Bible – The New World Translation

Q2. Does the NWT give accurate translations of Bible verses which normally indicate the DEITY OF CHRIST?

Answer: Read the quotations below directly from the NWT and compare with other translations.

 Zech 12:10 ““I [Jehovah] will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and supplication, and they will look to the one [all other bible translations render the Hebrew as “Me”] whom they pierced, and they will wail over him as they would wail over an only son; and they will grieve bitterly over him as they would grieve over a firstborn son.

John 1:1-In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god [All other translations render the Gr. ‘God was the Word’ as the Word “was God” or similar: Wuest, “as to His essence absolute deity”; NEB, “what God was the Word was”] See SCRIPTURE EXPLAINER

John 8:58 Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” [All other translations render the Gr. ἐγώ εἰμί as “I am”– cf. Ex 3:14, LXX. Additional info here 

John 10:33 The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.” [The NWT is the only translation that adds an indefinite article before the word “god” (θεόν) with a lower case ‘g’]

Rom 10:9-13 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Three times in these verses Jesus is called “Lord” but in just the final use in Rom 10:13, when Joel 2:32 is quoted, the NWT inserts “Jehovah” which diverts attention away from Jesus. The reality is that these verses show that Jesus is the Lord Jehovah. See also Rom 14:7-9]

Acts 20:28 Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son [Gr. “of his own” – except CEV, GNB, NET (but see footnote)].

Col 1:16  Because by means of him all other [“other” added to text] things were created in the heavens and on the earth …. All other [“other” added to text] things have been created through him and for him. See Also

Col 2:8-9 Christ; because it is in him that all the fullness of the divine quality [Greek “theotetos” means deity or divinity (which KIT inserts in its interlinear rendering) not “divine quality.”]

Heb 1:6 But when he again brings his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.” [Almost all translations render the Gr. proskyneō as “worship”; Youngs as “bow before”.] See Also 

Hebrews 1:8 God is your throne forever and ever [The phrase “Your throne, O God” is replaced with the phrase “God is your throne” to distort the fact that the writer of Hebrews is calling Jesus God by quoting Psalm 45:6 and applying it directly to the Son of God. ]See Also  

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Christ as Lord [κύριον] in your hearts. [Based on the reference to Isaiah 8:13 it should be “But sanctify the Christ as Jehovah in your hearts” – see footnote in NWT 1984 reference edition]

(Also, Matt 2:2,8,11,14:33, John 9:38; Phil 2:6; 1 Pet 2:3-4)

Q2. Does the NWT give accurate translations of Bible verses which explain the requirements for SALVATION?

Answer: Certain scriptures are translated to imply that salvation can only be achieved by our continuous performance, exercising faith:

John 3:16 Everyone exercising faith [yet the NWT translates the same Greek word πιστεύων as believing in the previous verse, vs 15] in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. See SCRIPTURE EXPLAINER

Acts 4:12 There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved [implying human attainment but the Greek is δεῖ rendered ‘be saved’ in the majority of translations]

Acts 13:48 All those who were rightly disposed [Gr. appointed] for everlasting life became believers. See SCRIPTURE EXPLAINER

Rom 10:10 For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness … [All other translations correctly render this as “believe”]

Heb 3:14 For we actually become partakers of the Christ if we hold firmly down to the end …  [KIT accurately reads “we have become” (γεγόναμεν, perfect tense) but the main text is changed implying uncertainty. The fact we are enabled to endure gives evidence of having been saved]

Heb 4:3 For we who have exercised faith [ exercise added] do enter into the rest

(Also, Acts 11:14; Rom 10:9-10; Heb 13:15)

Q3. Does the NWT give accurate translations of Bible verses pertaining to the Christian’s personal RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?

Answer: Rather than a Christian possessing a warm relationship with Christ, in Christ, the NWT depicts Jesus as a good example to learn about and strive to imitate

John 1:4 by means of him [Gr. “in him”] was life, and the life was the light of men

John 14:14 If you ask [Gr. “ask me”] anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in union [Gr. “in”] with my Father and you are in union [Gr. “in”] with me and I am in union [Gr. “in”] with you.

John 15:4 Remain in union with me [Gr. “in me”], and I will remain in union with you [Gr. “in you”].

Phil 2:9 For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name [‘other’ is not in the Greek text; this to support the JW teaching that the name “Jehovah” is superior to the name “Jesus.”

Rom 8:1 Therefore, those in union with [Gr. “in”] Christ Jesus have [Gr. “now” has been omitted] no condemnation.

2 Cor 13:5 Or do you not recognize that Jesus Christ is in union with you [Gr. “in you”]?

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son through [Gr. in] me so that I might declare the good news about him to the nations

1 Tim 2:6 Who gave himself a corresponding [Gr. “corresponding” is an interpolation] ransom for all.”

2 Tim 2:8 Remember that [Gr. “that” is added in] Jesus Christ was raised up from the dead [We don’t merely remember something about Jesus, we remember Him]

1 John 5:20 But we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us insight so that we may gain the knowledge of [Gr. “we are knowing”] the one who is true. And we are in union with [Gr. “in”] the one who is true, by means of [Gr. “in”] his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and life everlasting.

(Also, Matt 10:32; Luke 12:8; 2 Cor 2:14; 11:3; 2 Tim 2:10)

Q4. Are there other verses in which the NWT disagrees with the original HEBREW OR GREEK and with the standard independent translations of the Bible?

Answer: There are numerous examples of mistranslation, a few a listed below. In each case can you understand the reason for these corruptions?

Gen 1:2 God’s active force [Heb. ruwach, “Spirit of God”] was moving about over the surface of the waters.

Dan 12:4 Many will rove about, and the true [Heb. “true” is not in the Hebrew text] knowledge will become abundant.

Mic 6:8 What is Jehovah requiring of you? Only to exercise justice, to cherish loyalty [Heb. hesed, “love kindness”; this mistranslation stresses an attitude of loyalty, perhaps to a cause or body of men], and to walk in modesty with your God!

Luke 1:74-75 Grant us, after we have been rescued from the hands of enemies, the privilege [Gr. “privilege” not in the Greek text] of fearlessly rendering sacred service to him with loyalty [Gr. “holiness”] and righteousness before him all our days.

John 4:23 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with [Gr. “in”] spirit and truth.

John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Exercise faith [‘exercise’ added] in God; exercise faith [other translations say “believe”] also in me.

Acts 2:17 I will pour out some of [Gr. “some of” added to text] my spirit on every sort of flesh

Rom 8:23 We are earnestly waiting for adoption as sons, the release from [ἀπολύτρωσις, “redemption of”] our bodies by ransom.

Rom 13:1 Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative [ Gr. “relative” is an interpolation] positions by God

2 Cor 5:20-21 Therefore, we are ambassadors substituting [word “substituting” not in the Greek text] for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us. As substitutes [word “substitutes” not in the Greek text] for Christ, we beg: “Become reconciled to God.”

Gal 6:1 You who have spiritual qualifications [Gr. these words are not found in the Greek text] try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness

Eph 4:8 For it says: “When he ascended on high he carried away captives; he gave gifts in men.” [Gr, “gifts to [τοῖς] men”]

Heb 12:23 God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones [Gr. “spirits of righteous men”] who have been made perfect

Heb 12:28 Therefore, seeing that we are to receive [Gr. “we are receiving”] a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us continue to receive undeserved kindness [Gr. “grace”]

1 Pet 1:11 They kept on investigating what particular time or what season the spirit [Gr. “spirit of Christ”] within them was indicating concerning Christ

(Also Num 23:21; Matt 5:18; 27:52-53; Rom 8:29; 12:5; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 4:13; 5:17; 11:8;13:5; Gal 2:20; Eph 4:24; 6:1; 1 John 4:13-16; Jude 19)

Summary

• The NWT has been sorely mistranslated in accord with the preconceived convictions of the New World Translation Committee

Endnotes

1. Awake 2014 Jan pp 2-6