Quote: It is not necessary for Bible translators to know Hebrew and Greek.

by Elsewhere 30 Replies latest jw friends

  • Elsewhere
    Elsewhere

    I just found some very revealing information in the Branch Organization Manual.

    1. They admit that bible translators DO NOT need to know Hebrew or Greek
    2. They admit that the reason the authors' names are omitted is primarily to protect the Organization and the Authors from liability.

    ALL BOLD LETTERS ARE ORIGINAL... I ADDED THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT AND RED TEXT.

    Branch Organization Manual: Page 25-5

    46. BIBLE TRANSLATION

    : When there are sufficient translators and there is the prospect of an adequate circulation
    of the complete Bible, a request may be made to
    the Writing Committee to begin work on the New World
    Translation. A regular edition of the Christian Greek
    Scriptures without marginal references will be published
    first. It is not necessary for Bible translators to knowHebrew and Greek. They do not necessarily have to be
    the translators with the most experience, but they should
    be good translators who are both faithful and willing to
    follow directions very closely. Both brothers and sisters
    may be used.

    47.

    If the New World Translation is not available in the
    vernacular, translators do not have to translate every
    quoted scripture directly from the New World
    Translation
    when working on magazine articles or other
    publications. If a good vernacular translation is available
    that brings out the general meaning of the New World
    Translation, use it.

    48.

    However, if there is a specific need for the New
    World Translation, as when a particular point in question
    is made only by it, then the verse may be translated from
    it. If just one word or phrase from the New World Translation
    is inserted in the text, it should be placed in brackets
    [], and the New World Translation should be cited in
    italics inside the brackets as the source. For example: “The Lord [“Jehovah,” NW ] is my shepherd.” Whenever
    passages are translated directly from the New World
    Translation, the translators should keep a file of
    these scriptures
    as they have been rendered into the
    vernacular. By using this file, such scriptures will be rendered
    consistently in the future. The file should be accessible
    to all the translators, either on cards or electronically.
    If duplicate files need to be kept for use by
    translators outside Bethel, all of these should be kept up
    to date.

    49.

    On the publishers’ page of magazines, books, and
    brochures, the primary Bible translation used should
    be indicated.
    If you have the New World Translation in
    your language, follow the pattern of recent English publications.
    Otherwise, use the vernacular Bible that you consider to be the best, stating: “Unless otherwise indicated,
    Scripture quotations in this book [or magazine] are
    from the ___________________ translation. Where NW follows a quotation, it indicates that the translation is from
    the English-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References.” Where you do not have a
    vernacular Bible and scriptures are quoted primarily from
    the New World Translation , you should state: “Unless
    otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations in this book [or
    magazine] are translated from the English-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References.”

    50. CONFIDENTIALITY

    : It is important that translatorskeep their work confidential. Apart from the responsiblebrothers and those involved in the project, others(including marriage mates and other Bethelites) donot need to know (a) what is being translated and (b)who is translating a particular item. No publication shouldever be associated with a particular person. This is especiallyso in the case of Bible translators. This confidentialityprotects both the organization and the translators.
  • Spectre
    Spectre

    So they aren't all "celebrated scholars"?

  • cyd0099
    cyd0099

    Protects them from what, exactly?

    I mean if they are translating faithfully, then what's the problem?

    Oh, I get it now...

  • stillajwexelder
    stillajwexelder

    It is not necessary for Bible translators to know Hebrew and Greek. They do not necessarily have to be the translators with the most experience, but they should be good translators who are both faithful and willing to follow directions very closely

    This worries me - how can you get a faithful translation without bias

  • damselfly
    damselfly

    Firstly~

    Okay so they don't need to know greek and hebrew? Um, how do they translate then ?from the guidance of the holy spirit?

    This was lovely as well

    Both brothers and sisters

    may be used.

    How nice that the sisters are allowed to help in this very important translating without knowing what you are translating from. Also nice that it has to be specifed that they can help.

    Dams

  • Narkissos
  • damselfly
    damselfly

    On a side note you are having a blast with all this "new light' aren't you?

    Be sure to take breaks to, you know, bathe and eat.

    Dams

  • jwfacts
    jwfacts

    That's true. When you translate with the intention of fitting a preconceived doctrinal structure it doesn't matter what the original text said.

  • Narkissos
    Narkissos
    Um, how do they translate then ?

    Simply from the English NWT.

  • Elsewhere
    Elsewhere
    Be sure to take breaks to, you know, bathe and eat.

    I took a break to shower this morning and I'm fixing something to eat as I type.

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