly not God, and no worship should therefore be allowed. So they simply changed it. The Greek word here is proskuneo. While this word can be translated as doing obeisance (which is defined as giving reverence or homage), the giveaway is the Watchtower’s inconsistency in translating this word. In every instance in the New Testament were proskuneo is given to Jesus Christ, it is translated as doing “obeisance.” Where proskuneo is directed to the Father (“Jehovah” in the NWT), they rightly translate it as “worship” (as in John 4:20)
John 1:1
NWT: In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
NIV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
NASB: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.KJV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(My opinion: Here, every legitimate translation of the Bible reads the same – the Word (logos) was God (theos). The NWT stands alone in its contention that the Word was a god. This is to reinforce the JW doctrine that Jesus is not Jehovah. That may be so, I don`t know, but there are no linguistic reasons for changing it. It is done solely to insist on Jesus not being God, because that is what JW-doctrine says)
John 8:58
NWT: Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU , Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”
NIV: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
NASB: Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
KJV: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
(My opinion:I used to think that Jesus was here saying that he was God, as gods name, YHWH means "I am", or "I exist". And many christians see this verse as just this, Jesus claiming that he is God. After having discussed this with some members of this board, I`m not so sure anymore. But either way, there are no liguistic reasons for changing it. It is done simply to remove any doubt about the WTS` view on Jesus` relation to his Father. It`s simply not right to do so)
Acts 20:28
NWT: Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed YOU overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son].
NIV: Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
NASB: Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
KJV: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
(My opinion: Same as above)
Colossians 1:16,17
NWT: because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist,
NIV: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
NASB: For by Him all things were created, {both} in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
KJV: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
(My opinion: Same as above)
Titus 2:13
NWT: while we wait for the happy hope and glorious manifestation of the great God and of [the] Savior of us, Christ Jesus
NIV: while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ
NASB: looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus
KJV: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
(My opinion: Same as above).
