What Every Jehovah’s Witness Should Know About The Tetragrammaton
Preaching The Grace Of God
From The King James Bible - Dispensationally Delivered
Berean Bible Church – Edgewater, Florida
What you should know already
It is a well known fact that the Tetragrammaton, represented by the letters YHWH, was held in such
high esteem and reverence by the Jews that it was seldom spoken among them. Also, it has been said that
the ancient Jewish scribes when copying the sacred scriptures would throw their writing instruments away
before and after each and every transcription of the sacred name. This name is pronounced “Yaweh” by
the Hebrew community and “Jehovah” by the Protestant world. It primarily means, “The Permanent Being”
and is particularly appropriate to the Eternal Spirit, the Unchangeable God who describes Himself thus
in Exodus 3:14.
In the majority of Greek texts the Tetragrammaton has been replaced with “KURIOS” meaning LORD, or
“THEOS” meaning GOD. The divine name in the Protestant Bible, except when expressly stated, is denoted
by the all uppercase word “LORD.” “Lord” is used many times in other instances but when all capitals
are used, it is a direct reference to Jehovah God
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has professed completing the task of replacing the divine name
into the text of their Bible, ‘The New World Translation Of The Holy Scriptures.”
What You Should Know Now
It is not within the scope of this article to present arguments about the Greek texts used in translating
the various “versions” of Bibles. Neither to discuss when or why the Tetragrammaton was replaced with
‘LORD.” The intent is rather to bring light to several major inconsistencies found in the two texts that
serve as pillars of the Watchtower Society’s doctrinal position.
These texts are:
- “The New World Translation Of The Holy Scriptures”
- “The Kingdom Interlinear Translation Of The Greek Scriptures”
The questions are:
- Has the Watchtower Society been faithful to the Greek texts throughout the process of replacing the
divine name?
- Have they been honest with their followers to give “all” of the information pertaining to it’s reinsertion?
The contention is that they have not.
If wrong you will be better founded in your faith. ..but, if correct then you have been misled
and are in the midst of false doctrine based on faulty reasoning. Furthermore, you will be faced with
a decision that will affect your life and ministry from now through eternity
NOTE:
All scripture cross references and explanations, unless otherwise stated, will be directly from the
above mentioned texts. If you have these texts available, please set aside all other books “about
the Bible” and allow the scriptures to speak for themselves.
It is stated in the preface to the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, (1985
ed.;pp.11) What is the modern translator to do?...the modern translator is warranted in using the divine
name as an equivalent of those two Greek words, (KURIOS/THEOS) that is, at places where the writers of
the Christian Greek Scriptures quote verses, passages and expressions from the Hebrew scriptures or from
the “LXX” where the divine name occurs.”
What You Don’t Know
The Watchtower Society has been unfaithful to the Greek text(s) from which the NWT was translated.
John 20:28 (Kingdom Int.) In answer Thomas said to Him, “my Lord and my God!”
Notice: “Lord” is not all capitals, yet the Greek word in the left column is “KURIOS”, the divine
invocation.
The context alone explains itself.
Jesus was a Rabbi and His duty in the face of blasphemy was to rebuke it.
This He did not, but instead blessed Thomas and all who believed’.
How could this be?.
Compare Isaiah 45:23 (NWT) and Philippians 2:10 (Kingdom Int.)
Jehovah (vs. 19,21 etc.) is speaking through Isaiah and in vs. 22 states that, “I am God, and there
is no one else. - . (vs. 23) By my own self I have sworn - out of my own mouth in righteousness the word
has gone forth, so that it will not return - that TO ME every knee will bend down, every tongue will
swear,…”
Now cross—reference this with Phil. 2:10.
Notice who is the subject in the passage
Now see vs. 11. “and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory
of God the Father.”
Notice, “Lord” again is not all capitals, but now we have a situation where the passage is, without
dispute, quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures.
Now, in Phil. 2:11, (in the KIT) notice the Greek word above “Lord.” The Greek word is kyrios.
Why is it not translated Jehovah? Do you realize what this is saying?
Confirmed by the Greek and with an Hebrew proof text to back it up; according to reason and bound
by honesty, we see that Jesus Christ is Jehovah God to the glory of God the Father! This
in spite of the rendering by the Watchtower’s translators.
How could this be?
Isaiah 43:l0 ‘You are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah. . . that you may under stand that
I am the same one. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. (vs. 11.)
I-I am Jehovah, and besides me THERE IS NO SAVIOR.
Cross reference this passage with 1John 4:14.
“In addition, we ourselves have beheld and are bearing witness that the Father has sent forth his
Son as Savior of the world.
We know that God cannot lie. Did He change His mind? Or, was the LORD Jesus Christ the speaker
in Isaiah 43? How could this be?
Deuteronomy 10:17 For Jehovah YOUR God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the God great, mighty
and fear-inspiring, who treats none with partiality nor accepts a bribe,
Cross reference this with Revelation 19:16 And upon his outer garment, even upon his thigh,
he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
The corresponding Greek word. Jesus Christ is the KURIOS of lords!
How could this be?
Acts 4:12 States: Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name
under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”
Jesus Christ is clearly the one being spoken of in this passage.
Notice the ending, “by which we MUST get saved.”
There is no apparent problem with this verse until you come to Romans 10:13 which states: For “everyone
who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” Here, the Greek word “KURIOS” is “faithfully” translated.
This comparison alone, obviously puts the Watchtower’s doctrine in direct conflict with the Word of
God. Are there two names by which men may be saved? Not according to the Kingdom Interlinear Translation
of the Greek Scriptures. The two names then, MUST refer to one individual. How could this be?
One last comparison for you to do on your own
Please turn to 1Peter 3:15 in the Kingdom Interlinear and notice the footnote.
It’s a reference to Isaiah 8:12,13
What You Need To Know
Friends, how could this be? Can it be error in the Word of God? Or, can the error stem from men who
would twist the scriptures as a means to their own end? For the answer, please read 2Timothy 3:16.
To those who would explain away the examples given above with human reasoning and mortal wisdom, I
can only quote a question asked by a child.
“If God doesn’t mean what He said, why doesn’t he say what he means”?
There are ONLY two conclusions that can be drawn from the FACTS herein presented.
- Jesus Christ is not Jehovah-God, therefore the Greek text(s) used in translating the New World Translation
of the Holy Scriptures are full of error. Thus, the Watchtower Society CHOSE corrupt texts and, intentionally
or not, mixed error with the truth to produce your Bible and form the doctrines you’ve been taught.
- Jesus Christ is Jehovah-God and the Watchtower Society has NOT been faithful to the Greek from which
they translated and therefore deliberately mixed error with the
truth to produce your Bible and form the doctrines you’ve been taught.
In either case, the point has been made. There are serious inconsistencies present.
To knowingly preach, teach and require obedience to doctrines that are in direct conflict with what
the Word of God teaches is heresy by any other name.
If you believe that the righteousness of Jehovah is true, then you can be sure that His judgment will
also be true and according to righteousness
One last point concerning the practices, especially the anonymity of the Watchtower’s scholars and
translators. 2Corinthians 4:2 but we have renounced the underhanded things of which
to be ashamed, not walking with cunning, neither adulterating the word of God, but by making the truth
manifest recommending ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God.
Can you or anyone you know name any one of the scholars that worked on the Kingdom Interlinear or
the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures?
I know all about the idea that Jehovah should get the glory instead of men. However, do you realize
that by being anonymous, those men are above reproach and beyond being called to give account and take
responsibility for their errors?
Is your faith in Jehovah-God based on your personal knowledge of a relationship with Him as your personal
savior; knowing that He died and shed His precious blood for your sin? Or are you following
books written by men, carefully outlining your “faith” for you?
Finally, if you truly desire the truth of God’s Word and will concerning you, approach His Word as
the humble sinner seeking rest. Choose to believe the Bible as it stands, not as Bible correctors whom
you can’t identify. Become a true Jehovah’s Witness by recognizing the Lord Jesus Christ for who He really
is Jehovah-God.
It’s not a matter of your opinion and mine. It’s a matter of truth and deliberate deceit. How many
errors do you need to see before you reject the organization that stands between you and the truth about
your creator; your savior, which acts in His stead as your final authority?
You are now faced with what will shortly prove to be a monumental decision.
Will you continue to be obedient to those who worship Jehovah in vain, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men? Or will you humble yourself before the Throne of Grace and accept
Jehovah-God, The Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior who, through the provision of His shed blood,
offers you eternal life as a free gift?
