Posts by Doug Mason

32

Undeclared changes to the 2013 NWT

by Doug Mason in

in the following from the 2013 edition of the nwt, the watchtower society indicates that when it released its initial 1950 edition, it considered the greek text provided by westcott and hort as its master text.

as a result of these additional masters, the wts made some undeclared changes to the 2013 nwt.

it does not list these changes or give any explanations.. greek text: in the late 19th century, scholars b. f. westcott and f.j.a.

Doug Mason

Oubliette,

Everything that the WTS accepts comes from Christendom's scholars, such as the list of books that make up the NT and the contents of the Greek text.

Doug

32

Undeclared changes to the 2013 NWT

by Doug Mason in

in the following from the 2013 edition of the nwt, the watchtower society indicates that when it released its initial 1950 edition, it considered the greek text provided by westcott and hort as its master text.

as a result of these additional masters, the wts made some undeclared changes to the 2013 nwt.

it does not list these changes or give any explanations.. greek text: in the late 19th century, scholars b. f. westcott and f.j.a.

Doug Mason

In the following from the 2013 edition of the NWT, the Watchtower Society indicates that when it released its initial 1950 edition, it considered the Greek text provided by Westcott and Hort as its “master” text. The WTS further states that “since then” it added the Greek texts by Nestle-Aland and by the United Bible Societies to its list of “master texts”. As a result of these additional “masters”, the WTS made some undeclared changes to the 2013 NWT. It does not list these changes or give any explanations.

“Greek Text: In the late 19th century, scholars B. F. Westcott and F.J.A. Hort compared existing Bible manuscripts and fragments as they prepared the Greek master text that they felt most closely reﬂected the original writings. In the mid-20th century, the New World Bible Translation Committee used that master text as the basis for its translation. Other early papyri, thought to date back to the second and third centuries C.E., were also used. Since then, more papyri have become available. In addition, master texts such as those by Nestle and Aland and by the United Bible Societies reﬂect recent scholarly studies. Some of the ﬁndings of this research were incorporated into this present revision.” (NWT 2013, page 1729)

The article in the 2013 continues, explaining that “some verses” were later additions, and were hence omitted. The list of deleted verses in the 2013 NWT article is identical to the list that has appeared ever since the release of the 1950 edition. With each of these deleted verses, the 1969 Kingdom Interlinear Translation [KIT] explicitly states: “This verse is omitted in the Westcott and Hort Greek text”. So the more recent “masters” have had no effect on the deleted verses. In reality, the WTS is casting its lot with Westcott and Hort in opposition to the Textus Receptus, which is the Greek text used for the King James (Authorised) Version.

“Based on those master texts, it is evident that some verses of the Christian Greek Scriptures found in older translations, such as the King James Version, were actually additions made by later copyists and were never part of the inspired Scriptures. However, because the verse division generally accepted in Bible translations was already established in the 16th century, the omission of these verses now creates gaps in the verse numbering in most Bibles. The verses are Matthew 17:21; 18:11; 23:14; Mark 7:16; 9:44, 46; 11:26; 15:28; Luke 17:36; 23:17; John 5:4; Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29; and Romans 16:24. In this revised edition, those omitted verses are indicated by a footnote at the location of the omission.” (NWT 2013, page 1729)

The 2013 article continues, commenting on the shortening of two passages. These are not new, either, as this has been its practice with the NWT ever since the 1950 edition.

“Regarding the long conclusion for Mark 16 (verses 9-20), the short conclusion for Mark 16, and the wording found at John 7:53–8:11, it is evident that none of these verses were included in the original manuscripts. Therefore, those spurious texts have not been included in this revision. (Footnote: Further details on why these verses are viewed as spurious can be found in the footnotes of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References, published in 1984.)” (NWT 2013, pages 1729-1730)

These undeclared changes are said to be “minor”, and if the example with Matthew 7:13 is any guide, it is surprising that the WTS bothered to release a 2013 edition. Unless something of significance has been slipped in unannounced?

“Some other wording has been adjusted to incorporate what scholars generally accept as the most authentic reﬂection of the original writings. For instance, according to some manuscripts, Matthew 7:13 reads: “Go in through the narrow gate because broad is the gate and spacious is the road leading oﬀ into destruction.” In previous editions of the New World Translation, “is the gate” was not included in the text. However, further study of the manuscript evidence led to the conclusion that “is the gate” was in the original text. So it was included in this present edition. There are a number of similar reﬁnements. However, these adjustments are minor, and none of them change the basic message of God’s Word. (NWT 2013, page 1730)

If the works of Nestle-Aland and the United Bible Societies were used to amend the text provided by Westcott and Hort, what are the resulting changes that were made to the text of the NWT?

(Underlining added for emphasis).

Doug

1

Any charts on active jw's by year in relation to world or USA population?

by EndofMysteries in

the wt only uses charts of it's own personal numbers year by year.

it would be interesting to see for example, the numbers year by year in the usa in relation to the population of the usa for each year.

i think in that type of chart, the ratio would show a decrease instead of an increase.

Doug Mason

jwfacts.com provides statistical analyses. They might help:

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php

Doug

23

Can a JW be accused of apostasy for just quoting scriptures?

by Island Man in

for example, let's say an awake jw wanted to share ttatt about the true meaning of john 10:16, so he just posts on his facebook wall a couple passages of scripture with no commentary whatsoever - like this:.

"in answer he said: i was not sent forth to any but to the lost sheep of the house of israel.

- matthew 15:24.

Doug Mason

The problem for the WTS with quoting the Christian Scriptures is that it was provided by Christendom.

Doug

12

I just noticed this little change in the NEW New World Translation

by stillin in

it always made me think when i corinthians 11 was read at the memorial, when jesus said "as often as you keep doing this..." i would think"hmmm, once a year isn't really very often, the other churches are a lot more often than us.".

great to see that they fixed that to "keep doing this.

" wouldn't want any doubts, now, would we?.

Doug Mason

Paul was the earliest writer of the books in the NT. In Galatians he writes that he learned nothing from the Jerusalem Church (James, Peter, and John) but that everything he got came to him directly from Jesus. (Presumably he had "visions".)

Paul is thus the creator of this "Last Supper" Eucharist, with its mystical "blood" and "flesh". The later Gospel writers, who had no personal experience of Jesus either, copied Paul's story, word-for-word in one case. The exception is the John Gospel, who place this "blood" and "flesh" into a totally different context; nothing to do with any "Last Supper in an upper room".

Doug

18

Glaring Mistake In RNWT And Todays WT

by piztjw in

todays' wt had this sentence in one of the paragraphs....we know this because each of their individual names are indelibly written upon the 12 foundation stones of the heavenly new jerusalem.rev.

21:14.. the cross reference lists judas iscariot as one of the twelve.

so with one breath they have said judas was cursed as jesus betrayer, and yet in their rnwt they still cross reference him in the list of the twelve named foundation stones of nj.

Doug Mason

When in 367 CE, Athanasius included Revelation in his Canon of Scriptures, he did so because Emperor Constantine liked the book. But despite this, its rocky road of rejection and acceptance continued for further centuries.

Should it be included today in the NT? In practical usage, it would not matter to 99.9% of Christians if the book was dropped. It is not part of their practical Canon.

Doug

4

The End 2000 Years Ago Part 2

by maccauk11 in

sign 2. the beginning of birth pangs will be; false messiahs, wars famine,earthquakes, terrors and signs from heaven.

ad 40-46 a scorceror in samaria called the great power of god acts8:9-11. ad 46-48 false prophet and magician bar jesus acts 13: 6-10. ad 50 false brothers among them.

ad57 many disguised themselves as apostles of christ.

Doug Mason

When Jesus warned his disciples about "wars" he said nothing about the size, frequency, number of casualties, many nations or few. Neither did he say whether there would be many earthquakes or few, if there would be large earthquakes or small, if there would be many casualties or none.

But he did warn them: he said "beware of deceivers". These would say that Jesus had already returned secretly or that he was in the desert. He told them that these people would say that they were The Anointed (the "Christ").

Doug

6

The Predicated End Was 2000 Years Ago Part 1

by maccauk11 in

1st in a series describing how all things were fulfilled in the 1st century.

messiah told his 1st century faithful ones what was to occur in their generation, christians today mistakingly replace the "you" inthe new testamant with "us".

meaning they mistakenly presume and have been pre conditioned to think it is some future event.

Doug Mason

Endofmysteries,

While you research eschatology, one book I recommend is:

"A History of the End of the World: How the Most Controversial Book in the Bible Changed the Course of Western Civilisation", by Jonathan Kirsch.

I suggest that in your research, you include the impact of Emperor Constantine: his acceptance of one form of Christianity as his religion affected Western civilisation even more than has the book of Revelation. Naturally, Emperor Athanasius' action in 381 CE is almost as important. If these guys had not acted in the way they did, you would not have this Christian eschatology to research.

Doug

12

Bible Reading Rev 7--umm hello?

by DS211 in

i got bored at the meeting and read the bible reading and could not believe some of the false prophetic garbage being commented....anyways heres what i fiund interesting ;-).

7 after this i saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.

2 and i saw another angel ascending from the sunrise, having a seal of the living god; and he called with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying: do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our god in their foreheads.

Doug Mason

Read the history of the early Church's attitude towards the Revelation of John. Who accepted it? Who rejected it? It took several centuries before it was (almost) universally accepted. And I mean centuries after Athanasius produced his list in 367 (which was almost 300 years after Revelation was written). And there is no indication that his Egyptian church accepted Athanasius' list.

Several Apocalypses ("Revelations") were in circulation; some Churches accepted one of the others. We know of the: Apocalypse of Peter; Coptic Apocalypse of Paul; Apocalypse of Paul; First Apocalypse of James; Second Apocalypse of James; Apocryphon of John; Sophia of Jesus; Letter of Peter to Philip; Apocalypse of Mary.

In this context, I will mention another book that includes visions, was considered by some churches as Scripture and is included in the Codex Siniaticus: and that book is "The Shepherd of Hermas".

Therefore, before relying on anything that Revelation might say, or be interpreted to say, first recognise that it was written to, for and about the period it was written in (end of the 1st century) and secondly ask: Who decided it should be included in the Canon of Scripture -- should it be in the Bible? How did it happen? When?

Doug

16

The 1914 war in heaven was first announced in 1925

by Doug Mason in

in its issue of march 1, 1925, the watch tower published the leading article entitled the birth of the nation which was the first announcement that there had been war in heaven after the gentile times ended in 1914 and that the devil and his angels had been cast down to our earth.

but this was further called attention to later in the article the king in action in the issue of september 15, 1925. this ousting of the devil and his angels from heaven had its effect upon the wild beast and its kingdom here on earth.

all this was forcefully presented in the book entitled deliverance, which was released on friday, may 28, 1926, at the international convention in london, england, after the conventioners adopted a resolution entitled a testimony to the rulers of the world.

Doug Mason

The writer of Revelation says: "there was war in heaven".

My understanding of grammar is that as far as the 1st century writer was concerned, this had already happened in the past. He does not write: "I saw that there is going to be a war in heaven". For him, it had already taken place - Satan was already on earth.

Who was the "woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet"? Someone who gave birth to a son who was snatched up to God and his throne. Did he possibly mean that the woman was the nation of Israel? Certainly he was not speaking of a literal person.

Where was the desert she went to for 1260 days, after she obtained eagle's wings?

And Satan has seven heads as well as horns and crowns? If he was around, he certainly would make the TV news bulletins in Australia, I am sure.

Let's be real about this fanciful imagery and never build a belief based on it!

Doug