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Friendly Version - opens in separate window *** This article
first published 21 July 2008 ***
We need to do what the Watchtower Society ask
us to do(The Watchtower, 15 November 1969) and check their
English translation with the Greek in the KIT. Below are a few
examples of the type of changes we find. The literal Greek of
the Society's Kingdom Interlinear Translation (KIT) literal is
shown first and underneath the New World Translation (NWT) rendering
with changes in bold type.
1 Corinthians 10:4 was the Christ
meant
the Christ
Revelation 3:14 beginning of the creation of the God
the
beginning of the creation by God
1 John 4:2 the spirit of God
inspired
expression from God
John 17:3 that they may be knowing you the only true God
their
taking in knowledge of you the only true God
John 1:4 in him life was
by
means of him was life
John 13:31 and the God was glorified in him
and
God is glorified in connection with him
Hebrews 9:27 it is reserved for men once to die after but this
(thing) judgement
it
is reserved for men to die once for all time but after this a
judgement
Acts 10:36 Jesus Christ: this One is of all (them) Lord
Jesus
Christ: this One is Lord of all [others]
Hebrews 12:23 and to spirits of righteous (ones)
and
the spiritual lives of righteous ones
Above all, a careful study of the NWT and especially the KIT shows
that the Society is guilty of twisting God's Word as the following
examples show.
John 1:1
The KIT appendix (pp.1158-60) explains that theos is rendered
here as 'a god' because it is 'anarthrous,' that is without the
Greek definite article 'o'. This 'principle
of translation' should be applied consistently, but is
it?
In Mark 12:26-27 the anarthrous theos is rendered twice
as 'God' and once as 'a God.' Indeed only 16 times out of 282
occurrences of the anarthrous theos does the NWT render
it as 'god,' 'a god,' 'gods,' or 'godly.' This means the Society
made up its own rule and then broke it 94 times out of a 100.
Colossians 1:27-28
'Union with' are two words, which are added many times in the
New Testament but are not in the Greek. The Society will not accept
that Jesus can be 'in' us or we can be 'in Christ.' Therefore,
they add to God's Word to prevent Jehovah's Witnesses having a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. However, John 17:26 shows
clearly their inconsistency of translating the Greek phrase 'en
autois'.
And I have made your name known to them and
will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved
me may be in them (en autois) and I in union with them
(en autois) (NWT).
In the same verse, they translate 'in' and 'in union with' but
the Greek is the same. We can have 'God's love' in us but not
Jesus Christ. This inconsistency occurs over ninety times in the
New Testament. The Society is guilty of inconsistency in translation
because of the need to support a specific viewpoint.
Who is the Lord?
In a number of passages, the Watchtower cause confusion by their
translation of the Greek word for Lord, kyrios, in all
its various forms. We have listed a few below.
Acts 7:59-60 - Stephen made appeal and said: "Lord Jesus [Kyrie
Iesou] receive my spirit." Then he cried out with a strong
voice: "Jehovah [Kyrie] do not charge this sin against
them."
The second Kyrie translated as Jehovah seeks to divide
Jesus from Jehovah. Whilst this suits Watchtower doctrine there
is no such distinction in the Greek.
Colossians 3:23,24 - Whatever you are doing,
work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah [Kyrio], and not
to men, for you know that it is from Jehovah [Kyrion] you
will receive the due reward of the inheritance. Slave for the
Master, Christ [Kyrio Christo].
The first two 'lords' are translated Jehovah but the third as
master. It is strange that if we are serving Jehovah we are also
to serve (slave for) the Lord Christ, especially when Jesus said
it is impossible to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). For Christians
there is no problem! Jesus is Lord, just as Yahweh is Lord, they
are both God. Therefore, service to the Lord is service to God
the Father and Jesus because they are one.
Romans 14:8-9 - for both if we live, we live
to Jehovah [Kyrio], or if we die, we die to Jehovah [Kyrio].
Therefore, both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah
[Kyrion]. For to this end Christ died and came to life
again, that he might be Lord [Kyrieuse] over both the dead
and the living.
In verse 8, the NWT translates Jehovah, but if Jehovah is our
Lord whether we live or die, how can Jesus be Lord of the dead
and living?
Jesus and the end times
Underlining again the choice of translation by the Watchtower
are the following verses.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. The Watchtower use these verses
as part of their proof that Jesus is Michael the Archangel but
they are very interesting for other reasons.
"...because the Lord himself will descend
from heaven. . . and those who are dead in union with Christ will
rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together
with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air;
and thus we shall always be with [the] Lord."
These events will take place together, therefore if as the Watchtower
believe Jesus returned in 1914 the dead in union with Christ rose
and the living were caught away at that time. This however is
not in the belief of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society.
They also use 'Lord' again in these verses and we need to understand
that in the KIT the Society quote from a use a number of other
Bible translations, with each one given a 'J' number, to help
them decide which word to use in translation.
These verses are a classic example of the 'pick and mix' translation
of the Watchtower.
In verse 15 the NWT inform us that J7,8,17,18 all have Jehovah
and therefore so can they. We are informed about verses 16 & 17
above that J7,8,14 all have Jehovah but they prefer Lord. Why
are two of these references right for verse 15 but wrong for verses
16 & 17. Jesus would be called by the name of Jehovah!
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