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And the Word was God or "a God" (kai theos en ho logos). In an attempt to get more information on the New World Translation of the Watchtower Society, many have written the headquarters in Brooklyn, asking them for the names of their scholars, in order to verify these men’s credentials in scholarship. What most received back from the Society is a letter saying that they do not make known the names of their scholars because they want to maintain their humility. You will hear the same from the J.W. that will visit you at your home. The Jehovah's Witnesses claim that seven Greek scholars in the Watchtower did the New World Translation (NWT). It becomes quite obvious to anyone who knows any Greek or Hebrew that they consider their translation to be in gross errors. Is it a matter of opinion or of scholarship? We will look into this from a historical as well as biblical perspective. From its inception there has been no biblical language scholar residing at Watchtower headquarters. Many who claim to have the ability to translate Greek in fact could not and were caught in their lie. Russell perjured himself under oath in the Russell vs. Ross "defamatory libel" case of March 17, 1913 by first claiming to understand the Greek alphabet. He later admitted he did not know the Greek language in which the Bible was originally written when he was confronted with translating the language. The Watchtower Bible calls the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures one of the best translations to be found. But is it a translation or merely are gross distortions of the actual Greek and Hebrew manuscripts based on these men’s opinions. The FORWARD of the New World Translation in 1961 edition, on page 5 states, "It is a very responsible thing to translate the Holy Scriptures from their original languages, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, into modern speech ... The translators who have a fear and love of the divine Author of the Holy Scriptures feel especially a responsibility toward Him to transmit his thoughts and declarations as accurately as possible." Have their translators been responsible? Are they true to the original languages? The men that comprised the Translation Committee were not even Greek scholars qualified to translate the Bible. These men were: N.H. Knorr, F. W. Franz the 4th President, A.D. Schroeder, G.D. Gangas and M. Henschel (write to Personal Freedom Outreach, P.O. Box 26062, St. Louis, Missouri 63136 for paper documentation). All met together in these translation sessions. The translation committee requested that the names of the translators remain secret even after their deaths (Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, p. 258). Franz was asked in a courtroom in Scotland, "Why the secrecy?" he said, "Because the committee of translation wanted it to remain anonymous and not seek any glory or honour at the making of a translation, and having any names attached thereto." The attorney replied, "Writers of books and translators do not always get glory and honour for their efforts, do they?" (Pursuer's Proof of Douglas Walsh vs. The Right Honourable James Latham, M.P., P.C., Scottish Court of Sessions, p. 92 Nov. 1954). In 1954, in a Scotland trial, Fred Franz, then head of the Watchtower Editorial Board, admitted that he himself was the one who had checked the accuracy of the translation and recommended its publication. (Douglas Walsh v. The Right Honorable James Latham Clyde, M.P., P.C., etc., Scotland, 1954, (1958 ed.).p.88.)The following is from the trial transcript: - (Q): Insofar as translation of the Bible itself is undertaken, are you responsible for that? (A): I have been authorized to examine a translation and determine its accuracy and recommend its acceptance in the form in which it is submitted. Later, Franz was asked about his own involvement in the translating(Douglas Walsh v. The Right Honorable James Latham Clyde, M.P., P.C., etc., Scotland, 1954, (1958 ed.).p.92) (Q) : Were you yourself responsible for the translation of the Old Testament? ( A ) : Again I cannot answer that question... Here, under oath, Franz refused to confirm or deny he was the translator of the Hebrew text. Why wouldn't he say that he did not translate the Old Testament? The court also wondered "why" and asked (ibid) (Q): Why the secrecy? (A): Because the committee of translation wanted it to remain anonymous and not seek any glory or honour at the making of a translation, and having any names attached thereto. Why is it the writers of the New Testament books identified their authorship by their names, we know they were not seeking honor. The facts speak for themselves. The real reason would be that the translators could not be checked since they had no qualifications and anyone investigating this could not find anyone to assume responsibility for the translation. A shrewd plan indeed.According to Raymond Franz, only Fred Franz had "sufficient knowledge of the Bible languages to attempt translation of this kind. He had studied Greek for two years in the University of Cincinnati but was only self taught In Hebrew." Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience (Atlanta: Commentary Press, 1983), 50 Not one of the men had ever studied Greek, and wouldn't know the difference between an alpha or a omega. Only three of the five had even finished high school. Of those three only one went on to College. His name was Fredrick Franz, the same man who became the President of the Jehovah's Witnesses. He did begin at the University of Cincinatti but only completed two years. He then dropped out of College after the first semester in 1913 because he believed what Russell told him, that Christ was returning in 1914. He does not have even the most basic college degree, and certainly does not possess a degree for advanced study of the Bible. In fact, outside of the Watchtower circle Franz is not recognized by anyone as a scholar. As M. James Penton, a former Jehovah's Witness and historian, has written, "to all intents and purposes the New World Translation is the work of one man-Frederick Franz." M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985), 174. The men who make up the "translation committee" were self-appointed men lacking any adequate schooling or background in biblical languages unable to function as Bible Translators. Their purpose was not to translate the Scripture into a modern version of the Bible but to justify their theology to their people and have ammunition against Christianity as it is practiced today. The New World Translation is a fabrication with no scholarship involved. It was specifically created to make the Bible agree their preconceived theology. It was made for their people to believe WT doctrine and uphold their false belief that Jesus is Michael the Archangel not God. Back to the future Charles T. Russell the founder of the J.W.’s was going to 2nd day Adventists meetings in 1870 as he was interested in prophecy. He met Nelson Barbour, who had announced Christ returned invisibly in 1874. Russell personally meets with Barbour who convinced him of the invisible presence of Christ returned on earth. Russell at the time could not deal with hell nor the trinity was relieved when Nelson Barbour, a 2nd Day Adventist, introduced him to Wilson's EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT in 1876. Mr. Wilson never studied Biblical Greek in a college. He was a known follower of John Thomas, founder of the Christadelphians who was another `false prophet'. Neither Thomas nor Wilson believed "THE WORD WAS GOD" in Jn. 1:1. " The text `THE WORD WAS GOD' has been a continuing problem spanning four presidents of Jehovah's Witnesses. Until they finally dealt with it officially from there own made up translation. The Watchtower society bought the plates used to print the Diaglott. The Society did not think it was accurate enough so they ended up tampering with the Greek text in the Diaglott.After Russell the next president of the Watchtower society Judge Rutherford did not have much to say about the their doctrines from Scripture. But he did do two major things. He changed the name of the organization to Jehovah’s Witnesses. He also changed the 144,000 heavenly class to be split into to classes after they had too many people joining the organization. Nathan H. Knorr followed as the next president of Jehovah's Witness who was then followed by Frederick W. Franz. Neither one of these men were trained in the original languages of the Bible. Frederick. W. Franz, President of Jehovah's Witnesses, realized the deficiency of the DIAGLOTT, decided to translate his own Bible called THE NEW WORLD TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. Franz never studied biblical or koine Greek. He did not graduate from any college nor did he receive a Rhodes Scholarship as he claims. He translates the phrase "the Word was a god." in his KINGDOM INTERLINEAR he translated "god was the Word." Such a translation created another god. Jn.1:1 which reads "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God", is intentionally mistranslated, "Originally the Word was, and the word was with God, and the Word-was a god," They refer their concept to Moffatt's rendering "the Word was divine." He (Jesus) had all the God like qualities but was not God the creator. (But a creator nonetheless). Today many Witnesses claimed that Franz was a Rhodes Scholar and a scholar of Hebrew and Greek. The Rhodes Scholarship Trust (Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. 06457) stated that Franz was never considered for a Rhodes Scholarship; similarly a Scottish Court of Sessions of Nov. 1954, pp. 102, 103, in which Franz himself testified, made it clear that Franz could not read, speak nor translate the Hebrew language. Under oath at a trial in Scotland As a Bible scholar Franz would have to know the Hebrew Language. Mr. MacMillan, a former leader of the Jehovah's Witnesses, said, "He is also a scholar of Hebrew ..."(FAITH ON THE MARCH, 1957, p. 182.)Mr. Franz, under oath in a trial in Scotland, was asked: (Walsh Trial, P. 7). Scottish Court of Sessions in November, 1954. (Q): I think you are able to read and follow the Bible in Hebrew .... (A). Yes. The next day, he was put to the test. Could he really follow the Bible in Hebrew? Franz was asked to translate a simple Bible text at Genesis 2:4:6 (Q): I think we come to the name Jehovah in the forth verse, don't we, of the second chapter of Genesis ... [page 34] (A). Yes. (Q): You, yourself, read and speak Hebrew, do you? (Remember, Franz had admitted to this the previous day) (A): I do not speak Hebrew. (The examiner was surprised to hear this) (Q): You do not! (A). No. Q): Can you, yourself, translate that into Hebrew? (A): Which? (Q): That fourth verse of the second chapter of Genesis? (A): You mean here? (Q). Yes? (A): No, I won't attempt to do that. What Franz "wouldn't attempt" to translate into Hebrew is what many have said as a simple exercise an average first or second-year Hebrew student in seminary would be able to do . Franz could neither speak Hebrew nor translate the English to Hebrew. The President of the Watchtower allowed Jehovah's Witnesses to believe he is a Bible scholar having an education in Biblical languages. The facts show otherwise. He is not a scholar. In fact, there is not one Bible scholar among the Watchtower leaders. There couldn’t be one in good conscience because of their theology and what they have done in their translation.So they searched for camaraderie in their unique teaching of a greater and lesser God in Jn.1:1. F. W. Franz found a translation that agrees with his, THE NEW TESTAMENT by Johannes Greber. (SEE MAKE SURE OF ALL THINGS p. 4891965 revision) In the Watchtower's assessment the similar wording made the Bible an outstanding example of good translating and Greber became their scholar of choice. The New Testament by Johannes Greber is presented as a legitimate and accurate Bible. Lack of qualified Greek scholarship does not stop the Watchtower from citing support for their translation however. In many of their books and magazines over the years they have cited support from a New Testament translation by Johannes Greber (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971 edition, pp. 1669, 1134 ). The Kingdom Hall libraries have documentation in their own literature if any Jehovah's Witness will care to seek the truth by examining the evidence. Both Watchtower publications, MAKE SURE OF ALL THINGS: page 489, and THE WORD WHO IS HE? ACCORDING TO JOHN, page 5, quote Grebers translation to support their own rendering of that verse. Citing Johannes Greber As an Authority: It is true that Johannes Greber rendered the latter part of John 1:1 as "the Word was a god" (The New Testament, 1937) However, was Greber really a biblical scholar? Who was Johannes Greber? In 1923, Greber, a Roman Catholic priest, became interested in communication with spirit beings. These spirits often spoke through his wife, a spirit medium, and told him the Bible was full of errors. Johannes Greber was a known spiritist. He authored the book: COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD OF GOD. In this book, Greber claims that spirits helped him in his translation of the New Testament. Greber also saw the translation come by words passing before his eyes. Greber writes: "After I had convinced myself at the spiritistic meetings that God's spirits speak to men through mediums, as they had spoken to the early Christian communities, my first thought was to beg for full enlightenment on these problems concerning Christ. Who was Christ? My request was granted, to the smallest details, and that knowledge thenceforth constituted the most precious possession of my soul. In what follows, I shall repeat the truths regarding Christ. His life, and his work of Redemption, as they were imparted to me by the spirit which taught them." The spirit said: "At that time you were told that Christ is the highest of the spirits created by God and the sole one to be created directly; Christ Himself was not God, but only the first of God's sons." (COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD OF GOD p. 300) It is interesting that this is exactly what Franz the president of Jehovah's Witnesses teaches. Franz also gets information from angels. Mr. F. W. Franz during a court trial in Scotland (1954) was asked these questions under oath. (P. 39-40 from court transcript) FRANZ: Well, we believe that the angels of God are used in directing Jehovah's Witnesses." This is not anything new as Franz was only citing what the J.W’s have taught "the servant class on earth are directed by the Lord through his duly constituted deputies or angels. " (Light. Volume II.1930 p. 20). "Visible human creatures had to do with that message, yet in fact, it was a message of the Lord sent through his invisible angels, because without a doubt these are clothed with authority to direct the course of earthly members of God's organization." (Light Vol.1 l930, p.106)." Our understanding is that God's foreknowledge of our affairs and interests is gained by methods with which we are acquainted. We may assume, however, that the mediums used are largely the angelic messengers." (Watchtower, 2/15/15, p. 56) Notice the language, is it any wonder that they were open to Grebers translation through spirits. The WT even wrote The Apostle John warns: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world" 1 John 4:1. Greber's translation is directly from the spirit world that is used by demons. So Greber was not a scholar but an occultist! According to the April 1, 1983. issue of The Watchtower magazine, the Watchtower Society claims that when they discovered this damaging information, it immediately ceased citing Greber. This is a blatant lie a misrepresentation of the facts. The Bible clearly forbids all contact with demons professing to bring messages from God: the Society Knew this, and attempted to hinder research about Greber and this continues today. The Watchtower Society first began quoting Greber's translation of John l:1 in 1962. Their deception becomes clear when we find out that they knew exactly what they are doing. For six years earlier, in the 1956 Watchtower, number 4 on page 111, the Society mentions Greber and warns readers against his demon-inspired translation!" Very plainly the spirits in which ex-priest Greber believes helped him in his translation." In reality, the Watchtower knew as far back as 1956, that Johannes Greber was a spiritist. The February 15, 1956, issue of The Watchtower magazine contained nearly a full page on Greber and his Spiritism. The Watchtower admits. "Very plainly the spirits in which ex-priest Greber believes helped him in his translation." (Watchtower 2/15/1956) Yet, despite the knowledge that Greber was a spiritist, the Society continued to cite him as a authority in support of its translation of John 1:1 (see the 1961 edition of the New World Translation). So why did they quote him? Because they could find no one else that would render Jn.1:1 the way their own translation did. Has the Watchtower's own NEW WORLD TRANSLATION, been influenced by the teachings of demons. Judge for yourself Advertisement Johannes Greber memorial fund -Johannes Greber was surely an Apostle of Truth. It is the purpose of his book, written in a spirit of love for his fellow man, to describe the path which brought- him into contact with the world of God's Spirits and laid the Truth open to him….when Pastor Greber- first contacted Gods Spirit World he felt compelled to continue….Pastor Johannes Greber also translated the New Testament. The task was not simple. Many contradictions between what appears in the ancient scrolls and the New Testament, as we have grown to know it, arose and were the subject of his constant prayers for guidance-prayers that were answered, and the discrepancies clarified to him, by God's Spirit World. "At times he was given the correct answers in large illuminated letters aid words passing before his eyes. Other times he was given the correct answers during prayer meetings. His wife, a medium of God's Spirit world was often instrumental in conveying the correct answer from God's Messengers to Pastor Greber." Preceding the introduction of Greber's New Testament, we read: At times he was given the correct answers in large illuminated letters and words passing before ' his eyes. Johannes Greber did not like any of the existing translations of the Bible Greber speaks for himself in the introduction, page 15. "In the rare instances in which a test pronounced correct by the divine spirits can he found is none of the manuscripts able to-day, I have used the text as it was given to me by those spirits." (The New Testament by Johannes Greber p. 15). Notice he used the text as given to him by "spirits" in the plural. How is the WT able to justify a man who received his understanding from evil spirits and the Watchtower would be in total agreement with in their translation. WHY DOES THE WATCHTOWER QUOTE JOHANNES GREBER A CATHOLIC PRIEST WHO WAS A SPIRIT MEDIUM TO SUPPORT THEIR DOCTRINES? Books where Greber is quoted by the Watchtower. AID TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING Page 1669 THE WORD AID TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING Page 1134 MEMORIAL TOMBS MAKE SURE OF ALL THINGS Page 489 "A GOD" THE WATCHTOWER 9/15/1962 Page 554 THE WORD THE WATCHTOWER 10/15/1975 Page 640 NO RESURRECTION THE WATCHTOWER 4/15/1976 Page 231 NO RESURRECTION THE WORD Page 5 "A GOD" They actually can claim "Without wresting Greek grammar, a translator can render ...Thus the translation by Johannes Greber (1937) renders these verses ...Compare the New World Translation." (Watchtower, October 15, 1975, p. 640). Examples: "Similar is the reading of a former Roman Catholic priest-: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. "' Watchtower, September 15,1962, p. 544; "The Word"--Who Is He? According to John, 1963 ed., p. 5. Many WT issues claimed Johannes Greber's Bible was, "Based on the Oldest Manuscripts." That speaks of approval! More approval "Modern translations and Greek grammar make the meaning clear..." Make Sure of All Things, 1965, p. 489. Again they were recommending Greber and his book, and as usual claiming to have the last word on Greek grammar. Aid to Bible Understanding 1971 pp.1134 and 1669 "A translation by a former catholic priest. Johannes Greber (1937 ed.) renders the second appearance' a of the word "god" In the sentence as "a god." And The Four Gospels-A New Translation, by Professor Charles Cutler Torrey (second ed., 1947), says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was god. When he was in the beginning with God all things were created through him: without him came no created thing into This Word or Logos was God's only direct creation, the only-begotten son of God, and evidently the close associate of God to whom God was speaking when he said: "Let us make man In our image, according to our likeness." (Gen. 1:26) Hence John continued, saying: "This one was 1n the beginning with God. All things came Into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence." -John 1:2, 3. How could the influence of demons be held up as a fine translation by anyone except those in the occult? The Watchtower does not call it a "paraphrase " but implies that it is the correct literal translation of the text. WATCHTOWER, Oct.15 1975 They are still using Greber. Without wresting the Greek grammar, a translator can render Matthew 27:52, 53 in a way that suggests that a similar exposing of corpses resulted from the earthquake occurring at Jesus' death. Thus the translation by Johannes Greber (1937) renders these verses: "Tomb: were laid open, and many bodies of those buried there were tossed upright. In this posture they projected from the graves and were seen by many who passed by the place on their way back to the city."-Compare the New World Translation. THE WATCHTOWER - APRIL 15, 1976 Insight on the News- the Watchtower is still using Greber to prove their doctrine. Referring to a Guatamalan earthquake that affected gravesites…"A report in the Bible, as translated by Johannes Greber, says that when Jesus died, "the earth quaked, and the rocks were shattered. Tombs were laid open, and many bodies of those buried there were tossed upright. In this posture they projected from the graves and were seen by many who passed b y the place on their way back to the city." Hence, rather than a resurrection, as some Bible translations imply, there appears to have been merely an exposure of the dead to observers, as in Guatemala. Matt. 27:51-53."(Watchtower April 15, 1976, p. 231) What the Watchtower failed to tell its followers and hides from them is that Johannes Greber was a spiritist who translated the New Testament through his spirit-medium wife. According to Greber, the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9-10) begins like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy spirit world come to us. Thy will be done in the beyond and on earth." (Greber p. 6), Greber's spiritism is condemned by God's Word in Deuteronomy 18:9-14, and many other places. The Watchtower, on page 624 wrote, Since spiritism is condemned by God, it becomes obvious that a person appealing to spiritism for knowledge or help is not appealing to God. He is looking to a source opposed to God...' (WT Oct. 15 1977) So if Spirits that lie helped Greber in his translation, and the WT promotes the same inspired text (as they used his), then what does this mean? This is not just a side issue but the issue; the nature of Christ. Do we trust God's Book "translated" by a man who had Satan's influence? How good are these bibles? Greber also influenced the WT in other areas - Jesus Christ is a created being, (Communication with the Spirit World p. 301-J.W’s "Aid to Bible Understanding "p. 918). Christ's body was not resurrected. (CSWp.385- J.W.’s "things in which It is Impossible For God to Lie" p. 355). Body of Jesus was dematerialized. (CSWp.385- J.W.’s "Time Is At Hand" p. 129). You can no longer order Greber's New Testament from Johannes Greber Memorial Foundation, so you will have to personally check the WT organization. I'm sure they would love too hear from you on this issue. For further info on this subject write to Witness inc. or MacGregor ministries on the web. Everybody can and does make mistakes. However it is another thing for a religion that claims to be Gods only organization on earth to intentionally practice deception. After 1956 no mention is made of the satanic origin of the Greber Bible. Instead we see them giving precedent for the New World Translation with the respect and commendations of the Watchtower Society. The NWT, which first made its appearance in the early 1950s, According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses) over 34 million copies of the NWT have been printed as of 1981. Since that time, millions more have been printed and are being distributed through 5.8 million "publishers" (Jehovah's Witnesses who are actively promoting Watchtower literature) throughout the world.
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