Is the WatchTower scripture studies book, The REAL Bible?

The New World Translation (NWT) is defined by the Jehovah's Witnesses’ parent organization (The Watchtower Society) as "a translation of the Holy Scriptures made directly from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek into modern day English by a committee of anointed witnesses of Jehovah." The NWT is the anonymous work of the “New World Bible Translation Committee.” Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the anonymity is in place so that the credit for the work will go to God. Of course this has the added benefit of keeping the translators from any accountability for their errors, and prevents real scholars from checking their academic credentials.

The New World Translation is unique in one thing – it is the first intentional systematic effort at producing a complete version of the Bible that is edited and revised for the specific purpose of agreeing with a group's doctrine. The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Watchtower Society realized that their beliefs contradicted Scripture. So, rather than conforming their beliefs to Scripture, they altered Scripture to agree with their beliefs. The “New World Bible Translation Committee” went through the Bible and changed any Scripture that did not agree with Jehovah’s Witness’ theology. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that as new editions to the New World Translation were published, additional changes were made to the Biblical text. As Biblical Christians continued to point out Scriptures that clearly argue for the deity of Christ (for example), the Watchtower Society would publish a new edition of the New World Translation with those Scriptures changed. Following are some of the more prominent examples of intentional revisions:

The New World Translation renders the Greek term word "staurós" ("cross") as "torture stake" because Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross. The New World Translation does not translate the Greek words “sheol,” "hades,” "gehenna," and "tartarus," as "hell” because Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in hell. The NWT gives the translation "presence" instead of “coming” for the Greek word “parousia” because JW’s believe that Christ has already returned in the early 1900’s). In Colossians 1:16, the NWT inserts the word “other” despite it being completely absent from the original Greek text. It does this to give the view that “all other things” were created by Christ, instead of what the text says, “all things were created by Christ.”

The most well known of all the New World Translation perversions is John 1:1. The original Greek text reads, “the Word was God.” The NWT renders it has “the word was a god.” This is not a matter of correct translation, but of reading one's preconceived theology into the text, rather than allowing the text to speak for itself.

There is no indefinite article in Greek (in English - "a" or "an"). So any use of an indefinite article in the English translation must be added in by the translator. This is grammatically acceptable in English, so long as it does not change the meaning of the text.

There is a perfectly good explanation for why "theos" has no definite article in John 1:1 that does not result in the New World Translation rendering. There are three general rules we need to understand to see why:

1. In Greek, word order does not determine word usage like it does in English. In English, a sentence is structured according to word order: Subject - Verb - Predicate. Thus, "Harry called the dog" is not equivalent to, "The dog called Harry." But in Greek, a word's function is determined by the case ending found attached to the word's root. In this verse, there are two case endings for the root "theo" . . . one is "s" (theos), the other is "n" (theon). The "s" ending normally identifies a noun as being the subject of a sentence, while the "n" ending normally identifies a noun as the direct object.

2. When a noun is functioning as a predicate nominative (in English a noun that follows a "being" verb such as "is") its case ending must match the noun's case that it modifies, so that the reader will know which noun it is describing. Therefore, "theo" must take the "s" ending because it is modifying "logos." Therefore, John 1:1 transliterates to: "kai theos en ho logos." Is "theos" the subject or is "logos"? Both have the "s" ending. The answer is found in the next rule.

3. In cases where two nouns appear, and both take the same case endings, the author will often add the definite article to the word that is the subject in order to avoid confusion. John put the definite article on "logos" (the Word) instead of "theos." So "logos" is the subject, and "theos" is the predicate nominative. In English, this results in John 1:1 being read as: "and the Word was God," (instead of "and God was the word").

The most revealing evidence of the Watchtower's bias is their inconsistent translation technique. Throughout the Gospel of John, the Greek word “theon” occurs without a definite article. The New World Translation renders none of these occurrence as “a god.” Just 3 verses after John 1:1, the New World Translation translates another case of "theos" without the indefinite article as "God." Even more inconsistent, in John 1:18, the NWT translates the same term as both "God" and "god" in the very same sentence.

The Watchtower, therefore, has no hard textual grounds for their translation - only their own theological bias. While New World Translation defenders might succeed in showing that John 1:1 can be translated as they have done, they cannot show that it is the proper translation. Nor can they explain the fact that that the NWT does not translate the exact same Greek phrases elsewhere in the Gospel of John the same way. It is only the pre-conceived heretical rejection of the deity of Christ that forces the Watchtower Society to inconsistently translate the Greek text, thus allowing their error to gain some semblance of legitimacy to those ignorant of the facts.

It is only the Watchtower's pre-conceived heretical beliefs that is behind the dishonest and inconsistent translation that is the New World Translation. The New World Translation is most definitely not a valid version of God’s Word. There are differences between all the major English translations of the Bible. No English translation is perfect. However, while other Bible translators make minor mistakes in the rendering of the Hebrew and Greek text into English; the NWT intentionally changes the rendering of the text to conform to Jehovah’s Witness’ theology. The New World Translation is a perversion, not a version, of the Bible.

There are many Bibles considered to be the works of a God! What they all have in common is there creation by men of various cobbled together writings by men for the purpose of having power & control over the vulnerable populace! Unfortunately even the supposedly intelligent fall prey to this also, hence it's undesirable influence on our world today still!

There are many Bibles considered to be the works of a God!

What they all have in common is there creation by men of various cobbled together writings by men for the purpose of having power & control over the vulnerable populace!

Unfortunately even the supposedly intelligent fall prey to this also, hence it's undesirable influence on our world today still!

Didn't Jesus say "Search the scriptures" ?

Guess what ... when he said that, there WAS NO BIBLE. There were many different texts used, and many that were in common usage were discarded by the Church.

People were told to study "scripture", and by Paul to "hold fast to traditions".

Both of these practices were done away with when an "official church" decided what were "scriptural", and decided that "tradition" (except in the case of the Catholics) was no longer important.

It's these same people who seem to have the audacity to criticize another Christian denomination for not following their idea of Christianity. Seems strange to me.

We are encouraged to read the bible from Genesis through to Revelation. If you read 4 to 5 chapters a day you will read the whole bible in a year. Our elders don't just use our own bible, they quote from many other bibles. I personally use KJV along with NWT. The bible is Jehovah's word and will never be irrelevant. The study aids we have is to help us understand what Jehovah word means.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (King James Version)

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Why not check in to what we believe. See the link below.

You need to step away from whatever it is your smoking. You're whole remark/question is wrought with....what??? Well, I know I almost stepped in some earlier in the yard.

We study from the Bible...how many times do we have to say it. You're Bible, his Bible, her Bible, any Bible. We study the Holy Scriptures. Is that really so hard to get?

Now, I know people like to take something and twist it around until it's not recognizable any longer, and that may be the case here. Regardless, we study from the Bible. An Awake, Watchtower, or study aid book....regardless, the Bible is right there, open. (btw many non-witnesses use study aid literature)

EDIT: Last time I looked I didn't see you in my house or anywhere near me so HOW do you know anything about what I do? I'll go so far as to call you an out and out liar. Did you know I use MORE than ONE Bible? No...because you don't know anything about me. MANY Witnesses STILL use the KJV, did you know that? Most have several translations available in their home. Didn't know that either, did you? No, because you don't know what you're ranting about. We are advised to READ our Bibles daily...ALONE. I don't have a 'Scripture Guide' and no matter how many times you stomp your foot, I STILL won't have one.

If you look up 'subjugated' in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of yourself, doing the biding of your father, the father of the lie.

The WTS claim to be gods organisation on earth and to have always been guided by god, yet whenever anyone mentions their past mistakes, they they whinge and say, oh that was a long time ago. They totally ignore the fact that Jehovah was supposedly guiding them right from the beginnings of their organisation. But they don't seem to care that because their Organisation got things wrong that this then means that Jehovah got things wrong because he was guiding them. They have always claimed this.

Hey, witnesses, wake up, you cant have it both ways. Either you have always been guided by Jehovah or you haven't. Which one is it. And who got things wrong like the quote by the asker of the question.

Dont you just love answers like the one from Suzette. They show what they are really like. A far cry from the smiling luvvie-duvvies who come knocking on our doors.

In the Bible we are told: “Wisdom is the prime thing. Acquire wisdom; and with all that you acquire, acquire understanding.” (Prov. 4:7) Does the research just described fulfill those words? Has it resulted in the wisdom we should pursue as “the prime thing”? Well, is it solving earth’s major problems? Has it led people to healthier, happier, more secure, peaceful and productive lives? Has it helped man to get along better with his neighbor? You know the answer. Today we live in a sick, mixed-up world, in times of unprecedented frustration, in a day when the very existence of man and all creatures on this planet is seriously threatened. And, paradoxically, much of man’s modern research has contributed to this very state of affairs.—Eccl. 8:17; Job 28:4-21; Jas. 3:13-18.

While the majority allow their attention and time to be occupied with the knowledge this world’s systems offer, a steadily increasing number of persons are looking elsewhere. They now feel a definite and urgent need for gaining a clear understanding of the Bible. They want knowledge that is solid and reliable, facts on which to base their convictions and hopes. They seek a guide to help solve the everyday problems of life, to aid in making right decisions in times of crisis. And, above all, they are interested in God’s promise of everlasting life and in knowing his requirements. This information the Bible will give them, but they need to understand what they read.—Ps. 119:105, 160; John 17:3.

The Bible was meant to be understood. God offers to help us understand it. But we need to show a right attitude, a willing spirit. At Psalm 32:8, 9, Jehovah says: “I shall make you have insight and instruct you in the way you should go. I will give advice with my eye upon you. [But] do not make yourselves like a horse or mule without understanding, whose spiritedness is to be curbed even by bridle or halter before they will come near to you.” God will not cajole us into drawing near to him. We must gladly and willingly draw near by studying his Word, finding delight in doing so, and putting what we learn to work in our lives.—Prov. 2:10, 11.

Is that the way you feel in your heart? Then you can and should join with the psalmist in saying: “Instruct me, O Jehovah, in the way of your regulations, that I may observe it down to the last. Make me understand, that I may observe your law and that I may keep it with the whole heart. . . . Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless; preserve me alive in your own way.”—Ps. 119:33-37.

KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

Reading the Bible will bring us knowledge. Knowledge, however, is not enough. “Wisdom is the prime thing. Acquire wisdom, and with all that you acquire, acquire understanding. Highly esteem it, and it will exalt you. It will glorify you because you embrace it. To your head it will give a wreath of charm; a crown of beauty it will bestow upon you.” (Prov. 4:7-9) Knowledge alone will not do this.

Theres no such thing as the real bible, many versions of the story exist and no one alive can choose one or the other as the truth.....these storys are centuries old and to say they have remained un touched in these years would be a false assumption.

No it isn't the bible but many treat it as so. I haven't seen any one yet go into darkness. your right ST, why not get rid of it since it's been written by men of no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew, Jehovah really isn't the name of god so who's fooling who?