A New Bible - The Revised 2013 New World Translation

A revised, New World Translation Bible has been released to Jehovah's Witnesses, during their Annual General Meeting this year.  This 2013 revision is supposed to make for a better, easier reading in a modern English language. 

However, there is much more to it than just that.  They have catered verses and manipulated others (Even more so than the previous edition) to suit their teachings and agenda.

Some more noteworthy aspects include the complete removal of Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:58 thru 8:11 from the Gospel accounts.

A softer, kinder ‘Father’, Jehovah is presented that does not promote women to be raped or treated like property.  For instance, Numbers 31: 17, 18 as presented in the previous revision from 1984 states:

"And now kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has had intercourse with man by lying with a male.  And preserve alive for yourselves all the little ones among the women who have not known the act of lying with a male."


In the 2013 Revision it now states:

"Now you should kill every male among the children and kill every woman who has had sexual relations with a man.  But you may keep alive all the young girls who have not had sexual relations with a man."


This provides the opportunity for Jehovah's Witnesses to believe and promote that they have a better picture of how loving Jehovah is and only those other (false) religions state from their (false) Bibles that God wanted the virgins to be taken by the men.  Their organization has increased light and understanding.

To promote the Watchtower's teaching of Jesus dying on a stake instead of a cross, they have changed the scripture in John 19:6.  In the previous 1984 edition, the verse reads:

"However, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying: "Impale [him]! Impale [him]!"  Pilate said to them: "Take him yourselves and impale him, for I do not find any fault in him."


In this new 2013 revision, they changed the scripture to suit their doctrine better:

"However, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted: "To the stake with him!  To the stake with him!"  Pilate said to them: "Take him yourselves and execute him, for I do not find any fault in him."


Additional manipulation to verses includes the Watchtower Society replacing previous listings of 'older men' to 'elders' to harmonize with their congregational arrangement.

Further along those lines, the term 'loose conduct' has been replaced with 'brazen conduct', which has been defined to the elders essentially as the going against anything the elder's state or implement. 

It provides greater latitude to the body of elders to make judgments as they see fit towards, not just the actions, but also the attitude of a Jehovah's Witness.  They have the potential to become more authoritarian and control the congregation better.

The Watchtower Society even managed to slip in their business originating term of 'governing body' into the 2013 revision of the New World Translation under the highlights section for Acts chapter 15, on page 1459:

It marks another change to the Bible to give support to the Watchtower Society ideas and practices towards Jehovah’s Witnesses; specifically, that such a group existed back in the first century and that the current spiritual leaders of the Watchtower Society (A few men who sit at headquarters), are carrying on that legacy.

The Watchtower Society promotes on the surface what may appear to many, if not most Jehovah's Witnesses, just a better and easier to read Bible.  The reality is this 2013 revision is one that has been further manipulated from their own prior translation in an appeal to authority to promote their agenda and teaching with little regard to original texts, despite their claims to the contrary. 

The leaders of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses want to control the information and manipulate emotions with this updated Bible, which in turn will impact the follower’s behavior and thinking.  All to the praise and honor of the organization...'Praise the Watchtower you people!'

Errant Beliefs - Part Three

Whether you believe Jehovah’s Witnesses are God’s chosen people, the only ‘true’ Christians, just another religion, a high level control group, or a cult, the fact is conscientiously or not, the practices and methods of Jehovah’s Witnesses incorporate usage of the BITE model found and employed within high level control groups and cults.

The BITE model describes various controls over human behavior, information, thought and emotion.

In a series of postings to this blog, eight points will be briefly highlighted – one per post - concerning errant beliefs in respects to cult and high level control group involvement.


POINT THREE: "He Has The Right To Believe What He Wants To Believe."

Some think they should not interfere due to the above perspective. Truth is, members may seem to be exercising their own free will, but this is an illusion.

When people in a controlled environment are subjected to psychosocial influences - like group conformity or behavior modification techniques - they can be manipulated into accepting a completely different belief system.

For anyone born into a belief system - religious, political or other - there comes a time when they should challenge and test assumptions. This process applies not just to cult members - It is a necessity for all mature, responsible people.


Source: Chapter 5 - "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs" by Steven Hassan

A House Divided

Jehovah's Witnesses, which one is it?

When is the Watchtower Society correct?

"No one should be forced to worship in a way that he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his beliefs and his family." - Awake July 2009, Page 29.

Or

"Really, what your beloved family member needs to see is your resolute stance to put Jehovah above eveything else - including the family bond." - Watchtower, January 15, 2013, Page 16.

It is impossible to uphold both statements.  To try and do so would be hypocritical.

Abandoned and New Teachings

If you have read the July 15, 2013 (Study Edition) Watchtower as a Jehovah's Witness, it means the following to you:



-The Watchtower Society had previously asserted that a Faithful and Discreet Slave Class has been in continual existence since the first century. That has been abandoned.



-CT Russell was a member of the faithful slave and passed on the 'truths' of the Faithful and Discreet Slave into modern times. That has been abandoned.



-The Watchtower Society has always taught that the Faithful and Discreet Slave is all anointed ones on earth. That has been abandoned.



-The Watchtower Society had rejected the idea in the past that the Faithful and Discreet Slave is a small, elite group in the Organization (See March 1, 1981 Watchtower, pp. 24-26). Now, it teaches precisely that idea, and calls what it used to reject as "apostate" thinking, "new light".  That is new.



- The Faithful and Discreet Slave is now exclusively the Governing Body (A few men residing at the Brooklyn headquarters).   That is new.



-The Watchtower Society used to teach that Jesus came invisibly in 1918 or 1919, inspected the Bible Students, chose them and appointed them over all his belongings. This has been abandoned.



-The Watchtower Society now teaches that Jesus appointed Rutherford as the first Faithful and Discreet Slave member in 1919, and appointing them over all his belongings will not happen until he arrives in the future.  That is new.



-The Watchtower Society used to teach that only the anointed were part of the domestics. This has been abandoned.



-The domestics are made up of both the anointed and great crowd. This is new.



Essentially, the Watchtower Society has abandoned core doctrines it has held as absolute truth from God for decades - some close to 100 years - and, without admitting it, is now teaching those doctrines were false, replacing them with new beliefs.

Mormon Discrediting

The Watchtower Society often attacks and attempts to discredit the beliefs and teachings of various religions.  In the February 1, 2013 issue of the Watchtower magazine, on page 9, it prints the following point that bothered a Mormon concerning their faith:

"I dug deeper into the teachings of my faith and also consulted with responsible Mormon Church leaders. I was told that the answers to my questions involved mysteries that one day would be solved as the light became brighter".


There could not be a clearer case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Fact is Jehovah's Witnesses are taught the same thing. Indeed, constant "new light" is always coming through the Watchtower Society's primary indoctrination tool the Watchtower magazine.

Perhaps the Watchtower should focus more on the Bible and less on attacking the faith of individuals, especially passages such as:

Matthew 7:3...
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"
[New King James Version]

Errant Beliefs - Part Two

Whether you believe Jehovah’s Witnesses are God’s chosen people, the only ‘true’ Christians, just another religion, a high level control group, or a cult, the fact is conscientiously or not, the practices and methods of Jehovah’s Witnesses incorporate usage of the BITE model found and employed within high level control groups and cults.

The BITE model describes various controls over human behavior, information, thought and emotion.

In a series of postings to this blog, eight points will be briefly highlighted – one per post - concerning errant beliefs in respects to cult and high level control group involvement.


POINT TWO: "He's An Adult, We Have No Right To Interfere."

Many say this about not helping a cult member. However, if a friend or family member questions his right to interfere, remind him that his love gives him the right to be concerned.

If a loved one is under the influence of destructive influence, relatives and friends have the right and the obligation to take steps to undo the process.

Once the cult member has an opportunity to learn about and recognize the features of destructive cults, and meet with former members and critics, he will be in a position to make an informed decision.

Source: Chapter 5 - "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs" by Steven Hassan

Elders' View Is God's View

This past Sunday's study article in Kingdom Halls had the organization talking out both sides of its mouth again. However, instead of the typical contradiction paragraphs, several articles apart, or even between different publications, this came from paragraph 16 on page 30 of the November 15, 2012 Watchtower magazine:

"In accord with Jehovah's will, Christian elders have been entrusted with the responsibility of handling cases of wrongdoing in the congregation.  These brothers do not have the full insight that God does, but they aim to make their decision harmonize with the direction given in God's Word under the guidance of holy spirit.  Hence, what they decide in such matters after seeking Jehovah's help in prayer will reflect his point of view"

So elders "do not have the full insight that God does", but when making a decision they "will reflect his point of view".

In other words, "Elders are imperfect men and are not inspired. However, since they say a prayer and ask for God's holy spirit, they are telling you exactly what Jehovah would say on the matter".

Here's a simple flow chart for it:

Jehovah's Witnesses Elders --> "Prays to God on Matter" --> Elders' View = God's View

Note, the paragraph does not say it "will help them reflect" or it "will assist to adjust theirs to a godly view". Rather it "will reflect" God's point of view.

The elders decision is power, control, and unquestionable authority from the sheep. After all it is God's point of view and not a human one...According to the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses.