Changes

Released in a series of installments as translation work was completed, the first volume to be released was the ''New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures'' on August 2, 1950.  It was not until 1963 that the entire Bible, both the Hebrew-Aramaic ([[Old Testament]]) and the Christian Greek Scriptures ([[New Testament]]) were released in a single volume.

Released in a series of installments as translation work was completed, the first volume to be released was the ''New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures'' on August 2, 1950.  It was not until 1963 that the entire Bible, both the Hebrew-Aramaic ([[Old Testament]]) and the Christian Greek Scriptures ([[New Testament]]) were released in a single volume.

Previous to beginning the translation work of the ''New World Translation'', Jehovah's Witnesses quoted from either the ''[[King_James_Bible]]'' or the ''[[American Standard Version]]'' in their publications.  Although the ''New World Translation'' has become the primary translation in Jehovah's Witness publications they continue to make use of other translations in their publications.

Previous to beginning the translation work of the ''New World Translation'', Jehovah's Witnesses quoted from either the ''[[King James Bible]]'' or the ''[[American Standard Version]]'' in their publications.  Although the ''New World Translation'' has become the primary translation in Jehovah's Witness publications they continue to make use of other translations in their publications.

In the foreward to 1963 release, the anonymous translation committee stated that their method of translation was with the goal of being as literal as possible to the point of understandableness.  The language is intended to be modern, when compared to the archaic English of the ''King James''.

In the foreward to 1963 release, the anonymous translation committee stated that their method of translation was with the goal of being as literal as possible to the point of understandableness.  The language is intended to be modern, when compared to the archaic English of the ''King James''.

=== Features ===

== Features ==

In addition to the aforementioned appendices and marginal references, ''The New World Translation'' features consistency in translation choices through-out the text.  An example is the Hebrew word ''sheol'' which was translated in the ''King James Version'' 31 times as "hell," 31 times as "grave," and 3 times as "pit".  The ''New world Translation'' uniformly leaves the word untranslated.

In addition to the aforementioned appendices and marginal references, ''The New World Translation'' features consistency in translation choices through-out the text.  An example is the Hebrew word ''sheol'' which was translated in the ''King James Version'' 31 times as "hell," 31 times as "grave," and 3 times as "pit".  The ''New world Translation'' uniformly leaves the word untranslated.

*"letteth" becomes "acting as a restraint" (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

*"letteth" becomes "acting as a restraint" (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

=== Controversy ===

== Controversy ==

Because of the choices available to translators, no two translations of the same text will necessarily read alike.  The following items are considered to be the more controversial translation decisions made in ''The New World Translation''.

Because of the choices available to translators, no two translations of the same text will necessarily read alike.  The following items are considered to be the more controversial translation decisions made in ''The New World Translation''.

::"and a god was the Logos"

::"and a god was the Logos"

=== Critical Reviews ===

== Critical Reviews ==

The ''New World Translation'' has been reviewed by numerous individuals and groups over the years with mixed results.  Those that object most to the translation include those who hold deeply divergent theological viewpoints from Jehovah's Witnesses and tend to be most critical of the religion.  These include Drs. John Ankerberg and John Weldon who wrote that the "translation must not be trusted to accurately convey God's Word because of it's unrelenting biases in translation".  This is because of the translation's use of the divine name, [[Jehovah]] in both the Hebrew and Christian Greek scriptures (see Controversy section above).

The ''New World Translation'' has been reviewed by numerous individuals and groups over the years with mixed results.  Those that object most to the translation include those who hold deeply divergent theological viewpoints from Jehovah's Witnesses and tend to be most critical of the religion.  These include Drs. John Ankerberg and John Weldon who wrote that the "translation must not be trusted to accurately convey God's Word because of it's unrelenting biases in translation".  This is because of the translation's use of the divine name, [[Jehovah]] in both the Hebrew and Christian Greek scriptures (see Controversy section above).