@galveston75 saidFrom your link:
https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/new-world-translation-accurate/
"Based on his analysis of nine major English translations, Jason David BeDuhn, associate professor of religious studies, wrote: “The NW [New World Translation] emerges as the most accurate of the translations compared.” Although the general public and many Bible scholars assume that the differences in the New World Translation are the result of religious bias on the part of its translators, BeDuhn stated: “Most of the differences are due to the greater accuracy of the NW as a literal, conservative translation of the original expressions of the New Testament writers.”—Truth in Translation"
If you had read the next few sentences in Truth in Translation, the relevant bits I have actually read, you'd know that BeDuhn went on to say ~ with regard to the specific issue under discussion about which you are bizarrely citing him here in defence of your organization's customized Bible...
"The introduction of the name 'Jehovah' into the New Testament 237 times was not accurate translation by the most basic principle of accuracy and that it violates accuracy in favor of denominationally preferred expressions for God.”—Truth in Translation
@fmf said1 John 5:19:
You believe "Satan was behind" all the Bibles there have ever been for the last 1,000+ years except the one your non-stock non-profit corporation commissioned in the mid-20th century?
19 We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.
John 12:31:
31 Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
2 Corinthians 4:4:
4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.
Revelation 12:9:
9 So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.
Matt 4:8-10: 8 Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”
In light of these scriptures that clearly shows that Satan is the ruler of this world which would not only include the governments and it's rulers. It would also include all religions that do not recognize who Jehovah even is since they've taken the name of God from the bible's they prefer to use and because of that instant confusion it presents, most who use those bible's have no idea who Jehovah even is.
So I guess you could say yes, Satan very much has had his influence on all bible's that do not leave the name of Jehovah in it where it belongs
@eladar saidWhy do you ask a question and then answer it yourself?
@Suzianne
Without the book how are we to know anything about Jesus?
In the end the spirit within us leads us. If that spirit is of God then we will see the truth and might be saved. If that spirit in us is not from God we will believe a lie and are doomed.
Do you believe that one cannot serve God and Mammon?
Those who follow Mammon instead of God are already doomed.
But, to answer your first question, I did not say that we should be without the book.
I said that people err from God when they make the book their God. Far too many Christians follow a book and do not follow God.
@thinkofone saidThis is a rare time that I think both of you are right.
We cannot make interpretations from the Bible.
And yet people not only do, with the Bible being widely open to interpretation, they must. You can pretend that this isn't the case, but it is what it is.
For example, the JW position on blood transfusions is based upon THEIR interpretation of the Bible.
Just because you believe that the JW interpretations are correct, doesn't mean that they aren't interpretations.
There is such a thing as an interpretation... but there also is such a thing as there being only one correct way of understanding something, rendering alternative interpretations of its meaning incorrect.
Whether or not Lee Harvey Oswald was the only assassin of JFK or some such is not something that perhaps we can ever know for certain. But what is certain: there is a specific way that this happened; there is an objective reality.
It's just that the objectively correct understanding is being debated by we who do not know the correct answer. l
@philokalia saidThanks for your comments. Just a thought though. Many here do think the bible is open or up to anyone's interpretations. But is that really so? Remember the opinions on homosexuality. Some believe strongly that it is wrong on any level like myself. But others come up with other reasons that it's probably OK in certain situations.
This is a rare time that I think both of you are right.
There is such a thing as an interpretation... but there also is such a thing as there being only one correct way of understanding something, rendering alternative interpretations of its meaning incorrect.
Whether or not Lee Harvey Oswald was the only assassin of JFK or some such is not something that per ...[text shortened]... t the objectively correct understanding is being debated by we who do not know the correct answer. l
So is this range of opinions or interpretations OK with God? Will he give into those who decide to follow their interpretation or will he stick to his word and possibly punish them?
So is the Bible open for ones interpretation? Did God have it written that way? If he left it open for us to decide which course to take but then if he really didn't mean it to be taken that way, that would be a cruel thing to do to us as we could loose our life's out of it.
And that would not make sense and it would not be consistent with who he is.
Deuteronomy 4:24:
For Jehovah your God is a consuming fire, a God who requires exclusive devotion.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a person is sowing, this he will also reap;
Just some thoughts on this.......
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@galveston75 saidThis matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17 KJV)
Satan is the ruler of this world which would not only include the governments and it's rulers.
You give Satan too much credit.
God rules over the Earth.
God is in control.
@suzianne saidMost Christians do not know God. You are among them so I do not understand why you complain about yourself.
Why do you ask a question and then answer it yourself?
Do you believe that one cannot serve God and Mammon?
Those who follow Mammon instead of God are already doomed.
But, to answer your first question, I did not say that we should be without the book.
I said that people err from God when they make the book their God. Far too many Christians follow a book and do not follow God.
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@rajk999 saidSo you still pick and choose I see. So you don't approve of those scriptures that say differently?
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17 KJV)
You give Satan too much credit.
God rules over the Earth.
God is in control.
So how thick is your bible? Maybe 10 pages or so?
@galveston75 saidYou obviously missed my point.
And he tells us exactly how to use it. But to each his own huh?
If a woman has sexual desires for another woman, God created those desires, and it's fine.
@chaney3 saidIn the GF, when another poster revealed they were gay, you said that you didn't like them anymore.
You obviously missed my point.
If a woman has sexual desires for another woman, God created those desires, and it's fine.
Would you care to elaborate on that here, considering the topic of the thread?
@ghost-of-a-duke saidThe point of this thread is not a person's opinion, but how the church accepts gay people, and how they can based on what the bible says.
In the GF, when another poster revealed they were gay, you said that you didn't like them anymore.
Would you care to elaborate on that here, considering the topic of the thread?
As I have stated, many LGBT churches exist, and I'm curious how they've reconciled this dilemma.
@chaney3 saidMy question is on topic. In a thread entitled 'are gays okay?' I am asking you to qualify your surprising response to another poster that you didn't like them anymore, when they revealed they were gay.
The point of this thread is not a person's opinion, but how the church accepts gay people, and how they can based on what the bible says.
As I have stated, many LGBT churches exist, and I'm curious how they've reconciled this dilemma.
Clearly you do not think being gay is okay. Why is that?