@rosyray: Yes, I remember them making a big deal in articles like that one over how the NWT used the wordier "taking in knowledge". However, as you said, the NWT now reads "coming to know", which is in fact different from most Bibles, which simply say "know". So I think they felt that "coming to know" was a more streamlined way of expressing the same concept as "taking in knowledge". Both describe a continuous process.
I don't see the hypocripsy here...In fact, when interpreting John 17:3, the WT has always emphasized that it refers to a having a relationship with Jehovah God and Jesus, NOT just head knowledge. Once you know the true God, God himself would KNOW YOU...that's the way it was always interpreted. Many NT lexicons also included the term "taking in knowledge" or "having knowledge" as an alternative rendition for John 17:3. And the WT has quoted numerous times from other translations when citing John 17:3. So I don't see the hypcripsy there...all the nitty-gritty over a word, which basically has the same root meaning. It reminds when people would some would get hysterical over the NWT rendering of "underserved kindness", instead of "grace", when the Greek Bible dictionaries and lexicons clearly state that CHARIS means "undeserved favor" or kindness or "unmerited loving kindness". It means the same thing!!!!
I am new to all of this, so be patient with me as I vent my new found frustrations about this religion with you all. I have seen that this is a safe avenue to do so and also a place where I can learn to refine what I say in a more concise manner and not have my every word be picked apart (I get enough of that at home). I am not trying to be nitty gritty about a word, my apologies if it came out that way.
I simply wanted to agree with the OP when he said:
Up until now, everlasting life was dependent on "taking in knowledge". It was a perfect fit for a publishing house to interpret that scripture that way. If we didn't keep up with the endless stream of publications from the Watchtower our salvation would be in jeopardy. Now that they've changed the translation closer to most other bibles it reveals that salvation comes by knowing God and having a relationship with him not how good our study habits are.
And also I have been lurking such a long time and I really have benefited from the posters on this forum. I just wanted to start participating on this forum as well. I thought that others might find that w02 quote interesting. What I wrote was just my initial reaction to what I had just heard. Maybe I should have thought about it a bit more before I posted something, but I was really eager to get it out.
Thinking about it now, I guess I feel that saying "to know" is acceptable and in my opinion it does mean that it involves something more than just knowing a person at face value. Especially if my life depended on it as the scripture says, I would want to know everything about that person including their past, present, and to keep involved with them as time goes on - hanging on their every word. However, I do realize that many people probably do need a more precise clarification to convey greater depth or they might try to take the easy way out with the scriptures.
I do know that the Watchtower has always taught this point of view about taking in knowledge and having a relationship with Jehovah and Jesus. And yes I would agree that saying "coming to know" is more "streamlined" and more clarified than just saying "to know." When it comes down to it, my issue is that the Watchtower in the w02 12/15 article criticized other translations for simply using "to know" instead of their "taking in knowledge." Making them seem more elevated. Saying "taking in knowledge" and "coming to know" are fine with me, but I don't think its wrong to just say "to know."
Hope that clarifies my point.
