Did you know that Jehovah's Witnesses use any translation of the Bible?

Question

Why else would we cite scriptures?

It's in the hope that people will check the scriptures up in their OWN version of the Bible.

The NWT has the same message as any other translation despite what those spreading misinformation may say. They all say the same thing.

I just wondered how many people knew that

It is true despite what some people may say.
Otherwise there would be no point in JWs citing scriptures

If I study the Bible with anyone, I encourage them to use their own version, whatever they feel most comfortable with.
For example: Psalm 83:18 shows God's name in most versions

thank you for your comment dresagan -
However it is misinformation to say we dont use an interlinear - we do
We conduct in-depth studies of scriptural words to find their exact meaning.

Didi Dvora - perhaps you'd like to read the question again?
I said ANY translation of the bible.

(and God's name is Yahweh not Yashua as you stated, but thats another subject)

Didi Dvora-
Thanks for your recent response and Im glad you reread the question.
Jehovah's Witnesses know that the divine name is YHWH
Yeshua is Jesus' name not God's
They are two completely different personalities.
We base a lot of importance of using the name YHWH (commonly translated Yahweh or Jehovah)
But as I said before that is a different subject & has nothing to do with the question I asked. Thanks again

Answer 1

We love Jehovah's Word the Bible !!! We love to use many different translations. We study with people all over the world in the translation they feel comfortable with. The truth is the truth. Apostates and people that are against Jehovah's Organization continue to use these lies to try and scare off people from learning about the true God Jehovah. They are actually fighting against God and not us.

Answer 2

I really believe it depends upon the topic. Jehovah's Witnesses will use any Bible as long it can be used in a way to support their doctrines. When a Bible translation is not in agreement with the New World Translation the Witnesses then will argue how it should be translated a differant way.

One of the most important things I have learned about Jehovah's Witnesses is that none of them own a Greek concordance, mainly because the Watchtower Society does not produce one. They produce an interlinear version of the New Testement (which I higly reccomend), but what good is an interlinear without a concordance? How do you study and interlinear? I've never met a Witness who has done word studies in the scriptures. If they did they would have a better understanding as to why people have a problem with their translation.

Answer 3

Yes, I did know that. I studied with Witnesses for about a year and I only used my Bible, a New International Version. I never converted, but I still respect and appreciate their teachings. I learned a lot from Witnesses and made many friends in my visits to the Kingdom Hall. There is not a Hall near me now, but when I return to NY I will visit one. I am studying Islam now because my new husband is Muslim, but I still appreciate the lessons I received from Watchtower brochures and Kingdom Hall meetings.

Answer 4

Sample Verses -NWT Bible
Genesis 1: 1, 2
In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of [the] watery deep; and God's active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.

John 1: 1 - 3
In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
This one was in [the] beginning with God.
All things came into existence through him, and apart from him, not even one thing came into existence.

These are two samples that NWT differs from all the other Bibles.

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses have distributed more than 145 million copies of "New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures", in dozens of languages.
http://watchtower.org/languages.htm

The entire text of NWT is freely available at the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses, and a personal printed copy can be requested at no charge:
http://watchtower.org/bible/
https://watch002.securesites.net/contact/submit.htm
http://watchtower.org/how_to_contact_us.htm


Jehovah's Witnesses certainly like NWT, but they are happy to use any translation which an interested person may prefer, and in fact Jehovah's Witnesses themselves distribute other translations besides NWT. Jehovah's Witnesses attach no particular infallibility or inspiration to NWT.

It seems that the vast majority of the criticism against the New World Translation is actually as a proxy for blind hatred against Jehovah's Witnesses. The hatred must be "blind" since secular experts of biblical Hebrew and Greek have consistently refused to condemn any particular verse or phrase as an unacceptable translation. Instead, it is religionists with preconceived theologies who bigotedly insist upon particular wordings, since these are necessary to prop up the shaky tenets of their false worship.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

It seems significant that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones best known for their worldwide preaching work. Yet Jesus commanded that ALL who would call themselves "Christian" perform this public work:

(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/na/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020915/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050715/article_02.htm

Answer 6

Absolutely true!!!
You give people a little rope and they hang themselves with it... Now it's Satan's turn to be hanging himself with all the lies he has been feeding the nations. It is back-firing on him...
As no matter what they come up with to discredit God's people, which he got out of the world and out of the empire of Babylon the Great, the empire of false religions, yes! a people for His name! the more the Truth seems to just reveal itself and Jehovah loves you for taking their own spiritual ammunitions and turning them into holy weapons as you find more ways to spread the Word loud and clear of just how the True God wants to be worshipped... in spirit and truth! What a wonderful question you asked there!!! It made my day!!!

Answer 7

Yes I knew that. The couple that I spoke to asked me if I had a bible so I looked in mine at what told me while the JW woman read hers. I didnt have much time though but it was the same

Answer 8

Of course!
But, all disciples of Christ should be willing to use not only their own preferred translation and copy but also several others to ensure the accuracy of the original language to English.
And in context and use.
This is a basic for any Disciple of Christ.
JWs of course will point out error in translation of the version at hand and a knowledgeable one will have the direct text from the original and be able to teach doctrine from it.

Answer 9

I didn't think they used the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible though. Still, I could be wrong.

Cheers :-)

Answer 10

not true i use to be jw they have there own bible and own interpretation. when i was one long ago they did not teach Jehovah andJesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were equal or that they were 3 separate persons or about being born again. they didnt teach Jesus is God , i know for a fact the bibles are not the same, and your religion believes its the only one going to heaven144,000 and others live on earth, jehovah's witnesses teach they are the only ones who get eternal life, i am born again now and now i have the Holy Spirit and am closer to God in relationship then i ever was before.