Jehovah’s Witnesses: How do you know which parts of the Bible, if any, are God’s word?
I ask my question because in their latest revision to their NWT, the WBTS Governing Body removed the latter half of the 16th chapter of Mark, which I find confusing. Does that mean it was never God’s word, but for some reason God didn’t tell the GB, and he just let people mistakenly think it was his word? Was it at one time God’s word, but God sort of changed his mind and made it no longer his word?
With that in mind, how does a JW intelligently discuss scripture since they don’t even know if that scripture will be in the Bible next month?
If the JW GB was wrong for decades about part of Mark actually not being part of God’s word, how do we know they are not wrong about other parts of the Bible that are in there, but shouldn’t be? In fact, could it be possible that the whole Bible is not God’s word, but God just hasn’t told the GB yet?
2015-11-20T19:47:52Z
JWs, only three answers so far, and none from a JW. It's these type of unanswered questions that make people hesitant about converting to your religion.
Anonymous2015-11-20T22:52:30Z
Favorite Answer
they forget that the bible was chosen by the Holy Spirit and as they do not believe Jesus to be God they can muck around with scripture to suit their own agenda
According to reliable early manuscripts, the Gospel of Mark ends with the words found in vs. 8.
SHORT CONCLUSION Some late manuscripts and versions contain a short conclusion after Mark 16:8, as follows: But all the things that had been commanded they related briefly to those around Peter. Further, after these things, Jesus himself sent out through them from the east to the west the holy and incorruptible proclamation of everlasting salvation.
In commenting on the long and short conclusions of the Gospel of Mark, Bible translator Edgar J. Goodspeed noted: “The Short Conclusion connects much better with Mark 16:8 than does the Long, but neither can be considered an original part of the Gospel of Mark.” The Goodspeed Parallel New Testament
the same question can be validly and should be asked to protestants of any form they rely on sola scriptora but nowhere in scripture does it say what scripture should be scripture and even if it did what would the reasons for believing it to be inspired be "because the book says so" that is an invalid answer and a dumb argument that is circular the Catholic Church was the church Christ founded and formulated the inspired cannon of scripture 300-400 years after the life of Christ while it is true that the NWT is not a reliable version of scripture neither is KJV or NIV or NKJV or any 66 cannon texts since the words in Romans ADDED the word alone to spread the idea of sola fide which is no where to be found in the original Greek or Hebrew
When you eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, you will know all like God, and become gods yourself. Sounds to me like it was probably magic mushrooms, given the talking snake, possibly opium, or some other type of hallucinogen. Anyway, all the people who wrote the bible, and said they were talking for God, would have known this, either because they were tripping on mushrooms, making it all up, or hearing voices in their head. Which one do you prefer? I had some mushrooms once, therefore I know what they knew, I have seen the four headed flying beast in the sky, floating in a ring made of eyes that is God. And it is also me. Being God feels really good!
NWT is aiming to be as best and trustworthy as possible. Hence, if we are aware - like many other translations, if you bothered to check - that scriptures are spurious, that is, added on - then they are left out and a note added to that effect. JWs strive for the truth of Gods word. Why did you not attack those religions who added the spurious verses?
You must be aware that this is only the second NWT, so hardly a case of "next month" is it. You are showing your desperation and lack of honesty.
If you want to keep lies in your Bible, like the dreadful horror of "these three are one", thats your choice - but JWs seek the truth.