Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!princeton!njin!paul.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: sobarr@ucsd.edu (Carlos Saul Menem) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Equality w/in Trinity? (was Re: Deity of Christ, H.S. etc. Message-ID: Date: 8 Apr 91 02:15:24 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of California, San Diego Lines: 57 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article djdaneh@pacbell.com (Dan'l DanehyOakes) writes: > >Why *do* the JW's insist on spelling YHWH as "Jehovah"? > > >The Roach(clip ?);-) Roachman, the Roachster,... Well, I'm no JW by anymeans, but I do happen to have the Atalaya (the Watchtower in spanish), and I assume it to be the official view of the JW's. In the March 1st 1991 edition, on page 26, there is an article entitled, "The New World Translation" scholarly and sincer" (Thats my translation of it atleast), and there is a part in it that says, "The personal name of God". First it points out that although, "its true that no ancient manuscript of the New Testement has survived containing the personal name of God" it appears in the NWT "more than 200 times". (Thats what I call scholarly translating!) But anyway, to get to your question, the article says (and excuse the poor translation, I don't want to take the time to make it a scholarly text...): In Europe, the form "Jehova" or "Jehovah" has been used for centuries, and is used in many Bibles, even in Jewish translations. It appears many times on buildings, coins, and other objects, as well as in printed works, and many religious hymns. For this reason, instead of trying to present the original Hebrew pronunciation, the New World Translation in all its different languages, uses the form of the name of God that is commonly accepted. This is exactly what other versions of the Bible do with the other names that appear in the Bible. This to me is fine because I think that Father is a more "personal" name of my Father in Heaven. I sure don't call MY earthly father by his first name, but rather I use the personal title of Father that only my brothers and sisters can use, and to me is a heck of a lot more personal. But to the JW's this should pose a problem, because the personal name of God is so important, and if it is said wrong, then it would offend, right? I mean if someone called me Stephan instead of Stephen, I would feel kind of upset right? (well I wouldn't care, but the JW's tell me that we MUST use the correct name of God. Why? How can we when we don't know what it is?) According to the article, to be correct, the members of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, or New York, or where ever should call themselves YHWH Witnesses. Until now they have done what they so outwardly hate, they have FOLLOWED TRADITIONS OF MEN. en cristo un pecador, y un mal traductor, steve flaco@ucsd.edu