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Watchtower History Through Bible Translation

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I have been reading through the Golden Age 1926.  I came across this statement on page 242 of the January 13 edition, “The Society issues Bibles or parts of Bibles in 572 languages” under the subheading, “Soviets Refuse Admission of Bible.”

This is telling in and of itself.  The organization that we know today is known for publishing as it says, “Bible based publications.”  Here it is the total opposite and only talked about the Bibles it has printed.   

This site gives statistics on how many Bibles are in existence by language: Quora-How Many Languages is The Bible In?

From this page you will see that 2,900 languages of the 7,000 on the face of the planet have some portion of the Bible written in it’s language.  That number is getting added to. 

Let’s examine one group that is considered part of “Babylon the Great.” I heard a presentation from the Wycliffe Global Alliance and how they are working at getting more bibles into foreign lands.  If memory serves me correctly, they first go for the gospel according to John, then move to the rest of the Greek Scriptures.  From there, they cover the Hebrew Scriptures.  The translation process for them requires years of training to gain mastery of the language.

The video below taken from the Annual Meeting of es in 2013 Part 4 of 7 has Geoffrey Jackson explaining information regarding translation techniques 2:25-3:35 mark. 

 

Notice it’s English comprehension and computer skills needed as primary skills for translation. 

This led me to searching the Society and seeing how many languages the New World Translation is printed in.  Here’s one quote I found:

The Bible is the worlds most widely translated book-parts of it being available in over 2400 languages.  Some languages have not just one translation but scores of them.  If you have a choice in your language, you surly want to use the very best translation you can find. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  May 1, 2008 p. 18

This can be possibly misleading.  The causal Watchtower reader may possibly believe that the organization is responsible for producing a number of the Bibles. 

However, let’s see what the New World Translation edition of 2013 on page 4 says:

Available in whole or in part in over 120 languages. 

New World Translation. 2013 Edition. p. 4

Let’s contrast that with other publications. 

For instance, The Watchtower, available in over 210 languages, explains Bible prophecy, increases our comprehension of deep spiritual truths, and motivates us to live by Bible principles. Awake! magazine, published in some 100 languages, broadens our knowledge of Jehovah’s creative works and shows us how to apply the Bible’s practical counsel. (Prov. 3:21-23; Rom. 1:20) The faithful slave provides Bible-based material in more than 680 languages!

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  August 15, 2014. p. 4

So let’s do some analysis on the information above:

The Wycliffe Global Alliance that is part of “Babylon the Great,” puts forth a greater effort in bible translation since it produces 531 complete translations compared to the 120 of the Watchtower Society.  The difference is approximately 411 languages.

Why doesn’t Jehovah give his blessing to his “one true organization” and have the Society with a greater output then this group (it’s just one that i’ve listed and there are most likely more)?  The Wycliffe Group on their about page started in approximately 1942.  The Watchtower Society was founded in 1879 and has a 63 year head start.  The sole mission of this group is to produce a Bible in every language needing one by 2025.  This is in great contrast to the organization that is supposed to be advancing the kingdom which had a definitive date of establishment in the days of Russell (1914) to now it is “soon” to be established.

In 1926, the organization primarily utilized the King James Version.  It wasn’t until 1942 that the organization started to use the American Standard Version for in part because of the use of the word “Jehovah” used throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. As you may well know, the organization first released the complete New World Translation in 1961 after releasing it in part starting in 1950.  Regardless, the primary bible used by the organization has seen a net decrease of 452 languages from the days of Rutherford until now. 

The JW Library App has the King James and American Standard Version available in addition to the Kingdom Interlinear, Byington, and New World Translation available.  Why not hand out one of those translations such as the King James Version?  It has been translated into approximately 2,452 languages according to the site King James Bible Online.  

I think it goes on to show without much explanation needed that the New World Translation of the Bible has been altered to fit their doctrines rather than conform their doctrines to that of the Bible.  One easy example is Philippians 2:9 with the insertion of the word “other” that is no longer in brackets.  Hence, the Society is at a disadvantage of getting Bibles into foreign lands.    

Next, the Watchtower is written in over 210 languages.  The New World Translation is written in 120.  This means that the organization has 90 more languages available for reading the Watchtower Magazine compared to the New World Translation.  If you as a Jehovah’s Witness are going to actually read the verses listed, how can you do so without a translation?  Does this mean that there is an incomplete meal of “proper food at the proper time?”  I merely ask the question, what does the organization place a priority on?  The Awake! magazine has a slightly lesser importance given that it is printed in only 100 languages. 

Perhaps with the organization printing less in regards to the Watchtower and Awake! magazines, they will reallocate some of the funds to Bible making (it’s a dream, yes I know). 

With things like this in mind, what has caused the organization to go from speaking in reference to the languages the Bible has been printed in to focusing more on “bible related” material by the organization? 

For all of the material that you place in door to door work, how often do you go and place a Bible as opposed to a Watchtower magazine? 

By all means, place down that Watchtower and read the Bible.  Learn who the Jesus of the Bible is and I will ask, would you consider walking away from this organization and accepting Jesus only?  If this organization was truly worried about the eternal state of people, should it print more Bibles or more Watchtower related material?

Biblical View On Birthdays and the Watchtower Society

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Here’s a short one today and take a look at your New World Translation.

The birthday celebration is the topic that the Witness associates with just two individuals in the Bible.  However, there are other verses that imply direct involvement with birthdays.  

The organization cites support for this from two separate accounts within the Bible. However the organization has not been completely forthright in terms of birthdays and the verses at pertain to this.  

What will follow are some verses dealing with birthdays and birthday announcements. An interesting irony is that in 1979 the Watchtower had an issue commemorative issue celebrating the centennial existence of the Watchtower organization. 

Watchtower birthday focus: 

Genesis 40:20-22 

Mark 6:21-27

Based upon the two verses above, the Society would make it seem that birthdays are not to be celebrated.  Let’s look at what the Society has left out for birthdays/announcements:

Genesis 3:15 Jesus foretold and look at cross reference to Romans 16:20 (you will need a mainstream bible for this since it’s not in the New World Translation.  

Genesis 16:11 Ishmael

Genesis 18:10 Abraham.  Go into verses 1-2 how Jehovah has appeared as three men.  

Judges 13:3 Samson

1 Samuel 1:11-20 Samuel prayed for and Jehovah answers the prayer

1 Kings 13:2 Josiah

2 Kings 4:16 Shunammite’s son.  Human announcing-let me know what you think.

Job 1:4 Job’s children

Isaiah 9:6 Jesus foretold

Micah 5:1-3 Jesus

Matthew 1:20-21 Jesus foretold by Jehovah’s angel.

Luke 1:5-25, 57-66 John the Baptist

Luke 1:26-38 Jesus foretold by Gabriel

Luke 2:1-20 Angels celebrate, the shepherds decide to go visit Jesus

The question worth asking at this point is this, who directed the angels to foretell?  Let’s look at Watchtower history now for its statements:

MY DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER RUSSELL:– I am writing to wish you a happy birthday, and a glorious “new birth day” at the day that God may choose; also, to say that the Lord has brought me safely to Trinidad–I believe in answer to prayer before leaving Jamaica.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. March 1914 p. Reprints p. 5429

Pardon me for intruding on your precious time, but I just can’t help letting you know how much I appreciate the phonograph which came to me on the morning after the 8th, which was my 80th birthday. It was indeed a birthday gift from Jehovah, to be used in proclaiming his name. May grace and strength be given me to do with my might what my hands find to do. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1940 p.16

Is it proper to have or attend celebrations of birthday anniversaries?-F. K., Nevada. 

Such celebrations have their roots in pagan religions, and not Scriptural grounds. Some Bible commentators suggest that birthday celebrations may have had their origin in the ‘notion of the immortality of the soul.’

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 1, 1951 p.607

So what you have is something that the organization participated in during the inspection of Jesus was a pagan practice, yet the organization was preaching truth.

Is The Society In Harmony With the Bible?

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Since the Society states it teaches “everything is in harmony with the bible,” I continue looking at things from historical Watchtower documents such as “The Finished Mystery” which is one work that Jesus would have inspected all world religions from 1914-1918.  As a follower of the Watchtower, I will leave it up to you as theWatchtower title says, “Make Sure of All Things, Hold Fast To What is Fine,” published in 1953.

A new view of truth can never contradict a former truth. New Light never extinguishes old light but adds to it.

Zion’s Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  February 1888 p. 188

Here are some things that the Society doesn’t want you to know.  

  1. Date setting is nothing new.  Where in the Bible does it state that Jesus would do an inspection at a specific time?  1874 was the original date for the presence of Jesus.  As I’m sure you well know, it’s now 1914.  Read on for some more quotes: 

Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. April 1, 1923 p. 106

When things were looking like nothing was going to happen, the Society started to back track as you can see with the following:

The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year. 

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  January 1, 1925 p. 3

Now let’s take another look and see how the blame has been placed:

Bible Students, known since 1931 as Jehovah’s Witnesses, also expected that the year 1925 would see the fulfillment of marvelous Bible prophecies. They surmised that at that time the earthly resurrection would begin, bringing back faithful men of old, such as Abraham, David, and Daniel. More recently, many Witnesses conjectured that events associated with the beginning of Christ’s Millennial Reign might start to take place in 1975. Their anticipation was based on the understanding that the seventh millennium of human history would begin then.

These erroneous views did not mean that God’s promises were wrong, that he had made a mistake. By no means! The mistakes or misconceptions, as in the case of first-century Christians, were due to a failure to heed Jesus’ caution, ‘You do not know the time.’ The wrong conclusions were due, not to malice or to unfaithfulness to Christ, but to a fervent desire to realize the fulfillment of God’s promises in their own time.

Awake! June 22, 1995 p.9

So in short, the “meat in due season” was placed squarely upon the people within the Society even though they were not the ones responsible for printing the material.  The members are blamed since the organization refuses to take responsibility.  All members take direction from the organization.

What else could the organization be involved in?

  1. Necromancy:  Erroneous belief based upon Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 (soul sleep)

 

Hence our dear Pastor, now in glory, is without doubt, manifesting a keen interest in the harvest work, and is permitted by the Lord to exercise some strong influence thereupon.
The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. November 1, 1917 p. 6161

So in short, Russell is conscious and actively directing.

Any manner of purported communication with the dead was condemned by God. 

Insight on the Scriptures-Volume 1.  1988 p. 500

Looking at the 1988 standard against the 1917 quote, the organization that was approved as teaching truth was in fact not.  Furthermore although the  organization officially condemns it is engaging in the practice:

What, then, can we deduce from the fact that one of the 24 elders identifies the great crowd to John?  It seems that the resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in communicating of divine truths today. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  January 1, 2007 p. 28

EVERYTHING THE WT TEACHES IS IN HARMONY WITH THE BIBLE….

Charles Taze Russell (creature worship):

Truly these words fittingly apply to our beloved Brother and Pastor!

Russell, thou hast, by the Lord been crowned a king; and through the everlasting ages thy name shall be known amongst the people, and thy enemies shall come and worship at thy feet.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. December 1, 1916 Reprints p. 6015

How much emphasis does Brother Russell have today?  How much time is devoted to telling the perspective member about him?

“With the passing of time, however, the idea adopted by many was that C.T. Russell himself was the ‘faithful and wise servant.’ This led some into the snare of creature worship.”

Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1975 p. 88

The trend shows again.  The blame for Russell worship was placed at the feet of the people who were part of the Society and not the organization.

Here’s some other things worth considering:

  1. Biblical Symbolism-nothing correct: The palm is especially the symbol of martyrdom. The Finished Mystery.  1917.  p. 138   
  2. Cannot get numbers right: The Great Company or Crowd was “properly” numbered by the society… Actual quote says: And the number of them.-“Whose number no man knoweth” Rev. 7:9.  The the number of the great company well apparently exceed 100 millions.  Num. 4:46-48 and Ex. 28:1 indicate but one priest to each 2,860 Levites, which would make the number of the Great Company approximate 411,840,000.  The Finished Mystery.  1917.  p. 102, 103

So in short, the Society knows more about numbering then John who wrote Revelation does.  How can they do so unless they are inspired?

The society has condemned the Christadelphians for preaching nothing but man made doctrines.  However, they have embraced the presence as opposed to coming of Jesus.  In short, they continue the trend and I ask, are these the doctrines of men that you wish to leave your eternal security to?