Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit Their Beliefs? Part 1

The article quoted in my title is here at JW.ORG. JW speak is in BLUE.

Two questions, in the WT article are asked and answered. I will look into each and as you read my answers compare them with the WT answers, keeping in mind this WT phrase: “Theocratic War Strategy.” I have blogged about this phrase here.

WT QUESTION #1. Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit their Beliefs?

The WT answer: “No, we haven’t. On the contrary, when we have discovered that our beliefs were not completely in line with the Bible, we have changed our beliefs.”

The WT then states: “Consider a few EXAMPLES of long-standing beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and decide for yourself whether they match what the Bible really teaches.”

WT Example #1. “What we believe: God is not a Trinity.” The WT then points to three (3) verses to “prove” their point: Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Corinthians 8:6 and John 14:28. Their position is that Jesus is not God and the Holy Spirit is not God.

In making their case AGAINST the Trinity doctrine, the WT follows their usual pattern. They either (1) Quote only those verses that support their doctrine and ignore those that don't. If they considered all of scripture, their doctrine would have to change. (2) If the Holy Spirit inspired, Greek Manuscripts clash with WT doctrine, the translations of the Greek Manuscripts are changed (English words are added or deleted). This manipulation gives the appearance that WT doctrine aligns with the original Greek. What the WT should do is align their doctrine with the original Greek and not change the translation of the original Greek to align with their doctrine.

To “prove” that Jesus is NOT GOD the WT engages in its most damning activity—changing scripture. Below are just two (2) of the many examples of this WT manipulation.

Manipulation #1. Below is page 880 out of the WT’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (KIT). You can download a free copy of the KIT here. (A description of the KIT, why it is a good source document and how to use it is here.) Read Colossians 1:16-17 from the Left Side, the Original Greek God breathed side, then read the WT translation (which is the New World Translation) from the right side and ask yourself, "Is the Translation True to the Original Greek?"

The Greek word used for “all things” in Colossians is exactly the same Greek word used in Heb. 3:4, “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of all things,” and John 1:3 “Through Him (Jesus) all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” All these verses are clear proof that Jesus created all things and is, therefore, God.

WT doctrine holds that Jesus did not create all things. The WT says that Jehovah created Jesus and then gave Jesus the “blue prints” to create all other things with God providing the power.

What is the WT to do with Colossians, where scripture tells us—not once or twice but four (4) times—that Jesus created all things? Simple, change Colossians! The WT adds the word “other” four times before the word “things.”

With the word “other” added, the verses neatly go along with the WT teaching that Jesus made all things other than himself. However, in the original Greek, the word “other” is not there.

Question to Answer: Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit their Beliefs?

Manipulation #2. Consider John 14:14. Below is page 483 out of the KIT.

In this verse, Jesus is instructing his disciples to direct their prayers to Him and in His name. The clear teaching is that Jesus can be prayed to and we can ask Him to answer our prayers. In the OT the phrase, “call upon the name of the Lord,” is used time and again and means that we can worship, adore, and pray to God. Psalm 116:4 says, “Then I called upon the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, I beseech Thee, save my life!’” Now look at I Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:” Paul was well versed in Jewish doctrine and knew the significance of Psalm 116:4 and yet he applied that phrase to Jesus. It is clear—prayer can be directed to Jesus. John 14:14 is a stinging rebuke of WT doctrine that holds that Jesus is a created being and thus not worthy to accept prayer.

The WT solution to this problem is simple—Change John 14:14 to, “If you ask anything in my name I will do it.” (NWT)

The WT has left out one little word – “Me.” Why? Because with the change, it looks like Jesus is just telling His disciples to ask in His name—not to ask Him in His name. The changed verse now neatly fits into WT doctrine. I have looked at John 14:14 in depth here.

Question to Answer: Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit their Beliefs?

I have blogged about the WT’s manipulation of Scripture to “prove” the Holy Spirit is not God here, here.

"Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit Their Beliefs? Part 2" is here.

A related blog, "Is the WT Bible (The New World Translation) Reliable" is here.