Here's some info I came accross & that's been circulating via email (I did not write it)
Bethel Lecture on the NEW Bible
by Governing Body Bro Geoffrey Jackson.
Use the New Bible and get to know it – Read it
They started working on it in 2008
Three reasons for it:
1. Avg person doesn’t know KJ bible; last bible stuck to the Hebrew and Greek, because of bible thumpers
2. People want it clear & now today
3. Most people have a non-biblical view of life.
He review/read pg 1718 and then asked us to look up and study the changes in the following verses:
Duet 32:14 and Prov 28:25 – What does Fat mean to you???
Gen 9:4 and Gen 35:18 – Soul has many meanings
Ps 113:6, Ruth 2:15, Josh 23:14, 1 sam 18:13, Ex 12:6, 1 cor 7: 36-38, Ps 51:12 – compare them with the Old Bible………Too Cool
Then he reviewed the four types of Footnotes – Pg 1725
Or – Ps 51:5, Job 21:13, Acts 15:20&29 – footnote is combined, Lk 14:16
Or Possible – Eccl 7:9, Gal 5:14
Literal Meaning – John 2:4
Background – Gen 24:32, Gen 25:8, Judges 7:19, Josh 3:4
Jehovah’s name – six more times in the bible. The Evidence has been found and confirmed in the Dead Sea Scrolls and other manuscripts – since our last bible.
Judges 19:18, 1Sam 2:25, 1Sam 6:3, 1Sam 10:26, 1Sam 23:14, 1Sam 23:16
Then he said to read the following changes – due to the Dead Sea Scrolls and other manuscripts – since our last bible:
Mt 27:49, 1pet 5:2, 2sam 13:21, Mt 13:14
&
Here are a few details about the production of the Bibles:
The Bibles were printed in Wallkill and at the Japan branch. The project was highly confidential, with curtains up around the bindery production area. 1.3 million English Bibles needed to be printed at Wallkill from August 13, the project start date, to the annual meeting. This included printing them, binding them, gilding them, making the covers, putting the cover on, and shipping them out.
To do this, gilding would have to run nearly 24/7, with three shifts rotating in an out. Other parts of the bindery ran on double shift (6 am-11 PM). The night crew made a big sacrifice, working from 11 pm-7 am for the entire project. Many new workers were brought in to all parts of the printery to help out. Bindery oversight scheduled it so that the project would be completed if everything went well, but still it was a huge goal with a solid deadline. Would it get done? Not without Jehovah's help.
Consider the weather, which was mentioned in the annual meeting. Take a look at this link. http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/wallkill-ny/12589/august-weather/2146096?monyr=8/1/2013
First look how hot it was during the first half of July. With temperatures like that, it was very difficult to bind books and have the glue set properly. It brings production to a snail's pace. But now look at the temperatures from August 13-October 5. With the exception of one 94 degree day, the temperature never rose above 86, with many moderate days. As a result, enough books were bound.
Brother Pierce showed us how to loosen up the gilding so that the pages will not stick together. This is called "breaking". It is necessary because when it comes out of the gilding machine it is hard as a rock. Each book was hand broken, 3 books at a time. This was done 3 times for all the books, once for each gilded side. Also each time it was broken it was checked for any errors, such as white spots or scratches.
After gilding the sides, it was sent to have the corners rounded and gilded and then to have the ribbons inserted. Two more checks of each book were done, and then it would be sent to have the cover put on and then to be shrink wrapped, boxed, and shipped. It was checked at least twice more during that process.
The purpose of all those checks, and also for the beautiful appearance of the book, is that the Governing Body wanted the Bibles to have a dignified, beautiful appearance that would stand out, considering it is our most important book. Hopefully your copy looks very good.
The books produced at Wallkill were for the Eastern and Central United States, and the Japan branch produced 500,000-600,000 for the Western United States. The Shipping Department had to coordinate it so that all the books would get out to the thousands of locations on time, all while keeping the project confidential.
The revised New World Translation, which has been modernized and simplified, will be a great tool both to improve our own spirituality and to help others come to understand it. There will be many scriptures that have a whole new meaning, and we will be discovering these for a long time to come. Scriptures like John 17:3 may open some people's eyes about the action they need to take. Jehovah's blessing was certainly on the production of these books, and it will also be on your use of them.