Questions From Readers

● Is it true that the teachings of Jehovah’s witnesses are based on the New World Translation of the Bible?

The fact that the New World Translation bears out teachings of Jehovah’s witnesses does not prove that the teachings of Jehovah’s witnesses are founded upon this Bible translation. Since 1879 The Watchtower has been published, setting forth the things that Jehovah’s witnesses believe and teach. The New World Translation, which the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has accepted as a gift from the New World Bible Translation Committee, first began to be published in part in 1950, and volumes of it have been coming out from time to time since then. Consequently, the formulation of the Bible doctrine of Jehovah’s witnesses did not wait upon the New World Translation, beginning in 1950.

Up until 1950 the teachings of Jehovah’s witnesses were based mainly upon the King James Version of the Bible, but in the course of years the publications of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in English alone have quoted from more than seventy different Bible translations produced in Christendom. This does not take into account the fact that our literature is published in more than 125 languages and that these foreign languages do not have the English New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. In all parts of the world Jehovah’s witnesses are proving their Bible-based beliefs to the people by the copy of the Bible that the householder may have or that he may recognize as authoritative. So the New World Translation comes along merely as a confirmation of the correctness of the teachings of Jehovah’s witnesses and does not constitute the foundation of their teachings.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Paradise—a garden of delight. What an absorbing theme! This theme the book From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained follows from cover to cover. The book “Your Will Be Done on Earth” shows Scripturally what God’s will is and how those who love God can share in doing it on earth forever. Both books will be offered to the public during November on a contribution of $1.25, along with two informative Bible booklets.

PEACE IN OUR DAY?

The most hotly debated question of modern world diplomats, “Will peace come in our day?” was answered in the most reassuring terms this past summer at all Awake Ministers District Assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the world. That answer and the hope it brings can be yours. Send at once for the booklet When God Speaks Peace to All Nations. It contains the most reliable of all evidences, proof from God’s own promises in his Word. Send today, 5c for one booklet or 10c for three, and be certain why and how peace will come in our day.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

December 6: Innocence by Respect for Sacredness of Blood. Page 645.

December 13: Keeping “Clean from the Blood of All Men,” ¶1-20. Page 650.

December 20: Keeping “Clean from the Blood of All Men,” ¶21-44. Page 656.