Comments on: What My Neighbor Believes: Jehovah’s Witnesses

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:45:07 +0000

I went to mass once and "read" the book but like you said. Same thing. Different building. I don't do religion though. It makes me ask to many questions. I'm all about science. *Trying not to rain on anyone's parade* Jennys last blog post..Useless Piece of Shit Pretty Phone

By: Mike New

Mike New — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:54:07 +0000

Very interesting subject matter here. I found myself thoroughly intrigued by both the post and the comments. Thanks! Mike News last blog post..Giants Win Third Straight! Beat Cardinals 5-1!

By: Dan King

Dan King — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:30:55 +0000

Rubens,
I recognize that some people have expressed opinions related to the relative accuracy of the NW translation, that is not really my point. I am simply basing my opinion off of JW writing that they themselves have given me regarding their Bible. The thing that I am questioning more than anything else is the level of secrecy that seems to surround the creation of this translation in the JW writing that I have been supplied with. The person or group is labeled as being “anonymous”, without explaination as to why. With any other modern tranlation, we can easily know exactly who was a part of translating that version and what credentials they have in doing this type of work. With the NW translation, the appearance implies that any Joe Schmoe that took a “Greek I” class could have been a part of this process. In looking for a solid translation, this simply does nothing to help build confidence in the translation for me.

However, I accept that your points may be absolutely right. I would love to better understand more about the people that have made the comments that you reference, and also accept that they could be very accurate comments.

Personally, for personal study, I like to use my interlinear which helps me study the actual Greek. This is a practice that I would love to see even more “average” Christians do, but I know that it starts requiring more education than most can take. I don’t think that there is any substitute for the “actual” message, and even comparing various modern tranlsations in order to get a better picture.

I also think that there are dangers in putting all of your confidence into one translation as the ONLY accurate translation considering the huge linguistic differences (primary vs. secondary languages, and eastern vs. western mindsets).

By: Rubens Oliveira

Rubens Oliveira — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:08:26 +0000

About JW Translation of The Bible… I dont think as you.
The New World Translation is a formal equivalence translation rather than a paraphrase.The translation does not contain any of the Apocryphal books, as Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that any claim for canonicity on the part of these writings is without solid foundation.

A 2004 book by Dr. Jason BeDuhn , (Ph.D. is an historian of religion and culture, currently Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Northern Arizona University) states,

“While it is difficult to quantify this sort of analysis, it can be said the NW emerges as the most accurate of the translations … judging by the passages we have looked at.”

Commentator Alexander Thomson wrote,

“We heartily recommend the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, published in 1950 by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.”

Thomas Winter considers the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (part of the NWT project) as

“highly useful” toward mastery of biblical Greek.Winter relates that the translation “is thoroughly up-to-date and consistently accurate.”

In addition, Charles Francis Potter has stated about NWT:

“Apart from a few semantic peculiarities like translating the Greek word stauros, as “stake” instead of “cross,” and the oftenstartling use of the colloquial and the vernacular, the anonymous translators have certainly rendered the best manuscript texts, both Greek and Hebrew, with scholarly ability and acumen.”