(April 28, 2015 at 9:08 pm)Aractus Wrote:(April 28, 2015 at 2:16 pm)Tonus Wrote: More than 200 times, I believe. What's really interesting is that they also released something called a "Kingdom Interlinear" version that has the original language with a translation on one side, and the NWT version on the other side, which shows a number of areas where the NWT diverges from the original. Almost as if they knew that the members wouldn't bother to notice, or wouldn't dare bring up the discrepancy if they did notice. That, or it's one of the most amazing examples of a lack of self-awareness that I've ever seen.
All translations diverge from the original language. The problem with the NWT isn't that it's a bad translation - honestly on the whole it's a rather literal and accurate translation. But the problem is that it was translated by Jehovah Witness scholars with no regard to the input of other scholarly thought, and therefore you have variant readings as in John 1:1 (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.) The NIV and ESV translations also face criticisms for their biases. In the NIV's case for instance they added Abraham to Hebrews 11:11, a change of far greater significance than the John 1:1 change that the NWT makes. The 2011 NIV then changes it back.
This is what Heb 11:11 says in the KJV: Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
But in the original NIV it read as so: By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Not only does no Greek text ever say that Abraham was too old to have children, but the Pentateuch makes it clear that it's Sarah's barren womb that makes it unable for them to have children. The Pentateuch is actually correct by the way in that a post-menopause woman is unable to conceive and bare a child, whereas a man even at 100 years old will still have viable sperm, and while it may become more difficult for him to conceive it is possible, whereas for Sarah to conceive is only possible by divine intervention!
Thanks for your objectiveness. I am not going to engage with people that seem to have an agenda instead of simply reading my initial post that clearly states my intentions. I will be doing the research on all of these things. Thanks to for acknowledging that the NWT isn't a horrible translation as many assert. I know it is biased but I know from my own research that the most criticism comes from super christian folks that hate JW's.
