View source for New World Translation

{{short description|Jehovah's Witnesses Bible translation}}
{{Bible translation infobox
| image = [[File:New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in various languages and versions.jpg|250px]]
| translation_title=New World Translation
| full_name=New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
| abbreviation=NWT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abbreviations of Publication Titles |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200270068#h=303-306 |access-date=May 4, 2024 |website=Watchtower Online Library |publisher=Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania}}</ref>{{Efn|It can also be found abbreviated as the NW.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002388#h=34 |title=Insight on the Scriptures |publisher=Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania |year=1988 |volume=1 |pages=1277}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989200#h=2 |title=Reasoning from the Scriptures |publisher=Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania |year=1989 |edition=Revised |pages=6}}</ref>}}
| complete_bible_published=1961
| NT_published=1950
| textual_basis= '''OT:''' [[Biblia Hebraica (Kittel)|Biblia Hebraica]]<br />'''NT:''' [[The New Testament in the Original Greek|Westcott & Hort]]
| translation_type=[[Formal Equivalence]] and [[Dynamic Equivalence]]{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=93}}<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101990134#h=39-40 |title="All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial" |publisher=Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania |year=1990 |edition=Revised |pages=326}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/nwt/appendix-a/bible-translation/|title=Principles of Bible Translation from Hebrew and Greek {{!}} NWT|work=jw.org|access-date=2017-09-04|language=en}}</ref>
| authorship = New World Bible Translation Committee
| copies_printed = More than 240 million<ref name="copies">{{cite web|url=https://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/|title=Online Bible|publisher=Watch Tower Society}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jw.org/kri/jiova-witn%C9%9Bs-d%C9%9Bn/tin-d%C9%9Bn-we-wi-de-du/mek/baybul-insay-krio-nwt/ |title=Baybul we De Insay di Langwej we Pipul dɛn De Tɔk Ɛvride|publisher=Watch Tower Society}}</ref>
| affiliation = [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
| language = More than 326 languages<ref name="Current lang count">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2025 |title=Bibles |url=https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/ |website=jw.org |location=New York |publisher=Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York |access-date=2025-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures First Released 75 Years Ago |url=https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/global/New-World-Translation-of-the-Christian-Greek-Scriptures-First-Released-75-Years-Ago/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=JW.ORG |language=en}}</ref>
| genesis_1:1-3=In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and desolate, and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep, and God's active force was moving about over the surface of the waters. And God said: "Let there be light." Then there was light.
| john_3:16=For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.
|webpage={{URL|https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/}}
|revision=1970, 1971,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101990134#h=30 |title="All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial" |publisher=Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania |year=1990 |edition=Revised |pages=325 |quote=A second revision of the New World Translation was released in 1970, and a third revision with footnotes followed in 1971.}}</ref> 1981, 1984,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001060118#h=5 |title=New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References |publisher=Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania |year=1984 |edition=Revised |pages=4 |quote=© 1961, 1981, 1984}}</ref> 2013
}}
{{Jehovah's Witnesses}}

The '''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures''' ('''NWT''', also simply '''NW''') is a [[Bible translations|translation]] of the [[Bible]] published by the [[Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania|Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society]]; it is used and distributed by [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Torres-Pruñonosa |first1=Jose |last2=Plaza-Navas |first2=Miquel-Angel |last3=Brown |first3=Silas |date=2022 |title=Jehovah's Witnesses' adoption of digitally-mediated services during Covid-19 pandemic |journal=Cogent Social Sciences |volume=8 |issue=1 |article-number=2071034 |doi=10.1080/23311886.2022.2071034 |s2cid=248581687|doi-access=free |hdl=10261/268521 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>"Are All Religions Good?", ''The Watchtower'', August 1, 2009, p. 4, "Jehovah's Witnesses, produce a reliable Bible translation known as the ''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures''. However, if you are not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you may prefer to use other translations"</ref> The [[New Testament]] portion was released first in 1950 as the '''''New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures''''',{{sfn|Scorgie|Strauss|Voth|2009|pp=185}}{{sfn|Geisler|Nix|2012|pp=455}} with the complete ''New World Translation'' of the Bible released in 1961.{{sfn|Andrews|2018|pp=24}}{{sfn|Gordon|2010|pp=280}} [[#Use of the name Jehovah|The 2013 revision has the name]] of God 7,216 times (in 31,149 verses). (The vast majority of English translations instead say LORD in block capital letters.) The 2013 revision has substantially improved accuracy in the choice of words & improved readability (both improvements) due to having been translated into more than 326 languages.<ref name="Current lang count"/> All revisions of the New World Translation say stake 33 times (instead of cross) and either the Grave or Gehenna (instead of (the Protestant) hellfire or (the Catholic) netherworld). The footnotes in the 2013 revision use “Or perhaps:” for alternative translations that convey a different but acceptable idea. In 2025, there's also an (under construction) online media gallery at its end. The New World Translation renders the Greek word "parousia" as "presence" instead of "coming."<ref name="The presence of Christ">{{cite web |author=New World Bible Translation Committee |year=1984 |title=5B Christ’s Presence (Parousia) Mt 24:3—Gr., τὸ σημεῖον τῆς σῆς παρουσίας |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001060093 |website=jw.org/en |location=New York |publisher=Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York |access-date=2025-11-18}}</ref> The New World Translation also corrects the [[tiqqun soferim|tiqqune sopherim]].<ref name="Tiqqune sopherim">{{cite web |author=New World Bible Translation Committee |year=1984 |title=2B Emendations (Corrections) of the Sopherim—“Tiqqune Sopherim” |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001060083 |website=jw.org/en |location=New York |publisher=Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York |access-date=2025-11-18}}</ref>

It is not the first Bible to be published by the Watch Tower Society, but it is its first translation into English. Commentators have noted that [[scholarly method|scholarly]] effort went into producing the translation but many have described it as "biased".{{sfn|Chryssides|2016|pp=140}}

== History ==

Until the release of the ''New World Translation'', Jehovah's Witnesses in English-speaking countries primarily used the ''[[Authorized King James Version|King James Version]]''.<ref>''The Watchtower'', November 1, 1959, p. 672: "Up until 1950 the teachings of Jehovah's witnesses were based mainly upon the ''King James Version'' of the Bible"</ref><ref>{{Cite book| last = Botting| first = Heather |author2=Gary Botting | title = The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses| publisher = University of Toronto Press| year = 1984| page = 99|isbn = 978-0-8020-6545-2|quote=The King James Bible was used by the Witnesses prior to the release of their own version, which began with the Greek Scriptures, in 1950.| author2-link = Gary Botting }}</ref>{{sfn|Gordon|2010|pp=280}} According to the publishers, one of the main reasons for producing a new translation was that most Bible versions in common use, including the ''Authorized Version'' (King James), employed archaic language.{{sfn|Chryssides|2009|pp=lx}} The stated intention was to produce a fresh translation, free of [[Archaism|archaisms]].<ref>"Announcements", ''The Watchtower'', August 1, 1954, p. 480</ref> Additionally, over the centuries since the ''King James Version'' was produced, more copies of earlier manuscripts of the original texts in the Hebrew and Greek languages had become available. According to the publishers, better manuscript evidence had made it possible to determine with greater accuracy what the original writers intended, particularly in more obscure passages, allowing linguists to better understand certain aspects of the original languages.<ref>"Bible Knowledge Made Plain Through Modern Translation", ''The Watchtower'', October 15, 1961, p. 636</ref>

A fresh translation of the [[New Testament]], which Jehovah's Witnesses usually refer to as the ''Christian Greek Scriptures'', was proposed in October 1946 by the president of the Watch Tower Society, [[Nathan H. Knorr]].{{sfn|Melton|2024}}<ref>"Part Three—How the Bible Came to Us", ''The Watchtower'', October 15, 1997, p. 11, "With this objective, associates of the Society set out in 1946 to produce a fresh translation of the Scriptures. A translation committee of experienced anointed Christians was organized to produce the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in English."</ref>{{sfn|Mattingly|1951|pp=439}} Work began on December 2, 1947, when the "New World Bible Translation Committee" was formed, composed of Jehovah's Witnesses who professed to be [[Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation#The 'anointed'|anointed]].<ref>"Stand Complete and With Firm Conviction—The New World Translation Appreciated by Millions Worldwide", ''The Watchtower'', November 15, 2001, p. 7.</ref><ref>"How the Governing Body Differs From a Legal Corporation:, ''The Watchtower'', January 15, 2001, p. 30.</ref>{{sfn|Chryssides|2016|pp=137}} The Watch Tower Society is said to have "become aware" of the committee's existence a year later. The committee agreed to turn over its translation to the Society for publication<ref name="NWTrelease">"New Bible Translation Completed, Released", ''The Watchtower'', October 1, 1960, p. 599.</ref> and on September 3, 1949, Knorr convened a joint meeting of the board of directors of both the Watch Tower Society's New York and Pennsylvania corporations where he again announced to the directors the existence of the committee<ref>"New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures", ''The Watchtower'', September 15, 1950, p. 315.</ref> and that it was now able to print its new modern English translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. Several chapters of the translation were read to the directors, who then voted to accept it as a gift.<ref name="NWTrelease" /> The ''New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures'' was released at a Jehovah's Witness convention at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], [[New York City|New York]], on August 2, 1950.{{sfn|Chryssides|2009|pp=100}}{{sfn|Taylor|1955|pp=75}}

The translation of the [[Old Testament]], which Jehovah's Witnesses refer to as the ''Hebrew Scriptures'', was released in five volumes in 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1960. The complete ''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures'' was released as a single volume in 1961,{{sfn|Andrews|2018|pp=24}}{{sfn|Gordon|2010|pp=280}} and has since undergone various revisions.{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=85}}<ref>Watchtower October 1st, 1960 p. 601 para. 13</ref> [[Cross-reference|Cross references]] that had appeared in the six separate volumes were updated and included in the complete volume in the 1984 revision.{{sfn|Bradshaw|2002|pp=261}}<ref>Foreword, ''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures'', 1984.</ref>

In 1961, the Watch Tower Society began to translate the ''New World Translation'' into Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish; the New Testament in these languages was released simultaneously in July 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By 1989, the ''New World Translation'' was translated into eleven languages, with more than 56,000,000 copies printed.<ref>All Scripture is Inspired of God and Beneficial 1990 p. 331</ref>

For many years, the ''New World Translation'' was thought to be the Watch Tower Society's first original translation of ancient [[Biblical Hebrew]], [[Koine Greek]], and [[Old Aramaic]] biblical texts, until the re-discovery of the German {{Lang|de|Magdeburger Bibel}} ("Magdeburg Bible"), formally called {{Lang|de|Die heiligen Schriften}} ("The Holy Scriptures").<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Magdeburger Bible — A Rediscovered Treasure |url=https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODBibleTranslations/pub-jwb-101_4_VIDEO |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=jw.org |publisher=Watch Tower Society}}</ref> 
{{clear left}}

=== Translators ===

The ''New World Translation'' was produced by the New World Bible Translation Committee, formed in 1947. This committee is said to have comprised unnamed members of multinational backgrounds.<ref>''The New York Times'', August 3, 1950 p. 19.</ref> The committee requested that the Watch Tower Society not publish the names of its members,<ref>The Watchtower, September 15, 1950, p. 320</ref><ref>Walsh vs Honorable James Latham, Court of Session Scotland, 1954, cross examination of Frederick Franz pp. 90–92</ref> stating that they did not want to "advertise themselves but let all the glory go to the Author of the Scriptures, God,"<ref>''The Watchtower'', November 15, 1950, p. 454</ref> adding that the translation, "should direct the reader, not to the translators, but to the Bible’s Author, Jehovah God".<ref name="wt741215p454">''The Watchtower'', December 15, 1974, p. 768.</ref> The publishers stated that "the particulars of [the New World Bible Translation Committee's members] university or other educational training are not the important thing" and that "the translation testifies to their qualification".<ref name="wt741215p454"/>

Former high-ranking Watch Tower staff have identified various members of the translation team. In 1983 former [[Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses|Governing Body]] member [[Raymond Franz]] listed [[Nathan Homer Knorr|Nathan H. Knorr]], [[Frederick William Franz|Fredrick W. Franz]], Albert D. Schroeder, George D. Gangas, and [[Milton George Henschel|Milton G. Henschel]] as members of the translation team, adding that only Frederick Franz had sufficient knowledge in biblical languages.<ref>Raymond V. Franz, Crisis of Conscience (Atlanta: Commentary Press, 1983), p. 50.</ref><ref>Tony Wills, M.A., ''A People For His Name—A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and An Evaluation'', Lulu, 2006. Originally published in 1967 by Vantage Press. "[Frederick] Franz is a language scholar of no mean ability—he supervised the translation of the Bible from the original languages into the New World Translation, completed in 1961." (p. 253)</ref> Referring to the identified members, evangelical minister [[Walter Ralston Martin]] said in 1997, "The New World Bible translation committee had no known translators with recognized degrees in Greek or Hebrew exegesis or translation... None of these men had any university education except Franz, who left school after two years, never completing even an undergraduate degree." Fredrick Franz had stated that he was familiar with not only Hebrew, but with Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French for the purpose of biblical translation.<ref>Walter Martin, ''Kingdom of the Cults—Expanded Anniversary Edition'', October 1997, Bethany House Publishers, p. 123-124. "the New World Bible translation committee had no known translators with recognized degrees in Greek or Hebrew exegesis or translation. While the members of the [NWT] committee have never been identified officially by the Watchtower, many Witnesses who worked at the headquarters during the translation period were fully aware of who the members were. They included Nathan H. Knorr (president of the Society at the time), Frederick W. Franz (who later succeeded Knorr as president), Albert D. Schroeder, George Gangas, and Milton Henschel'."</ref><ref>{{cite book  | last = Penton| first = M. James | author-link = James Penton| title = Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses| publisher = University of Toronto Press| year = 1997|edition=2nd| page=174|isbn = 978-0-8020-7973-2}}</ref> In 2003, [[Jason BeDuhn]] noted, "the members of the translation team remain anonymous, just as they do for the NKJB and the [[Lockman Foundation]]'s [[New American Standard Bible|NASB]]".{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=39}}

=== Translation Services Department ===

In 1989, a Translation Services Department was established at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses, overseen by the Writing Committee of the Governing Body. The goal of the Translation Services Department was to accelerate Bible translation with the aid of computer technology. Previously, some Bible translation projects lasted twenty years or more. Under the direction of the Translation Services Department, translation of the Old Testament in a particular language may be completed in as little as two years. During the period from 1963 to 1989, the ''New World Translation'' became available in ten additional languages. Since the formation of the Translation Services Department in 1989, there has been a significant increase in the number of languages in which the ''New World Translation'' has been made available.<ref name=translation>A Milestone for Lovers of God's Word (Watchtower October 15, 1999 pp. 30–31)</ref><ref name="YB 12, pg 26">''2012 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', p. 26</ref>

=== 2013 revision ===

At the Watch Tower Society's annual meeting on October 5, 2013, a significantly revised translation was released. Referring to the new revision, the publishers stated, "There are now about 10 percent fewer English words in the translation. Some key Biblical terms were revised. Certain chapters were changed to poetic format, and clarifying footnotes were added to the regular edition."<ref>[https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20151215/nwt-bible-2013/ JW.org, "The 2013 Revision of the New World Translation"]</ref>

The [[Jesus and the woman taken in adultery|Pericope Adulterae]] ([[Gospel of John|John]] 7:53 – 8:11) and the [[Mark 16#Shorter ending of Mark (unversed)|Short and Long Conclusions of Mark 16]] ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 16:8–20)—offset from the main text in earlier editions—were removed.{{sfn|Chryssides|2016|pp=142}} The new revision was also released as part of an [[Application software|app]] called ''JW Library''.<ref>[http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20131026/living/131029625?p=1&tc=pg "Jehovah's Witnesses distribute free Bibles", ''The Daytona Beach News-Journal'', October 26, 2013]</ref> The 2013 edition of the ''New World Translation'' has been translated, in whole or in part, into more than 326 languages.<ref name="Current lang count"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures First Released 75 Years Ago |url=https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/global/New-World-Translation-of-the-Christian-Greek-Scriptures-First-Released-75-Years-Ago/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=JW.ORG |language=en}}</ref>

== Translation ==

According to the Watch Tower Society, the ''New World Translation'' attempts to convey the intended sense of original-language words according to the context. The original ''New World Translation'' employs nearly 16,000 English expressions to translate about 5,500 biblical Greek terms, and over 27,000 English expressions to translate about 8,500 Hebrew terms. The translators state that, where possible in the target language, the ''New World Translation'' prefers literal renderings and does not paraphrase the original text.<ref>How Can You Choose a Good Bible Translation? (Watchtower May 1, 2008 pp. 18–22)</ref>

=== Textual basis ===

The master text used for translating the Old Testament into English was [[Biblia Hebraica (Kittel)|Kittel's Biblia Hebraica]]. The Hebrew texts, [[Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia]] and [[Biblia Hebraica Quinta]] were used for preparing the latest version of this translation. Other works consulted in preparing the translation include Aramaic [[Targum]]s, the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], the [[Samaritan Torah]], the Greek [[Septuagint]], the Latin [[Vulgate]], the [[Masoretic Text]], the [[Codex Cairensis|Cairo Codex]], the [[Aleppo Codex]], [[Christian David Ginsburg]]'s Hebrew Text, and the [[Leningrad Codex]].<ref name="autogenerated305">[http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101990132 "All Scripture is Inspired of God and Beneficial" 1990 pp. 305-314]</ref><ref>[http://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/nwt/appendix-a/how-the-bible-came-to-us/ How the Bible Came to Us, Appendix A3 of 2013 REVISION]</ref>
<gallery caption="Diagrammatic representation of textual basis" widths="200px" heights="150px" perrow="4">
File:NWT-HS.jpg|Hebrew
File:NWT-GS.jpg|Greek
</gallery>

The Greek master text by the [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] scholars [[Brooke Foss Westcott|B. F. Westcott]] and [[Fenton John Anthony Hort|F. J. A. Hort]] (1881) was used as the basis for translating the New Testament into English.{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=85}} The committee also referred to the [[Novum Testamentum Graece]] (18th edition, 1948) and to works by Jesuit scholars José M. Bover (1943),{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=85}} and Augustinus Merk (1948).{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=85}} The [[United Bible Societies]]' text (1975) and the [[Erwin Nestle|Nestle]]-[[Kurt Aland|Aland]] text (1979) were used to update the footnotes in the 1984 version. Additional works consulted in preparing the ''New World Translation'' include the [[Armenian Bible translation|Armenian Version]], [[Coptic versions of the Bible|Coptic Versions]], the Latin Vulgate, [[Sixto-Clementine Vulgate|Sistine and Clementine Revised Latin Texts]], [[Textus Receptus]], the [[Johann Jakob Griesbach]]'s Greek text, the [[Emphatic Diaglott]], and various [[Papyrus#Collections of papyri|papyri]].<ref name="autogenerated305"/>

=== Other languages ===

Translation into other languages is based on the English text, supplemented by comparison with the Hebrew and Greek text.<ref>Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993) Chap. 27 p. 611, subheading Translation Into Other Languages.</ref> The complete ''New World Translation'' has been published in more than one hundred languages or [[writing system|scripts]], with the New Testament available in more than fifty additional languages.<ref name="Current lang count"/>

When the Writing Committee approves the translation of the Bible into a new language, it appoints a group of baptized Jehovah's Witnesses to serve as a translation team. Translators are given a list of words and expressions commonly used in the English ''New World Translation'' with related English words grouped together (e.g. ''atone'', ''atonement'', or ''propitiation''). A list of vernacular equivalents is then composed. A database of Greek and Hebrew terms is available where a translator has difficulty rendering a verse. The vernacular terms are then applied to the text in the target language. Further editing and translation are then performed to produce a final version.<ref name=translation />

== Features ==

The layout resembles the 1901 edition of the [[American Standard Version]]. The translators use the terms "Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures" and "Christian Greek Scriptures" rather than "Old Testament" and "New Testament", stating that the use of "testament" was based on a misunderstanding of 2 Corinthians 3:14.{{sfn|Chryssides|2009|pp=100}}<ref>Appendix 7E in the ''New World Translation'' reference edition</ref> Headings were included at the top of each page to assist in locating texts; these have been replaced in the 2013 revision by an "Outline of Contents" introducing each Bible book. There is also an index listing scriptures by subject.

Square brackets [ ] were added around words that were inserted editorially, but were removed as of the 2006 printing. Double brackets were used to indicate text considered doubtful. The pronoun "you" was printed in [[small capitals]] (i.e., <small>YOU</small>) to indicate plurality, as were some verbs when plurality may be unclear. These features were discontinued in the 2013 release. The ''New World Translation'' attempts to indicate progressive rather than completed actions, such as "proceeded to rest" in Genesis 2:2 instead of "rested". The 2013 release indicates progressive verbs only where considered contextually important.

=== Use of the name ''Jehovah'' ===
{{see also|Names and titles of God in the New Testament}}

The name ''[[Jehovah]]'' is a translation of the [[Tetragrammaton]] ({{langx|he|יהוה}}, transliterated as ''YHWH'', though the original pronunciation is unknown). The ''New World Translation'' uses the name ''Jehovah'' 6,979 times in the Old Testament.<ref>[http://www.jw.org/en/news/headlines/?v=2552828400#mid702013141 Revised ''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101144808/http://www.jw.org/en/news/headlines/?v=2552828400#mid702013141 |date=2013-11-01 }}. Accessed 14 October 2013.</ref> According to the Watch Tower Society, the Tetragrammaton appears in "the oldest fragments of the Greek Septuagint".<ref name=insight>''Insight on the Scriptures'', Vol. II p. 9, 1988; Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania</ref> In reference to the ''[[Septuagint]]'', biblical scholar [[Paul E. Kahle]] stated, "We now know that the Greek Bible text as far as it was written by Jews for Jews did not translate the Divine name by [[Kyrios]], but the Tetragrammaton written with Hebrew or Greek letters was retained in such MSS (manuscripts). It was the Christians who replaced the Tetragrammaton by Kyrios when the divine name written in Hebrew letters was not understood any more."<ref>''The Cairo Geniza'', Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1959, p. 222</ref> However, according to professor Albert Pietersma, since pre-Christian times ''Adonai'' and the Tetragrammaton were considered equivalent to the Greek term ''kyrios''. Pietersma stated, "The translators felt no more bound to retain the tetragram in written form than they felt compelled to render distinctively Hebrew el, Elohim or Shaddai."<ref>''De Septuaginta: Studies in Honour of John William Wevers on His Sixty-Fifth Birthday'', Albert Pietersma, 1984, pages 98-99</ref> He also considers that old manuscripts containing the tetragram, like the [[papyrus Fouad 266]], "is evidence of a secondary stage."<ref>''De Septuaginta: Studies in Honour of John William Wevers on His Sixty-Fifth Birthday'', Albert Pietersma, 1984, pages 99-100</ref>

The ''New World Translation'' also uses the name ''Jehovah'' 237 times in the New Testament where the extant texts use only the Greek words ''kyrios'' (''Lord'') and ''theos'' (''God'').{{sfn|Gutjahr|2017|pp=655-656}}<ref>Bowman, Robert M. ''Understanding Jehovah's Witnesses.'' Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. 1991. p. 114</ref> The use of ''Jehovah'' in the New Testament is very rare, but not unique to the ''New World Translation''.<ref>Translations in English with similar renderings include ''[https://archive.org/details/aliteraltransla00unkngoog A Literal Translation of the New Testament ... From the Text of the Vatican Manuscript]'' (Heinfetter, 1863); ''[https://johnruffle.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the_emphatic_diaglott.pdf The Emphatic Diaglott]'' ([[Benjamin Wilson (biblical scholar)|Benjamin Wilson]], 1864); ''[https://archive.org/details/epistlespaulinm01stevgoog The Epistles of Paul in Modern English]'' ([[George Barker Stevens|George Stevens]], 1898); ''[https://archive.org/details/epistlespaulinm01stevgoog St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans]'' (Rutherford, 1900); ''The Christian's Bible — New Testament'' (LeFevre, 1928) and ''The New Testament Letters'' ([[William Wand|Wand]], 1946).</ref> [[Walter Ralston Martin|Walter Martin]], an evangelical minister, wrote, "It can be shown from literally thousands of copies of the Greek New Testament that not once does the tetragrammaton appear."<ref>Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults Revised, Updated, and Expanded Anniversary Edition, Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1997, p. 125.</ref> However, the translators of the ''New World Translation'' believed that the name ''Jehovah'' was present in the original manuscripts of the New Testament when quoting from the Old Testament, but replaced with the other terms by later copyists. Based on this reasoning, the translators consider to have "restored the divine name", though it is not present in any extant manuscripts.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Watchtower, August 1, 2008 | publisher = Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania | year = 2008 | location = Brooklyn, New York | pages = 18–23 | url = http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2008567 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Insight on the Scriptures|volume=2|page=267|chapter=Lord}}</ref>

=== Editions ===

In 1984, a ''Reference'' edition of the ''New World Translation'' was released in addition to a revision of the regular volume.<ref>"Announcements", ''Our Kingdom Ministry'', September 1988, p. 4</ref><ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', published by Jehovah's Witnesses, p.  614</ref> The regular edition includes several appendices containing arguments for various translation decisions, maps, diagrams and other information; and over 125,000 cross references. The reference edition contains the cross references and adds footnotes about translation decisions and additional appendices that provide further detail relating to certain translation decisions and doctrinal views.<ref>"Study—Rewarding and Enjoyable", ''The Watchtower'', October 1, 2000, p. 16</ref> The ''Reference'' edition is out of print as of the release of the 2013 revision of the ''New World Translation'', but is available online.

==== ''Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures'' ====

The New World Bible Translation Committee included the English text from the ''New World Translation'' in its 1969 and 1985 editions of ''[[The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures]]''. It also incorporates the Greek text published by [[Brooke Foss Westcott|Westcott]] and [[Fenton John Anthony Hort|Hort]] in ''[[The New Testament in the Original Greek]]'' and a literal word-for-word translation.{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=127}}<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', published 1993 by Jehovah's Witnesses, "Chapter 27: Printing and Distributing God's Own Sacred Word", p. 610</ref><ref>""Between-the-Lines" Translations of the Bible", ''The Watchtower'', November 15, 1969, p. 692.</ref>

=== Non-print editions ===

In 1978, the Watch Tower Society began producing recordings of the ''New World Translation'' on [[compact cassette|audio cassette]],<ref>''Our Kingdom Ministry'', September 1978, p. 3</ref> with the New Testament released by 1981<ref>''Our Kingdom Ministry'', October 1981, p. 7</ref> and the Old Testament in three albums released by 1990.<ref>''The Watchtower'', February 15, 1990, p. 32</ref> In 2004, the NWT was released on compact disc in [[MP3]] format in major languages.<ref>''Watchtower Publications Index 1986–2007'', "Compact Discs"</ref> Since 2008, audio downloads of the NWT have been made available in 18 languages in MP3 and [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] formats, including support for [[podcast]]s.

[[File:NWT It-diskettes 1993.PNG|thumb|150px|left|A diskette edition of the NWT released in 1993]]
In 1983, the English [[Braille]] edition of the ''New World Translation''{{'}}s New Testament was released;<ref>''Our Kingdom Ministry'', August 1983, pp. 3–4</ref> the complete English Braille edition was released by 1988.<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', published 1993 by Jehovah's Witnesses, "Chapter 27: Printing and Distributing God's Own Sacred Word", pp. 614–615</ref> NWT editions have since become available in several [[Braille#Braille for other scripts|additional Braille scripts]].<ref>''[[Awake!]]'', November, 2007 p. 30</ref> Production of the NWT in [[American Sign Language]] began in 2006; the New Testament was made available by 2010,<ref>''2007 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', published by Jehovah's Witnesses, pp. 21–22</ref><ref>[http://www.jw.org/apps/index.html?option=QBJrYBNQF Sign Language Connection on jw.org]</ref> and the complete ASL edition was released in February 2020.<ref>[https://www.jw.org/en/news/jw/region/global/asl-bible-complete/ The Complete New World Translation of the Bible Is Available in ASL]</ref>

In 1992, a digital edition of the ''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References'' was released on [[floppy disk]]. Since 1994, the ''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References'' has been included in the ''Watchtower Library on CD-ROM''.<ref>"The Compact Disc—What Is It All About?", ''Awake!'', April 22, 1994, p. 23</ref><ref>''Our Kingdom Ministry'', September 2007, p. 3.</ref> Both editions of the ''New World Translation'' are available online in various languages and digital formats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/h/r1/lp-e |title=Watch Tower Online Library |publisher=Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society |access-date=2014-11-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/ |title=Online Bible-Jehovah's Witnesses: jw.org |publisher=Watch Tower Society |access-date=2012-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jw.org/en/online-help/jw-library/ |title=JW Library APP-Jehovah's Witnesses |publisher=Watch Tower Society |access-date=2012-10-27}}</ref>
Since 2015, a ''Study Edition'' of the ''New World Translation'' has been gradually released online starting with the books of the New Testament, based on the 2013 revision with additional reference material.<ref>[https://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/study-bible/title-page-nwt/ JW.org, "New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)"]</ref>

{{clear}}

== Critical review ==
{{BibleHistory}}

Biblical scholars have noted the New World Translation's attempts at accurate conservative translation, its [[critical apparatus]], and its use of modern [[critical editions]] of the [[biblical manuscript]]s. Criticism of the New World Translation focuses mainly on [[Christology|Christological]] issues in its rendering of the New Testament: the translation of the word ''[[Kyrios]]'' (Greek: Κύριος) as "[[Jehovah]]" —usually translated as "Lord" by classical translators, its rendering of passages related to the doctrine of the [[Trinity]] and the divinity of Christ such as [[John 1:1]], and for its difficult-to-understand [[formal equivalence]]. Critics of the movement claim that the NWT is scholastically dishonest.

=== Overall review ===

In its review of Bible translations released from 1955 to 1985, ''The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary'' listed the ''New World Translation'' among the major modern translations.{{sfn|Bratcher|1996|pp=292}}

In 1982, [[Renewal theologian|Pentecostal theologian]] [[Gordon Fee]] and [[Douglas Stuart (biblical scholar)|Douglas K. Stuart]] in their ''How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth'' refer to the ''New World Translation'' as being an "extremely literal translation" filled with "heretical doctrines".<ref>{{cite book|title=How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding the Bible|first1=Gordon D.|last1=Fee|first2=Douglas K.|last2=Stuart|publisher=Zondervan|date=1982|isbn=9780310373612|quote=Among the whole Bible translations not discussed are some that are theologically biased, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation (1961). This is an extremely literal translation filled with the heretical doctrines of this cult|pages=41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=blUgAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> In 1985, [[Alan Stewart Duthie]] responded to the assertion by Fee & Stuart that the NWT is "filled with the heretical doctrines of this cult",{{sfn|Duthie|1985|pp=20}} stating that although "there are some heretical doctrines to be found ... [it] does not reach even 0.1% of the whole, which is very far from 'full{{'"}}.{{sfn|Duthie|1985|pp=70}} Duthie adds "if your purpose is to study the Bible in detail [...] then you can be recommended to use [[New Jerusalem Bible|NJB]] or [[New American Bible|NAB]] for their accessibility and commentary features, or study edition of other translations. If your study interest is more in the original wording, then you could use [[Revised Standard Version|RSV]] or NWT or [[NASV]]".{{sfn|Duthie|1985|pp=114}}

In October 1996, James B. Parkinson compared various translations and gave scores for accuracy for 30 Old Testament translations and 51 New Testament translations.{{sfn|Parkinson|1996|pp=}} Parkinson gave a score of 76 to the NWT Old Testament (1960).{{sfn|Parkinson|1996|pp=}} For the New Testament he gave the NWT (1950) overall: 75, manuscripts: 99 and translation: 66.5. He scored the ''[[Kingdom Interlinear Translation]]'' (1985) overall: 80, manuscripts: 99 and translation: 73.5.{{sfn|Parkinson|1996|pp=}} Parkinson stated, "the Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation (NWT, 1950) offers a relatively accurate translation from a different theological perspective. Like Rotherham, though, it is often not smooth reading."{{sfn|Parkinson|1996|pp=}}

[[Jason BeDuhn]] stated in 2003 that the differences between Jehovah's Witnesses' theology and that of mainstream denominations, "creates a hostile atmosphere in which every representative of that mainstream theology charges that any variation in the NW from more familiar translation must serve the ulterior motives of distorting the 'truth{{'"}}.{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=38–39}}

In 2004, [[Anthony Byatt]] and Hal Flemings published their anthology ''{{'}}Your Word is Truth', Essays in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1950, 1953)''. They included essays responding to criticism of the ''New World Translation'' from non-Witnesses, and a bibliography of reviews of the work.{{sfn|Williams|2006|pp=54}}

[[George D. Chryssides]] stated in 2019 that the unfavourable criticisms by [[H. H. Rowley|Harold Henry Rowley]] (1953), Julius R. Mantey (1974) and [[William Barclay (theologian)|William Barclay]] (1953) "were extremely vague", but that [[Bruce M. Metzger]] (1953) "mentioned a few specific passages which he believed were wrongly translated."{{sfn|Chryssides|2019|pp=232}}

=== Old Testament ===

Regarding the ''New World Translation''{{'}}s use of English in the first volume of the ''New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures'' (''Genesis to Ruth'', 1953), biblical scholar [[H. H. Rowley|Harold Henry Rowley]] was critical of what he called "wooden literalism" and "harsh construction". He characterized these as "an insult to the Word of God", citing various verses of Genesis as examples. Rowley concluded, "From beginning to end this [first] volume is a shining example of how the Bible should not be translated."<ref>H.H. Rowley, How Not To Translate the Bible, The Expository Times, 1953; 65; 41</ref> He added in a subsequent review that "the second volume shows the same faults as the first."<ref name="Gruss1970">{{cite book|last=Gruss|first=Edmond C.|title=Apostles of Denial: An Examination and Exposé of the History, Doctrines and Claims of the Jehovah's Witnesses|url=https://archive.org/stream/ApostlesOfDenial/1970_Apostles_Of_Denial#page/n222/mode/1up|date=1970|publisher=Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co.|isbn=978-0-87552-305-7|pages=212–213}}</ref> While a member of the denomination, [[Rolf Furuli]]&mdash;a former professor in Semitic languages&mdash;said that a literal translation that follows the sentence structure of the source language rather than target language must be somewhat wooden and unidiomatic. Furuli added that Rowley's assessment based on his own preference for idiomatic translations ignores the NWT's stated objective of being as literal as possible.{{sfn|Furuli|1999|pp=293–294}}

Samuel Haas, in his 1955 review of the first volume of the NWT in the ''Journal of Biblical Literature'', stated that he did not agree with the introduction of the name Jehovah: "religious bias is shown most clearly in the policy of translating the tetragrammaton as Jehovah."{{sfn|Haas|1955|pp=282}} He concluded, "this work indicates a great deal of effort and thought as well as considerable scholarship, it is to be regretted that religious bias was allowed to colour many passages."{{sfn|Haas|1955|pp=283}}

In 1960, [[Frederick William Danker]] wrote, "not to be snubbed is the ''New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, Rendered from the Original by the New World Translation Committee''... 'the orthodox' do not possess all the truth, yet one does well to 'test the spirits'."{{sfn|Danker|1960|pp=194}}

In 1981, biblical scholar [[Benjamin Kedar-Kopfstein]] stated that the Old Testament work is largely based on the formal structure of biblical Hebrew.{{sfn|Kedar-Kopfstein|1981|pp=262}} In 1989, Kedar-Kopfstein said, "In my linguistic research in connection with the Hebrew Bible and translations, I often refer to the English edition of what is known as the 'New World Translation.' In so doing, I find my feeling repeatedly confirmed that this work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible. Giving evidence of a broad command of the original language, it renders the original words into a second language understandably without deviating unnecessarily from the specific structure of the Hebrew. ... Every statement of language allows for a certain latitude in interpreting or translating. So the linguistic solution in any given case may be open to debate. But I have never discovered in the 'New World Translation' any biased intent to read something into the text that it does not contain."{{sfn|Andrews|2018|pp=18}} In 1993 Kedar-Kopfstein said that the NWT is one of his occasionally quoted reference works.{{sfn|Kedar-Kopfstein|1994|pp=17}}

=== New Testament ===

[[Edgar J. Goodspeed]], translator of the New Testament in ''[[The Bible: An American Translation|An American Translation]]'', positively evaluated the New World translation.{{sfn|Chryssides|2019|pp=232}} According to the October 15, 1999 issue of ''[[The Watchtower]]'', Goodspeed wrote to the Watch Tower Society in 1950 stating, "I am interested in the mission work of your people, and its world wide scope, and much pleased with the free, frank and vigorous translation. It exhibits a vast array of sound serious learning, as I can testify."<ref>{{cite magazine|date=October 15, 1999|page=31|title=A Milestone for Lovers of God's Word|magazine=The Watchtower|publisher=Watch Tower Society}}</ref>

[[Steven T. Byington]] said in 1950, "Jehovah's Witnesses have made their own translation of the book for which they consider 'New Testament' an illegitimate name. It is well supplied with faults and merits."{{sfn|Byington|1950|pp=588}} Byington reports that he agrees with the translation of some words and not others.{{sfn|Byington|1950|pp=588–589}} Regarding the introduction of the name Jehovah instead of lord, Byington says: "fifteen pages of the preface present the arguments to justify this. I think the justification insufficient; but the 'Jehovah' does not shock a reader".{{sfn|Byington|1950|pp=588}} He also says that the arrangement of the verse numbers escapes confusion "by making its verse numbers much lighter" and adds that "the use of a cheap quality of paper enables the publishers to cut the price below the already low price of the" [[Revised Standard Version]].{{sfn|Byington|1950|pp=589}} Byington concludes: "the book does not give enjoyable continuous reading; but if you are digging for excellent or suggestive renderings, this is among the richer mines."{{sfn|Byington|1950|pp=589}}

In 1952, religious writer Alexander Thomson wrote of the ''New World Translation'': "The translation is evidently the work of skilled and clever scholars, who have sought to bring out as much of the true sense of the Greek text as the English language is capable of expressing. ... We heartily recommend the ''New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures'', published in 1950 by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society."<ref>Alexander Thomson, ''The Differentiator'', 1952, 55, 57 Nos. 2, 6</ref> In 1959, Thomson added that on the whole the version was quite a good one, even though it was padded with many English words which had no equivalent in the Greek or Hebrew.<ref>The Differentiator (June 1959), cited in Ian Croft, "The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures: Does It Really Have the Support of Greek Scholars?", Perth, Western Australia, ''Concerned Growth Ministries'', 1987, p. 2</ref>

[[Allen Wikgren]] (member of the ''[[New Revised Standard Version]]'' committee, as well as the committee which produced the [[United Bible Societies|USB]] Greek text) said in 1952, "independent readings of merit often occur in other modern speech versions, such as Verkyl's New Testament (1945) and the Jehovah's Witnesses' edition of the New Testament (1950)".{{sfn|Wikgren|1952|pp=99}} 

In 1953, former [[American Bible Society]] board member [[Bruce M. Metzger]] stated that the translation was written to support Jehovah's Witness doctrines, with "several quite erroneous renderings of the Greek",{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=74}} and cited 6 examples (John 1:1,{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=74–76}} Col. 1:15-17,{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=76–78}} Phil. 2:6,{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=78}} Titus 2:13,{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=78–79}} 2 Pet. 1:1,{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=79}} and Rev. 3:14{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=79}}). In 1964, Metzger again reviewed the NWT and concluded, "on the whole, one gains a tolerably good impression of the scholarly equipment of the translators (their names are not divulged). They refer not only to modern translations [...] but to ancient translations as well. Frequently an intelligent use of a critical information is apparent".{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=85}}{{sfn|Metzger|1964|pp=151}} Metzger noted that the consistency in the decision to translate "the same Greek word by the same word in English as a specious show of faithfulness to the original tends to produce a certain woodenness, resulting in the distortion of the effect of the original".{{sfn|Metzger|1964|pp=151}} Metzger considered the [[Names and titles of God in the New Testament#Some modern adaptations of the New Testament|rendering of Κύριος as Jehovah]] in the New World Translation to be indefensible: "Some of the translations which are simply indefensible include the following. The introduction of the word 'Jehovah' into the New Testament text".{{sfn|Metzger|1964|pp=152}} He added, "it is entirely without critical significance to be told that modern translations of the New Testament" render 'Lord' by the Tetragrammaton.{{sfn|Metzger|1964|pp=152}} Metzger also criticized the NWT's renderings of three verses: John 1:1{{sfn|Metzger|1964|pp=152}} and Colossians 1:16,{{sfn|Metzger|1964|pp=152}} as in 1953, and adds Jude 11–15.{{sfn|Metzger|1964|pp=152}}

[[J. Carter Swaim]] in 1953 wrote that "objection is sometimes made to new translations on the ground that to abolish archaic phrases tends to cheapen the Scripture".{{sfn|Swaim|1953|pp=39}} Referring to the ''New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures'' he added: "it is a translation that has its own peculiarities, and its own excellences too. The Witnesses, who are enthusiastic in the spread of their tenets, regard this as one of their most effective devices".{{sfn|Swaim|1953|pp=40}}

Theologian [[William Barclay (theologian)|William Barclay]] concluded in 1953, "the deliberate distortion of truth by this sect is seen in their New Testament translations. John 1:1 is translated: '...the Word was a god,' a translation which is grammatically impossible... It is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest".{{sfn|Barclay|1953|}}{{sfn|Rhodes|2001|p=94}}

In 1954, [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] theologian [[Charles Francis Potter]] stated about the ''New World Translation'': "Apart from a few semantic peculiarities like translating the Greek word ''[[stauros]]'' as [[Instrument of Jesus' crucifixion#Jehovah's Witnesses|'stake' instead of 'cross']], and the often startling use of the colloquial and the vernacular, the anonymous translators have certainly rendered the best manuscript texts, both Greek and Hebrew, with scholarly ability and acumen."<ref>''The faiths men live by,'' Kessinger Publishing, 1954, 239. {{ISBN|1-4254-8652-5}}.</ref>

Frederick E. Mayer wrote in 1954: "It is a version that lends support to denial of doctrines which the Christian churches consider basic, such as the co-equality of Jesus Christ with the Father, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, and the survival of the human person after physical death. It teaches the annihilation of the wicked, the non-existence of hell, and the purely animal nature of man's soul."<ref>{{cite book|last=Mayer|first=Frederick E.|title= The Religious Bodies of America (1st edition) |date=1954|publisher=Concordia Publishing House|edition=1961 Revised|isbn=978-0-75860-231-2|pages=469}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gruss|first=Edmond C.|title=Apostles of Denial: An Examination and Exposé of the History, Doctrines and Claims of the Jehovah's Witnesses|url=https://archive.org/stream/ApostlesOfDenial/1970_Apostles_Of_Denial#page/n222/mode/1up|date=1970|publisher=Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co.|isbn=978-0-87552-305-7|pages=210}}</ref>

In 1961 [[F. F. Bruce]] stated: "some of its distinctive renderings reflect the biblical interpretations which we have come to associate with Jehovah's Witnesses (e. g. 'the Word was a god" in John 1:1)".{{sfn|Bruce|1961|pp=184}} He also stated that "some of the renderings which are free from a theological tendency strike one as quite good".{{sfn|Bruce|1961|pp=184}}

In his review in ''[[Andover Newton Theological School|Andover Newton]] Quarterly'' Robert M. McCoy reported in 1963: "in not a few instances the ''New World Translation'' contains passages which must be considered as 'theological translations.' This fact is particularly evident in those passages which express or imply the deity of Jesus Christ."{{sfn|McCoy|1963|pp=29}} He concludes: "The translation of the New Testament is evidence of the presence in the movement of scholars qualified to deal intelligently with the many problems of Biblical translation. This translation, as J. Carter Swaim observes, has its peculiarities and its excellences. All in all, it would seem that a reconsideration of the challenge of this movement to the historic churches is in order."{{sfn|McCoy|1963|pp=31}} 

In 1963, theologian [[Anthony A. Hoekema]] wrote, "Their New World Translation of the Bible is by no means an objective rendering of the sacred text into modern English, but is a biased translation in which many of the peculiar teachings of the Watchtower Society are smuggled into the text of the Bible itself."<ref>Anthony A. Hoekema, The Four Major Cults, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Seventh-day Adventism, William B. Eerdmans, 1963, {{ISBN|0802831176}}, pp. 208–209</ref>

[[Samuel MacLean Gilmour]] said in 1966: "in 1950 the Jehovah's Witnesses published their New World Translation of The New Testament, and the preparation of the New World Old Testament translation is now far advanced. The New Testament translation was made by a committee whose membership has never been revealed—a committee that possessed an unusual competence in Greek and that made the Westcott and Hort Greek text basic to their translation. It is clear that doctrinal considerations influenced many turns of phrase, but the work is no crack-pot or pseudo-historical fraud".{{sfn|MacLean Gilmour|1966|pp=26}}

In 1967, Robert H. Countess wrote that the "NWT has certain praiseworthy features—for example, an ''[[critical apparatus|apparatus criticus]]''—everyone must admit", but described the NWT's rendering of "a god" at John 1:1 as "most unfortunate for several reasons".{{sfn|Countess|1967|pp=160}} In 1982, in his critical analysis ''The Jehovah's Witness' New Testament'' he wrote that the NWT "must be viewed as a radically biased piece of work. At some points it is actually dishonest. At others it is neither modern nor scholarly."<ref>Robert Countess, The Jehovah's Witness' New Testament, A Critical Analysis of the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, Presbyterian & Reformed, 1982, {{ISBN|0875522106}}, pp. 91–93</ref> Rolf Furuli, while a member of the denomination, responded, "Countess ascribes to the NWT translators rules for translation which they have never expressed, and then he shows inconsistently the translators have followed these rules [...] His account of the NWT, therefore, is not a balanced, scholarly presentation; rather, it surrenders both to emotionally inspired caricature and a partisan spirit".{{sfn|Furuli|1999|pp=294–295}}

Julius R. Mantey, the co-author of ''A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament'' and ''A Hellenistic Greek Reader'', said in 1980 that the NWT's rendering of John 1:1 is "a shocking mistranslation" and "Obsolete and incorrect".<ref name="Mantey"/>

In 2003, theologians John Weldon and [[John Ankerberg]] reviewed the ''New World Translation'', stating: "it is our goal in this article to briefly critique the English translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses' Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT)".{{sfn|Ankerberg|Weldon|2003}} Weldon and Ankerberg accused the ''New World Translation''{{'}}s translators of renderings that conform "to their own preconceived and unbiblical theology",{{sfn|Ankerberg|Weldon|2003}} citing several examples that they considered to support theological views in favor of accurate translation.{{sfn|Ankerberg|Weldon|2003}}

The 2003 edition of the ''[[New Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' states, "[Jehovah's Witnesses] are allowed no other books than the Bible and the society's own publications, which includes its own translation of the Bible with an impressive [[critical apparatus]]. The work is excellent except when scientific knowledge comes into conflict with the accepted doctrines of the movement. In their so-called ''New World Translation'', the term ''[[Kyrios (Biblical term)|Kyrios]]'' is rendered Jehovah instead of Lord everywhere in the New Testament (237 times) except at Philippians 2.11, where St. Paul refers the word to Christ."{{sfn|Catholic University of America staff|2003|pp=751}}

In 2004, historian [[Jason BeDuhn]] examined New Testament passages in which he believed "bias is most likely to interfere with translation"{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=165}} from nine of "the Bibles most widely in use in the English-speaking world".{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=viii}} BeDuhn compared the ''King James'', the ''(New) Revised Standard'', the ''New International'', the ''New American Bible'', the ''New American Standard Bible'', the ''Amplified Bible'', the ''Living Bible'', ''Today's English'' and the NWT versions in Matthew 28:9, Philippians 2:6, Colossians 1:15–20, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8, John 8:58, John 1:1.{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=pp. 163, 165, 169, 175, 176.}} For each passage, he compared the Greek text with the renderings of each English translation, and looked for biased attempts to change the meaning. BeDuhn said that the ''New World Translation'' was "not bias free",{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=165}} adding that whilst the general public and various biblical scholars might assume that the differences in the New World Translation are the result of religious bias, he considered it to be "the most accurate of the translations compared",{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=163}} and a "remarkably good translation".{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=165}} He added that "most of the differences are due to the greater accuracy of the NW as a literal, conservative translation".{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=165}} Despite his positive review, BeDuhn said the introduction of the name "Jehovah" into the New Testament 237 times was "not accurate translation by the most basic principle of accuracy",{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=169}} and that it "violate[s] accuracy in favor of denominationally preferred expressions for God".{{sfn|BeDuhn|2003|pp=170}} In rebuttal, Thomas Howe strongly criticized BeDuhn's positive review of the ''New World Translation'', stating that BeDuhn's main goal is to deny the deity of Christ.{{sfn|Howe|2010|pp=326 (back cover)}} According to Howe, "in this critical evaluation, BeDuhn's arguments are challenged and his conclusions called into question".{{sfn|Howe|2010|pp=}}{{sfn|Howe|2015|pp=}}

In 2008, Kenneth J. Baumgarten and Kevin Gary Smith published an article in the [[South African Theological Seminary]]'s journal, ''Conspectus'', entitled, "An Examination of the Consistency of the New World Translation with the Stated Philosophy of the Translators", in which they studied the use of "the Greek term θεός in reference to Jesus Christ" and concluded that "in seven of the nine sample texts, the NWT violates one or more of its stated translation values and principles. They said the most common violation is its pervasive tendency to subvert the most natural understanding of the Greek text in favour of a 'preferred religious view'."{{sfn|Baumgarten|Smith|2008|pp=}}

George D. Chryssides noted in 2016 that the New World Translation's rendering of passages about Christ's role in the creation of the world—for example, [[Colossians 1|Colossians 1:15-17]]—are phrased in such a way as to suggest that Christ was created and not, as the [[Nicene Creed]] states, "begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God."{{sfn|Chryssides|2016|pp=140}}

=== Commentary about non-English versions ===

[[Cees Houtman]] wrote of the Dutch translation in 1984: "respect and knowledge are the requirements that a translator must meet. It was noted above that in the past distrust was often expressed regarding the translation work of persons belonging to a different modality or denomination and there was a fear of the theological points of view being reflected in the translation. A purely objective evaluation of translations, however, must conclude that only in very exceptional cases can passages be pointed out in which the confessional (or political and social) point of view of the translators shines through. Even the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses can survive the scrutiny of the critics. In this context, one should also note, for example, that [[Remonstrants]] and [[Mennonites]] were able to use the SV [([[Statenvertaling]])]. Scripture and religious beliefs tend to come to light in notes and introductions to translations."{{sfn|Houtman|1984|pp=279–280}}

The [[Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft|Evangelical German Bible Society]] reviewed the German-language edition of 1986 and described the NWT as a "translation that is accurate in many respects, but tendentious in the sense of the special teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses".{{sfn|Haug|1993|pp=34–35}}

In 2004, [[Xabier Pikaza]] wrote of the Spanish translation, "Traducción del Nuevo Mundo ... is the name given by Jehovah's Witnesses to their version of the Bible, which is based on the conviction that the other versions, in all languages, are somehow tainted by the presuppositions of the various churches and Christian confessions. Only this version would reflect the exact content of the Scriptures in the original languages, because 'The Bible is the Word of God as long as it is well translated'. It is not a direct translation from the original languages, but is made from the English text (published in 1960), although the editors claim to have faithfully consulted the original Hebrew and Greek texts. The edition, in two columns, is very well cared for; it includes a critical apparatus and numerous intertextual references. Many Catholic and Protestant scholars have accused this Bible of flaws and biased interpretations. But, on the whole, it offers a reliable vision of the Word of God, which can lead men to the New World, that is, to the Messianic Kingdom".{{sfn|Pikaza|2004|pp=778}}

Sverre Bøe in 2011 said, "the Norwegian version of The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) by Jehovah's Witnesses intends to be 'accurate', literal and precise, and in many respects it really is. A number of dogmatic concerns, however, break with such principles, often based on an anti-trinitarian understanding".{{sfn|Bøe|2011|pp=169}}

=== ''Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures'' ===

[[Thomas Nelson Winter]] considered the ''Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures'' to be a "highly useful aid toward the mastery of ''koine'' (and classical) Greek," adding that the translation "is thoroughly up-to-date and consistently accurate."{{sfn|Winter|1974|pp=376}}

Julius R. Mantey stated that the KIT "changed the readings in scores of passages to state what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach. That is a distortion not a translation."<ref name="Mantey">Julius Robert Mantey, Depth Exploration in the New Testament, Vantage Press, 1980, {{ISBN|0533045355}}, pp. 136–137</ref>

According to the February 1, 1998 issue of ''The Watchtower'', Jason BeDuhn ordered copies of the KIT for his students at [[Indiana University Bloomington]], and wrote that "it is the best interlinear New Testament available".{{sfn|Andrews|2023|pp=124}}<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Watchtower|publisher=Watch Tower Society|date=February 1, 1998|page=32|title="It Is the Best Interlinear New Testament Available"}}</ref>

=== Controversial passages ===

Much criticism of the ''New World Translation'' involves the rendering of certain texts in the New Testament considered to be biased in favor of specific Witness practices and doctrines.<ref name="pentonbible" /><ref>Robert M. Bowman Jr, ''Understanding Jehovah's Witnesses'', (Grand Rapids MI: Baker Book House, 1992)</ref>{{sfn|Haas|1955|pp=283, "This work indicates a great deal of effort and thought as well as considerable scholarship, it is to be regretted that religious bias was allowed to colour many passages."}}{{sfn|Ankerberg|Weldon|2003}}<ref>Rhodes R, The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions, The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response, Zondervan, 2001, p. 94</ref>{{sfn|Metzger|1953|pp=}}{{sfn|Metzger|1964}} These include:

* the use of "torture stake" instead of "cross" as the [[instrument of Jesus' crucifixion]];{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=85}}<ref name="pentonbible" />
* the use of the indefinite article ("a") in its rendering of [[John 1:1]] to give "the Word was ''a'' god";{{sfn|Paul|2003|pp=85}}<ref name="pentonbible" /><ref>C.H. Dodd: "The reason why [the Word was a god] is unacceptable is that it runs counter to the current of Johannine thought, and indeed of Christian thought as a whole." ''Technical Papers for The Bible Translator'', Vol 28, No. 1, January 1977</ref>
* the term "public declaration" at Romans 10:10, which may reinforce the imperative to engage in public preaching;<ref name="pentonbible" />
* the term "coming to know" rather than merely "know" at John 17:3 (in the 2013 revision), which means that salvation is dependent on ongoing learning;<ref name="pentonbible">{{Citation|author=Penton, M. J.|title=Apocalypse Delayed|publisher=University of Toronto Press|edition=2nd|year=1997|pages=174–176}}</ref>
* the placement of the comma in Luke 23:43, which affects the timing of the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to the thief at [[Calvary]].<ref name="bottingbible">{{Citation| last = Botting | first = Heather| author2 = Gary Botting| title = The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses| publisher = University of Toronto Press| year = 1984| pages = 98–101| isbn = 0-8020-6545-7}}</ref>

== Russia ban ==

The New World Translation, along with the Jehovah's Witnesses organization, was [[List of organisations banned in Russia|banned in Russia]] in 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-jehovahs-witnesses-bible-translation-banned/28684384.html  |title=Russia Bans Jehovah's Witnesses' Translation Of Bible |first=Tom |last=Balmforth |date=August 18, 2017 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]}}</ref> after the prosecution used quotes from Wikipedia to argue that the translation is [[extremist]] and not a true Bible.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jw-russia.org/pages/17081610-203.html |title=Репортаж: Суд над Библией в Выборге |lang=ru |trans-title=Reportage: Trial of the Bible in Vyborg |website=Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212082258/https://www.jw-russia.org/pages/17081610-203.html |archive-date=2018-12-12 }} The reference to Wikipedia is at time 14:45</ref> This decision was questioned by international observers, and even by [[Alexander Dvorkin]], who had previously asked for the Jehovah's Witnesses' organization to be banned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pravoslavie.ru/105915.html |title=АЛЕКСАНДР ДВОРКИН: РЕШЕНИЕ ВЫБОРГСКОГО СУДА О ПРИЗНАНИИ ЭКСТРЕМИСТСКИМ МАТЕРИАЛОМ «ПЕРЕВОДА НОВОГО МИРА» – ГРОМАДНАЯ ОШИБКА |lang=ru |trans-title=ALEXANDER DVORKIN: THE DECISION OF THE VYBORG COURT TO RECOGNIZE THE NEW WORLD TRANSLATION AS AN EXTREMIST MATERIAL IS A HUGE MISTAKE |website=pravoslavie.ru}}</ref>{{sfn|Andrews|2018|pp=60}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Bible}}

* [[Jehovah's Witnesses publications]]
* [[List of Bible translations by language]]

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

=== Sources ===

* {{cite book|first=Edward D.|last=Andrews|year=2018|title=Reviewing 2013 New World Translation of Jehovah's Witnesses: Examining the History of the Watchtower Translation and the Latest Revision|publisher=Christian Publishing House|isbn=9781945757785|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1URJDwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book|last=Andrews|first=Edward D.|date=2023-04-11|title=Evaluating The New World Translation: An Examination of the Accuracy of the New World Translation of Jehovah's Witnesses|publisher=Christian Publishing House|isbn=9798390901854|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HC4EAAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite web|last1=Ankerberg|first1=John|last2=Weldon|first2=John|date=2003-10-29|title=The New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses|url=http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/ATRI-Bible-School/Fall-Bible-School/fall-bible-school-jw-new-world-translation.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029043702/http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/ATRI-Bible-School/Fall-Bible-School/fall-bible-school-jw-new-world-translation.htm|archive-date=2012-10-29}}
* {{cite journal|last=Barclay|first=William|title=An ancient Heresy in Moder Dress|journal=The Expository Times|location=Edinburgh|publisher=T. & T. Clark.|year=1953|volume=65}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Baumgarten|first1=Kenneth J.|last2=Smith|first2=Kevin Gary|title=An Examination of the Consistency of the New World Translation with the Stated Philosophy of the Translators|journal=Conspectus, the Journal of the South African Theological Seminary|volume=6|date=2008|location=Rivonia, South Africa|pages=25–42}}
* {{cite book|last=BeDuhn|first=Jason D.|author-link=Jason BeDuhn|year=2003|title=Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament|publisher=University Press of America|series=G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series|isbn=9780761825555|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EgnIp2Bzdi8C}}
* {{cite journal|last=Bøe|first=Sverre|date=2011-09-13|title=Jehovas vitners bibeloversettelse Ny verden|journal=Tidsskrift for Teologi og Kirke|volume=3|number=82|pages=169–184|doi=10.18261/ISSN1504-2952-2011-03-02}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Bradshaw|editor-first=Paul F.|editor-link=Paul F. Bradshaw|date=2002|title=The New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship|publisher=Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZrVDmaXP6HEC&pg=PA261|isbn=9780334028833}}
* {{cite dictionary|first=Robert G.|last=Bratcher|date=1996|editor-first1=Paul J.|editor-last1=Achtemeier|editor-link1=Paul J. Achtemeier|editor-last2=Boraas|editor-first2=Roger S.|editor-last3=Fishbane|editor-first3=Michael |editor-link3=Michael Fishbane|editor-last4=Cummings|editor-first4=Nathan|editor-last5= Perkins|editor-first5=Pheme|editor-link5=Pheme Perkins|editor6-last=Walker|editor-first6=William O.|title=English Bible, The|dictionary=The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary|edition=revised and updated|location=San Francisco, CA|isbn=9780060600372|oclc=34965544|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |editor7=The [[Society of Biblical Literature]]|pages=288–293}} (Revised and updated edition of ''Harper's Bible Dictionary'', 1st ed. c1985)
* {{cite book|last=Bruce|first=F. F.|author-link=F. F. Bruce|date=1961|title=The English Bible: A History of Translations|location=London|publisher=Oxford University Press|lccn=61000960|oclc=345350|ol=OL1318916W}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Byatt |editor1-first=Anthony |editor-link=Anthony Byatt |publication-place=Malvern, Worcestershire |editor2-last=Flemings |editor2-first=Hal |title='Your Word is Truth', Essays in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1950, 1953) |date=2004 |publisher=Golden Age Books |isbn=0-9506212-6-9}}
* {{cite journal|last=Byington|first=Steven T.|author-link=Steven T. Byington|title=Review of the New World Translation|journal=The Christian Century|volume=67|pages=588–9|date=1950-11-01|url=https://archive.org/details/ByingtonAndTheNewWorldTranslation/mode/2up}}
* {{cite book|last=Chryssides|first=George D.|author-link=George D. Chryssides|year=2009|title=The A to Z of Jehovah's Witnesses|series=The A to Z Guide Series|edition=reprinted|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810870543|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wET8VQCHjkYC}}
* {{cite book|last=Chryssides|first=George D.|title=Jehovah's Witnesses: Continuity and Change|series=Routledge New Religions|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|isbn=9781351925426|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jDOoDQAAQBAJ|doi=10.4324/9781315251561}}
* {{cite book|author-last=Chryssides|author-first=George D.|date=2019|chapter='Be not conformed' - A historical survey of the Watch Tower Society's relationship with society|editor1-last=Besier|editor1-first=Gerhard|editor-link1=Gerhard Besier|editor2-last=Huhta|editor2-first=Ilkka|title=Religious Freedom: Its Confirmation and Violation During the 20th and 21st Centuries. 18. Jahrgang (2017), Heft 1+2|volume=18|series=Issue 1-2 de Religion - Staat - Gesellschaft - Zeitsch, ISSN 1438-955X / Religion, Staat, Gesellschaft : Zeitschrift für Glaubensformen und Weltanschauungen|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|isbn=9783643997456|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=55V9DwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite journal|first=Robert H.|last=Countess|title=The Translation of ΘΕΟΣ in the New World Translation|journal=Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society|volume=10|issue=3|date=1967|url=https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/10/10-3/BETS_10_3_153-160_Countess.pdf|issn=0361-5138|oclc=01776411|pages=153–60|archive-date=2022-05-01|access-date=2022-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501061950/https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/10/10-3/BETS_10_3_153-160_Countess.pdf|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|last=Countess|first=Robert|date=1982|title=Jehovah's Witnesses' New Testament: A Critical Analysis|publisher=Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company |isbn=0-87552-210-6}}
* {{cite book|last = Danker|first=Frederick W. |author-link=Frederick William Danker|title=Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study |publisher=Concordia Publishing House|date=1960}}
* {{cite book|last = Duthie|first=Alan S.|author-link=Alan Stewart Duthie|date=1985|title=Bible Translations: And how to Choose Between Them |publisher=Paternoster|isbn=9780853644002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bxQXAAAAIAAJ}}
* {{cite book|last=Furuli|first=Rolf|author-link=Rolf Furuli|chapter=An evaluation of NWT's critics|title=The Role of Theology and Bias in Bible Translation: With a special look at the New World Translation of Jehovah's Witnesses|date=1999|location=Huntington Beach, California|publisher=Elihu Books |isbn=0-9659814-9-5}}
* {{cite book|last1=Geisler|first1=Norman L.|author-link1=Norman Geisler|last2=Nix|first2=William E.|year=2012|title=From God To Us Revised and Expanded: How We Got Our Bible|publisher=Moody Publishers|isbn=9780802483928|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2sP5Ws0yj48C&pg=PT456}}
* {{cite book|last=Howe|first=Thomas A.|title=Bias in New Testament Translations?|publisher=Solomon's Razor Publishing|date=2010|isbn=9780615366760}}
* {{cite book|last=Howe|first=Thomas A.|date=2015-05-08|title=The Deity of Christ in Modern Translations: A Response to the Claims of Jason BeDuhn and A Defense of the Biblical Testimony that Jesus is God|publisher=[[CreateSpace]]|isbn=978-1512386578}}
* {{cite journal|first=Samuel|last=MacLean Gilmour|date=September 1966 |title=The Use and Abuse of the Book of Revelation|journal=Andover Newton Quarterly |volume=7 |issue=1|pages=25–26 }}
* {{cite book|last=Gordon|first=Campbell|title=Bible: The Story of the King James Version|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|year=2010|isbn=9780191624797|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05mIWA1BqrAC}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Gutjahr|editor-first=Paul C.|date=2017|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in America|series=Oxford handbooks|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190258849|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IJc4DwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite journal |last=Haas |first=Samuel S. |date=1955 |title=Reviewed Work: ''New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, Vol. I'' by New World Bible Translation Committee |journal=Journal of Biblical Literature |volume=74 |issue=4 |pages=282–283 |doi=10.2307/3261681 |jstor=3261681 }}
* {{cite book|last=Haug|first=Hellmut|year=1993|title=Deutsche Bibelübersetzungen; Das gegenwärtige Angebot – Information und Bewertung, erweiterte Neuausgabe|volume=10|series=Wissenswertes zur Bibel|location=Stuttgart|edition=2|publisher=[[Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft]]|url=http://www.die-bibel.de/bibelwissen/bibeluebersetzung/deutsche-uebersetzungen/uebersicht/neue-welt/|isbn=3438064901|archive-date=2016-04-27|access-date=2023-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427030729/http://www.die-bibel.de/bibelwissen/bibeluebersetzung/deutsche-uebersetzungen/uebersicht/neue-welt/|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite journal|last=Houtman|first=C.|authorlink=Cees Houtman|date=1984|title=De kritiek op de "Groot Nieuws Bijbel" in het licht van de kritiek op eerdere Nederlandse bijbelvertalingen|journal=Nederlands Theologisch Tijdschrift|volume=38|number=4|publisher=Boekencentrum|pages=265–289|issn=2542-6583|oclc=1776626|language=nl|doi=10.5117/NTT1984.4.001.HOUT}}
* {{cite journal |last=Kedar-Kopfstein |first=Benjamin |author-link=Benjamin Kedar-Kopfstein |date= 1981 |title=Die Stammbildung qôṭel als Übersetzungsproblem |trans-title=The rooting qôṭel as a translation problem |language=de, en, hbo |journal=Journal of Old Testament Scholarship (Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft) |volume=93 |issue=2|pages=254–279 |quote=p. 262: In sharp contrast to this free translation [''Die Heilige Schrift des Alten und Neuen Testamentes'' (1957)], LXX [Septuagint] and NWT are largely based on the formal structure of the source language [ancient Hebrew]. |access-date=2017-12-09|url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/zatw.1981.93.2.254/html|doi=10.1515/zatw.1981.93.2.254|s2cid=170623057 |url-access=subscription }}
* {{cite journal |last=Kedar-Kopfstein |first=Benjamin |date=1994 |title=On the Decoding of Polysemantic Lexemes in Biblical Hebrew |journal=Zeitschrift für Althebraistik |volume=7 |number=1 |publisher=W. Kohlhammer |issn=0932-4461 |pages=17–25}}
* {{cite encyclopedia|editor-first1=Berard L.|editor-last1= Marthaler|title=Jehovah's Witnesses|encyclopedia=The New Catholic Encyclopedia|year=2003|volume=7: Hol-Jub|pages=751|isbn=9780787640040|edition=2|location=Detroit|publisher=Thompson/Gale|author1=Catholic University of America staff|oclc=773389253}}
* {{cite journal|last=Mattingly|first=John F.|title=Jehovah's Witnesses Translate the New Testament|journal=The Catholic Biblical Quarterly|volume=13|issue=4|date=October 1951|pages=439–443|jstor=43720341|publisher=Catholic Biblical Association}}
* {{cite journal |last=McCoy |first=Robert M.|date=January 1963 |title=Jehovah's Witnesses and Their New Testament|journal=Andover Newton Quarterly |volume=3|issue=3|pages=15–31|url=http://christianwitnesses.net/Assets/Andover1963.pdf}}
* {{cite encyclopedia|last=Melton|first=J. Gordon|date=2024-03-07|title=Jehovah's Witness|collaboration=The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jehovahs-Witnesses|access-date=2024-03-14}}
* {{cite journal|last=Metzger|first=Bruce M.|author-link=Bruce M. Metzger|date=1953|title=The Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ: A Biblical and Theological Appraisal|journal=Theology Today|volume=10|number=1|pages=65–85|oclc=	18487857|doi=10.1177/004057365301000110|s2cid=170358762 }}
* {{cite journal|last=Metzger|first=B. M.|date=1964|title=Book Review: New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures|journal=The Bible Translator|volume=15|issue=3|pages=150–152|issn=2051-6789|url=http://www.ubs-translations.org/tbt/1964/03/TBT196403.html?seq=49|doi=10.1177/000608446401500311|s2cid=220318160 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228045105/http://www.ubs-translations.org/tbt/1964/03/TBT196403.html?seq=49 |archive-date=2022-02-28 |url-access=subscription}}
* {{cite journal|last=Parkinson|first=James|title=How to Choose a Bible Translation|date=1996|journal=Herald Magazine the Herald – of Christ's Kingdom|publisher=Milwaukee, Wis. Pastoral Bible Institute|url=http://www.heraldmag.org/1996/96so_6.htm|issn=0884-8777|oclc=3800192}}
* {{cite book|last=Paul|first=William E.|year=2003|title=English Language Bible Translators|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=9780786414253|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYIwCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA85}}
* {{cite book|last=Pikaza|first=Xabier|author-link=Xabier Pikaza|date=2004|editor-last1=Brown|editor-first1=Raymond E.|editor-link1=Raymond E. Brown|editor-last2=Fitzmyer|editor-first2=Joseph A.|editor-link2=Joseph A. Fitzmyer|editor-last3=Murphy|editor-first3=Roland E.|editor-link3=Roland E. Murphy|title=Nuevo Comentario Bíblico San Jerónimo|chapter=Artículos temáticos: Textos y versiones|lang=es|translator-last1=Tosaus Abadía|translator-first1=José Pedro|translator-first2=José|translator-last2=Pérez Escobar|translator-first3=Federico|translator-last3=Pastor Ramos|translator-first4=Olga Ma|translator-last4=Viña|translator-first5=Olga|translator-last5=Nicolau|translator-last6=Forcades|translator-first6=Teresa|location=Spain|publisher=Editorial Verbo Divino|isbn=84-8169-470-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Rhodes|first=R.|date=2001|title=The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions, The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response|publisher=Zondervan|pages=94|isbn=9780310232179}}
* {{cite book|last=Stafford|first=Greg|date=1997|title=Jehovah's Witnesses Defended|publisher=Elihu Books |isbn=0-9659814-7-9}}
* {{cite book|last1=Scorgie|first1=Glen G.|first2=Mark L.|last2=Strauss|first3=Steven M.|last3=Voth|title=The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God's Word to the World|publisher=Zondervan Academic|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pYkn5RbltmwC|isbn=9780310321859}}
* {{cite journal|last=Shead|first=Andrew G.|authorlink=Andrew G. Shead|date=2018|title=Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation)|journal=Themelios|publisher=The Gospel Coalition|volume=43|number=1|url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/burning-scripture-with-passion-a-review-of-the-psalms-passion-translation|pages=58–71|issn=0307-8388|oclc=669699890}}
* {{cite book|last=Swaim|first=J. Carter|title=Right and Wrong Ways to Use the Bible|location=Philadelphia|publisher=The Westminster Press|date=1953|lccn=53005959|oclc=747567|ol=OL6133321M}}
* {{cite book|last=Taylor|first=William Carey|author-link=William Carey Taylor|chapter=Its Banishment of Many Bible Words § Jehovah – The Complete Banished Word|title=The New Bible, Pro and Con|location=New York|publisher=Vantage Press|date=1955|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-InzTPpc6KwC|oclc=1085898453}}
* {{cite book|last=Wikgren|first=Allen|author-link=Allen Wikgren|editor1-last=Buttrick|editor1-first=George Arthur|editor2-last=Bowie|editor2-first=Walter Russell|editor3-last=Scherer|editor3-first=Paul|editor4-last=Knox|editor4-first=John|editor5-last=Terrien|editor5-first=Samuel|editor6-last=Harmon|editor6-first=Nolan B.|date=1952|chapter=The English Bible|title=The Interpreter's Bible. General and Old Testament Articles. Genesis. Exodus.|series=A Commentary in Twelve Volumes|volume=1|location=Nashville, Tennessee|publisher=Abringdon Press|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/interpretersbibl028041mbp/page/99|pages=99|isbn=0-687-19207-2|lccn=51012276}}
* {{cite journal |first=J. T. |last=Williams |title='Your Word is Truth': Essays in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1950, 1953) |journal=Journal for the Study of the Old Testament |date= 2006 |volume=30 |issue=5 |page=54}} {{subscription required|via=[https://www.ebsco.com EBSCO]'s Academic Search Complete}}
* {{cite journal |last=Winter |first=Thomas |author-link=Thomas Nelson Winter|date= April 1974 |title=Review of New World Bible Translation Committee's The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures |url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=classicsfacpub |journal=Faculty Publications, Classics and Religious Studies Department|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|pages=376|access-date=October 30, 2018|jstor=3295986|quote=I think it is a legitimate and highly useful aid toward the mastery of koine (and classical) Greek. After examining a copy, I equipped several interested second-year Greek students with it as an auxiliary text. ...  a motivated student could probably learn koine Greek from this source alone. [...] translation by the anonymous committee is thoroughly up-todate and consistently accurate}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote|New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures}}
* [https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/ Official webpage]
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