Jason BeDuhn, like you and me both is biased. If you think his arguments are compelling then you must agree that a Catholic translation and the NWT are the best? (Does Watchtower tell you he also likes the Catholic Bible?). *BeDuhn is not a scholar of Greek. He does not have his doctorate in languages, but in comparitive religion. He is hardly an expert in translations, but the Watchtower Society promotes him as a expert because he likes their version.
*
BeDuhn is also critical of the NWT for that reason. The Watchtower Society tries to insert their belief system onto the text by using the word 'Jehovah' into the NT. *There are many changes other than the one you mention though.
It would seem that the Watchtower society is trying to shield their paraphrase from scrutiny by not revealing who the 'translators' are nor their qualifications.*
Excellent point! Likewise I would not put my trust solely in a mormon version. I much prefer translations that are independant of any denomination or cult....and where credentials of translators are not hidden.*
You seem to have already agreed the NWT has a bias by using the word Jehovah in the NT.*
Rather than accurately translate, scripture is changed to fit JW beliefs. For example Col.1:16 in theJW Bible reads "because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth..."
The NWT adds the word "other" to this verse to make their Bible fit church doctrine that Christ is a created being. It is only the Anonymous Watchtower 'translators' *who add the word. All other teams of translators say something like..."For in him all things were created:A)" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29482A" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; widows: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">things in heaven and on earth..."
The above is just one of many example showing the NWT is a corrupt paraphrase meant to fit church doctrine...and not an actual accurate translation.*
The Watchtower doesn't talk about Dr. BeDuhn. I can't remember if they even ever mentioned him. It is I myself who discovered him and read his book, which I bought either from Barnes & Noble or through Biblical Archaeology Review. I tell my friends about the book. Most of them haven't heard of him.
No the WT didn't tell me that he likes the Catholic Bible (NAB) too. I have known that ever since I read his book.
Whatever changes there are, in the NWT, from other versions, is because the NWT gets it right! I don't know how you can say that Dr. BeDuhn doesn't know Greek, because he sure seems to know it.
There are NO VERSIONS that are independent of a denomination. If you know of one, please let me know.
Yes, the NWT translation committee is biased, and they know that "Jehovah" appears
at least in the quotations from the Old Testament. That is reasonable, because Jehovah's name does appear in the O.T., so to include his name in the quote seems legitimate.
I get the same meaning out of Colossians 1:16 that
leaves out "other." We already know that Colossians tells us that Jesus is the first OF creations (verse 15)...the first being created by God Himself. So when it says (without "other") that Jesus created all things, it's a no-brainer that we understand that he created all things
after he was brought into existence. I don't need the word "other" in there to tell me what I already know. Anyway, it is clear that "other" is legitimate, because it just truthfully rounds out the statement. Have you noticed in other versions that there are lots of words in italics that have been
added? It's not a surreptitious tactic to deceive someone.
The KJV, at John 1:18, says this, for example: "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared
him."
"Him" was not there in the original sentence. It just said, "he hath declared." Are you going to argue that the King James committee should not have added "him"?
You can bluster all you want about the NWT. It's all hot air. What did Shakespeare say? "Methinks thou protesteth too much." ? It doesn't do any good to get so heated up over the NWT. We'll use ANY version to show you the truth. We used the KJV and the American Standard Bible for many years before we got the NWT.