It soon became obvious to me that NWT does not always follow what is written in the Kingdom Interlinear or the scriptures quoted by the various bibles used as comparisons by JW.
Once I began a follower of Beroean Pickets and listened to the participants stories and their experiences and observations, I felt inspired and encouraged to do my own research. Like others, I wondered how much that I considered as “The Truth” was based solely on the NWT bible.
I didn’t know how to begin my search until I realized I did have a starting point. – JW’s Examining the Scriptures. I felt relieved as looking at the whole Bible without a reference point was just too daunting.
I take the scriptures in NWT, then check them against the Berean Study Bible (BSB) and the American English Bible (AEB) aka The Septuagint and compare them against the NWT quotes. Where needed, I then go to Biblehub.com which contains 23 bible versions and all you need to do is enter the scripture you wish to research, and it will show you how each bible version reads.
What this has accomplished for me is that I am able to now quickly establish what is The Truth.
Here is an example of one of the scriptures that I used as a comparison between the NWT, BSB and AEB translations:
Ephesians 1:8
NWT: “This undeserved kindness he caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding.”
BSB: “…that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”
AEB: “[and that we have received] such an abundance of wisdom and good sense.”
On reviewing this scripture on Biblehub.com and the many bible translations it features, not one of them refers to God’s grace as “undeserved kindness” as stated in NWT.
Whenever this scripture would come up in the Watchtower or talks, I felt inadequate and as NWT stated, did not deserve the attention God gave to me. I don’t know how it affected others as I couldn’t even bring myself to ask. It was a huge relief to me that it turns out not to be true.
Why, I wonder, were we taught that we don’t deserve God’s kindness? Is it that JW believes that as long as we believe His kindness is undeserved, we will try harder?
Archived Comments
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Comment by truthrooster on 2020-11-10 22:47:02
You should thank the Watchtower for this inspiration and suggest they change the name of the publication to “Dubunking JW Scriptures Daily”. My friend had a bible reading last week and he was shocked to find out that the latest 2013 printed bible is ALREADY different than the digital version. It changed so much that he had to tell the person giving him counsel points.
Reply by Elpida on 2020-11-11 07:05:12
Truthrooster: I am absolutely grateful to JW for that as it gave me a starting point and I can't thank them enough for that.
Comment by Zacheus on 2020-11-11 00:33:17
One of my earliest wake ups with the wt was this matter of their quoting scriptures and so often after that saying something like "therefore we conclude..." Therefore we believe..". My reality check came when i read the scriptures either side of the ones quoted and/or the full chapter quoted from.
Reply by Chet on 2020-11-11 00:49:10
Reading in context has made the Bible come alive for me. Until I did so, I never realized to what extent the Watchtower and related publications employed some very selective verse checking. The next step is to ask why? What could one possibly hope to gain by twisting the meaning of scripture? I have my views and opinions, but if I’m wrong, I’d rather know that I’m wrong, instead of clinging to cherished notions and fooling myself into believing something that is not scripturally supported.
Reply by Elpida on 2020-11-11 07:06:11
Chat: That's exactly what it did for me too. What is so meaningful for me is to learn so much from others who are on the same quest of wanting to know the real truth.
Reply by Elpida on 2020-11-11 07:05:52
Zacheus: Yes, I started to pay attention also to the accompanying sides. The habit JW has for quoting half a verse, led me to investigate and see what the full verse was. That was an eye-opening experience and what that did is alerted me to continue doing so.
Reply by Ad_Lang on 2020-12-08 12:24:03
I have never had that as strong as I have it now with Romans 13:1-4 that they keep quoting as a reason to "obey" the government directions. I already used this one in my letter on their (I should say "our") dealing with child sexual abuse cases.
The problem is that Romans 13:1-4 does not start with verse 1, but it starts at capter 12v17, which tells us to not return evil for evil to anyone. The subject matter also isn't over at verse 4, but as verse 7.
Therefore, the "superiour authorities" are there as a temporary implementation of the expression of Jehovah's wrath against evildoing, until the wicked will be done away with permanently. This implementation allows us, in turn, to focus on doing good. Only recently, I came to an appreciation of the difference this makes. In fact, it can mean the difference between life and death, and one's hope for a future.
Comment by Chet on 2020-11-11 00:54:12
The whole “undeserved kindness” thing is meant to enhance a feeling of unworthiness. Most translations use the word “grace”. God owes us nothing, but He extends grace to us. Calling that undeserved kindness emphasizes the negative aspects of all this. Grace is a gift, and we should be thankful. But it has been granted us, and we should not detract by expressing this gift in unflattering and negative terms.
Reply by Elpida on 2020-11-11 06:52:28
Chat: That's exactly what it did to me. It made me feel not only unworthy but discouraging. I am just sorry that I believed that God would say that.
Reply by Chet on 2020-11-11 17:13:29
These guys are a study in psychological manipulation. From the perspective of my current stage in life, it seems obvious, but for a well-meaning teen, exposed to these teachings, their psyche warfare can be very effective. It had affected my life ever since.
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-11-11 04:22:03
Well done Elpida. Bible Hub is a wonderful tool, which also includes a Hebrew Interlinear. You will find an excellent example of scripture twisting if you examine Leviticus 5:1 (which just happens to be a topic that will be discussed at the midweek meeting, next week
This is used to justify reporting on another's wrongdoing, and .the thought is rammed home from time to time, making a person feel that he will lose God's favour if he does not report what he had seen. .
It is clear from Bible Hub that the scripture is calling for witnesses to come forward where some sort of crime had been committed, and emphasises the responsibility a person would have if we had evidence and withheld it.
Even if it might be right for a person to "snitch" on a sinner, the correct path must be, and it is brought out in the comments next week, to talk to them first.
But the important thing is that Leviticus 5:1 is not discussing snitching.
You are doing the right thing, in comparing different translations. Keep it up. You will know the truth that way.Reply by Elpida on 2020-11-11 06:38:12
Thank you, Leonardo for your encouragement. I am so grateful to be one of Beroean Pickets' followers. I feel that I am home now and on the right path. Knowing I am not alone in pursuing the truth, is an extra bonus to be grateful for.
Comment by Menrov on 2020-11-14 03:01:10
Hi, besides biblehub.com, you can also use studybible.info. In my view also a good resource.
A translator has some freedom to choose the words. So, I can respect differences as long as the meaning remains the same and that the chosen words are not in support of a "personal" agenda. In this case, undeserved kindness is the result of a "personal" agenda.Reply by a watcher on 2020-11-15 15:13:00
I like the phrase "undeserved kindness". It reminds me to be humble and thankful.