KingdomRose said:
The Watchtower doesn't talk about Dr. BeDuhn.
Perhaps... I assumed that JW.org was an extension of the watchtower. BeDuhn is certainly promoted by many JW's as an authority.
KingdomRose said:
Whatever changes there are, in the NWT, from other versions, is because the NWT gets it right!
Your trust in the anonomous translators.... is noted.
KingdomRose said:
I don't know how you can say that Dr. BeDuhn doesn't know Greek, because he sure seems to know it.
You slightly misrepresented what I said. I had said "BeDuhn is not a scholar of Greek. He does not have his doctorate in languages, but in comparitive religion."
My son in law also knows Greek and has a PhD in religion. That hardly qualifies him as a Greek scholar. Nor does it mean he is necessarily capable of critical comparitive analysis of texts from those who are Greek scholars.
KingdomRose said:
There are NO VERSIONS that are independent of a denomination. If you know of one, please let me know.
Hmmmmmmm.....I suspect various denominations have contributed towards various translations, That is quite different that the NWT...a paraphrase / translation made to fit a doctrine... and all by anonymous 'translators'.
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.
KingdomRose said:
I get the same meaning out of Colossians 1:16that leaves out "other."
That isn't the argument. The argument is that the JW Bible inserted a word to help lend credibility to their beliefs.
KingdomRose said:
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,
Again..... That is a little dishonest. Even the JW Bible dioes not say Jesus is the "first OF creations". What it really calls Him is the first born... which is a title as explained here...
"The Jehovah's Witnesses interpret the word "firstborn" here to mean "first created" because it is consistent with their theological presupposition that Jesus is a created thing. Of course, Jesus, the Word become flesh (John 1:1, 14) is not a created thing but that hasn't stopped the Watchtower organization from claiming He is. Nevertheless, there is a Greek word for "first created," and it was in use at the time of Paul's writing to the Colossians. He did not use it here. The Greek for "firstborn" is proto with tikto which would give us "firstborn" and that is what we find here in Colossians 1:15. The Greek for "first created" would be proto with ktizo, and it is not used here.
Second, the Biblical use of the word "firstborn" is most interesting. It can mean the first born child in a family (Luke 2:7), but it can also mean "pre-eminence." In Psalm 89:20, 27 it says, "I have found David My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him . . . I also shall make him My first-born," (NASB). As you can see, David, who was the last one born in his family, was called the firstborn by God. This is a title of preeminence.
Third, firstborn is also a title that is transferable:
•Gen. 41:51-52, "And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: For, said he, God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."
•Jer. 31:9, " . . . for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn."
Scripture best interprets Scripture. Firstborn does not require a meaning of first created as the Jehovah's Witnesses say it means here. "Firstborn" can mean the first born person in a family, and it can also be a title of preeminence which is transferable. That is obvious since Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14) and is also the first born son of Mary. In addition, He is the pre-eminent one in all things. The Jehovah's Witnesses should consider this when they examine Col. 1:15. They should also abandon the Watchtower which guides them in their thinking and believing"
CARM.
KingdomRose said:
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"?
If for any reason I questioned that translation I could compare to many other translations of whom we know the translation team members and their credentials.. The example I provided you from the JW Bible is clearly different. A word was inserted to fit JW doctrine, Comparing to all other major ttanslations... NONE added the word to change the meaning.
For the record.....
New International Version
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
New Living Translation
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.
English Standard Version
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Berean Study Bible
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side, has made Him known.
Berean Literal Bible
No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.
New American Standard Bible
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
King James Bible
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son-- the One who is at the Father's side-- He has revealed Him.
International Standard Version
No one has ever seen God. The unique God, who is close to the Father's side, has revealed him.
NET Bible
No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
No man has seen God at any time; The Only Begotten God Who is in the bosom of The Father, he has declared him.”
GOD'S WORD® Translation
No one has ever seen God. God's only Son, the one who is closest to the Father's heart, has made him known.
New American Standard 1977
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
Jubilee Bible 2000
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
King James 2000 Bible
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
American King James Version
No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
American Standard Version
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him .
Douay-Rheims Bible
No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Darby Bible Translation
No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, *he* hath declared [him].
English Revised Version
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Webster's Bible Translation
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Weymouth New Testament
No human eye has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the Father's bosom--He has made Him known.
World English Bible
No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
Young's Literal Translation
God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare.