New World Translation Bible (JW's) QUESTION from Mary on June 13, 2002 Hello--I would like to first let you know how helpful this website has been in my independent Catholic Apologetics studies. It is good to know there are other Catholics out there who have the desire to defend the true Church so passionately and accurately.
I have a Jehovah's Witness friend (a former Catholic) who has educated me on the beliefs of the JW's through so-called Bible Studies (more like Watchtower literature memorization). Don't fret--the more I learn about JW beliefs, the stronger my Catholic faith becomes.
My question deals with their translation of the bible--the New World Translation. I have not been able to locate any resources telling of who did the translating and how it actually came about. When I ask my JW friend, she says that certain committee members got together and, with the actual Dead Sea Scrolls, accurately translated each book of the New Testament and Old Testament. She is unable (or unwilling) to give the names of these committee members who derived the NWT. Who actually translated this version?
God Bless You and Your Work Mary
ANSWER by Mr. Troy Martz on July 22, 2002 Dear Mary:
Thank you so much for your kind words. Rest assured, there are many, many people out here defending the faith in one way or another. Some on the internet or in print or broadcast, most just by living their lives to the greater glory of God.
Your question shows some very astute observations on your part. Your JW friend will NEVER tell you who translated (or in this case corrupted) their version of the Bible. Not that she doesn't want to, but her own church will not tell even their members who comprise the committee! It is kept a secret supposedly to preserve the humility of the translators, rather it is to keep people like me from pointing out their utter lack of credibility.
I do find the references to the Dead Sea Scrolls rather humorous. First, not every book in the Bible was found intact in the Caves there -- as a matter of fact very few were preserved complete. Many of the New Testament books were never found there since the sect that hid there was extinguished by the Romans before the whole of Scripture was compiled.
Even more incredible is the claim that this secret committee had access to these Scrolls for the time necessary to make a translation. It would be easy for someone to check the public records and compare those who would have had such unrestricted access with the list of committee members. Obviously such claims are ludicrous lies intended to snare the gullible.
You certainly haven't fallen for such simple tactics. Still, you should avoid the New World Translation as a heretical tampering with Scripture. I give it no more credence than the Book of Mormon or the Koran -- fancies of men who either were deceived or wanted to deceive others.
Pax Christi, Troy
PS -- If you have a copy you would like to get rid of, please let me know. I maintain a snake box where I keep such items for use in my apologetics work. I currently have a copy of the Book of Mormon and much of their literature, but not much on the JW's or Islam.
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