Those latest 2 "concerns" are more troubling than the syntax. Makes it look as if the letter was written by someone without access to the latest information.
October 1, 2017 TO ALL BOE IN NIGERIA Re: Local Needs For the Week of October 16-22
by wifibandit 63 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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sir82
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blondie
11 The apostle Paul provided a principle to follow when considering donations. (Read 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2.) Under inspiration, he encouraged his brothers in Corinth not to wait until the end of the week to see what was left over but, rather, to set aside funds at the start of the week in harmony with what they could do. As in the first century, brothers and sisters in our time plan ahead to respond generously according to their circumstances. (Luke 21:1-4; Acts 4:32-35) Jehovah treasures such a giving spirit.—WT15 12/15 page 14
In his letters to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul mentioned three significant characteristics of voluntary giving. (1) When writing about a monetary collection, Paul instructed: “Every first day of the week let each of you at his own house set something aside.” (1 Corinthians 16:2a) Thus, giving needs to be planned in advance, and it needs to be done systematically. (2) Paul also wrote that each person should give “in keeping with his income.” (1 Corinthians 16:2b, New International Version) In other words, an individual who wants to share in voluntary giving can do so proportionately. Even if a Christian earns but little, the resulting small amount that he may contribute is valued by Jehovah. (Luke 21:1-4) (3) Paul further wrote: “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) Sincere Christians give from the heart—cheerfully.—WT02 11/1 p. 30
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btlc
Idk is that letter genuine or fake, but its content perfectly fits The Watchtower - Study Edition 01/2018, pp 17-21: "Why Give to the One Who Has Everything?" - if the letter is fake, someone obviuosly got inspired by that article.
My very comment: caption should be "Why Give to the Ones Who Have Everything?" with opening script Mathew 25:29: "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance (in the Warwick fairy castle). But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him" - so better donate to us "voluntarily"... -
steve2
To the best of my knowledge, wi-fi has never before submitted doctored or fake letters.
How are we to know that the supposedly unusual phrasing not before seen in JW org written communications is not typical of Nigerians who speak and use English?
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slimboyfat
Again this is nothing to do with wifi's honesty. He may have been handed a fake unawares. He's yet to explain where it came from.
In any case, all the letters are all available on this page, including this Nigerian one.
http://avoidjw.org/en/publications/letters-2017/
But the Nigerian one stands out in lots of ways.
It doesn't leave a two line gap after the date as other letters do for example. Compare:
https://jw.servehttp.com/en/letter.php?is=20171001LTE_ng.pdf
https://jw.servehttp.com/en/letter.php?is=20170927LTC_bi.pdf
The old NWT renderings are a big give away too. Well spotted.
Where is the other fake that was recently posted, so we can compare?
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slimboyfat
Compare it to all the other letters:
http://avoidjw.org/en/publications/letters-2017/
The space below the date of the letter is smaller than any other letter.
http://avoidjw.org/en/publications/letters-2017/
https://jw.servehttp.com/en/letter.php?is=20171002LTE_bi.pdf
Plus it just doesn't look and sound right.
How can we tell a fake letter from a genuine one anyway? Any ideas?
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darkspilver
slimboyfat: Again this is nothing to do with wifi's honesty. He may have been handed a fake unawares. He's yet to explain where it came from.
wifibandit got it from avoidjw
avoidjw got it from one of their 'team'
wifibandit: Props to avoidjw for the PDF I had not seen and to ApostateMom for the tweet where I first saw this!
avoidjw: It was sent by another member of the avoidjw team.
https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/75s80u/october_1_2017_to_all_boe_in_nigeria_re_local/do8ijxf/
Remember, when I posted the Annual Meeting changes letter here earlier this week? it was from a previously 'unknown' source to me - and I was therefore very specific that it was, at the time, 'unverified'.
I also provided a hat-tip link to the original source, but that is just good netiquette
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5134799058501632/_post/6251129845317632
Also, for some background, you may be interested is looking at (and hearing) the following:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_English
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Pidgin
Example of Nigerian Pidgin (play video):
https://www.jw.org/pcm/jehovah-witness-people/different-different-meeting/vidio-kingdom-hall/ -
Anony Mous
It does sound eerily familiar to letters sent to Bolivia and US congregations in the recent past though. I think these letters are adjusted based on 'local needs', similar letters have gone out in the past when certain congregations wouldn't send any of their donations to the branches.
Also, given that Nigeria has it's own branch, a change in letterhead and typography wouldn't be damning, unless it differentiates a lot from other letters within Nigeria. You would have to check that. Also, it may use the old NWT but we also know they aren't printing the new version of NWT in many languages, I don't think the "silver one" is printed outside the US.
It sounds a lot like this image: https://imgur.com/a/TPBhZ
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Bobcat
In 1Co 16:2 the rNWT has left out "in your house." The better mss don't have the phrase. Nor does the phrase make sense. Why would the writer need to tell people which day of the week to store something in their own house? The verse is referring to where they meet at, which was typically on the first day of the week. (See how other modern Bibles render the verse here.)
It seems odd for them to capitalize on this phrase, seeing how they already determined to remove it in the revised version of the NWT. The letter makes mention of "in your house" and exploits this phrase to try to involve all members of one's household. This would be really crass if it isn't fake.
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slimboyfat
Darksilver I know it is available at avoidjw, as I mentioned in a couple of posts that this letter differs from the others archived there.
You suggest I should read about Nigerian English. Is that an oblique way of saying you believe the letter is genuine? Care to be more explicit, and give your reasons?