If I study with a Jehovah's witness, Do I have to use the Watchtower bible or can I use my KJV?

Question

Please give reason why I can't or can use my KJV version.

If I become a JW, will they disfellow me for using KJV bible in the meetings?

Answer 1

john, dont know where you got that silliness.

we used the kj for a number of years, but as the understanding and translating of missing mss became more available, the fact that the kj has more than nine THOUSAND errors in it became common knowledge.

i am in a spanish cong, and we used nacar colunga, torres amat and verison moderna for years.

in our local cambodian cong we still use a 'protestant' type of bible.

use whatever bible you wish, but understand that you will find a lot of mistakes. that is why there are so many prot. churches out there. some believe it is ok to talk to 'spirits' some think it is evil to drink wine, some think homosex is ok, some accept fornication, some think killing another because of his race or religion is ok.

all due to mistranslations of the bible, and false claims of being followers of christ and having the sole private interpretation of what is right.

please contact jehovah's witnesses in your area or see the link below.

grandpa len

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses themselves print and distribute several translations of the bible. An individual Witness uses any translation he prefers, and a student is encouraged to use any translation he prefers.

The primary reason why the questioner CAN use his KJV bible during study and meetings is that no one cares what translation he uses.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe the use of KJV to be a sin; it is certainly not a "serious sin" such as could result in disfellowshipping. Interestingly, Jehovah's Witnesses actually distribute the KJV in many languages.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/bible

Answer 3

I don't know of any Watchtower Bibles.

But there are several that are printed by the Watchtower Society, such as the New World Translation.

But you first need to check your attitude at the door. Your first question indicates that you do not want to learn the truth. Truth says that you use the accurate Bible which the NWT is and the KJV is not.

Your second question indicates that you have a bad attitude for worrying about what they will disfellowship you for.

If you want to serve Jehovah God, you will focus on that.

Answer 4

As a Jehovah's Witness...we always encourage people to use their own copy of the Bible...what they know best and are familiar with and also so the person can see for themselves that JWs are really using God's Word, the Bible...no matter what translation...JW's usually use the New World Translation because it is written in modern English...like how we talk day to day...so it is much easier to understand, but many witnesses also compare the NWT with other versions of the Bible such as the KJV....one of my aunt's who is a JW has the KJV and a few others...and in my house we have 2 other versions...which one is the KJV

Answer 5

You can use any translation you are comfortable with. There are over 40. We use them all, depending on which version brings out the point the clearest.

We mainly use the NWT for its overall clarity. Written in today's language as the KJV was for the 1600's, you don't have to translate 17th century words and phrases into what we can understand.

For instance, what is a "shambles"? 1 Corinthians 10:25 is where it is used in the KJV. If you lived in 1630, you would know exactly what it was. In the NWT you find "meat market" is what we know it today as. The language of Shakespere is beautiful and poetic. As any high schooler will tell unendingly, they can't understand it. If they lived back then, it was perfectly understandable by the masses he wrote for. Our words change as the times change.

I prefer the KJV of Job 26:7 over the NWT where it says the earth hangeth upon nothing.

Use whichever version you prefer. The important thing is to get an accurate understanding of what you read.

Answer 6

Yes you can use a King James Version, you could use an American Standard version if you choose. There is no requirement to use the New World Translation despite what you may have heard elsewhere.

As for your second question the answer is "NO". Is this something you read or heard form someone else?

Answer 7

Those Witness people do prefer to use the NWT.
However, they would never insist someone else use it all the time.
Many Witnesses have a variety of translations in their home and consult them often.
I recommend you do the same.
The CEV and NEB are quite valuable.
The KJV is OK as well, however it was produced over 400 years ago and language changes.
We don't speak that way anymore.
Use it, but not uniquely.
BTW Although Witnesses practice disfellowshipping, you have to be an absolute rebel to be disfellowshipped.
They are not qucik on the trigger, they take no joy in doing it.
They open the door largely to avoid having to do that.

Answer 8

You can use "ANY" bible you wish.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God,

You will not be dis follow. In fact you will be encourage to read your own bible to see what is taught is indeed in your own home family bible.

Answer 9

It is a common misconception that Witnesses ONLY use the New World Translation.

The truth is that any Bible will do- we often use other Bibles and translations in our publications because "all scripture is inspired of God . . . ."

Answer 10

Nothing like that. Talk with someone in person and you will find out that we use other translations in many cases. But we "prefer" to use the NWT because its more complete.