Posts by Rook

37

Do you know of gross mistranslations in the JW Bible (NWT)

by greendawn in

jw
friends

for all you that have studied the subject what are some big distortions of the original scriptures hebrew and greek, that are to be found in the jw bible (nwt)?

i found that at 1 thessalonians 4:15-17 it says that the living christians in the final days will be snatched up as soon as the dead ones get resurrected.

that blows up the jw belief that the said resurrection occured in 1918 because they weren't taken up at the same time.

Answering JW Objections

by Rook in

2. the father is god .

4. the holy spirit is god .

simply put, the doctrine of the trinity states that there is one true god, and within that god there are three co-equal and co-eternal persons: father, son, and holy spirit.

Answering JW Objections

by Rook in

2. the father is god .

4. the holy spirit is god .

simply put, the doctrine of the trinity states that there is one true god, and within that god there are three co-equal and co-eternal persons: father, son, and holy spirit.

Rook

Answering Common Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity

Though the doctrine of the Trinity is quite biblical, many Christians find themselves unable to adequately answer the attacks on this doctrine by other monotheistic religions such as Islam and Judaism, as well as polytheistic and henotheistic religions such as Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (henotheism is the belief in multiple gods, but the worship of only one). Few Christian doctrines are attacked so viciously as the doctrine of the Trinity. This aspect of the nature of God is awe-inspiring and wonderful. As Christians, we should be prepared to explain it to unbelievers and to defend it against attacks. As you will see, most arguments against the Trinity are weak and unable to stand up to biblical scrutiny or an appeal to logic. If you witness to a Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, or a Muslim, some of these arguments are likely to come up, and it’s vitally important that you are able to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15), demolish these arguments (2 Corinthians 10:5), and contend for the faith (Jude 3,4).

I have covered the biblical supports for the triune nature of God in a previous article, “A Comprehensive Biblical Defense of the Trinity.” If you have not read that article, I encourage you to do so before moving on to this one. In it, I provide biblical proof for the following points:

1. There is only one God

2. The Father is God

3. Jesus is God

4. The Holy Spirit is God

5. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct Persons.

Before addressing the most common objections, it’s important to make sure that we are starting with an accurate definition of the Trinity. Many who oppose the Trinity do so with a faulty understanding of the definition. Simply put, the doctrine of the Trinity states that there is one true God, and within that God there are three co-equal and co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Trinity is distinct from the other, but all three comprise one God. Various heresies arise when this definition is distorted, and I covered some of them in the previous article. Now that we start from a common definition, let’s turn ourselves to some common objections.

1. The word “Trinity” isn’t found anywhere in the Bible!

True enough, the word “Trinity” isn’t found in the Bible. A similar argument is used by theological modernists who assert that the term “homosexual” is a modern word that didn’t exist at the time the Bible was written, therefore the Bible can’t condemn homosexuality. I think most people will agree that the Bible STILL condemns homosexuality, even thought this particular English word wasn’t used in the Greek or Hebrew texts. Interestingly, the word “pornography” is similarly absent from Scripture, but we are still able to view the biblical teachings on sexual morality, coupled with Jesus’ teaching that a man who looks at a woman with lust commits adultery with her in his heart to recognize that pornography is sinful. The word “theocracy” is not found in the Bible, but the concept can be found there. The absence of a word does not preclude its teaching in Scripture.

Critics also argue that no single verse of Scripture clearly teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. While many single verses provide excellent evidence for the triune nature of God (see the previous article), it is true that this doctrine is not capsulated in a single verse or passage of Scripture. The Bible is not titled, “Christian Doctrine for Dummies.” It is sometimes necessary to look at the teachings of Scripture as a whole. When we allow ourselves to do that, we can see that the Trinity is quite Scriptural.

2. The Trinity doctrine is confusing, and God is not the author of confusion.

1 Corinthians 14:33 in the NIV states in part, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” In the spurious New World Translation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the verse similarly states, “For God is [a God], not of disorder, but of peace .” Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons will frequently cite this verse when arguing against the Trinity. After all, the concept of a triune God can be confusing. They argue that such a confusing doctrine must come from Satan, since God is not a God of confusion or disorder. Yet such an argument is illogical. That humans cannot fully understand the nature of God simply means that we are finite created beings who do not possess the mind of God. The Bible is clear that such confusions are to be expected:

· “ ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” – Isaiah 55:8-9

· “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” – Romans 11:33

· “Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12

Many aspects of God’s nature are hard, if not impossible, for the human mind to comprehend. For example, infinite concepts give me a headache. If I try to comprehend the concept of an infinite sum, I get a headache. If I try to really comprehend the eternal nature of God (without a beginning or an end), I get a headache. My finite human mind simply cannot comprehend eternity beyond the vague concept. I’m not alone in this either. While Jehovah’s Witnesses will use the confusion argument against the Trinity, they contradict themselves in other areas. In the Watchtower publication Reasoning from the Scriptures, they acknowledge this confusion after citing Psalm 90:2, referencing God’s eternal nature: “Is that reasonable? Our minds cannot fully comprehend it. But that is not a sound reason for rejecting it.” [1]

As is so often the case in arguments by cultists and heretics, they have divorced 1 Corinthians 14:33 from its context to use it in the fashion they desire. It is vital that we read Scripture in context to gain a proper understanding of it. Let’s put this verse back in its appropriate context, including verses 26-33, 39-40:

“What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…. Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”

When placed in context, we can see that this passage is talking about how our worship should be orderly. Paul is trying to put the gifts of tongues and prophecy into their proper usage and eliminate the confusion that can result in a service when these gifts are used improperly. Just as there is no discord within God, so there should be no discord or confusion in our worship of God. Putting Scripture in context allows us to read it the way the authors (and the Ultimate Author) intended us to do so.

3. The Trinity is a pagan concept adopted by Christianity.

This is one of the most common arguments against the doctrine of the Trinity. I’ve heard it expressed often by Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Usually, the person using this argument has no evidence to back up this assertion, but on rare occasions they do. Unfortunately, it is equally rare that a Christian is prepared to “demolish” this argument. It can be done easily by an appeal to facts and logic.

The argument typically is expressed that certain pagan cultures, such as the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians, developed a Trinitarian belief in places far removed from the birthplace of Christianity and predating it by thousands of years. Therefore, it’s logical to conclude that these pagan doctrines were introduced into Christianity hundreds of years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, this isn’t exactly true.

The Babylonians and Assyrians did NOT develop a Trinitarian theological dogma. Rather, they believed in triads of gods who headed up a council of other gods. In other words, whereas the doctrine of the Trinity teaches that ONE GOD is comprised of three co-equal and co-eternal persons, the Babylonians and Assyrians believed that three separate gods formed a leadership over other gods. In this, their beliefs more closely resemble the polytheistic/henotheistic beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. Mormon doctrine holds that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods in leadership over this world. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jehovah God created Jesus – a lesser god, and that the Holy Spirit is simply Jehovah’s active force in this world. These beliefs are closer to the ancient pagan beliefs than is the Trinity doctrine, which is strictly monotheistic. Moreover, the separation of early Christian development from these pagan beliefs with respect to time and geography make it highly unlikely that the pagan beliefs played any role in the Church’s clarification of the Trinity doctrine as found in the Athanasian Creed. This creed reads, in part, “This is what the catholic faith teaches: we worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit have one divinity, equal glory, and coeternal majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and the Holy Spirit is. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is boundless, the Son is boundless, and the Holy Spirit is boundless. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal. Nevertheless, there are not three eternal beings, but one eternal being. So there are not three uncreated beings, nor three boundless beings, but one uncreated being and one boundless being. Likewise, the Father is omnipotent, the Son is omnipotent, the Holy Spirit is omnipotent. Yet there are not three omnipotent beings, but one omnipotent being. Thus the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. However, there are not three gods, but one God.” It should be noted that “catholic” in the early centuries was used to describe universal and orthodox Christianity long before the Roman Catholic Church existed as such. The creed continues in this manner. Athanasius did not fabricate this. Rather, he summarized the teaching of Scripture.

Association based on similarities is faulty logic. Pagans (and indeed practically all ancient cultures on earth) have a legend concerning a global flood. Does this negate the truthfulness of the global flood described in Genesis? Does this mean the Genesis account was “borrowed”? Of course not. The ubiquity of the flood story actually buttresses its truthfulness, even though other cultures don’t have all the details correct. Furthermore, some pagan cultures have a “messiah” legend that has similarities to the gospel. However, there are also differences in these stories. We can take joy in the fact that these legends haven’t the accuracy of the Bible as verified historically and archaeologically. Similarities don’t impart guilt. Therefore, similar pagan doctrines in triads of gods are not the same as the Trinitarian doctrine of Christianity, and it is baseless to assume that the Trinity was “borrowed” from paganism. It’s simply not true.

4. Jesus calls the Father, “the only true God,” therefore Jesus cannot be God.

This is an interesting argument often raised by Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. This argument, as we will see, is self-defeating for them. This argument refers to Jesus’ words to the Father in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Critics argue that the Father cannot be the “only true God” if Jesus and the Holy Spirit can also claim to be God. The thinking is illogical. First, Jesus’ words do not exclude the Son and Holy Spirit from also being the only true God. They DO exclude Jesus and the Holy Spirit from being separate gods. In other words, if the Father is the only true God, then Jesus cannot also be a true God and the Holy Spirit cannot also be a true God (distinguishing them as separate gods rather than simply separate persons). If we understand the true nature of the Trinity, we can acknowledge that the Son and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal persons that comprise the one true God, and John 17:3 does not counter that. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons believe that Jesus is a separate god, and Mormons believe that the Holy Spirit is yet another god. In the New World Translation, John 1:1 states, “In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god ” (emphasis added). Mormonism’s founding prophet taught, “ In the beginning, the head of the gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it.”[2] Now if a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness wants to claim that this verse teaches that the Father alone is the only true God, then Jesus and the Holy Spirit must be false gods. If that is true, the teachings of the LDS prophets and the New World Translation must be wrong.

5. Jesus prayed to God in the garden, so Jesus can’t be God.

This statement has needlessly stumped some Christians, though not for long. It is a misleading generality to say, “Jesus prayed to God.” To be more precise, we should say that Jesus (The Son) prayed to The Father in the garden. While it is true that there is only one God, it is equally true that God exists as three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. During His earthly ministry and being subject to a mortal body, Jesus willingly endured the limitations of man. As such, it should come as no surprise that He communicated with The Father through prayer! This does nothing to diminish the deity of Jesus Christ or to contradict the monotheistic nature of God.

6. The Bible says that God is ONE!

This argument, which attempts to disprove the triune nature of God based on unity, is based largely on two verses:

· Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. – Deuteronomy 6:4

· "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one’.” – Mark 12:29

Deuteronomy 6:4 in the New World Translation says, “Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah .” We’ve gone into detail in other articles about the fact that “Jehovah” is not a word that appears in the Bible, but is rather a modification of Yahweh. One way to read the last phrase with some of the Hebrew intact is “Yahweh (Jehovah) our elohim is one Yahweh (Jehovah). The Hebrew words themselves are “Yahweh elohim echad Yahweh.” The NIV footnote for this verse lists a few possible ways to translate this verse based on its grammatical construct. Echad means “one” or “only”. Because of the construct, this verse could be translated as it is above, or as “ The LORD our God is one LORD,” “The LORD is our God, the LORD is one,” or “The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.” I think the best of these translations can be assessed by observing the context of the passage. In Deuteronomy 5, Moses had just presented the Israelites with the Ten Commandments. One sin that marked these people was their habit of turning to idolatry (golden calf ring a bell?). As we read down in chapter 6, we see that this is still the focus and concern at this point. In verses 14-16 we read, “Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.” This is a very clear exhortation for the Israelites to abandon their worship of multiple “gods.” Therefore, the most reasonable way of interpreting Deuteronomy 6:4 is “The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.” This establishes that only Yahweh is the true God. All other “gods” are false and must be rejected. Deuteronomy 6:4 does not exclude God from being triune in nature. Mark 12:29 is simply a recitation of Deuteronomy 6:4 with the intent of that verse intact – we have one and ONLY one God!

Yahweh is our elohim, Yahweh alone. In my previous article on the Trinity, I established Scripturally that not only is the Father Yahweh, but Jesus is also Yahweh. Similarly, the deity of the Holy Spirit reveals He is also Yahweh. In this article and the previous one, I have addressed some of the most common objections to the doctrine of the Trinity. The teaching of the Word of God is clear. There is one God. God exists in three co-equal and co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of these three are rightfully called God, yet each is distinct from the other. The absence of one convenient summary of this truth in Scripture does not negate its truthfulness, nor does it mean this truth is not found in Scripture. God has revealed this wonderful truth to us through His Word. The question is, are we listening?

12

Contradiction in NWT

by Desino in

under which name must christians be saved?

well according to wts it is jehovah.

this is written in joel 2: 32 (read nwt).

Rook

Super_Becka,

Your on the right track. The JW has no Defense when it comes to providing proof for their Scriptures or Scholars (They have no Scholars). They will take you around in circles to the point where the subject totally changes. The NWT is for cartoons!... but it is a good fairytail.

37

Do you know of gross mistranslations in the JW Bible (NWT)

by greendawn in

jw
friends

for all you that have studied the subject what are some big distortions of the original scriptures hebrew and greek, that are to be found in the jw bible (nwt)?

i found that at 1 thessalonians 4:15-17 it says that the living christians in the final days will be snatched up as soon as the dead ones get resurrected.

that blows up the jw belief that the said resurrection occured in 1918 because they weren't taken up at the same time.

Rook

Here's more Gross translations of The New World Translation

[rainbow]

The following is a list of problems that we have found with the New world Translation. We do not claim this list to be complete, nor do we claim that all of the problems are doctrinally critical, but some are. In many instances the meaning of the Bible has been changed by apparently deliberate mistranslations, additions, or omissions. If anyone knows of any errors, mistranslations, loose paraphases, etc. that we have missed here, please let us know.

The Watchtower Society has said much about their version of the Bible. On page 7 of the 1984 Reference Edition of the New World Translation we find:

"Paraphrases of the Scriptures are not offered."
"Uniformity of rendering has been maintained by assigning one meaning to each major word and by holding to that meaning as far as the context permits."
"A uniform system of modern punctuation is followed throughout."
"Single brackets [ ] enclose words inserted to complete the sense in the English text."

As you read this list, please keep in mind what the Watchtower itself said in the 1984 brochure, The DIVINE NAME That Will Endure Forever on page 5:

"If someone deliberately changes or omits part of the contents of the Bible, he is tampering with the inspired Word."

The list is followed by a short tract we wrote a few years ago about one problem we found with the NWT.

Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures)

Genesis 10:9 - Hebrew word "pawneh" (before) mistranslated as "in opposition to". - see Hebrew text and lexicons.

Exodus 31:17 - Hebrew word "owlam" (forever) mistranslated as "time indefinite". - see Hebrew text and lexicons.

Numbers 1:52; 2:2; 2:3; 2:10; 2:17; 2:18; 2:25; 2:31; 2:34; 10:14; 10:18; 10:22; 10:25 - Hebrew word "degel" (standard, flag) replaced with "[three-tribe] division." - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Deuteronomy 9:23 - Word "exercise" is added. - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

2 Kings 17:14; Psalms 119:66 - Word "exercised" is added. - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Psalms 56:4; 56:10 (twice); Isaiah 45:14; 45:17; Jeremiah 12:3 - Hebrew word for "in" paraphrased as "in union with". - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Psalms 96:4 - Word "other" is added. - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Isaiah 28:16 - Word "exercising" is added. - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Jeremiah 10:10 - Hebrew phrase "Jehovah is the true God" paraphrased as "Jehovah is in truth God". - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Daniel 7:27 - Hebrew "will be" mistranslated as "were". - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Daniel 7:27 - Hebrew "his" mistranslated as "their". - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Zechariah 3:2 - Words "the angel of" added. - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

Zechariah 12:10 - Hebrew word for "on me" mistranslated as "the One". - See Hebrew text and lexicons.

New Testament (Christian Greek Scriptures)

Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 2:19; 21:9; 28:2; Mark 11:9; Luke 1:11; 1:38; 2:9 (twice); 2:23; 4:18; 4:19; 5:17; 13:35; 19:38; John 12:13; Acts 5:19; 7:31; 8:26; 8:39; 12:7; 13:11; Romans 11:34; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10 - Greek word "Kuriou" ("of Lord," or "Lord's") mistranslated as "Jehovah's". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Matthew 1:22; 1:24; 2:15; 3:3; 21:42; Mark 1:3; 12:11; Luke 1:6; 1:9; 1:15; 1:45; 1:66; 1:76; 2:24; 2:26; 2:39; 3:4; John 1:23; 12:38; Acts 2:20; 2:21; 3:19; 4:26; 5:9; 8:22; 8:25; 9:31; 10:33; 11:21; 12:23; 12:24; 13:10; 13:12; 13:49; 15:35; 15:36; 15:40; 18:25; 19:20; Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 10:21; 10:26; 11:32; 16:10; 2 Corinthians 3:17 (twice); 3:18 (twice); 8:21; Ephesians 5:17; 6:4; 6:8; Colossians 1:10; 3:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2:13; 3:1; Hebrews 12:5; James 1:7; 4:10; 5:4; 5:10; 5:11 (twice); 5:14; 1 Peter 1:25; 3:12 - Greek word "Kuriou" ("of Lord," or "Lord's") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Matthew 4:4; James 2:23 - Greek word "Theou" ("of God," or "God's") mistranslated as "Jehovah's". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Matthew 4:7; 4:10; 22:37; Luke 1:16; 1:46; 4:8; 4:12; 10:27; 20:37; Acts 2:25; 8:24; 15:17; Romans 15:11; 1 Corinthians 10:9; 10:22; 2 Corinthians 3:16; Colossians 3:22; Hebrews 8:11; James 3:9; - Greek word "Kurion" ("Lord") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Matthew 5:33; Luke 1:17; 2:22; 2:23; Acts 13:2; 14:3; 14:23; 16:15; Romans 12:11; 14:4; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians 2:21; 5:19; 6:7; Colossians 3:23; 2 Peter 2:11; 3:8; - Greek word "Kurio" ("Lord") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Matthew 10:32 (twice); Luke 12:8 (twice); John 6:56; 10:38; 14:10 (three times); 14:11 (twice); 14:20 (three times); 15:4 (three times); 15:5 (twice); 15:6; 15:7; John 17:21 (three times); 17:23 (twice); 17:26; Romans 8:1; 8:2; 8:10; 12:5; 16:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1:30; 15:18; 16:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 12:2; 13:5; Galations 1:22; 2:4; 2:20; 3:28; 5:10; Ephesians 1:1; 1:3; 1:4; 1:11; 2:6; 2:7; 2:10; 2:13; 2:15; 2:21; 2:22; 3:6; 6:1; Philippians 1:1; 3:9; 4:21; Colossians 1:2; Colossians 1:27; 1:28; 2:6; 3:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:14; 4:16; 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1:12; 2 Timothy 1:1; 2:10; Philemon :23; 1 Peter 5:10; 5:14; 1 John 1:5; 2:5; 2:6; 2:24; 2:27; 2:28; 3:6; 3:24 (three times); 1 John 4:4 (twice); 4:13 (twice); 4:15 (twice); 4:16 (twice); 5:20; Revelation 14:13 - Greek word "en" ("in") paraphrased as "in union with". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Matthew 22:44; 27:10; Mark 5:19; 12:29; 12:30; 12:36; 13:20; Luke 1:25; 1:28; 1:32; 1:58; 1:68; 2:15; 20:42; Acts 2:34; 2:39; 2:47; 3:22; 7:33; 7:49; 12:11; 12:17; 13:47; Romans 4:8; 9:28; 9:29; 12:19; 14:11; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 3:20; 4:4; 4:19; 7:17; 14:21; 16:7; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 6:18; 10:18; Colossians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:18; 2:19 (twice); 4:14; Hebrews 7:21; 8:2; 8:8; 8:9; 8:10; 10:16; 10:30; 12:6; 13:6; James 4:15; 5:15; 2 Peter 2:9; 3:9; Jude :5, 9, 14; Revelation 1:8; 4:11; 18:8; 19:6; 21:22; 22:5; 22:6 - Greek word "Kurios" ("Lord") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Matthew 23:39 - Greek word "Kurios" ("Lord") mistranslated as "Jehovah's". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Mark 5:36; John 3:18; 6:29; 12:36; 14:1 (twice); Romans 10:9; 2 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Peter 1:8 - The English word "exercise" is added with no basis in the Greek text - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 1:12; 3:16; 7:5; 16:9; Romans 10:4; Galations 3:22; 1 Peter 2:6 - The English word "exercising" is added with no basis in the Greek text - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 3:18; Romans 4:3; 2 Corinthians 4:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 4:3 - The English word "exercised" is added with no basis in the Greek text - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 3:18; 3:36; 6:35; 6:40; 11:25; 11:26; 14:12; Romans 10:10 - The English word "exercises" is added with no basis in the Greek text - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 6:45 - Greek word "Theou" ("of God," or "God's") mistranslated as "by Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 8:58 - Greek words "ego eimi" ("I am") mistranslated as "I have been" - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 12:38; Acts 1:24; 4:29; 7:60; Romans 10:16; 11:3; 14:6 (three times); 14:8 (three times); Revelation 11:17; 15:3; Revelation 15:4; 16:7 - Greek word "Kurie" ("to Lord") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 14:14 - Word "me" is omitted - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

John 17:3 - Greek verb "ginoskosin" ("to know, intimately) mistranslated as "taking in knowledge of". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons. (Compare this with the same verb used at Matthew 1:25, which the New World Translation renders sexual "intercourse.")

Acts 2:42 - Greek words "klasei tou artou" ("breaking of the bread") mistranslated as "taking of meals". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

The only reason apparent for this change is to mask the fact that the Apostles and the early church took communion or "The Lord's Evening Meal" more often than once a year. By returning this and other texts to a literal translation of the Greek, we can notice that communion was taken weekly, and sometimes even daily.

Acts 2:46 - Greek words "klontes arton" ("breaking bread") mistranslated as "took meals". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

See explanation under Acts 2:42, above.

Acts 13:44; 13:48; 16:32; 18:21; 2 Peter 3:12 - Greek word "Theou" ("of God," or "God's") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Acts 16:14 - Greek word "Theon" ("God") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Acts 20:7 - Greek words "klasei arton" ("break bread") mistranslated as "have a meal". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

See explanation under Acts 2:42, above.

Acts 20:28 - The English word "Son" is added in brackets without any support in the Greek text. - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

NOTE: This is quoted without the brackets in Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, 1983 and 1989 editions, p. 24

Romans 4:3; Galations 3:6; Colossians 3:16; James 2:23 - Greek word "Theo" ("God") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

1 Corinthians 10:4 - The Greek phrase, "he petra de en ho Kristos" ("and the rock was Christ") is mistranslated as "and that rock-mass meant the Christ". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

2 Corinthians 1:5 - Greek word "tou" ("of the") mistranslated as "for the". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Philippians 2:9 - The English word "other" is added in brackets with no basis in the Greek text in the 1984 edition of the New World Translation. - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

(NOTE: The 1950 through 1981 editions of the New World Translation had this word added without the brackets, making it seem as though the Greek text included this thought.)
(NOTE: This is quoted without brackets in The Watchtower of February 1, 1992, p. 27)

Colossians 1:16 - The English word "other" is added twice in brackets with no basis in the Greek text in the 1961 through 1984 editions of the New World Translation. - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

(NOTE: The 1950 and 1951 editions of the New World Translation had this word added without the brackets, making it seem as though the Greek text included this thought.)
(NOTE: This is quoted without brackets in The Watchtower of February 1, 1992, pp. 20 and 22)

Colossians 1:17 - The English word "other" is added twice in brackets with no basis in the Greek text in the 1961 through 1984 editions of the New World Translation. - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

(NOTE: The 1950 and 1951 editions of the New World Translation had this word added without the brackets, making it seem as though the Greek text included this thought.)

Colossians 1:20 - The English word "other" is added in brackets with no basis in the Greek text in the 1961 through 1984 editions of the New World Translation. - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

(NOTE: The 1950 and 1951 editions of the New World Translation had this word added without the brackets, making it seem as though the Greek text included this thought.)

Colossians 2:9 - Greek word "Theotetos" (Godship) is mistranslated "divine quality" - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

1 Timothy 4:10 - Greek words "panton anthropon" ("of all men") mistranslated as "of all sorts of men". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Titus 2:13 - Greek phrase "Theou kai soteros emon" ("God and Savior of us," or "our God and Savior") mistranslated as "god and of [the] Savior of us". (Note the word "the" added in brackets without any support in the Greek text.) - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Hebrews 2:13; Revelation 4:8 - Greek word "Theos" ("God") mistranslated as "Jehovah". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Hebrews 12:9 - Greek word "pneumaton" ("spirits") paraphrased as "spiritual life". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Hebrews 12:23 - Greek word "pneumasi" ("to spirits") paraphrased as "spiritual lives". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

James 1:12 - Greek word "epeggeilato" (he promised) mistranslated as "Jehovah promised" - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

James 3:9 - Greek word "kai" ("and") mistranslated as "even". - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Revelation 5:10 - Greek word "epi" ("on") mistranslated as "over" - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Revelation 19:10 - Greek phrase "he gar marturia Iesou estin to pneuma tes propheteias" ("for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy") mistranslated as "for the bearing witness to Jesus is what inspires prophesying." - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Revelation 19:10 - Greek word "Iesou" ("of Jesus," or "Jesus'") mistranslated as "to Jesus." - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Revelation 19:10 - Greek word "pneuma" ("spirit") mistranslated as "what inspires." - See Kingdom Interlinear Translation, Greek text and lexicons.

Here is the short essay about one of the problems with the NWT:

Tampering with the Inspired Word

The Watchtower Society has a strong dislike of flags, whether American, State, or another nation's. This phobia has been carried so far that the text of God's inspired Word, the Holy Bible, has been changed to remove the references to the flags of the tribes of Israel.

According to The New Englishman's Hebrew Concordance, the Hebrew word deh'gel appears 14 times in the Bible. These locations are: Numbers 1: 52; 2: 2, 3, 10, 17, 18, 25, 31, 34; 10: 14, 18, 22, 25; and Song of Solomon 2: 4. The thirteen verses in Numbers have to do with the encampment and travel instructions God gave to the people of Israel. Comparing these verses in the King James Version, New American Standard Version, New International Version, and New World Translation, we find that deh'gel is uniformly rendered "standard" in the KJV, NASB, and NIV, and as "[three-tribe] division" in the NWT. All four translations use "banner" in Song of Solomon 2: 4.

Hebrew-English lexicons are uniform in their definition of deh'gel. The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (with lexicons) defines it as: "a flag: - banner, standard." The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon defines it as: "standard, particularly of separate tribes of Israel." Benjamin Davies' Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon calls it: "banner or standard." William Osburn, Jr. in his Hebrew-English Lexicon defines deh'gel as: "standard, banner." Webster defines banner as: "1. a piece of cloth bearing a design, motto, slogan, etc. 2. a flag." Standard is defined as: "1. any figure or object, esp. a flag or banner, used as an emblem or symbol ...".

The Watchtower organization admits that the Hebrew word has the meaning of standard or banner. The 1971 book, Aid to Bible Understanding, page 283 states: "Since the Hebrew expression de'ghel, rendered "three-tribe division," also means "standard" or "banner," it is possible that there were tribal markers as well as family ensigns." Please note that in the Hebrew lexicons referenced above, deh'gel never has the meaning "three-tribe division", so the word "also" is misleading!

The book of Numbers gives specific instructions from God for the nation of Israel. The New World Translation leaves out part of the commands given them. God is very exact in his instructions not to add to or take away from His Word. Removing God's instructions concerning the tribal standards is taking away from the Word.

The 1984 Watchtower brochure, The DIVINE NAME That Will Endure Forever has this statement on page 5:

"If someone deliberately changes or omits part of the contents of the Bible, he is tampering with the inspired Word."

So, how does the Watchtower explain the deletion of the meaning of the word deh'gel from the NWT? The Watchtower, November 15, 1962, page 701 says in part:

"But, someone may protest, how can you say that flags come under that Scriptural prohibition when the Bible itself shows that even the Israelites had ensigns or standards around which their three-tribe divisions gathered while in the wilderness? (Num. 2:2) In this connection the comment made in McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia is of interest. After discussing the Hebrew words used, it says: "Neither of them, however, expresses the idea which 'standard' conveys to our minds, viz. a flag." Furthermore, they were not viewed as sacred, nor were any ceremonies associated with their use. They simply served the practical purpose of signs, showing the people where to gather."

This quotation helps explain why the Watchtower prohibits flag ceremonies, but does not explain why they have altered the meaning of the Bible. God told the tribes to camp and to march under their standards. This was to be done in divisions of three tribes, but not under "[three-tribe] divisions". It was to be done under the flag of the division. The Watchtower has altered the meaning of the Word of God!

Presented by: Jehovah's Christian Witness.

Recent health issues plus the rapidly expanding nature of the ministry have all but made the "One-On-One" e-mail ministry approach unmanageable.

13

Jw vs Christianity...

by Rook in

still wanna be a jw???.

jehovah's witnesses.

doctrinal comparison chartdoctrine/beliefjw supportchristian responseonly the watchtower society can interpret the bible.

Rook

Drew Sagan and his supporters, "generalized Watchtower babble". is what Jw's need to know. The chart has enough examples just like the Bible has enough examples to go by. The chart might not be Black and White...but it is Black, Blue and Red.

25

Newbies

by TallTexan in

jw
friends

is it just me, or does there seem to be a flood of new people on the board lately?

i think it's awesome!.

welcome to all newcomers.

Rook

Aloha from the 808 State.

37

Do you know of gross mistranslations in the JW Bible (NWT)

by greendawn in

jw
friends

for all you that have studied the subject what are some big distortions of the original scriptures hebrew and greek, that are to be found in the jw bible (nwt)?

i found that at 1 thessalonians 4:15-17 it says that the living christians in the final days will be snatched up as soon as the dead ones get resurrected.

that blows up the jw belief that the said resurrection occured in 1918 because they weren't taken up at the same time.

Rook

TD......Just a few Fact's that i wanted to share. Are U a JW?

13

Jw vs Christianity...

by Rook in

still wanna be a jw???.

jehovah's witnesses.

doctrinal comparison chartdoctrine/beliefjw supportchristian responseonly the watchtower society can interpret the bible.

Rook

Still wanna be a JW???

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

Doctrinal Comparison Chart

Doctrine/Belief	JW Support	Christian Response
Only the Watchtower Society can interpret the Bible. Individuals cannot.	"...the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless or how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible...the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind" (Watchtower, October 1, 1997, p. 587).	Ephesians 1:17, 18 states that the Spirit will provide wisdom and illumination to the revelation of God in the Bible. According to the belief espoused by JW's, all people that lived until the JWs were Founded by Charles Russell must have been doomed to failure, not being able interpret the Bible.
*The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures* (the JW Bible version) is the best translation of the Bible, and should be used over any other version.**	"Outstanding among Bibles is the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures...Accuracy, uniformity, clarity, and up-to-date language mark this excellent work. Bible study aids without equal make this an indispensable help to sincere searching students of God's Word" (What Has Religion Done For Mankind, 1951, p. 351.	The JW Bible actually is plagued with errors. Greek scholar Bruce Metzger said that "the Jehovah's Witnesses have incorporated in their translation of the New Testament several quite erroneous renderings of the Greek." ("Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ," Theology Today, April, 1953).
The Trinity does not exist, and is an evil doctrine that teaches the existence of 3 gods.	"Never was there a more deceptive doctrine advanced than that of the trinity" (Reconciliation, 1928 ) "...sincere persons who want to know the true God and serve him find it a bit difficult to love and worship a complicated, freakish-looking, three-headed God" (Let God Be True, 1946) "Satan is the originator of the trinity doctrine" (Ibid.)	Many religions have difficulty with an infinite God, and try to put Him in a box - to define Him in terms they can understand. While the word "trinity" does not appear in the Bible as a description of God, the scriptures definitely indicate one God with a triune nature - existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ was Michael the Archangel before becoming a man.	"...the Son of God was known as Michael before he came to earth" (Reasoning from the Scriptures, p. 218).	There is no basis for this anywhere in the Bible.
After Jesus died, he was resurrected with His original identity as Michael the Archangel.	"Read carefully the following Bible account: 'War broke out in heaven: Michael [who is the resurrected Jesus Christ] and his angels battled with the dragon'" (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, 1982, p. 21).	Michael, on his own, could not rebuke Satan (Jude 1:9), yet in Mark 9:25 Jesus Himself rebukes Satan. Hebrews 2:5 says an angel can't rule the world, but Luke 1:32-33 and Revelation 19:16 show Jesus Christ to be the one who will reign. Therefore, Jesus and Michael can't be one and the same.
Jesus is "a god", and lesser than Jehovah God.	In the JW version of the Bible, John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was a god." [emphasis added] "...that is the Word was a powerful godlike one. Clearly, Jesus is not Almighty God." (Ibid., p. 40).	The JW Bible did not provide an accurate or legitimate translation of this verse.
Salvation must be earned through works	"To get one's name written in that book of life will depend on one's works, whether they are in fulfillment of God's will and approved by his Judge and King." (Watchtower, August 15, 1972).	"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV) (Emphasis added).
There are two classes of Christians: A "little flock" who are born-again children of God, and the "great crowd" or "other sheep", who will live in "Paradise" on earth after the destruction of the unbelievers. Only the "little flock" will go to heaven.	"The Bible shows that only a limited number of persons, a 'little flock,' will go to heaven...The rest of faithful humankind will live on earth as the subjects of these rulers" (Watchtower, February 15, 1984)	There is not a caste system in Christianity. All are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). The "other sheep" Jesus referred to are Gentile believers who will one day join Jewish believers to form one body of Christians.
We will be gods when we join Christ in heaven.	"...we are begotten of a divine nature...Jehovah is thus our father...we are divine beings - hence all such are Gods...Now we appear like men, and all die naturally as men, but in the resurrection we will rise in our true character as Gods" (Watchtower, December 1881, 1919 repr.).	This obviously flies in the face of the JW claim that they are monotheistic. Isaiah 43:10 and 1 Timothy 2:5 are but two of many verses that confirm there is only One God. To claim we will become gods is blasphemy.
There is no eternal hell for the wicked. All "unbelievers" will be annihilated, and simply cease to exist.	"The fiendish concepts associated with a hell of torment slander God and originate with the chief slanderer of God (the Devil)" (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985).	Oops! The "fiendish" concept of hell actually comes from the Bible, not from a slanderer. (Matthew 25:46, Revelations 14:11, 19:20, and 20:10).
JW's are forbidden from saluting the flag or engaging in political activities	"..we view the flag salute as an act of worship" (School and Jehovah's Witnesses, 1983) "...Jehovah's Witnesses take no part whatsoever in political activities" (United in Worship of the Only True God, 1983).	There is nothing in the Bible to keep us from being politically active or saluting our flag. In fact, the Bible commands us to have respect and reverence for the government because it is an authority that God has allowed to be placed over us (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:13-14)
JW's do not celebrate birthday parties, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or other unbiblical celebrations. Even Christmas and Easter are not celebrated as they are pagan holidays.	"...birthday celebrations tend to give excessive importance to an individual...Jehovah's Witnesses do not share in birthday festivities (parties, singing, gift giving, and so forth)...." (School and Jehovah's Witnesses, 1983). "...nowhere in the Bible do we find that parents are to be worshiped, or that there should be a Father's Day and a Mother's Day kept in their honor." (Awake!, May 8, 1956). "Christendom's chief holiday, Easter, therefore finds no support at all in the Bible. It is of pagan origin." (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, 1968).	These celebrations are harmless, and not contrary to Biblical Christianity. To say that Mother's Day or Father's Day is a worship of parents is absurd. It is a show of respect and appreciation. The Christmas and Easter holidays are very Christian holidays that coincide with pagan holidays. They were set on these dates to divert attention from the pagan holidays to the truths of God.
Blood transfusions are strictly prohibited.	Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, and Blood, Medicine and the Law of God, 1961, claim Acts 15:29 as a prohibition against receiving blood transfusions.	Acts 15:28-29 addresses EATING blood - not having blood transfused into your body to replenish your life-sustaining fluids.
Christ returned invisibly in 1914 and began setting up His Kingdom. World War I was a sign He'd arrived.	"...Bible evidence shows that in the year 1914 C.E. God's time arrived for Christ to return and begin ruling...Christ's return invisible...Christ himself gave a visible 'sign' by which we may know that he is invisibly present...'NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION'...Surely you have seen this part of the 'sign' being fulfilled since 1914! In that year World War I began" (You Can Live Forever In Paradise on Earth )	Revelations 1:7 makes it clear that when Jesus returns, we'll know it!! He won't do so invisibly. This is one of many false prophecies the JW organization has had regarding the end of the world/2nd coming of Christ.

37

Do you know of gross mistranslations in the JW Bible (NWT)

by greendawn in

jw
friends

for all you that have studied the subject what are some big distortions of the original scriptures hebrew and greek, that are to be found in the jw bible (nwt)?

i found that at 1 thessalonians 4:15-17 it says that the living christians in the final days will be snatched up as soon as the dead ones get resurrected.

that blows up the jw belief that the said resurrection occured in 1918 because they weren't taken up at the same time.

Rook

Translator	Qualifications
Franz, Frederick	Probably the only person to actually translate. Franz was a liberal arts student at the University of Cincinnati: 21 semester hours of classical Greek, some Latin. Partially completed a two-hour survey course in Biblical Greek in junior year. Self-taught in Spanish, biblical Hebrew and Aramaic
Gangas, George	No training in biblical languages. Gangas was a Turkish national who knew Modern Greek. Translated Watchtower publications into Modern Greek.
Henschel, Milton	No training in biblical languages.
Klein, Karl	No training in biblical languages.
Knorr, Nathan	No training in biblical languages
Schroeder, Albert	No training in biblical languages. Schroeder majored in mechanical engineering for three years before dropping out.

I don’t want to seem derogatory to Mr. Franz, but his primary training was in Classical Greek, not biblical Greek. He dropped out of a survey course on that topic. He was self-taught in biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, which is commendable, but does it qualify him as a Bible translator? I have a very limited knowledge of New Testament Greek attained through private study (no formal training). Any person can take classes on New Testament Greek or do self-study in this area with the help of books and language dictionaries. However, I would not presume to be qualified to serve on a Bible translation committee. Mr. Franz seemed to lack the fluidity he claimed. In a court of law in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1954, Mr. Franz failed a simple test on his Hebrew language skills. On cross-examination, Franz was asked to translate a particular verse from Genesis into Hebrew. He was unable to do so. The person most capable among his peers to translate the Bible failed a simple test. This calls into question the use of the word “translation” in the New World Translation. As we will see, this “translation” is more likely a paraphrase that was heavily edited to introduce Watchtower bias.

Before we continue, let me make one important note. Some legitimate translations (such as the King James Version) make use of brackets or italics to indicate words inserted for proper flow, but which are not found in the original language manuscripts. In legitimate translations, this tool is only used for proper flow in English, or to indicate words that are found in some ancient manuscripts but not in others. However, you will find the NWT goes further. Not only do the NWT brackets show words included for flow, but also words not found in the manuscripts which, when included, result in a material change of meaning in the verse. You’ll see examples of this below. I will sometimes underline the disputed words or phrases, and a discussion will follow.

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.

DISCUSSION: The Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the doctrine of the Trinity. They believe in a non-triune God named Jehovah, they believe Jesus is “a god” subordinate to Jehovah, and they reject the notion that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity. They believe that the Holy Spirit is an extension of Jehovah – an “active force” He sends out. The Hebrew words here are ruwach elohim, which are accurately translated as “Spirit of God.” Ruwach can be translated as “wind” also, but when joined in context with God, it is a reference to the Spirit of God (as Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon states, “Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son”). This is the first example of the NWT forcing its doctrinal bias into the text of Scripture.

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.

DISCUSSION: This passage is one of the most phenomenal Messianic prophecies, because God (Yahweh/Jehovah) is speaking in the first person about Him being the one who will be pierced through. Obviously, 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. In fact, in the NWT Zechariah 12:1 indicates these are the “words of Jehovah.” [1] 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.

DISCUSSION: Throughout the New Testament we find people who worshiped Jesus. Since worship is an action that should be reserved for God, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the deity of Jesus Christ, the NWT had to rectify these verses. 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.

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, but is simply a subordinate god. The last Greek phrase in its entirety is theos en ho logos, where ho is a definite article (the). The Watchtower says that when theos is preceded by the definite article ho, it implies identity or personality. Since the first use of theos in this verse is preceded by ho, it refers to God. The second use of theos is not preceded by ho, making it an indefinite description or quality. This is simply wrong thinking. It’s an important point to make that theos without the definite article ho is used elsewhere in the New Testament in reference to Jehovah God, and is translated appropriately in the NWT (such as in Luke 20:38). They are inconsistent with this argument, positing the “indefinite quality” assertion only in reference to Jesus.

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.

DISCUSSION: There are deep doctrinal implications in the words of Jesus here. “I am” speaks to his eternality. It is also a name of God that He divulged to Moses. Exodus 3:14 says, God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' " The Greek in John 8:58 is ego eimi, where ego means “I” and eimi is a f irst person singular present indicative, to “exist”. The Septuagint provides ego eimi as the Greek words in Exodus 3:14. The Hebrew word is hayah, which is derived from the same root as Yahweh. The NWT seeks to distance Jesus’ claims to eternality or deity. Thus, it stands alone in its gross mistranslation of this verse.

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.

DISCUSSION: Some more grammatical games and bracket inclusions combine to once again pervert Holy Scripture in order to deny the deity of Jesus Christ. Going through my collection of legitimate Bible translations (and some not-so good translations), I find the NWT stands alone in their mistranslation of this verse. The verse speaks of God purchasing the church “with His own blood”. This is obviously a reference to God the Son, Jesus Christ. What a powerful biblical testimony to the deity of Christ, and what an anathema to the neo-Arian doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses! In order to overcome this, a little mistranslation is made to completely change the meaning and deceive their followers. Not a single extant Greek manuscript contains the word “son”.

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.

DISCUSSION: This is one of those passages that speak clearly toward the deity of Jesus Christ and His role as the Creator of all things. It’s also one of those passages where the Watchtower Society is powerless to form an argument from the Greek, so they play the brackets game. In order to deny the deity of Jesus Christ and to buttress their argument that Jesus was simply the first of God’s creations, they insert the word “other”. The NWT reads that Jesus, as the first created being, created all “other” things. Since the Greek word for “other” is not found in the Greek manuscripts, they bracket the word to indicate that they’re inserting a word that does not belong. This additional word does not help the flow or clarity of the text, but is instead designed to attack the explicit biblical teaching of Christ’s deity and role as Creator. Greek scholar and theologian Robert Reymond referred to the addition of “other” as “sheer theological perversity…” [2] As an example of the deceptive practices of the Watchtower Society, the 1950 version of the NWT did not bracket the word “other,” making it appear that it was part of the Greek Text. Only since 1961, when pressured to do so by Bible scholars, did they add the brackets.

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;

DISCUSSION: This verse identifies our great God and our Savior Jesus Christ as being one and the same. While an argument can be made that the KJV separates the two much like the NWT (by placing the Greek pronoun hemon, meaning “our,” in an improper location), the wording of the NWT and the additional bracketed definite article go beyond a disputed positioning of the Greek, and presents an inferior and erroneous translation that once again separates Jesus Christ from His deity.

Legitimate scholars in the Biblical languages and manuscripts don’t think much of the NWT. Dr. Bruce Metzger is a well-known scholar whose works are seminary standards. He used the following adjectives when describing the NWT: “a frightful mistranslation,” “erroneous,” “pernicious,” and “reprehensible.” [3] British Bible scholar H.H. Rowley stated that the NWT is “a shining example of how the Bible should not be translated.” [4] He also referred to the NWT as “an insult to the Word of God.” [5] While this list could go on, let me conclude with the words of Dr. William Barclay who stated, “It is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest.” [6]

It is clear that many are unaware of the dangerous differences found in the New World Translation. We’ve received several emails from people who were confused by a verse shown to them by a Jehovah’s Witness. Often the confusion results from the fact that the verse was like one of those in this article, and when we directed the person to a legitimate translation of that verse, their confusion lifted. When conversing with a Jehovah’s Witness, never let them read a verse from the NWT without verifying the wording in a legitimate translation. As Christians, our faith is supported by the God-breathed Scriptures. We must be on guard against translations that attack our faith through corruption of God’s Word.