March
2008
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to
give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness
and reverence - 1 Peter 3:15
New World Translation
The Jehovah’s Witness’ translation of the Bible first appeared at a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Yankee Stadium, New York, on August 2, 1950. Initially it was a work in progress containing the New Testament only. In 1961 they published a single volume of both the Old and New Testament. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe this is the most reliable translation in the world.
Their FOREWORD to the SECOND REVISION 1970 states:
“The translators who have a fear and love of the divine Author of the Holy Scriptures feel especially a responsibility toward Him to transmit his thoughts and declarations as accurately as possible.”
The FOREWORD is signed, New World Bible Translation Committee.
Interestingly, not a single name is given. If you’d like a list of translators for the purpose of checking their qualifications and credentials, you‘ll find that the Society is unwilling to release this information. They claim that the Committee desires that all the glory for this translation go to Jehovah God therefore the translators wish to remain anonymous.
Upper half of title page to the New World Translation
At first it may sound quite noble and humble. However, since this work is a translation of original languages that people will trust for their “everlasting salvation”, you would most certainly want to know if these men are true scholars. Refusing to give names, shields the translators from any blame for errors or distortions in their translations.
Actually, careful investigation has revealed the names of the translators of the New World Translation. There were six members on the committee. Five of the six had no formal training in the original Biblical languages. Fred Franz, former Governing Body member and Watchtower president from 1977-1992, claimed to have some education.
In the 1954 Douglas Walsh Trial in Scotland, he gave this testimony under oath:
Q. Have you also made yourself familiar with Hebrew?
A. Yes....
Q. So that you have a substantial linguistic apparatus at your command?
A. Yes, for use in my biblical work.
Frederick William Franz, Cross Continued:
Q. I think that it was your duty, was it not, before the issue of that New World Translation by your Society to check that translation for accuracy?
A. That is true.
Q. In light of your studies and in light of your knowledge?
A. That is true.
Q. And did you do so?
A. I did so....
Frederick William Franz, Cross Continued:
Q. When did you go to the University?....
Q. Did you graduate?
A. No, I did not....
Q. Had you done any Hebrew in the course of your University work?
A. No, ...
Frederick William Franz, Cross Continued:
Q. You, yourself, read and speak Hebrew, do you?
A. I do not speak Hebrew.
Q. You do not?
A. No.
Q. Can you, yourself, translate that into Hebrew?
A. Which?
Q. That fourth verse of the Second Chapter of Genesis?
A. You mean here?
Q. Yes?
A. No, I won’t attempt to do that.
— Douglas Walsh Trial, Pursuer’s Proof, 1954, pp. 7-9, 88, 91-92, 102-103
How can you claim to translate the Bible, which millions will trust for salvation, if you are unable to translate a random passage that any 2nd year Hebrew student would do with ease.
Unbelievably, the translation committee had no problem altering hundreds of passages of scriptures to support their particular beliefs. The Deity of Christ is especially undermined in the NWT along with the addition of the word Jehovah some 237 times even though it is not found in any Greek manuscript!
Here are just a couple of comments from biblical scholars concerning the New World Translation:
Dr. William Barclay, a leading Greek scholar, said “it is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest.”
Robert H. Countess, a reputable Greek scholar says, “The NWT is, in some ways like milk, but milk with an admixture of ARSENIC.”
Pray that God will open the minds and hearts of Jehovah’s Witnesses who trust the deception of the Watch Tower Society.
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