The Arrogance of their Heart has Deceived the WT. Part 3

I am continuing to score the NWT in three areas by comparing the Original Greek in the KIT to how the NWT rendered the verse in English. The three areas: 

(1) Accurate Translation from the Greek? 

(2) Devoid of Sectarian Religious Bias?

(3) Man Made or God Breathed?

John 8:58

John 8:58 in the KIT shows on the right side, the NWT has rendered the verse – “Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to You, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.’”

In the KIT (Purple Cover) the footnote on this verse states, “I have been” is properly rendered in the perfect tense.” The newer KIT (Blue Cover) states that “I have been is properly translated by the perfect indicative.” One really wonders if the WT’s right-hand knows what the left-hand is doing because the 1950 NWT states that John 8:58 was in the “perfect indefinite tense.”

In the KIT, the words on the Greek side “ego eimi” are translated “I AM.” However, if you look at the right side, the NWT side, the phrase reads, “I have been.” Look at John 8:18, 24 and 28, in each case “ego eimi” on the Greek side is translated “I am,” and on the NWT side it is also translated “I am.” But, as we saw in John 8:58, “ego eimi” on the Greek side is translated “I am” but on the English side—the NWT side—it is, “I have been.” Why the switch?

Bible scholars link John 8:58 and Exodus 3:13-14 where Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM’ has sent me to you.'"

In John 8:58, Jesus took the divine name, I AM, and applied it to himself. The WT could not have their devotees believing the Bible over their false doctrines, so what were they to do. Simple, Change the verse. Ego eimi is translated, in the NWT (right side) ‘I have been’ instead of ‘I Am.’ Now there is no link between Jesus and Jehovah—WT problem solved.

The WT to make doubly sure no JW will see the connection between John 8:58 and Exodus 3:13-14 has a footnote in the KIT (Purple Cover.) It reads, “It (ego eimi at John 8:58) is not the same as “ho ohn” meaning “The Being” or “The I Am”) at Exodus 3:14. What the WT doesn’t tell you, is that in Exodus 3:14 the entire phrase is “ego eimi ho ohn,” “I am that I am.” Knowing the entire phrase makes the connection between John 8:58 and Exodus 3:14 quite clear and the WT intellectually dishonest.

      My Score Card for John 8:58.

Acts 20:28

What did that say? God purchased the church with His own blood. But wasn’t it Jesus whose blood was shed for the sins of the world? That would make Jesus, God. Totally contrary to WT doctrine. No problem says the WT. We will just simply change Acts 20:28, “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son].” (NWT). It should be noted that the newest version of the NWT has dropped the brackets around the word "Son" so today's JW thinks the word "Son" is in the original Greek text.

Now the verse appears to be talking about God and a separate Savior, Christ Jesus.

But isn’t changing the Word of God serious business? What if a Witness looks into this and asks about the Bible being changed? No problem says the WT. Why?

The JW are told:

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

       My Score Card for Acts 20:28.

Conclusion from this three part series. 

Simply put, the goal of the organization (as stated in Part 1) has BACKFIRED. As individual JW's began to use the KIT, it was made clear that the New World Translation was a deceptive translation of the Greek.  The Watchtower Bible is merely a man made book published to promote its false teachings.  The organization had to pull the plug and no longer make this resource available. In fact, if you ask the current generation of Watchtower students about this Interlinear, you will discover that most have never even heard of it. Older JW's may have a copy of the KIT but in my experience, when I have been able to see the copy, it looks pristine, brand-new, never used. A JW told me that he did not use his because, "its Greek to me!"