The New World translation

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Moreover, the WS has also stated that their own publication The Watchtower is God’s "means of communication to his people on earth."(5)

Such remarkable claims are indirectly examined when one inspects the NWT, the fruit of the world headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, since they have produced it, market it and assert that it is the most reliable of all translations. The following shows how they esteem their own Kingdom Interlinear Translation (KIT):

It is the purpose of this short treatise to test this and other claims out of obedience to 1 Thess 5:21, remembering all the while that a false prophet is known by his fruit (Mt. 7:15) and will deceive many (Mt. 24:11). Furthermore, since the total number of NWT in print, as of 1984, was an incredible 39,500,000(7), the following examination is critically important for the sake of all those who are reading that translation.

When one follows the above guidelines of the WS for John 14:14, the evidence reveals that the NWT is not accurately translated. The exact Greek word-for-word rendering in the KIT for that verse is:

According to that Greek text, the Lord Jesus taught his disciples to pray to himself and he (Jesus) shall do it. In contrast to the Greek, the NWT inaccurately reads:

NOTE: Though it is clear that the Lord Jesus taught his disciples that they could pray to himself, this truth is concealed in the NWT by omitting the word me. Secondly, first-century Christians, who were in the truth, practiced praying to Jesus:

According to Acts 6:3, Stephen was full of the Spirit and wisdom and he prayed to Jesus.

One feature of the NWT is the usage of brackets:

Their use of brackets is especially apparent at Col. 1:16,17 where the word other is inserted into those two verses four times. The NWT renders those verses as follows:

The reader should be aware that neither of the reasons cited why the NWT translating committee used brackets are applicable in Col. 1:16,17! Those two reasons, as previously stated are: (1) to make some application that is shown by the Greek word or (2) to show something that is understood along with the Greek word because of its grammatical form.

The truth is by inserting the word other in that passage, the NWT has distorted its meaning. Since they teach that Jesus is a created being and Col. 1:16 opposes this by stating that Jesus created all things, then basic logic would declare that Jesus can’t be part of his own creation. By inserting the non-inspired word other, which does not appear in the Greek in verses 16 and 17, the meaning is changed, allowing for their erroneous interpretation. Again, the reader should note: The word other does not appear in the Greek text in those two verses! If the Holy Spirit had wanted the inspired writer of that Scripture to use the word other, he easily could have done so as in Gal 1:8,9,19; 2:13; 4:22; 5:17; etc. To insert this word other in Col. 1:16,17 doesn’t clarify Scripture, but instead changes the meaning to a distortion that God never intended.

When we come to Phil. 2:9, the NWT does not have brackets around the inserted word other, in violation to their own guidelines, even though it is clearly not in the Greek text and was added by the translators. That verse as rendered in the NWT as found in the KIT (1969 edition) is:

In contrast, the Greek in the KIT says:

Consequently, the word other is inserted in Phil. 2:9, which distorts the meaning of that verse, taking glory away from the Lord Jesus, as was done in Col. 1:16,17.

Another claim of the WS about their NWT is that it is pure and consistent:

But when we check the Greek word translated worship when used for Jesus, it is rendered obeisance, but worship at other times! As previously shown, we see an attack on the identity of the Lord. Where exactly did the NWT inconsistently translate the Greek word meaning worship?

In Mt. 2:11; 14:33; 28:9; 28:17 the Greek word is translated obeisance because it refers to the Lord Jesus, but when the same exact Greek word is used at Rev. 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4; 20:4 and Jn. 4:20 it is rendered worshiped because it doesn’t refer to Jesus.

The same inconsistency is shown at Jn. 9:38 and Mk.5:6. It is translated obeisance when referring to Jesus, but worship at Heb. 11:21 when it doesn’t refer to Jesus.

Moreover, the same Greek word is found at Mt. 2:2; Rev. 22:8 and Rev. 19:10. At Mt. 2:2, when Jesus is the recipient, obeisance is again used, but in the other two Scriptures, when the Lord is not the recipient, worship is found!

The NWT also wrongly translates John 8:58. Their strange rendering for this verse is:

The Greek word-for-word rendering states I am instead of I have been. Furthermore, the Greek words from which this translation comes is supposed to be:

But in other sources and at other times, the WS has contradicted their own statement about that by stating something different:

The truth is the Greek tense for EIMI (am) as found in Jn. 8:58 is present indicative active. Hence, the WS is wrong again. Furthermore, at this point it should be clear that the NWT has not been true to their own claims:

If the NWT was a literal translation like they claim, then Jn. 8:58 would not be rendered I have been, but instead I am like the Greek and many reputable translations read! But if that was done, then Jn. 8:58 would be too closely associated with Exo. 3:14, which the WS doesn't want. (In Exo. 3:14, God identifies Himself as I am.)

John 1:1 in the vast majority of Bibles reveal the deity of Christ:(14)

In contrast, the NWT renders John 1:1 in a most unusual way:

The footnote, from this verse, in the KIT reads:

The WS has appealed to a little-known Bible translation by Johannes Greber, a former Catholic priest, for support of their a god rendering of John 1:1. Greber’s translation came about through contact with the spirit world. In fact, his wife, who was a spirit medium, helped him with this translation:

Strange as it may sound the WS denounced Greber’s involvement in Spiritism and his translation as coming from demons in their Feb. 15, 1956 The Watchtower, p. 111. But for many years afterward the WS still continued to cite his demon-produced translation for support(16). So knowingly, the WS appealed to a Bible translation many times, which came from demons, for support of their own NWT. What the demons were communicating through Greber’s translation is still being vastly spread today by the NWT.

The WS tries to distinguish between a god and the God, making only Jehovah the God. This concept, however, disintegrates at John 20:28. The NWT reads:

The actual word-for-word rendering of the Greek, which can be easily verified in the KIT, is substantially different:

Furthermore, the same exact Greek word translated God [with a small g in the NWT] at Jn. 1:1 is found in Jn. 3:16 and translated God, with a capital G in the NWT! The WS wrote elsewhere the following about the Greek word found in Jn. 1:1 that they render a god:

Rather than abandon their man-made doctrine about the Lord Jesus and just accept whatever Scripture teaches at Jn. 20:28 and elsewhere, that is, that Jesus is deity, the WS has two faulty answers for Thomas’ statement to Jesus: (1) The words "My Lord" were directed to Jesus, while the words "my God" were addressed to Jehovah in heaven! This answer is both unreasonable and incredible, since Thomas directed his entire statement to him (singular), that is, Jesus, the one to whom he was speaking. (2) The Watchtower also states that Thomas spoke the words "My Lord and my God" as an expression of surprise. Apparently, the Watchtower doesn’t know that would be blasphemy and Jesus would have rebuked Thomas for that sin.

Scriptures which show the deity of Christ, according to the Grandville Sharp Greek grammar rule, are obscured in the NWT, e.g. Titus 2:13 and 2 Pet. 1:1. Notice how modern, reliable translations reveal the deity of Christ.

In contrast, the NWT renders these verses in violation to this Greek grammar rule:

The WS further confuses this issue as shown by their comment on Titus 2:13:

Trinitarians do not believe Jesus is the same individual as the Father, as the WS misrepresents! In other words, the Watchtower has erected a fictitious "straw man" regarding the Christian position, then attacks it to discredit this doctrine.

The Grandville Sharp Greek Grammar Rule cites good points to make with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who deny the Lord’s deity, but such cannot be made with the NWT, since it violates Greek grammar. The three examples that Dana and Mantey cite from that Greek grammar rule are 2 Pet. 2:20, which indicates that Jesus is both Lord and Savior; 2 Pet. 1:1, which means that Jesus is our God and Savior; and Titus 2:13 which asserts that Jesus is the great God and Savior.(19)

In John 17:3, the NWT reads:

Another discrepancy arises when one checks that with the Greek word-for-word rendering in the KIT, which reads differently:

Clearly they are NOT the same! The Greek word found in John 17:3 is ginosko and is also found in the following verses. Please note how this word is used:

From these it is easy to see that the Greek word ginosko indicates a relation. So why would the WS teach something else? Because they also teach that they alone can correctly teach God’s truths. Hence, they interpret John 17:3 to mean knowledge, thereby bringing people into their organization by distorting Scripture. Again, they wrongly interpret this word knowledge:

Friend, ask yourself the question, "How much knowledge did the Philippian jailer have to take in to become a Christian?" Did he have to submit himself to a six month book study first or did it occur immediately after he heard the truth cited in Acts 16:31 and acted on it? What about Cornelius, how much knowledge did he have to take in? See Acts 10:43-48. Remember, the Greek for John 17:3 does NOT say knowledge, but instead knowing you, which is the same as relationship.

In the NWT, the Bible of the Jehovah's Witnesses, we read the following:

Why isn't the NWT consistent to use Jehovah every time Lord is found? Their reasonings are as follows:

Since one of the outstanding features of the NWT is their abundant usage of the word Jehovah, how can they elsewhere admit that Yahweh is the more correct way to render God's name?

Why then did the NWT forfeit accuracy to use the word Jehovah, which began to be used in the 14th century? Their answer is because of people's familiarity with it. That is another way of saying that they have upheld the traditions of man's inventions since the 14th century at the expense of truth and accuracy, which they knew about. Notice again how many times this was done in the NWT:

How can the NWT claim that Jehovah is the restoration of the divine name to its rightful place in the English text, since they openly admit Yahweh is more correct? Shouldn't they rather have stated that knowingly they have omitted the more correct name for God, that is Yahweh, and substituted a different name which began to be used in the 14th century -- Jehovah. Furthermore, how can they claim that God's name Jehovah should be vindicated?

Yet a different piece of Watchtower literature states the same embarrassing information about the word Jehovah, but elaborates as to its Catholic origin in 1270:

Please note: Hebrew scholars generally favor "Yahweh" as the most likely pronunciation.

Bruce Metzger, who criticizes the KJV's misusage of Jehovah, gives additional information:(27)

Remarkably, the Watchtower has exalted in their own literature the usage of the inaccurate name for God, Jehovah, to a salvation issue:

Should a person call on Jehovah for salvation, which no one ever heard of until the 1270, or should he call on a different name? Let's allow the Apostle Paul to answer this for us, as he too refers to Joel 2:32. Paul wrote:

In Rom. 10:9-13, Paul explicitly stated: (1) that Jesus is Lord; (2) Jesus richly blesses all who call on him; and (3) that these truths refer back to Joel 2:32 in that same passage where YHWH is found in the Hebrew, but here applies them to Jesus! Either the Apostle Paul is wrong or the WS is wrong! They can't both be right, since Paul taught we are to call on JESUS for salvation and the Watchtower, in contradistinction, is teaching we are to call on a hybrid name for God which didn't even exist for 13 centuries — Jehovah! By the way, the NWT is not consistent at Rom. 10:9 with the Greek word by rendering it Jesus, unlike they did at Rev. 4:11, where it is also used and translated Jehovah. If they had been consistent at Rom. 10:9, their NWT would read Jesus is Jehovah, which they would never allow.

Shockingly, the WS contradicts their own teaching about Joel 2:32 and Rom. 10:13 and their own NWT in the latter reference where they elsewhere write about the Son:

Paul was not alone is teaching this way about Jesus' name. The Apostle Peter stated the same truth in different words and perhaps in a more clear fashion:

In first century-Christianity, the ones who were in the truth taught we are to call on Jesus for salvation. There is no other name, as the Apostle Peter taught! This fact, however, has been brushed aside and replaced by the WS with a different name to call on for salvation, which no one knew of for over 1,000 years!

In harmony with other Scriptures that exalt the name of Jesus, Paul and Silas taught:

Note: God's servants did not say, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and the Father and you will be saved." See also Jn. 3:16.

The Greek word believe (pisteuo) means:

Dear reader, if you aren't extending a trusting-submitting faith in Jesus for your salvation, then you aren't saved, regardless of your zeal and good intentions, according to Scripture. Furthermore, nowhere are we told in Scripture to trust in any organization for our salvation. Call on Jesus now, the one who has the only name under heaven in which salvation is found (Acts 4:12). Please don't be deceived by a Bible translation which inserts and removes words without Greek justification for the support of fabricated doctrines produced by a Bible-defined false prophet.

To the surprise of many, the Lord taught one can read the Scriptures and still be without salvation. To get life one must come to JESUS, according to the Lord himself:

The WS doesn't allow their followers to come to me [Jesus] for the purpose of getting life, since they think he is merely a part of creation. They also deny that we should pray TO Jesus, by changing John 14:14. The WS has come out in their publications and boldly taught the same error:

In contrast to the WS, the same eternal truth as found in John 14:14 is reiterated at John 4:10 and linked to salvation:

The reason Jehovah's Witnesses don't ask Jesus for living water, as Jesus taught, is because they don't know (1) the gift of God or (2) that it is Scriptural to pray to the Lord Jesus, the one who was speaking to the woman at Jacob's well. Unfortunately, the Jehovah's Witnesses have been misled to believe that Jesus is merely Michael the archangel and hence one should never go to him for living water. Friend, the WS has deceived multitudes into believing something about Jesus that isn't true and the NWT has helped in this great deception.

Who has the name in which forgiveness is found? According to first-century Christians the answer is simple:

Clearly, Jesus is the one who has the name in which forgiveness of sins can be found. We are told to believe in him. After Cornelius heard that eternal truth, he instantly became a Christian. What an important key truth that is for salvation, but that is not what the WS teaches! NOTE: Jehovah is NOT the name in which forgiveness is found, as you might be believing. Consider also the following two Scriptures:

In support of John 14:14 is Acts 9:14-21:

Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians, both men and women, who are described in the above passage as those who would call on [Jesus'] name. The same truth about early Christians praying to Jesus is found elsewhere in Scripture:

Rom. 10:13, which is both immediately before and after two Scriptures that refer to the Lord Jesus, is fallaciously rendered in the NWT as:

Moreover, a footnote in the NWT wrongly connects the Lord of 2 Tim. 2:22 to Jehovah. Hence, it should be apparent that the NWT is fatally flawed and distorted to where one's salvation can be jeopardized by it. Friend, call on Jesus for salvation. Believe on him [Jesus] for your salvation. This was part of the message of the early Christians, who also recognized Jesus as the Apostle Thomas addressed him to his face: "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).

In contrast to the facts, the Watchtower Society will continue to publish the following about their own NWT, to the spiritual detriment of those that will believe it:

1. Does the NWT omit a word at John 14:14, which distorts its meaning?
2. Did the early Christians pray to Jesus (Acts 7:59,60)?
3. Does the NWT unjustly insert words, sometimes with and without brackets, which distorts the meaning of the passage?
4. Who has the name above every name (Phil. 2:9)?
5. Is the NWT pure and consistent as claimed?
6. Does the NWT render the Greek word translated worship when used for Jesus as obeisance, but worship at other times?
7. Is the NWT a literal translation at John 8:58?
8. In what year did the WS expose the Greber translation as coming from demons?
9. Why did the WS appeal to that same translation after that date?
10. Is Jesus the God, according to the Greek?
11. Does the NWT violate the Grandville Sharp Greek Grammar Rule?
12. Does John 17:3 in the KIT Greek say knowledge?
13. Does that mean relation?
14. What is the foremost feature of the NWT?
15. Is Yahweh the more correct way to render God’s name than Jehovah, according to the WS?
16. Why then does the WS, who claims to be our spiritual mother, use Jehovah instead of Yahweh?
17. When did people first become familiar with the word Jehovah?
18. Did any Christians before the year 1270 use the name Jehovah?
19. Does Jehovah come from the Latin?
20. Does Yahweh come from the Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament?
21. Who was Raymundus Martini?
22. Does Jehovah Came From Catholicism?
23. Has the Watchtower exalted the usage of the inaccurate name for God, Jehovah, to a salvation issue?
24. Is it true that the word "Jehovah" does not accurately represent any form of the Name ever used in Hebrew?
25. So if one takes in accurate knowledge about God’s name and uses that accurate knowledge, as opposed to using the name Jehovah, will he risk his own salvation, that is, if one accepts what the WS declares about this?
26. Should a person call on Jehovah for salvation, which no one ever heard of until the 1270 or should he call on a different name?
27. According to Rom. 10:9-13, who should we call on for salvation?
28. Salvation is found in only one name, according to Acts 4:12. Is that name "Jehovah" or a different name?
29. What name should we believe upon to be saved, according to Acts 16:31?
30. Is that name "Jehovah"?
31. What does the word believe mean in the Greek?
32. To the surprise of many, the Lord taught one can read the Scriptures and still be without salvation. To get life one must come to JESUS, according to Jesus. Is this true or false, according to the Bible?
33. Did Jesus teach we could pray to Jesus?
34. Does the WS teach we should pray to Jesus?
35. Did early Christians, like Stephen, pray to Jesus?
36. Forgiveness of sins is found in only one name. According to Acts 10:43 what is that name?
37. The Apostle Thomas was "in the truth." Since the WS claims to also be "in the truth," but teaches differently, can they both be in the same "truth"? See John 20:28.
38. Should we believe what the Lord’s Apostles believed about Jesus or should we believe a Bible-defined false prophet, who teaches the opposite?
39. If you were wrong, would you change?
40. Can the WS be God’s Organization, as they claim for themself?

1. The Watchtower, May 1, 1957, p. 274.
2. Qualified To Be Ministers, 1955, p. 380.
3. The Watchtower, February 15, 1981, p. 19.
4. The Watchtower, September 15, 1910, p. 298.
5. 1939 Yearbook Of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 85.
6. The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (KIT), 1969 ed., p. 5.
7. New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures with References (NWT), 1984, copyright page.
8. KIT., p. 6.
9. Ibid., p. 9.
10. Ibid., p. 467.
11. NWT, 1984 ed., p. 1582.
12. NWT, 1950 edition. The reader should note that there is no perfect indefinite tense in the Greek!
13. KIT, p. 10.
14. Since John 1:14 reveals that the Word became flesh, we know Jn. 1:1 refers to Jesus.
15. Taken from a flier on Johannes Greber and his life available through: Johannes Greber Memorial Foundation, 139 Hillside Ave., Teaneck, NJ 07666.
16. Remember, in 1956 the WS knew how Greber's translation was influenced by demons, but still continued to cite it afterwards for support in the following sources: Aid To Bible Understanding, 1971, pp. 1134, 1669; Make Sure Of All Things, 1965, p. 489; The Watchtower, 9-15-62, p. 554; The Watchtower, 10-15-75, p. 640; The Watchtower 4-15-76, p. 231; "The Word" -- Who Was He? According to John, 1962, p. 5.
17. KIT, p. 17.
18. NWT, p. 1582.
19. Dana and Mantey, A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament (MacMillan Co., 1957), p. 147.
20. The Watchtower, February 15, 1983, p. 12.
21. NWT, p. 6.
22. KIT, pp. 18,19.
23. Ibid., p. 23.
24. NWT, p. 6.
25. The Truth Shall Make You Free, 1943, p. 34.
26. Aid to Bible Understanding, Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, 1971, pp. 884, 885.
27. The KJV makes the mistake of using Jehovah at Ex. 6:3; Psa. 83:18; Isa. 12:2 and 26:4.
28. The New Revised Standard Version Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, To The Reader.
29. The Watchtower, August 15, 1997, p. 6.
30. The Watchtower, May 1, 1978, p. 12.
31. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1976, Greek dictionary, p. 58, number 4100.
32. The Truth that leads to Eternal Life, 1968, p. 152.
33. NWT, p. 6.

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