Didn't the early papacy also prohibit the general population from reading the holy scriptures and interpreting them? Were'nt they the ones who changed the Ten Commandments to fit their needs? Why does the Watchtower Society change so many words in the Bible to fit their needs? Isn't the Bible God's Word as is?
2007-07-07 09:45:43 · 7 answers · asked by Jalapinomex 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I ask this regarding the changing of words because in my Bibles, the places that have the word cross have been replaced, as the word LORD in all CAPS has been replaced with Jehovah--an English representation of the Hebrew honorable name of God YHWH. I don't wish to quibble over words, but it can be confusing to read the words Jehovah or torture stake....
I found that John 1:1 seems to diminish Yeshua's identity as the Word being God...but as a god instead.
2007-07-07 16:33:16 · update #1
There are some really good answers here...do you guys want to add something more so I can make my decision on the best answer? I would like to see an answer that is really a best answer!
2007-07-10 09:04:04 · update #2
The watchtower society does constantly change the words in their version of the bible, 'cause it's the only way they can get it to go alone with what they believe. Their main problem is that they deny the deity of Christ. God's Word never changes, nor does the truth it proclaims. You need Jesus Christ and not an organization to be saved.
2007-07-11 22:58:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"Didn't the early papacy also prohibit the general population from reading the holy scriptures and interpreting them?"
Yes bible reading was not for the common man.
However Jehovah's Witnesses have been and still are encouraged to read the Bible on a daily basis.
Changed words? Not so as far as I can determine.
2007-07-07 22:14:14 · answer #2 · answered by NMB 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
This so-called "question" seems to be thoroughly steeped in false premise.
The various "Watchtower Society" entities (there are many) are merely corporate entities used by Jehovah's Witnesses. They have no connection with the papacy whatsoever.
The "Watchtower Society" prints and distributes several bible translations. Not one word of one bible has been changed from what the various translation committees submitted.
The bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. It was necessary to translate it into modern languages, and that translation work did not and does not enjoy divine inspiration.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/bible
2007-07-07 21:29:48 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
the catholic church was & is a political organization that usese religion to control people, soon God will bring them into account for this,
The Watchtower Society encourages Bible reading & understanding of the scriptures, we sincerely want people to have an accurate knowledge of the truth of the Bible (which is not taught in Christendom)
If you don't believe me, have a civil discussion with the next JW you meet, see if he can't answer your questions from the Bible (but please be polite & give time & reason)
2007-07-07 18:00:36 · answer #4 · answered by zorrro857 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Actually, we are told that we NEED to read the Holy Bible (whatever translation we choose to read) every day. At every assembly and convention anymore, they emphasize the need to read the Bible daily. And as one answer pointed out, most people (including my mother) learned from Witnesses in the KJV. My mother compared both Bibles, and guess what? The only difference is the type of english it is in (do we really speak the way they did in the time the KJV was written?). We got our Bible from the Dead Sea Scrolls (ever heard of those?). We had them translated, and no Bible scholar will condemn any word in our Bible. It has won awards for its accurate translation.
My mom went to all different churches. She went to a Catholic church once (scared her silly--no one warned her of what to expect). She went to so many churches, and the only one she was ever satisfied with were the JWs. I used to try and break free (I wanted to do things that come in the blooms of youth). But then one sister said something to me (It wasn't even meant for me, so she really has no clue that what she said affected me), and I finally calmed down. I am so much happier now.
When we place literature with people, we encourage them to use their own copy of the Bible to look up the Scriptures (every teaching we have, we offer scriptural proof for). We are encouraged to look up all the scriptural proof.
2007-07-07 18:02:34 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Catherine♥ 4 · 6⤊ 3⤋
Most learned to be Witnesses from the King James Bible.
I used to be a Catholic and we were never encouraged to read the scriptures in church or catechism.
All of the masses are still in Latin, a dead language. Another thing that is noteworthy....God discouraged prayers that were repetitive.
The mass is repetitive.
So therefore we would conclude that the rosary, the novena, and the mass are not what God had in mind when he asked us to come to him in heartfelt prayer. And not to pray to anyone but him. Not Mary, not Jesus, not the saints.
He did not want his people to be in the dark spiritually. That's why he gave the disciples the gifts of tongues. They were to talk to everyone they met in the persons own language...yet here you still have priests talking to the English speaking public in Latin.
Can't you people see the hypocrisy?
The bible warns to get out of false religion if you do not want to share in her plagues.
2007-07-07 17:07:59 · answer #6 · answered by debbie2243 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
I've never known the Society to change what the Bible says. In fact, everything I've read has been in harmony with the Bible......
2007-07-07 16:50:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋