Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Words Omitted (Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:19; John 14:14)

Bowman claims in his book:

"The NWT occasionally omits key words when to include them may contradict Jehovah's Witness doctrine. The most glaring example is Romans 8:1: "Therefore those in union with Christ Jesus have no condemnation," which omits the word now. This omission is evidently motivated by the fact that the Witnesses do not believe anyone can claim now to be free of condemnation.

"Also notable is Colossians 1:19: "because [God] saw good for all fullness to dwell in him." Here the little word the is omitted before fullness. This is significant, because in the NWT rendering "all fullness" is ambiguous, whereas "all the fullness" clearly refers to the fullness of God's own being (compare Col. 2:9).

"John 14:14 should also be mentioned. In the NWT this reads: "If YOU ask anything in my name, I will do it." The Greek text in the KIT [Kingdom Interlinear Translation], however, has me after ask, so that it should be translated: "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." It is true that some later Greek manuscripts omitted this word, but most of the earlier ones included it, and most modern editions of the Greek New Testament include it. At the very least, the NWT ought to have mentioned this reading in a note. - pp. 67-68.
------------------------------------------------------

But JB, NJB, CBW, NEB, NLV, and BBE also omit the word 'now' at Romans 8:1.

And the very trinitarian KJV; JB; NJB; Douay; NAB (`70); MKJV (Green); Lattimore; and Webster's also omit 'the' before 'fullness' in Col. 1:19.

And, again, at John 14:14 'me' is omitted after 'ask' in the following trinitarian Bibles: KJV; NKJV; ASV; RSV; JB; NEB; REB; MLB; LB; AB; CBW; NLV; LITV; MKJV (Green); Darby; Webster's; and Young's.

Many of them do not mention an alternate reading of 'me' in a note! And, likewise, many of the Bibles which do translate "ask me" in this verse do not mention an alternate reading without 'me'!!

This is a disputed text. There exists manuscript evidence that 'me' may not have been used by the original writer.

However, there is no such dispute about John 16:23 where John wrote: "... whatever you ask the Father for, he will give you in my name." We should ask the Father (not the Son) in Jesus' name. Therefore 'me' at John 14:14 is even more in doubt.

Bowman has access to a copy of (and is quite familiar with) the 1984 NWT Reference Bible. He repeatedly quotes from it and refers to notes in it in both this 1991 publication (Understanding Jehovah's Witnesses) and his 1989 publication, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of John.

Yes, the 1984 NWT Reference Bible (which does have notes, of course) says in a footnote for John 14:14:

14* "Ask," ADIt and in agreement with 15:16 and 16:23; P66 [Aleph] BWVgSy(h,p), "ask me."

So for Bowman to pretend here that the NWT does not even mention that some Greek manuscripts have the word 'me' in this verse is simply inexcusable!

Also see:
NYN ["now"] at Romans 8:1 New World Translation (INDWT)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.