What translation of the Bible to JW use?

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JW’s use the New World Translation which they, and only they use. Why? Much of it has been changed to support their peculiar beliefs. For example, in John 1:1ff in their bible it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was **a **God.” This supports their non-belief in the Trinity. Tim Staples tape series on JW’s goes over a lot of the changes and why they are linguistically incorrect - not in the Greek at all. However, they forgot to change everything, so even their own bible contradicts itself (just look at who the Alpha and Omega is).MBS1
 
They claim the nwt is the only properly translated Bible.
However, they refuse to disclose WHO translated it and not a one of their Brooklyn “translaters” knew Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic. One, Frederick Franz, had 2 years of college, the others none.
It was written solely to support their “theology”.
If they show up at your door, and you want to talk with them, be sure to use a bible of your own.
 
The NWT is, linguistically speaking, a mess. When JWs are asked about this, the length and convolution of the explanations will astound you.

I usually don’t get straight answers about this when I ask JWs, so I see no point in debating them. If their Bible is mistranslated, why argue about anything else?

Here is a Protestant site which examines the NWT:
evangelicaloutreach.org/nwt.htm
 
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MBS1:
JW’s use the New World Translation which they, and only they use. Why? Much of it has been changed to support their peculiar beliefs. For example, in John 1:1ff in their bible it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was **a **God.” This supports their non-belief in the Trinity. Tim Staples tape series on JW’s goes over a lot of the changes and why they are linguistically incorrect - not in the Greek at all. However, they forgot to change everything, so even their own bible contradicts itself (just look at who the Alpha and Omega is).MBS1
It says: and the Word was a god (lowercase).
 
OK, ByzCath, per your private message I will put up a response here on which Bible’s are OK with the Wittnesses. I haven’t had time to read these posts but hope this fits here. Hi, I am Tom and studying with the Wittnesses (once upon a time a Catholic) on a pretty intense level and ByzCath asked for my (name removed by moderator)ut here, I am happy to do it. Thanks bro, it’s great when our devils speak freindly together in private emails. 🙂

The Wittnesses read from the New World Translation, a Bible they reinserted Jehovah’s name that was for some reason removed from the Hebrew Scriptures in most modern day Christian Bibles. However, a misnomer of the Wittness is that is the only Bible they study from. Many Wittnesses are proud to quote from the 1990 New Jerusalem Bible which included Yahweh’s Name and this cools Bible has a real special flow to it and is a common ground for the two religions to peacefully communicate as they both agree to most of the contents.

The Wittnesses do not like reading from Bibles that conceals Yahweh’s name with the replacement of Yahweh Jehovah God’s personal name becoming a non personal title as Lord or just God. The meaning is lost and it confuses the two who are distinct. For example the King James Version in Psalms 110 says the Lord said to the lord (Jehovah God to Jesus) and the meaning is lost. A Lord can’t say to a lord, they are distinct uno. However, last sunday, the visiting speaker put a talk on Love and quoted some neat words from the King James Bible.

Most people are not aware that Wittness are pleased to do studies with ones own Bible. I brought my 1970 New American Bible to the Hall the first year to make sure that at the time the Scriptues were accurate. They were and the changes made to the NWT Bible made sense to me later and I am comfortable with the Bible now. This is one I write all over. Some reason I don’t want to write on the 1970 New American Bible thats real big and in good shape, I haven’t figured this one out yet.

The 1901 American Standard Version is way cool. I have an old 1901 copy I bought on Ebay and I treasure it because Jehovah’s name gives a whole new meaning to Psalms. You need to read through it to see what I mean. I understand this was a Protestant Bible, but ya gotta check it out.

The Wittnesses are real catious when you hand them stuff that is not from the Watchtower I do admit as I am not hear to just defend them. They are cautious from Satan influences and the material put out is somewhat amazing. I have had fun with them on this and they cringe when I showed them some of my posts, didn’t make them happy at all. They are very reasonable people and just say Tom will do what Tom wants to do which is correct. However, when I started talking at their meetings they were so warm to me. If I was a young single person (I’m not as I married a tall blonde who is pretty special except she gets mad at me when I am on this Forum) and wanted to meet a young pure attractive female, the Kingdom Hall would be a good place to start looking around if you know what I mean.

They do not charge a penny for their material. I like their Family Happiness Book as it is great to study with the entire family. I like their extensive Book of Daniel. I also like the detail on their Revelations, the grand climax, which does an awsome job covering Daniels inturpetation of of King N’s dreams and the history of the world powers.

Hope this is what you wanted ByzCath. P.S., do you still think I am a criminal and should be banned again from here and that there is this big risk that I might influence someone here 😉 Or, are we friends now 😃 tommy
 
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tommy4321:
OK, ByzCath, per your private message I will put up a response here on which Bible’s are OK with the Wittnesses. I haven’t had time to read these posts but hope this fits here. Hi, I am Tom and studying with the Wittnesses (once upon a time a Catholic) on a pretty intense level and ByzCath asked for my (name removed by moderator)ut here, I am happy to do it. Thanks bro, it’s great when our devils speak freindly together in private emails. 🙂

The Wittnesses read from the New World Translation, a Bible they reinserted Jehovah’s name that was for some reason removed from the Hebrew Scriptures in most modern day Christian Bibles. However, a misnomer of the Wittness is that is the only Bible they study from. Many Wittnesses are proud to quote from the 1990 New Jerusalem Bible which included Yahweh’s Name and this cools Bible has a real special flow to it and is a common ground for the two religions to peacefully communicate as they both agree to most of the contents.

The Wittnesses do not like reading from Bibles that conceals Yahweh’s name with the replacement of Yahweh Jehovah God’s personal name becoming a non personal title as Lord or just God. The meaning is lost and it confuses the two who are distinct. For example the King James Version in Psalms 110 says the Lord said to the lord (Jehovah God to Jesus) and the meaning is lost. A Lord can’t say to a lord, they are distinct uno. However, last sunday, the visiting speaker put a talk on Love and quoted some neat words from the King James Bible.

Most people are not aware that Wittness are pleased to do studies with ones own Bible. I brought my 1970 New American Bible to the Hall the first year to make sure that at the time the Scriptues were accurate. They were and the changes made to the NWT Bible made sense to me later and I am comfortable with the Bible now. This is one I write all over. Some reason I don’t want to write on the 1970 New American Bible thats real big and in good shape, I haven’t figured this one out yet.

The 1901 American Standard Version is way cool. I have an old 1901 copy I bought on Ebay and I treasure it because Jehovah’s name gives a whole new meaning to Psalms. You need to read through it to see what I mean. I understand this was a Protestant Bible, but ya gotta check it out.

The Wittnesses are real catious when you hand them stuff that is not from the Watchtower I do admit as I am not hear to just defend them. They are cautious from Satan influences and the material put out is somewhat amazing. I have had fun with them on this and they cringe when I showed them some of my posts, didn’t make them happy at all. They are very reasonable people and just say Tom will do what Tom wants to do which is correct. However, when I started talking at their meetings they were so warm to me. If I was a young single person (I’m not as I married a tall blonde who is pretty special except she gets mad at me when I am on this Forum) and wanted to meet a young pure attractive female, the Kingdom Hall would be a good place to start looking around if you know what I mean.

They do not charge a penny for their material. I like their Family Happiness Book as it is great to study with the entire family. I like their extensive Book of Daniel. I also like the detail on their Revelations, the grand climax, which does an awsome job covering Daniels inturpetation of of King N’s dreams and the history of the world powers.

Hope this is what you wanted ByzCath. P.S., do you still think I am a criminal and should be banned again from here and that there is this big risk that I might influence someone here 😉 Or, are we friends now 😃 tommy
First, the Bibles we use are Translations of the books from their original language to the ones we know.

Please show me where it says that Yahweh and/or Jehovah are God’s personal names.

What about the mis-translation of John 1:1ff in the NWT, it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.”?

Please explain the denial of the Trinity. This is a drastic departure from Christianity. From the beginning the Trinity has been a basis of all of Christianity. But then the JW’s didn’t exsit until the 19th century.

I know you have made the claim that you were once a Catholic, but from the ignorance you have shown, I find that hard to beleive.
 
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ByzCath:
First, the Bibles we use are Translations of the books from their original language to the ones we know.

Please show me where it says that Yahweh and/or Jehovah are God’s personal names.

What about the mis-translation of John 1:1ff in the NWT, it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.”?

Please explain the denial of the Trinity. This is a drastic departure from Christianity. From the beginning the Trinity has been a basis of all of Christianity. But then the JW’s didn’t exsit until the 19th century.

I know you have made the claim that you were once a Catholic, but from the ignorance you have shown, I find that hard to beleive.
I’d like to hear about John 1:1, too.
 
Tommy,

Hello. I couldn’t tell from your post… are you studying with the intent of becoming a JW because you believe they are the “true religion” or do you just like the attention you get because you are “studying?”
 
  • Would a JW be allowed to give a talk at the Kingdom Hall in which he quoted only from the New Jerusalem Bible, or some other Bible, other than the NWT?
  • If a JW male said that the New Jerusalem Bible was his favorite Bible (above the NWT), would he be allowed to have any responsibilities at the KH?
  • When they are reading from the New Jerusalem Bible or the American Standard Version, how do they feel about the places in the New Testament where those translations don’t have the name “Jehovah”, but the New World Translation does?
  • Why does the NWT put “Jehovah” 237 times in the New Testament when there is no manuscript evidence for it?
 
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ByzCath:
First, the Bibles we use are Translations of the books from their original language to the ones we know.

Please show me where it says that Yahweh and/or Jehovah are God’s personal names.

What about the mis-translation of John 1:1ff in the NWT, it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.”?

I don’t want to demonstrate that I was a Catholic not too long ago, but I was. I sat on a finance Couincil and sometimes would sit through five masses on a weekend to help with fund raising. I attended Catholic School. I do not say everybody should become a Witness, most should remain a Catholic because I will have a hard time explaing to you on the web that one becomes a witness when they feel Jehovah, our God is calling them and it won’t happen to most people. It was pretty special to our family and we receive rich blessings now. I found the Catholic Mass to be boring and I am sorry if this may seem offensive, but the repeating of the same prayers over and over is a bore and I got tired of watching people snooze through it.

Please explain the denial of the Trinity. This is a drastic departure from Christianity. From the beginning the Trinity has been a basis of all of Christianity. But then the JW’s didn’t exsit until the 19th century.

I know you have made the claim that you were once a Catholic, but from the ignorance you have shown, I find that hard to beleive.
I am a loner in the forum and only follow the thread I put up as I don’t want to force anyone to read what I may put up unless they open the thread I put up, "revelation…are we ready. Ask me more over there if you want.

I want to be fair to Catholics who may not want to hear from me, a Witness. However, the trinity says there are three Gods and it is a mystery they are one. There is One true God, the Son of God, Jesus, who is the ruler in Heaven and our King and the Holy Spirit, who is God’s active force.
 
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tommy4321:
I am a loner in the forum and only follow the thread I put up as I don’t want to force anyone to read what I may put up unless they open the thread I put up, "revelation…are we ready. Ask me more over there if you want.

I want to be fair to Catholics who may not want to hear from me, a Witness. However, the trinity says there are three Gods and it is a mystery they are one. There is One true God, the Son of God, Jesus, who is the ruler in Heaven and our King and the Holy Spirit, who is God’s active force.
How does one “grieve” an active force???
 
carol marie:
How does one “grieve” an active force???
This says that the Holy Spirit is God’s “active force” and doesn’t say grieve. Be more specific.
 
At His Feet said:
- Would a JW be allowed to give a talk at the Kingdom Hall in which he quoted only from the New Jerusalem Bible, or some other Bible, other than the NWT?
  • If a JW male said that the New Jerusalem Bible was his favorite Bible (above the NWT), would he be allowed to have any responsibilities at the KH?
  • When they are reading from the New Jerusalem Bible or the American Standard Version, how do they feel about the places in the New Testament where those translations don’t have the name “Jehovah”, but the New World Translation does?
  • Why does the NWT put “Jehovah” 237 times in the New Testament when there is no manuscript evidence for it?
The answer is yes, I have seen quotes read from the New Jerusalem Bible and I brought my 1970 New American Bible for several months. Witnesses also will study from any Bible someone wants to study from. Please note that I am trying to stick just to the Revelation thread as I don’t like posting elsewhere and may not check this one. P.S., you are right it does bother them when they find a spot in the Bible where Jehovah’s name has been taken out and rejected. Why are Catholics so concerned about rejecting his name? I really don’t understand that as Moses gave us his name and it says throughout the Bible to give praise to Jehovah’s name, but yet much time is spent here arguing why it is good to reject His name??? I really don’t get it. :confused:
 
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tommy4321:
This says that the Holy Spirit is God’s “active force” and doesn’t say grieve. Be more specific.
Sorry… I was quoting part of a verse:
Epheisans 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, which whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

So my question… how is it possible to “grieve” an active force?

(Also… which Greek word translates into “active force” I wonder?? I don’t believe there is another Christian denom. that translates the Holy Spirit as the “active force.” )
 
carol marie:
Sorry… I was quoting part of a verse:
Epheisans 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, which whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

So my question… how is it possible to “grieve” an active force?

(Also… which Greek word translates into “active force” I wonder?? I don’t believe there is another Christian denom. that translates the Holy Spirit as the “active force.” )
Carol, thanks for the clarification. I would say that this would be the same way that a sin against the Holy Spirit is one that can never be forgiven such as a sin like murder that is driven by hate.

This would include purposely going against the “spirit” that God used to directs us. The Holy Spirit is what Jesus received from his Father that gave him powers from God. It is what the words says, a spirit, something we can’t see but feel. It is the voice in your head that God gives you direction. So to answer your question, grieve in this verse would be directed to the spirit.

I hopes this makes sense as I do admit the Holy Spirit is something that more will be revealed to us someday and there will be many different opions as to exactly what the Holy Spirit is, something an entire thread could be put up on. Peace, tommy
 
The answer is yes, I have seen quotes read from the New Jerusalem Bible and I brought my 1970 New American Bible for several months. Witnesses also will study from any Bible someone wants to study from.

I’m sorry Tommy -you don’t seem to have answered my questions - so I will state them again; please answer these questions:
  • Would a JW be allowed to give a talk at the Kingdom Hall in which he quoted only from the New Jerusalem Bible, or some other Bible, other than the NWT?
  • If a JW male said that the New Jerusalem Bible was his favorite Bible (above the NWT), would he be allowed to have any responsibilities at the KH?
Why are Catholics so concerned about rejecting his name? I really don’t understand that as Moses gave us his name and it says throughout the Bible to give praise to Jehovah’s name, but yet much time is spent here arguing why it is good to reject His name???

Catholics certainly do not reject the name. If a person walks into a popular bookstore today with the intent of getting a Bible that has God’s name in it, they will walk out of the bookstore with a Catholic Bible. (Why isn’t the NWT sold in bookstores or Amazon?) I heard an old radio talk the other day by Mother Angelica and she was using Yahweh frequently. A priest told me that conservative Jews get upset with Catholics, not Jehovah’s Witnesses, because Catholics use the more accurate version of the name. It’s part of the inaccurate self-view of Jehovah’s Witnesses that they use the name and others don’t. But the emphasis in the New Testament is on the name of Jesus:

Acts 4:12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name [Jesus] under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
**
Collosians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
**
Phillipians 2:9,10
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

you are right it does bother them when they find a spot in the Bible where Jehovah’s name has been taken out and rejected.

Does it equally bother them when they find a place where it has been inserted with no manuscript evidence? 237 places, that is, in the New Testament. That was the gist of my questions, which I will again repeat and hope you answer:
  • When they are reading from the New Jerusalem Bible or the American Standard Version, how do they feel about the places in the New Testament where those translations don’t have the name “Jehovah”, but the New World Translation does?
  • Why does the NWT put “Jehovah” 237 times in the New Testament when there is no manuscript evidence for it?
The NWT insertion of “Jehovah” into the New Testament sometimes obscures the meaning of the verse. An example is Romans 10:13, where an OT “YHWH” verse (Joel 2:32), is quoted and applied to Jesus. A site that discusses OT “YHWH” verses applied to Jesus is here:
sthermans.ca/resources/tower/yahweh.html

There is a site that is offering a Catholic Christian response to the new WT publication “What Does the Bible Really Teach”, here…
catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/bibleteach.html
In the response to chapter 1 it has a good discussion of the “Name” issues -
catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/bibleteach1.html

Another site that deals in-depth with the question of God’s name in the New Testament is here:
tetragrammaton.org/itm00007.htm
 
  • Would a JW be allowed to give a talk at the Kingdom Hall in which he quoted only from the New Jerusalem Bible, or some other Bible, other than the NWT?
  • If a JW male said that the New Jerusalem Bible was his favorite Bible (above the NWT), would he be allowed to have any responsibilities at the KH?
I know you asked this of Tommy, but here is my 2 pence (or if my pence was petroleum based, my $6.78/US Gallon):

Growing up in the JW’s and my dad being an elder since I was about 9 or so, the NWT was used in all of their JW to JW studies, Ministry School, etc. I recall that only time other translations were used was in JW to pending-JW time/education. I recall it being drilled into us that when door-to-dooring and the Jehovah’s name thing came up with a person at the door, ask if they have a KJV and go to Psalms 83:18 where “Jehovah” is used as God’s name. In JW literature the non-NWT bibles where quotes only very seldom and always as a, “See? Other Bibles say what we say too,” sort of thing – which to be fair I think most other groups would do not just the JW’s.

Now, I think your pointed question of a person expressing a favorite translation other than the NWT being moved into any sort of leadership within the local congregation is a very good one. I’d bet a plug nickel the answer to that is not just No, but, “Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeck No!”
 
At His Feet:
I’m sorry Tommy -you don’t seem to have answered my questions - so I will state them again; please answer these questions:
  • Would a JW be allowed to give a talk at the Kingdom Hall in which he quoted only from the New Jerusalem Bible, or some other Bible, other than the NWT?
The answer is yes, I have not ever seen one person corrected and the last speaker who spoke on love didn’t have any Bible and just memorized his talk. It’s not the Book, but the praise to Jehovah that has been lost and the name is in the NWT. Therefore, no one gets in any trouble from quoting from the New Jerusalem Bible in our Congregation, it would have been fine. I can’t speak for other Halls and personalities but at ours we are not into authoritorianism and making one beel bad and I don’t see people getting in trouble as your comments keep coming back to. We go there to praise God and little judgement if any is ever made about the members, it’s all positive. You may have had a different experience.

At His Feet said:
- If a JW male said that the New Jerusalem Bible was his favorite Bible (above the NWT), would he be allowed to have any responsibilities at the KH? There not these spooky people.

The answer is yes, they are not as judgemental as you are making them out to be.
At His Feet:
Catholics certainly do not reject the name. If a person walks into a popular bookstore today with the intent of getting a Bible that has God’s name in it, they will walk out of the bookstore with a Catholic Bible. (Why isn’t the NWT sold in bookstores or Amazon?) I heard an old radio talk the other day by Mother Angelica and she was using Yahweh frequently. A priest told me that conservative Jews get upset with Catholics, not Jehovah’s Witnesses, because Catholics use the more accurate version of the name. It’s part of the inaccurate self-view of Jehovah’s Witnesses that they use the name and others don’t. But the emphasis in the New Testament is on the name of Jesus:
Jesus commanded us to sanctify and praise his Father’s name. Yahweh’s name has not been used or spoken much at all at the Catholic Church I have gone to. If fact, it appears to be concealed in my opinion.
At His Feet:
Does it equally bother them when they find a place where it has been inserted with no manuscript evidence? 237 places, that is, in the New Testament. That was the gist of my questions, which I will again repeat and hope you answer:
Jehovah’s name shouldn’t bother someone if it has been inserted. It’s the name of God. How can we argue about including the name of God and how does that bother you? Satan does not like Jehovah’s name either.

At His Feet said:
- When they are reading from the New Jerusalem Bible or the American Standard Version, how do they feel about the places in the New Testament where those translations don’t have the name “Jehovah”, but the New World Translation does?

Nothing wrong with God’s name, too bad that today it has been rejected so much.
  • Why does the NWT put “Jehovah” 237 times in the New Testament when there is no manuscript evidence for it?
The name of God included in the NWT is a good thing. Praise Jehovah’s name, its a good thing.
 
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tommy4321:
Jehovah’s name shouldn’t bother someone if it has been inserted. It’s the name of God. How can we argue about including the name of God and how does that bother you? Satan does not like Jehovah’s name either.
I think the question goes to honesty. If The Name (YHVH/YHWH) is not represented in the Greek manuscripts, doesn’t insertion of it go to show a dishonest translation or rendition of the texts in question? Why would that be needed or even wanted? I would think that anyone reading Scripture would want as clear and accurate a translation as possible. I think that is the question or point being spoken of.

And please … stuff like “Satan does not like Jehovah’s name either” is just out of line. Passive aggressive statements intended to malign a poster in the forum is just uncalled for.
 
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