NWT (2013) Edition

[RoadtoEmmaus]

Has anyone taken note that there is a new NWT?

If anyone has spotted changes, please post them!!!

[RoadtoEmmaus]

I did note that there are not brackets in Col 1:16

[onpatmos]

Hello Road to Emmaus -

I followed the release of this by reading an online JW discussion leading up to and and during the day of release. A PDF of it is available at the Society's website, as well the 1984 version. In what follows below I'm calling the new version the "RNWT" ("Revised New World Translation").

It is, as I guess folks know by now, a much more far-reaching revision than, say, the 1984 NWT was to prior editions. It is supposedly more easy-to-read.

The names of those working on the project are still withheld; the Divine Name is still used to replace original language words for "God" and "Lord" in 237 places the New Testament.

I have not taken the time yet to look very closely at it. The "a God" at John 1:1 is still there but it now has a footnote that says "Or, 'was divine.'" Also I understand that John 17:3 has been changed.

I was curious to see about renderings that seem to support JW doctrine. Below I'm giving a comparison of Hebrews 12:22-23, first from the 1984 NWT, then the 2013 RNWT, then the New American Bible, then the Revised Standard version. What I'm trying to get at is where the RSV and NAB has "spirits" -

1984 NWT Hebrews 12:22-23 - But YOU have approached a Mount Zion and a city of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect,

2013 RNWT Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels in general assembly, and the congregation n of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect,

NAB - Hebrews 12:22-23 - No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering,and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect,

RSV - Hebrews 12:22-23 - But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

So the RNWT, in this case, perpetuates the reading of the old NWT, with regard to "spirits". At least in the "READ ONLINE" version of the 1984 NWT (but not the 1984 PDF) there is a footnote that says that the literal reading is "spirits"; I do not see that in the 2013 version.

I would like to propose an idea to those who might be reading this, who like me have been influenced by JW teaching - I have a large print version of the Catholic New American Bible; in the back is a list of the contributors, editors, etc. (not sure what they're called), that worked on it. Here is my question - is that such a bad thing?

If there's a positive side to this, maybe it is this - maybe the individual Witness may become more aware that the readings of the NWT, revised or otherwise, are not etched in stone. Maybe it cause some to wonder; what do people really think of the NWT, and not just pay attention to the selected comments about the NWT that their leaders present to them. And maybe it will cause some to wonder in a more curious way - where does the Bible come from? How did all of this come together in the first place? I think asking those questions and seeking honest answers is going to start moving a person in the right direction.

Was in a bit of a rush; please pardon any formatting or spelling errors.

Your thoughts, Road to Emmaus (or others)?

[RoadtoEmmaus]

Onpatmos,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry, I've been out studying...went back to school and it is a challenge.

My bride just brought her RNWT home yesterday. She has been missing meetings for about the past 6 months. The new version may be an opportunity to ask her about the contributors as you suggest.

I'll let you know how things work out.

[onpatmos]

RoadtoEmmaus -

The 2014 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses says the following:

Early in this service year, at
the annual meeting of the Watch
Tower Bible and Tract Society
of Pennsylvania, the New World
Bible Translation Committee
released the newly revised English
edition of the finest translation of
the Bible available to mankind.
Jehovah used his own spirit-begotten
sons to provide the original
New World Translation. (Rom.
8:15, 16) That fact alone certainly
makes this translation special, do
you not agree?

Note the assertions that are being made about the NWT.

Why isn't the NWT generally accepted and used by others?
Why do they withhold the names of the original translators and revisors?