N S B Notes: Questions from Readers
QUESTION: You say in one of your introduction comments on your bible site "does not endorse any Christian denomination or sect". WHY not?
ANSWER: I have made it a point to maintain a neutral position in order to attract non-Witness readers. I feel that they could learn some of the Truth just by reading my website.
QUESTION: Did a committee write the New Simplified Bible and if so who are they?
ANSWER: I am the only person involved in the translating of the New Simplified Bible. There is no committee. You can find my name on the Introduction page and at the bottom of this page.
QUESTION: ARE YOU REALLY ONE OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES?
ANSWER: Yes I am! See (NSB Notes: I AM Jehovah's Witness)for more detailed information about me.
QUESTION: Also you say "Actually, Bible translations are not necessarily inspired by Holy Spirit" Do you believe that the translators of the NWT were not inspired? Or is this NECESSARILY the way of saying it is? Which possibly only brother's would know. By saying that "Subsequent copies were not inspired" do you mean that the Faithful slave are not inspired nor is the NWT?
ANSWER: The reason the Faithful Slave is right in its efforts to lead the congregation is because the Faithful Slave always refers to the Holy Scriptures when making decisions. Holy Spirit inspires the Word of God! So by extension the Faithful Slave receives direction from God through His Word. Please read the following quotes from the Faithful Slave:
Watchtower 4/15/96 pages 16-21 [Footnote]
"Bible translations themselves are not inspired by God. Translations, by their very nature, may reflect variations of the understanding of the original tongues in which the Bible was recorded
Brochure 1986: “Look, I am Making all Things New,” page 7 Paragraph 10: The copyists made only a few minor errors, and a comparison of these has established the original text inspired by God."
Notice what is written on this subject in the NSB “Introduction” page: INSPIRED TRANSLATIONS? Some people “fall in love” with their favorite Bible translation. They admire it so much that they begin to believe that the translators were inspired by God’s Holy Spirit to select the individual words they used in the translation. They refuse to think of other words that could also represent the meaning of the original text. They forget that what they are reading is a translation of the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek writings. And this translation is taken from copies of the original manuscripts, for the original was lost a long time ago.
The Holy Spirit works through God’s Word. “God inspired all Scripture.” But remember He had already inspired it to be written by the original writers. Studying and researching into the deep things of the Spirit has a profound effect on everyone who does it. The “Word” itself is the translator’s inspiration!
Holy Spirit does not necessarily inspire Bible translations. Only the original 40 writers of the Holy Scriptures were inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, according to the apostle Paul at 2 Timothy 3:16. Subsequent copies and translations into other languages were not inspired. It is obvious that God made sure that mistakes that were made in the past were corrected by later translations. The Holy Scriptures have already been written and all they need is honest translation into the languages of the world. This is an important part of the great commission of publishing of the Good News of God’s Kingdom.
Now read 2 Timothy 3:16:
“God inspired all Scripture! It is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. (Greek: theopneustos: God-breathed) Thus the man of God may be completely equipped for every good work.”
Were the translators of the NWT inspired by God’s Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit works through God’s Word. “God inspired all Scripture.” But remember He had already inspired it to be written by the original writers in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. The brothers who wrote the New World Translation wrote a TRANSLATION from the original language into English. Remember, a translation is not the original! While working on the New Simplified Bible I could feel the direction of Holy Spirit as I worked. Studying and researching into the deep things of the Spirit has a profound effect on everyone who does it. The “Word” itself was my inspiration!
QUESTION: Is the Bible telling us that there are no new revelations being received by man today? That His Word is complete?
ANSWER: We find this at Hebrews 1:1, 2…
“Long ago on many occasions and in many ways God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. He has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom he made the ages (Greek: aion: ages of time, perpetuity, worlds, generations, human entities).” And where do we hear the words of His Son? We hear the Son of God speak by reading the inspired Word of God. I would be careful about telling others that the organization you belong to is the only divinely inspired organization. God's Word is the only God inspired instrument on earth today. Hebrews 1:1, 2 and 2 Timothy 3:16 are certainly proof of that! People who read, study and obey God's Word are directed by God and His Holy Spirit leads them.
QUESTION: In fact I enjoy reading a number of translations, but I firmly believe that the slave has the best translation that is available. As for your comment that the English phrases in the Hebrew Scriptures of the New World Translation do not flow the slave is teaching us always in the school how to read it so it does flow. And personally after reading it for the last 48 years I think it is the best available and easiest to read.
ANSWER: The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is an excellent Bible translation. However, there is no such thing as a perfect Bible translation. Each translation has its’ strong points and its’ weak points. The reason I wrote the web pages entitled “NSB vs NWT” is to show some of the things in the NWT that could be improved. Is it possible to make the New World Translation even easier to read? I think so. I offer this because I love the Faithful Slave and I very much love my brothers and sisters. Most of the improvements would be minor and require the updating of words that are better understood in our modern society. Remember, forty-eight years is a long time to get used to a Bible translation. Most new Witnesses do not have that much time!
I am reminded of the loyal reader of the King James Version of the Bible who said, "If the King James Bible was good enough for the Apostle Paul it's good enough for me!" This man was uninformed and blinded to the value of all other Bible translations. Should we be that way or should we recognize the wonderful advantages afforded us when we compare our favorate Bible translation with many others and meditate on the various shades of meaning?
There are many translations of the entire canon of Holy Scriptures. Many of them are published online where you can read them free of charge. Here is the address where you can find more than 100 translations: http://www.geocities.com/onlinebibletranslations/
Two excellent Bible software programs can be found at these web addresses:
http://biblespeak.com/
http://www.e-sword.net/index.html.
(copy and paste to read about these programs)
The NSB e-Sword file at the bottom of this page can be read and compared on both of these programs.
QUESTION: Should not some direction to the only organization that Jehovah is using be supplied on your website, such as the way towards salvation?
ANSWER: The Bible itself is the handbook for salvation. Holy Spirit will lead everyone who obeys the teachings found in God’s Word. God will lead honest searchers to the only organization that Jehovah is using! I have made it a point to maintain a neutral position in order to attract non-Witness readers. I feel that they could learn some of the Truth just by reading my website When I offered the New Simplified Bible to the Watch Tower Society it was refused and I was counseled, “this version should not show that it is related to the publishing and preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. You should not indicate that it is endorsed by the Watch Tower Society.” I have taken this counsel seriously and have perhaps gone to the extreme in carrying it out.
QUESTION: Would you be willing to have the New Simplified Bible printed in paper book format in the future?
ANSWER: Yes I would be happy to discuss the matter with any company or Bible publishing society interested. Financing and distributing the publication are very involved and expensive. Therefore I am unable to undertake this project without help. In the meantime the NSB is published as a free Online publication.
QUESTION: May I copy the entire New Simplified Bible and print it on paper for my personal use?
ANSWER: Yes you may copy the NSB for use on your computer and to print on paper for personal use. You could copy to Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files. Download files are found on the "Site Map and Downloads" page...link at bottom of this page.
QUESTION: Are you going to provide NSB software for other applications in addition to the e-Sword and Bible Speak programs? I am thinking specifically of the Online Bible software program.
ANSWER: If someone volunteers to convert the NSB to the other program files I will offer them for free download from this website and any other website that is willing to offer it. I am looking for .EXE self installing Files, since it easier to install these files, however Zip files are welcome too.
QUESTION: Why do you use the terms “Old Testament” and “New Testament” when you should know that “Hebrew Scriptures” and “Christian Greek Scriptures” are more proper titles?
ANSWER: I use both the proper and the not so proper terms. More than 90% of all people who call themselves Christian are familiar with those terms. They are not as familiar with the proper titles “Hebrew Scriptures” and “Christian Greek Scriptures.” Therefore, when they search for Bible books on the Internet they would more easily be able to find what they are looking for in the New Simplified Bible. It seems to be working. The NSB website receives more than 800 visitors per month from 66 countries, populated with more than 3.9 billion people around the world. And they are not all brothers.
THANKS FOR WRITING: Your questions do not offend me and I hope that you are not offended by anything I say. I care very much about how you feel and would appreciate hearing from you again soon. I send my sincere love to my brothers and sisters.
Your Brother,
James R Madsen
Most recent entry: February 4, 2008
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