Critics of Jehovah`s Witnesses/Bible

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Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 8/20/2006


Question
Hi, I was wondering is the new world translation bible, the same bible as the King James versoin, or the new standered edtion, with the one exception of jehova being in it. So what I mean is if I read a King James chapter, and read a new world translation would it be almost excate except for jehavo being in it?
thanks
Ali

Answer
Hello Ali

Thank you for your question.

There are several Bibles known as the King James Bible.  The first one was produced in 1611.  Depending on just who you read, some say there were several editions and others argue that there were several revisions.

The Authorised Version of 1769 was not in fact authorised by the Church but gained acceptance and is often called the King James as this was a revision of the King James.  In 1982 there was produced another Bible carrying the name "King James" and is called the "New King James Version". In 1994 there appeared another one called "21st  Century King James Version". Most 1611 King James Version only (KJO) people will say that any other Bibles that carry in their title "King James Versions" are not King James versions at all.

So, when you ask about reading the King James Version along with the NWT it really depends on what King James Version you are talking about.  The more modern KV versions have more in common with the NWT than the 1611 version

The original King James Bible was translated into English from a group of ancient texts called the Majority Texts. Some call this the Textus Receptus.

Some of the other King James Bibles as well as most modern Bibles are said to be rendered for manuscripts that are older than the Majority texts (Textus Receptus)  

(please note that there is a great deal of controversy in the theological world about which group of ancient texts are superior. The KJO people will argue that the source texts that was used for the KJV is the superior, where as other Bible translators will argue that the older texts are more reliable.)   

The NWT used a great variety of ancient texts. The translators consulted the Majority texts as well as the older texts.

In comparing the King James side by side beside the Chapter and verse references are the same.  Besides the inclusion in the name Jehovah the language of the NWT is written in a more up-to-date language.  There are also some difference in that the NWT omits some verses that were not found in the older manuscripts that the KJV has included.  In the NWT you will find a verse number followed by a dash…. (eg 16- 17)…. the dash indicates that the wording of verse 16 is missing from the NWT.  (this also happens in other Bibles that follow the older manuscripts
So yes you will be able to follow through verse and chapter, and yes you will find some difference is the word, phrasings and occasionally missing verses.

I hope this has helped and if you need more information please feel free to ask.


For some further information on the souce texts used by different Bible translators see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Bible#Difference_in_the_contents

Brenton

Critics of Jehovah`s Witnesses

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Brenton Hepburn

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PLEASE NOTE. I am one of Jehovahs Witnesses. Most here are not JWs and do not always give the full story but tend to be very biassed against JWs and their answers show that. I can answer all questions dealing with the beleifs of Jehovah`s Witnesses and their New World Translation Bible. I an on this particular site to give a balancing argument to the critics. As a JW, I find it frustarting when wrong and misleading information is presented by apposers of JWs. So if you have asked a question of one of the critics and want a balancing answer then ask me the same question. That way you can make up your mind based on a balanced understnading.

Experience

I have been a publisher since 1964. When I first went on the internet I found a lot of negative information dealing with Jehovh's Witnesses covering prophecy, mind controll and what many said was a very bad translation of the Bible known as the NWT. It shook my faith. After may hours researeching these topics I could see why some felt that way, but, I was also able to explain why there were these missleading views. I can now set matters straight for anyone that has negative information about Jehovha's Witness to show them that such information is at best missleading and at worst dangerous lies.

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