Posts by Wonderment

38

I could really use some advice :(

by FifthOfNovember in

okay, here's some background information.. my girlfriend is in a program at a college about 30 minutes away.

she can only come home on the weekends and i usually go over once a week to visit.

there is a guy there that she hangs out with quite a bit, she's mentioned how he is really nice and funny.

Wonderment

I am afraid you already lost her. It seems she wants to have her cake and eat it too. I get the impression she likes both of you, and wants to play on both sides, or she is on her way to dump you eventually. She spends more time with him than with you, and that is not good. She finds the other guy funny, and that's usually a sign that she likes that aspect of him a lot.

To ask you if she can kiss him is tantamount to saying that she wants both of you. She wants to know how really jealous you are, so that she can manage to keep you in her relationship until she decides what to do. My advice would be just as some others here have said. Move on!

If you move on, she may realize then that her love for you is strong enough to keep a one-to-one relationship with you alone. But from experience, I can tell you she is not a keeper. Keep an eye to see how she manages phone calls in your presence, and if she is anxiously expecting a call. If you see any tendency there. Move on fast. You lost her heart!

I know this advice is painful to follow, but in the long run, it may be your best bet. I hope that helps.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

TD: Very good observation of yours. No one will argue that Modern Greek and Koine Greek are two thousand years apart with great differences. However, as you noted, many modern Greek folks do have familiarity with ancient texts. And Greek has changed less than English has through the centuries. An educated Greek can follow quite a bit of Koine Greek even without formal training.

See Paul L. Kaufman's comment on this on page one for those who missed it. Here's another one from Wikipedia: "Ancient Greek texts, especially from Biblical Koine onwards, are thus relatively easy to understand for educated modern speakers."

And as Earnest indicated, it is not unusual for the WT Society (who have access to multiple resources) have someone specializing in both Koine and Modern Greek available to assist them in the translation process. Earnest said: "On the other hand, I do know of a brother in Greece who is equally at home in both ancient and modern Greek and who has been assisting the Watchtower Society in translation for the last 30 years so..."

This is not surprising because to produce the NWT Greek edition required perhaps a bit more than other versions into other languages. The WT took seven (7) years to produce their modern Greek version.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

TD asked: Why is the Greek NWT a nicer binding than the English? Why does it have two ribbon markers when the English only has one? Inquiring minds want to know....

TD, the edition I obtained is the Deluxe one. It was printed in New York. It has only one ribbon. I would like to get the Rbi8-G Reference edition. If anyone has one, please let me know. I am willing to buy it from you. The WT system they have in place for ordering literature sucks more than rotten eggs.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

shepherd:

"Over the centuries, the Greek language has exhibited a remarkable continuity and has evidenced far fewer variations than the English language has since the time of Chaucer (c. 1340-1400). [...] [I]t is probably no overstatement to observe that the student who can read either Xenophon's Anabasis or Plato's Apology will have little difficulty reading the New Testament or even a modern Greek newspaper (except for some different vocabulary)." (An Introductory Grammar of New Testament Greek, by Paul L. Kaufmam, Ph.D)

Interestingly, two scholars who disliked the Jehovah's Witnesses with passion, i.e. Julius Mantey and Walter Martin, both Baptists, had a conversation where Walter Martin, the so called "cult expert" was sort of mocking the NWT translators lack of Greek knowledge (their view of things), when Julius Mantey asked him about one of the translators Greek background (George Gangas).

J. Mantey asked Martin: "He was born in Greece, wasn't he?" Martin then answered: "Yes, he read modern Greek, and I met him when I visited the Watchtower." Of course, Martin went on to say that this Greek speaker did not know what "the subject" of the last clause of John 1:1c was.

That assertion about Gangas not knowing "the subject" is questionable in itself. But my point is that even Mantey who hated the JWs, acknowledge by his question that a NWT translator having a Greek background could make a difference in the translation process.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

Sorry, but I do not go to the Kingdom Hall or any other Church.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

Nobleheart:

εγ? υπ?ρχω = I exist The Kingdom Interlinear has: "ego eimí."

Observe that the NWT did not use "ego eimai" the modern Greek equivalent for "I am," nor did they use the modern Greek equivalent for "I have been" (NW English) (?χο υπ?ρξει) .

Sorry for the font size. Could not adjust it in brief time.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

J. Hofer: what's your background on the greek language?

I have a self-taught working knowledge of it. I believe anyone with some effort and discipline can accomplish a lot.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

The Kingdom Interlinear Greek NT is translated directly from the Wescott and Hort Greek Text. All other editions of NWT into other languages are translated from the English edition.

That said, I have found that there is enough leeway for the NWT translation teams to incorporate variant readings to those of the English edition. Whatever system they use, they are aware of many technical issues of Hebrew and Greek text readings as they go along, and sometimes choose one of those "original" readings instead of the English base whenever it is practical to do so. This subject has been controversial in this board, but what I stated is what I have experienced by doing comparison discoveries.

22

My brand new Greek Bible!

by Wonderment in

i just received my brand new greek bible:.

= the holy scriptures - new world translation.

why bother?

Wonderment

I just received my brand new Greek Bible:

Η Αγ?α Γραφ?—Μετ?φραση Ν?ου Κ?σμου = The Holy Scriptures - New World Translation

Why bother?

First of all, it is one more addition to my collection of bibles. Secondly, there are times when I like to compare the NWT in different languages, especially Greek. I like to compare the Modern Greek translation with the original English one, and to the other Greek WT Bible, Kingdom Interlinear. Also, at times I like to compare the Septuagint with the NWT Greek of the OT. I find it interesting.

There are many who believe this often made charge that the WT people have no capability to deal with Greek. I don't know about you, but I don't buy into that accusation at all.

8

Breath of fresh air: humanity from the Watchtower

by sabastious in

jw
friends

just got paid a visit by one of my family members.

she stops by my house every time they work my territory to see how i am doing and to take a peek at the little guy.

she's a hard core dub and she's been pioneering for many many years.

Wonderment

sabastious:

You are one fortunate guy to have a family member visit you after having knowledge of your stand.

May I make a suggestion, i.e. if you haven't done it yet?

Make sure you show your appreciation somehow... like sending her a card of good will. Or, just send her a note saying Hello!, and that you are thinking about her and her close ones. Or, whatever seems best since you know her well enough, without touching the WT doctrinal divide.

Cheers!