Witnessing with a New World Translation

I have become more and more convinced that confrontational and hateful rhetoric towards Bible versions and the people who use them -- even those versions I consider bad to the extreme and way off the beam -- can easily turn counterproductive. This is a matter on which I have changed and progressed over the years. (That does not mean I think we should never in any context point out problematic things about bad translations.)

So, on toward my story. First, if any of you are unaware, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is a translation made by the “New World Bible Translation Committee” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society. It is probably one of the earlier (1950/1961) efforts of a denomination to produce a translation of the Bible that agrees with their own doctrine. On the other hand, I think even the NWT might likely contain enough of the word of God under the Holy Spirit to convict those who hold it in esteem, especially if someone guides them (Acts 8:31).

Now the story. Several years ago an older gentleman stopped by my house from the Jehovah's Witness Hall in our county seat town. Turns out he was from a large family with a long history in the eastern part of our county, and western part of the adjoining. I knew people he was related to, some of them who were Baptist ministers. Long story short, with those connections and my respect for the older generation, we sort of hit it off. We talked about biblical subjects and related Jehovah's Witness matters. (I never told him I was a preacher.) He said he enjoyed the visit and would like to come back and talk about the Bible. I said I would be glad for him to do so. He came back a couple of more times, and we discussed biblical things. I wouldn't say I ever made any headway, but we had polite and interesting discussions. However, on his third visit at one point I pretty sternly told him that it was quite convenient for them to translate the Bible themselves so it would mean what they wanted it to say. He never came back. I think at the first I felt sort of self-congratulatory about that, as in that he was obviously wrong if he couldn't take it. Over time and on reflection, I came to feel the Lord's witness would have been much better served had I looked into the NWT that I have had since Junior High (a JW friend gave it to me), and witnessed to him about the Lord from their translation rather than trying to discredit their translation. (Not that it doesn't deserve discrediting, but that could have waited until the right context.)

Have any of you ever witnessed to a Jehovah Witness using the New Word Translation? Is it possible? Is it credible? Agree or disagree with the idea? Agreers, any advice or suggestions?

 

PeacefulLove, amen, praise the Lord that he has saved and delivered your stepdaughters! I have some relatives who are in a false religion (not JW) that I pray also will be saved.

Thanks for the information. I had expected that the NWT had been updated since my friend gave me one (probably in the late 1960s-early 1970s, I think). The JWs have the NWT online on their website, but I have not compared it to what I have. I look forward to any other information you find.