Why do Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be better bible scholars than the rest of the Christian world?

Question

When the people who translated their bible didn't have a working knowledge of bible languages?

and.. how -does- one translate anything without a knowledge of the language?

so it's irrelevant that they didn't have a working knowledge of the languages they were translating? How can that be, keiichi?

and because they original bible writers were "unlettered" doesn't mean they were illiterate in their own language. Bible writers weren't attempting to translate another language when they wrote the scrolls which make up today's Bible. Sure, they weren't learned, but that doesn't mean they were undertaking a translation job... BIG difference between writing something in your own language and translating another. I don't see how you don't see the fact your "translators" couldn't read the original bible languages as being the crux of the issue with your bible.

Russell was not familiar with the Greek language and admitted so under oath in a Scottish court in 1914. He claimed to know the Greek alphabet, but when pressured under oath, said he couldn't recognize some but not all of the alphabet.

Scottish court documents from 1954 read that Franz would not cooperate with the court and translate the 4th verse of the second chapter of Genesis. I cannot imagine anyone whose ability in such an important matter of their faith, the basis of everything they claim true and different from all of Christendom, wouldn't shout to the heavens to prove their abilities and defend their faith from "attack."

This information is from public court records, no slanderous ex-JW musings here.

jack r, what a thing to say about Christians. Most would take offense and exception at your statement. All would pray for you, as I do.

Answer 1

They may mistranslate the Greek, but refutation is sometimes difficult if you don't know Greek yourself. JWs speak in half-truths. Don't think they don't know how to debate, either. The logical fallacies are there, but if you aren't able to readily spot them, they could have you convinced they are correct, or confounded in your own theology before you realize it. Treat the dragon with respect.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses have never claimed to be better bible scholars. But others have noted that the NW translation is a good solid unbiased translation as previously stated.

As far as those who translated it, if Bro. Schoder was on the committee, he spoke a remarkable number of languages. I believe it was 13. Anyone who can speak that many languages, even half that many, has a remarkable command on language. I did hear him speak once and he was a very knowledgeable speaker, but humble at the same time.

How many languages do you speak? What makes you an expert to say that the NW translation is a bad translation?

Answer 3

heh.

Why do Mormons claim to be Christians when the book of Mormon goes against what the bible says about adding books to the bible or making changes to it? Because they can, as long as they believe it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Before a Mormon states otherwise, let it be said the book of Mormon, a "companion" to the bible, another view point of Jesus, was written in the 1800s by an American who received it by "divine" intervention. If God had intended for stuff to be added, he would have prevented the bible from containing passages about making changes in the future.

Who said the NLT was the most accurate translation? oh....a Jehovah's Witness. Last time I checked the general consensus outside of one particular faith is that the NKJV is the most accurate translation.

Jack r - I own 4 copies of the bible, in 3 different translations. And I read every one of them regularly. My church is non denominational and we regularly study the bible in and out of service.

TeeM - Anyone can quote a dozen scholars to prove a point, because there have been MILLIONS of them over the course of history AND they don't always agree. I want to just point out one thing, the bible was written in Hebrew not Greek. Quoting that the NLT is the most accurate translation of the Greek scrolls might be correct...but the Greek scrolls are themselves a translation (and not entirely correct) of Hebrew scrolls.

Answer 4

It really doesn't matter what the claim is when you don't walk like you talk. Maybe, they've got a better system for memorizing the bible better, maybe they don't, but they don't believe the bible. They teach antibiblical false doctrines. Here are some examples of the JW teachings: Christ is not equal to God because he is a creature. Christ died on a stake,not a cross. The cross is a pagan symbol of sex worship, and that all buildings or persons displaying the cross are likewise pagan. Jehovah's Witnesses deny that Jesus died on a cross but a stake. However, recent "new light" in the watchtower now admits they are not certain about the cross, but will continue to deny it anyway. They have many cult characteristics: faulty interpretation of the bible.They question authority of the bible and they add extra-scriptural writtings. Jehovah witnesses are known for date setting with false prophecies and they say the concept of Jesus is contrary to the truth of the bible.

Answer 5

The translators were Nathan Knorr, Frederick Franz, Albert Schroeder, George Gangas, and Milton Henschel. Four out of five had no Hebrew or Greek training at all and only H.S. education. Franz claimed to know both, but under examination under oath in a court of law on 11/24/54, in Edinburgh, Scotland, he failed a simple Hebrew test--translating Genesis 2:4--one that any first year Hebrew student could easily translate. He also retracted such statements about his supposed knowledge later in the same cross-examination by completely contradicting himself.

Fact 1: Fred Franz dropped out of the University of Cincinnati after his sophomore year and while there, did not study anything related to theological issues.

Fact 2: The members of the NWT translating committee refused to devulge their identities, saying that they prefered to remain anonymous and humble. It wasn't until Raymond Franz defected and revealed the identity of these "translators" that the truth came to be known.

Fact 3: the NWT is a corrupted version of Scripture of which the only purpose is to give credence to the WTS corrupt doctrines and skewed interpretation of God's word.

The proof is in the pudding. End of story.

Answer 6

The primary area of bible study which is the claim to fame by the Jehovah's witness is the area called "Escatology" the study of prophecy regarding the "end of the age". The bible is 25% prophecy. 12.5% of the prophecies have already been fulfilled. The remaining prophecies were of great concern and debate in the19th century but today most Christians have little interest in studying it. The ones that are still interested set themselves up as experts in areas of knowledge that most christians ignore. I believe many of the answers they come up with are dead wrong, such as the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation who the JW's used to claim were themselves until their membership grew into the millions. The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation are stated clearly to be the Jews, 12,000 from each of 12 tribes. Today the JWS try to interpret the 144,000 as an elect group of leaders among themselves. This is because they follow a heresy called "Replacement Theology" regarding the Jews. Its an antisemetic doctrine which has also found root in other said to be Christian groups.

Even though JWS study the bible they do so using guidelines set forth by their leaders "The Watchtower" magazine writers. There is attempt at enforcing systematic theology by the governing leaders via this method. There is not the independance to allow each group to discuss and draw their own independent conclusions based on the Raw word of God alone. In this the JW's although hard working, studying and sincere perhaps are seeking to study to be approved unto the watch tower leadership and not unto God.

I laud the JWS for studying. But they must remember that Paul also said "Study to show yourself approved unto God." This I feel their watch tower leaders fail to do even though they study more than others. The others would do a better job of convincing them however if they studied and were able to give better answers to the questions that they raise.

A preacher of the gospel. Come visit my site.
bibledoor.blogspot.com

Answer 7

Because they call Him by his "true" name!
Or do they?
As I told my favorite JW, "jehovah" was invented as a name in the 15th century, and does not appear as a name for God in any ancient text.
If they are better scholars, why was my good friend so dumbfounded by my knowledge of the Bible that he thought I was a pastor?(BTW, it's a basic working knowledge of the Bible I have, nothing fancy).
JW's insist that Christ was either human or an angel, neither of which is stated in the Bible. They say there is no trinity, yet the trinity is reinforced by the very word of God they study.

I only count them as erred. I always appreciate the chance to discuss the word of God with anyone, but some of their ideas go completely against the word of God itself. Sort of like the Pope being the infallible head of the only true church that worships an ascended Mary and hands out statues of saints.

Answer 8

Its only a matter of time before this chicken anti-JW bans me from answering her nonsense questions. As far as shes concerned, if you don't hate JWs, then she hates you. So pathetic! Get a life, anti-JWs. Check out Acts 13:10.


Anyway,
JWs don't claim to be better bible scholars.
JWs don't have a special bible.



I'm serious about that Get a life suggestion.

Answer 9

The truth is that years of research went into the New World Translation. In fact, it was released in six volumes spanning an entire decade—from 1950 to 1960. Furthermore, the extensive footnote system and Appendix give alternate renderings for select passages and explain why certain verses were translated the way they were, so that the reader is given some depth of insight into the complexities of translation.

The NWT was not the haphazard undertaking of a bunch of incompetent amateurs, as you have been led to believe. Whether the individual members had scholarly credentials is really irrelevant. Their work stands on its own merit.

Readers need to remember that the New Testament Christian writers themselves, with the exception of Paul, were also described as unlettered and ordinary men. Peter and John were mere fishermen—not trained scribes. And, of course, they were also similarly held in contempt by the intellectual God-haters of their day.

Yet, by Jehovah's guiding spirit they produced part of the Bible that we base our faith upon today.

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Saying the members of the translation committee are illiterate would seem to indicate the New Worlds Translation came into existents out from thin air.

Letters from Raymond Franz about his uncle Fred Franz (translations committee member) on his translating abilities does not seem to match up to what critics are saying.

"... Fred Franz studied Greek for two years at the University of Cincinnati, with high marks, and continued his studies personally thereafter. One need only read the critical notes accompanying the New World Translation to see the extent of his knowledge of Biblical Greek and its grammar. He was self-taught in Hebrew. However, knowing him personally I am satisfied that he was capable of developing a thorough knowledge of the language. He was unusually mentally disciplined. He taught himself Spanish, a language I spoke in Spanish-speaking countries for nearly 20 years. While in Brooklyn, I associated with a Spanish-speaking congregation that he attended. I heard his use of the language both there and, previously, in Spanish speaking countries. Whether in conversational expressions or in public talks that he gave in Spanish I did not once hear him make a single grammatical error. He similarly learned Portuguese and gave talks in that language. He knew German from his childhood (his father having been born in Germany).

On one occasion, while in Cincinnati, I took Fred Franz ( he himself did not drive) to a Hebrew museum which he knew contained a particular Biblical Hebrew manuscript that he wished to research. I stood alongside him while he read through the portions of the Hebrew text he wished to investigate. While working on the Watch Tower’s Bible dictionary Aid to Bible Understanding., on more than one occasion I had to seek out his assistance with reference to Hebrew renderings. He was always able to supply the needed information. In 1971, on a trip to Israel, we visited the Watch Tower’s branch office located in Haifa. A member of the staff there, Dalia Erez, a young Jewish woman, native to the country, did Hebrew translation of the organization’s publications. She spent part of one day discussing with Fred Franz certain translation problems she was experiencing and received his assistance and recommendations. She clearly found his knowledge of Hebrew solid.

His knowledge of Hebrew was not equal to his knowledge of Greek and he was not an advanced or notable Hebrew scholar but his knowledge was sufficient to produce a creditable translation.

Answer 10

It's not so old theology. Some of religions have traditions from the dark ages.