Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible: Origin Of The New World Translation

Unveiling the New World Translation: A Guide for Christian Readers

Your Journey to Understand God’s Word

isn’t it wonderful that you have a heart to understand God’s Word more deeply? That desire is a precious gift! Sometimes, our journey leads us to learn about different viewpoints, maybe even different Bible translations. You might meet lovely neighbors or friends who use a Bible version that’s new to you, like the one used by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Remember, the Bible itself is God’s incredible gift to us, a treasure chest overflowing with wisdom and life-giving guidance.¹ Taking the time to understand how different folks approach this sacred book shows you’re seeking truth, and that’s something to celebrate!

You know, the fact that there are different Bible translations, especially one linked so closely to a group like Jehovah’s Witnesses, really highlights how faith, deeply held beliefs, and understanding ancient writings all come together.² Often, the differences aren’t just about changing a word here or there; they can reflect different understandings about God, about our precious Savior Jesus Christ, and about core beliefs we hold dear.² For many Christians, teachings like the Trinity and the full divinity of Jesus are foundational. So, understanding the Jehovah’s Witness Bible means looking at how it handles passages related to these important truths.² Our goal here is to provide clear, well-researched information in a way that’s easy to grasp, always respecting your faith while offering helpful insights. Believe that God wants you to have clarity and understanding!

What Exactly is the Jehovah’s Witness Bible? (Introducing the NWT)

So, what is this Bible translation we’re talking about? The main one used, published, and shared by Jehovah’s Witnesses all around the world is called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. You’ll often see it shortened to NWT. It’s produced by their main organization, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (often called WTS), which is based in New York.

Let’s look at some key points about the NWT:

• Who Publishes It? The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and groups connected to it.
• Who Uses It Most? Jehovah’s Witnesses primarily use this translation.·
• What Do They Say About It? Jehovah’s Witnesses describe their NWT as an accurate Bible, easy to read, translated into today’s English right from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages.²
• How Widely Shared Is It? It’s actually one of the most distributed Bibles on the planet! The Watch Tower Society reports printing over 240 million copies (either the whole Bible or parts) in more than 300 languages recently.· That’s amazing reach!

It’s important to know that the NWT is distinct from the Bible versions many Christian churches use day-to-day, like the King James Version (KJV), the New International Version (NIV), the English Standard Version (ESV), or the New American Standard Bible (NASB).· To understand the NWT, we need to see its unique place: it’s not just another translation you might find in a bookstore; it’s the official translation promoted and used by a specific religious group, Jehovah’s Witnesses. Creating it and sharing it widely is a big part of their ministry and who they are. Often, the Watch Tower Society presents the NWT as a needed improvement over other Bibles, especially older ones like the KJV. They might mention reasons like old-fashioned language or the need to put God’s personal name, “Jehovah,” back into the text.· This naturally sets up a comparison, and sometimes a contrast, with the Bibles that most Christian readers, like you, know and trust.

Why Did They Feel the Need for a New Bible? (Exploring the Stated Motivations)

You might be wondering, “Why did Jehovah’s Witnesses decide to make their own Bible translation?” That’s a great question! Before the NWT, they used other Bibles, like the King James Version.· So, why the change? They give several official reasons for creating the New World Translation:

• Speaking Today’s Language: A big goal was to put the Bible into modern English. They wanted to remove the old words and sentence styles found in versions like the KJV, making it simpler for people today to read and understand.· That desire for clarity is understandable!
• Getting Back to the Originals: The publishers aimed to base their translation on what they believed were the best and oldest Hebrew and Greek manuscripts available. They wanted to use the latest scholarship and discoveries that happened after older Bibles like the KJV were made.· They mention using specific scholarly texts like the Westcott and Hort Greek text early on, and later referring to others like the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.¹·
• Restoring God’s Name: This is a really central reason for them. They strongly desired to put God’s personal name ” represented by YHWH in Hebrew ” back into the Bible text.¹² The NWT uses the name “Jehovah” not just the nearly 7,000 times it appears in the Old Testament Hebrew also 237 times in the New Testament. They believe the name was originally there but later got replaced with titles like “Lord” or “God”.¹ They feel other translations fall short by leaving this name out.¹²
• Being True to Their Beliefs: The Watch Tower Society openly states the NWT was needed to help people learn the “accurate knowledge of truth,” which they see as God’s will.¹² Their goal was a translation “in harmony with revealed truth” as they understand it.² From their perspective, this makes sure the Bible accurately reflects God’s message. But people outside their group often see this differently. Critics suggest this motivation led the translators to change parts of the Bible to match existing Jehovah’s Witness doctrines, instead of letting the Bible shape their doctrines.²

Isn’t it interesting how these reasons come together? While wanting modern language and using updated manuscripts are goals shared by many Bible translation projects today 18, the strong focus the Watch Tower Society puts on restoring the name “Jehovah” (especially in the New Testament) and making sure the translation aligns with their specific understanding of “accurate knowledge” points to a unique theological purpose behind the NWT. This suggests the NWT isn’t just for reading; it’s also a tool to reinforce the distinct beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses.² Plus, the way they explain the need for the NWT often involves pointing out what they see as flaws in widely accepted Christian Bibles (like the KJV’s language or the lack of “Jehovah” in most Bibles), which implicitly challenges the reliability of the very versions trusted by many Christians.·

Who Were the Translators Behind the Curtain? (Unveiling the Anonymous Committee)

One thing that makes the New World Translation quite different, and something people often talk about, is that the original translation committee remained anonymous. Think about most major modern Bibles ” they usually list the names and the impressive qualifications of the scholars who worked on them.¹¸ But the Watch Tower Society has never officially released the names of the people who produced the NWT.³

• Why the Secrecy? The Official Reason: According to Watch Tower publications, the members of the “New World Bible Translation Committee” actually asked to remain anonymous.¹ Why? They say it was out of humility. They reportedly didn’t want any attention or glory for themselves; they wanted all the credit to go to God, the true Author of the Bible.· They felt the translation should point people to God, not to the human translators.· That’s a noble thought, isn’t it?
• Identities Revealed Anyway: Despite the official position, the names of the main committee members did become known over time. This happened mostly because former high-ranking Jehovah’s Witnesses shared the information.³¹ A key source is Raymond Franz. He was once part of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses (their top leadership group) and was also the nephew of another important figure involved. He’s one of the main people who identified the translators.· The names most often Mentioned as being on that original committee are:
• Nathan H. Knorr (He was the WTS President then)´
• Frederick W. Franz (WTS Vice President, and later became President)¹
• Albert D. Schroeder (Later became a Governing Body member)´
• George D. Gangas (Also a Governing Body member)´
• Milton G. Henschel (Knorr’s secretary, and later became WTS President)´
• Sometimes Karl F. Klein (also later a Governing Body member) is included too.³¹
• Why Critics Question the Anonymity: Many people outside the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization look at the official reason of humility and wonder if there’s more to it.³¹ They suggest that maybe the anonymity was also helpful to hide the fact that the committee members didn’t have the kind of formal scholarly degrees and recognized expertise in biblical languages that you’d usually expect for such a huge and important project.¹ Keeping the names secret meant that outside scholars couldn’t easily check the translators’ qualifications.

This deliberate anonymity creates an interesting situation. On one side, the Watch Tower Society emphasizes its own role as God’s special channel for spiritual truth and correct Bible understanding.¹ But on the other side, the very people responsible for creating their main Bible text were kept hidden, shielding their specific qualifications and how they did the translation from outside academic review. The fact that the names eventually came out through former insiders, like Raymond Franz, who later became critical of the organization 7, adds another layer. It hints that maybe the original policy of anonymity wasn’t without its own internal questions or perhaps was reconsidered later on. It makes you think, doesn’t it?

Were the NWT Translators Experts in Ancient Languages? (Examining Qualifications and Criticisms)

This leads us to a really important point of discussion about the New World Translation: what about the qualifications of the people identified as being on that translation committee? When you look at major, mainstream Bible translation projects, they usually involve big teams of scholars. These folks typically have recognized PhDs and lots of experience in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, how languages work, and biblical studies.¹¸ Critics often argue that the NWT committee just didn’t have that same level of recognized expertise.¹

• What Were Their Qualifications Generally? Based on what former members and critics have shared, the general view outside the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization is that most members of the NWT committee didn’t have the academic credentials usually expected for translating the Bible from its original languages.
• It’s reported that four of the five main members named (Knorr, Schroeder, Gangas, Henschel) only had high school educations or maybe some college experience that wasn’t related to biblical languages.¹¹ For example, Albert Schroeder apparently studied mechanical engineering before leaving college.³¹
• What About Frederick W. Franz? He’s consistently pointed out as the main translator on the committee and the only one with any formal training in biblical languages.¹ What was his background? He studied classical Greek (not specifically the Koine Greek of the New Testament) for two years at the University of Cincinnati but left without getting a degree.´ He said he taught himself Hebrew.´ self-study can definitely lead to skill it doesn’t have the same kind of rigorous checking and standardized testing that comes with formal academic training. George Gangas reportedly knew modern Greek that’s quite different from the Koine Greek the New Testament was written in.³¹
• The Court Case in Scotland (1954): There’s a famous story often brought up regarding Frederick Franz’s qualifications. It comes from a court case in Scotland (Walsh v. Lord Advocate). While being questioned under oath, Franz stated that he knew Hebrew and could read the Bible in Hebrew and Greek, along with other languages.´ But later in that same questioning, when asked to translate Genesis 2:4 (a relatively straightforward verse) from English into Hebrew, he replied, “No. I wouldn’t attempt to do that”.³¹ Critics often point to this moment as evidence that even the committee’s most knowledgeable member lacked basic proficiency in Hebrew, raising doubts about the whole committee’s ability to produce a scholarly translation from the original languages.¹¹ (There was an earlier, separate incident in 1913 where the founder, C.T. Russell, admitted under oath he didn’t know the Greek alphabet, despite claims of expertise 52).
• How Does the Watch Tower Society Respond? The Watch Tower Society defends the NWT’s quality by highlighting its faithfulness to the original message (as they see it), its use of respected manuscript sources like Westcott and Hort or the Biblia Hebraica, its modern language, and its restoration of God’s name, Jehovah.¹² They also sometimes share positive, though occasionally qualified, comments from a few outside reviewers who have praised certain aspects of the NWT’s accuracy or usefulness.¹³ They don’t usually talk directly about the specific academic credentials (or lack thereof) of the original committee members. Instead, they focus on the good points they see in the final translation and the principles they used.

So, there’s a noticeable gap between the documented qualifications of the NWT committee and the standards usually expected in the world of academic Bible translation. This is a major reason why the NWT gets a lot of criticism from mainstream biblical scholars. The concerns aren’t just about different interpretations about whether the committee had the fundamental language and scholarly skills needed to accurately handle the complexities of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.¹ The Watch Tower Society’s way of defending it seems to avoid directly addressing the committee’s credentials, choosing instead to emphasize positive reviews and how the translation fits their specific theological priorities.

How is the NWT Different from Bibles like the KJV or NIV? (Highlighting Key Translation Choices)

When you open the New World Translation, you’ll notice quite a few places where it reads differently from the Bibles many of us are familiar with, like the King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), or New American Standard Bible (NASB). Critics often argue that many of these differences aren’t just small matters of style or slight variations in meaning. They suggest there’s a consistent pattern of changing the text to support specific Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, especially about who God is and who Jesus Christ is.² Let’s look at some of the most talked-about examples so you can see for yourself: One notable area of contention is the translation of key biblical terms and phrases that directly relate to the nature of God and Christ. For those seeking clarity on these matters, an examination of the king james bible differences explained can provide valuable insights into the theological implications behind these variations. Understanding these distinctions can enhance one’s grasp of the interpretations that shape differing perspectives within Christianity. Exploring these differences not only sheds light on the translation choices but also prompts a deeper investigation into the underlying doctrines of the faith. For those interested in a broader understanding, a ‘jehovah’s witnesses beliefs overview‘ can offer context on how these translations align with or diverge from mainstream Christian doctrines. This awareness can ultimately foster more informed discussions about the Bible and its interpretations across various denominations.

John 1:1 – “the Word was a god”:

• NWT: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” 2
• Standard Bibles (KJV, NIV, ESV, NASB, etc.): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
• Why it Matters: This is probably the most famous difference. By translating the last word theos (God) as “a god,” the NWT supports the Jehovah’s Witness belief that Jesus (the Word) is a powerful divine being not Almighty God Himself, and not equal with the Father.´ The WTS explains this choice by pointing out that the Greek word theos in this part of the verse doesn’t have the word “the” (the definite article) before it. They argue this means it’s describing a quality (being divine) rather than identifying Him as the God. But critics argue that Greek grammar doesn’t force this translation, that the NWT isn’t consistent (it doesn’t translate other instances of theos without “the” as “a god”), and that this rendering is mainly driven by a theological bias against the full divinity of Christ.²

Colossians 1:16-17 – Adding the word “other”:

• NWT (2013): “because by means of him all other things were created… All other things have been created through him and for him.” (Note: Earlier NWT editions used brackets: “other”) 60
• Standard Bibles: “For by him all things were created… All things were created through him and for him.”
• Why it Matters: The word “other” simply isn’t in the original Greek text.² The NWT adds it to fit the JW doctrine that Jesus Himself is a created being (they point to “firstborn of all creation” in verse 15) and therefore couldn’t have created Himself; He must have created all other things.² Critics say this addition completely changes the meaning, lessening Christ’s role as the ultimate Creator of absolutely everything, seen and unseen.² When the 2013 revision removed the brackets, it made this addition look less like an interpretation and more like it was part of the original text all along, which could be confusing for readers.´

Using “Jehovah” in the New Testament:

• NWT: Puts the name “Jehovah” in 237 times where the Greek text has Kyrios (Lord) or Theos (God).¹´
• Standard Bibles: Translate Kyrios as “Lord” and Theos as “God.”
• Why it Matters: The WTS says they are restoring God’s name where it originally belonged.¹´ But there are no existing ancient Greek New Testament manuscripts that actually contain God’s Hebrew name (YHWH).¹· Critics argue this insertion is based on guesswork and is done selectively. They suggest it’s used to make a distinction between references to the Father (“Jehovah”) and references to Jesus (“Lord”), which reinforces the JW denial that Jesus is Jehovah/YHWH, even when New Testament writers apply Old Testament passages about YHWH directly to Jesus.²

Titus 2:13 and Hebrews 1:8 – Avoiding Calling Jesus “God” Directly:

• Titus 2:13 (NWT): “…the glorious manifestation of the great God and of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” (This wording separates “God” and “Savior, Jesus Christ”)
• Titus 2:13 (Standard – e.g., ESV): “…the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (This wording identifies Jesus Christ as both God and Savior)
• Hebrews 1:8 (NWT 2013): “But about the Son, he says: ‘God is your throne forever and ever…’”
• Hebrews 1:8 (Standard – e.g., ESV): “But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…’” (This wording directly addresses the Son as “O God”)
• Why it Matters: In both cases, the NWT renderings avoid the direct application of the title “God” to Jesus Christ that you find in many standard translations. This fits consistently with JW theology.¹¹

John 8:58 – “I have been” vs. “I am”:

• NWT: “Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.’”
• Standard Bibles: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’”
• Why it Matters: Many Christians see the standard rendering “I am” (which is ego eimi in Greek) as Jesus deliberately using the same phrase God used to identify Himself in Exodus 3:14 (“I AM WHO I AM”). This implies Jesus’ eternal existence and His deity. The NWT rendering “I have been” obscures this powerful connection.¹¹

Other Interesting Differences:

• “Torture Stake” vs. “Cross”: The NWT consistently uses “torture stake” instead of “cross” for the Greek word stauros. This reflects the JW belief that Jesus died on an upright pole, not the traditional cross shape.²
• No “Hell”: Words like Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus (Greek), which are often translated as “Hell” or refer to the afterlife, are usually translated differently (like “the Grave”) or just spelled out (transliterated). This aligns with the JW denial of a place of eternal torment.²
• “Presence” vs. “Coming”: The Greek word parousia is often translated as “presence” instead of “coming.” This fits the JW belief that Christ’s return wasn’t a visible event but an invisible “presence” that started in the early 1900s.²
• Acts 20:28: The NWT avoids saying God bought the church “with his own blood”.¹¹
• John 14:14: Older NWT versions left out the word “me” in “If you ask me anything in my name,” which could potentially downplay praying directly to Jesus.´

Do you see the pattern? These translation choices consistently line up with specific JW doctrines, especially in places where other Bibles present a different theological picture (particularly about God and Christ). This leads critics to believe that the NWT is shaped more by pre-existing theological beliefs than just by objective language principles.² The fact that the 2013 revision removed the brackets around the added word “other” in Colossians 1:16 might make this theological shaping less obvious to someone just reading it, making the interpretation seem like it was the original text all along.´

Comparison of Key Verses: NWT vs. Standard Translations

Is the NWT Considered Accurate by Bible Scholars? (Balancing Claims and Critiques)

Okay, so we’ve seen some differences. The big question: is the New World Translation considered accurate by Bible scholars? Well, this is where opinions really differ between the Watch Tower Society and most independent biblical experts.

• What the Watch Tower Society Says (and Supporters): Jehovah’s Witnesses truly believe the NWT is an accurate and faithful translation of God’s precious Word.¸ They highlight its modern language, how it’s based on reliable ancient manuscripts (often comparing it favorably to the KJV’s older sources), and, very importantly to them, how it restores God’s personal name, “Jehovah”.¹³ To back this up, they often point to positive comments made by certain scholars who have acknowledged some good points in the NWT. For instance:
• Edgar J. Goodspeed, a well-known Bible translator, reportedly praised the 1950 NWT New Testament as “free, frank and vigorous” and showing “sound serious learning”.¹³
• Allen Wikgren from the University of Chicago mentioned the NWT had “independent readings of merit”.¹³
• Benjamin Kedar, a Hebrew scholar from Israel, said in 1989 about the NWT’s Old Testament part: “this work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible.” He also added that in the OT part he looked at, he “never come upon an obviously erroneous rendition which would find its explanation in a dogmatic bias”.¹³
• Jason BeDuhn, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies, wrote a book in 2003 called Truth in Translation. In it, he concluded that the NWT “emerges as the most accurate of the translations compared.” It’s important to note, though, that this was based on his specific way of comparing nine English Bibles, focusing heavily on how literally and consistently they translated certain key words.¹³ BeDuhn also clearly talks about bias in translation and notes that the NWT does reflect the theological views of Jehovah’s Witnesses, even though he defines “bias” a bit differently than just being dishonest.³
• What Most Other Scholars Say (The Critique): Despite the points raised by the WTS, the vast majority of mainstream biblical scholars (from Evangelical, Catholic, and Protestant backgrounds) are highly critical of the NWT.¹ The main criticism centers on doctrinal bias. These scholars argue that the translation was deliberately changed in many places to fit Jehovah’s Witness theology, especially where it concerns denying the Trinity and the full divinity of Jesus Christ.² Specific criticisms include:
• Lack of Qualified Translators: As we discussed earlier, critics point out that the translation committee didn’t have the expected scholarly credentials.¹
• Inconsistent Translation: They note times when the NWT translates the same Greek words or grammar differently, depending on whether the passage supports or contradicts JW beliefs (like how they handle theos without “the” in John 1:1 versus other places in John).²
• Adding Words: Putting in words like “other” in Colossians 1:16, which aren’t in the original Greek, is seen as clearly altering the text.²
• Specific Mistranslations: Scholars like Bruce Metzger, while acknowledging some “scholarly equipment,” found “several quite erroneous renderings” driven by doctrine.´´ H.H. Rowley called it “a shining example of how the Bible should not be translated”.¹¹ Gordon Fee described it as filled with “heretical doctrines”.· Many even call it a “perversion” rather than a true “version” of the Bible.²
• Finding the Balance: It’s true that no Bible translation is absolutely perfect; translating always involves some level of interpretation.² Translators have to make choices about how to bring ancient phrases and complex grammar into our language today. But the criticism against the NWT usually goes deeper than just disagreeing over small choices. The main charge is that it systematically and intentionally changes the text in theologically important ways to match the specific doctrines of the Watch Tower Society.²

So, the scholarly world is largely divided on the NWT. Although the WTS emphasizes aspects like literalness or positive comments from a few reviewers, the broad consensus within mainstream Christian scholarship sees the NWT as unreliable because of major theological bias affecting key verses. It’s worth remembering that even scholars the WTS quotes positively, like BeDuhn, acknowledge the translation reflects JW theology. His finding of “most accurate” was based on specific comparison points focused heavily on literal consistency, not necessarily on theological soundness as understood in traditional Christianity.¹³

How Can We Approach the New World Translation with Wisdom? (Guidance for Christian Readers)

Encountering the New World Translation or chatting about faith with Jehovah’s Witnesses can be a part of living out our Christian walk. It’s so important to approach these moments with understanding, wisdom, and a whole lot of grace. Here are a few encouraging thoughts to keep in mind: Listening to their perspective can open doors for meaningful conversations and foster mutual respect. Remember, understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs will not only aid in dialogue but can also provide insights into their commitment to their faith. This approach allows for a more compassionate exchange that honors both your convictions and theirs.

• Recognize Their Sincerity: It’s good to remember that the Jehovah’s Witnesses you meet who use the NWT are usually very sincere in their beliefs. They genuinely see their translation as accurate and honoring to God. When we start conversations by respecting their devotion (even when we disagree on important doctrines), it can open doors for better communication. Let’s approach them with love!
• Know the Key Differences: As we’ve seen, the NWT has some major translation choices that directly affect core Christian beliefs, especially about who Jesus is and the nature of God (like the Trinity).² Being aware of these specific differences (like in John 1:1, Colossians 1:16, the use of “Jehovah” in the NT, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8) helps us understand why their beliefs differ from what Christians have historically taught. Knowledge equips us!
• Trust Your Trusted Translations: For your own personal study, for growing closer to God, and for understanding the foundations of our faith, it’s wise to rely on well-established, mainstream Bible translations. These are the ones put together by committees of recognized scholars from various Christian backgrounds. Versions like the NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, and others have gone through careful scholarly review and are trusted across many denominations.¹¸ These translations reflect the broad agreement of Christian scholarship on what the original texts mean. Lean on these reliable resources!
• Understand Their View of Authority: It’s helpful to realize that for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Watch Tower Society (specifically their Governing Body) holds the final say on how to interpret the Bible.¹ They are taught to trust the NWT and the Society’s publications as the reliable source for understanding God’s Word. So, just pointing out a difference in translation might not convince them, because their trust lies with the WTS’s authority.
• Focus on Common Ground (When You Can): While talking about translation differences might be necessary sometimes, focusing on shared beliefs or core truths that are clear even in the NWT can be a good starting point. Themes like God’s amazing love, the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice for forgiving our sins 101, and the hope we have in God’s Kingdom are central, even if the interpretations differ. But be ready, because conversations often lead back to the unique JW doctrines reflected in their translation.

Understanding the New World Translation means knowing where it came from within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization, why they created it, how its text differs from standard Bibles, and how the wider scholarly community views it. For us as Christians, this understanding can deepen our appreciation for the reliable Bibles we use and equip us to engage with kindness and knowledge when we meet those who use the NWT. Keep seeking truth, and trust God to guide you!