Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Misquote From Cited Sources?

Question

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Misquote From Cited Sources?

Answer 1

We don't. We follow standard protocol for quotations. Note that "impaled" is in brackets, which means that this was not the original word, but a substitute.



Jehovah's Witnesses thereby openly indicate that "crucified" is the other translators understanding of the word Tacitus used in his original text, but it is not ours, based on our Bible study and research.



Even in Latin, "crux" originally meant stake or pole, not necessarily "cross" as the word is glossed today.

Answer 2

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Misquote From Cited Sources? Because that is what they have been taught by the Watch Tower.



From JW answers



Historically, Whilst torture was prevalent throughout the Roman Empire, Crucifixions were not.

WRONG



Fact:

Torture was uncommon as it would be, Crucifixion which may be viewed as torture was the most common form.

_______



The cross which has been adopted by the Roman Catholic Church, was actually the sign of a 'T' in honor of the pagan god Tammuz.

WRONG



Fact:

A tau is the symbol of Tammuz the cross bar is at the top in a tau; a cross is shaped like a small "t" not a capital "T". Poor scholarship.

_______



crucifixion, which does not mean a wooden cross. It refers to the method of impalement

WRONG



Fact:

Impalement is not crucifixion. Read accurately not what you want to read.

_______



over the years found many such stakes, but no crosses

Wrong



Fact:

Estuaries have been found with the sign of the cross dating to shortly after the Crucifixion.

_______



Whether or not Tacitus was misquoted is irrelevant

WRONG



Fact:

Twisting statements is a sign of Satan or perhaps you have not understood how Satan twisted scripture when he tried to temp Christ. This is typical dismissive of the subject deflecting fron the lie asserted by the Watch Tower.

_______



use of this symbol, the cross, has been around since early times, way before Jesus, in the worship of false gods

WRONG



Fact

Many different forms of a 'plus sign' or a 'tau' or an 'x' or an ankh were used. Show me the facts. The Watch Tower advocate death on the upright stake known today as a maypole and represented by obelisks. That is pagan.

_______



do not use the cross or any other religious images in our worship.

GOOD



Fact:

Neither do Christians worship a crucifex or cross. The symbol is used as a sign to their family and a reminder of the words in John Chapter 3.

_______



They use two words. "Stauros" - which meant "stake," and "xulon" - which meant "tree, piece of wood."

Close but WRONG



Fact:

When a person was put to the stake it referred to any number of manners that a person was crucified. In the case of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Immanuel HE was nailed to a cross bar He had dragged until stumbling and then it was hoisted upon an upright stake which then His feet were pierced.

_______



.....JWs don't lie and twist what they say

WRONG



Fact:

The Watch Tower and it's adherents practice theocratic warfare. John 8:44

Answer 3

For purely self-serving reasons. This is one of the watch tower corporation's very subtle and deceitful methods used to promulgate its group-think. Their mutant version of "scholarship" is the ungainly spawn of decades of intellectual incest. They haven't had an original idea since the Taze.

Answer 4

//“Archaeologist have over the years found many such stakes, but no crosses!”//



(1) In 1939, excavations at Herculaneum, the sister city of Pompeii (destroyed in 78 A.D. by volcano) produced a house where a wooden cross had been nailed to the wall of a room. According to Buried History, (Vol. 10, No. 1, March 1974 p. 15): Below this (cross) was a cupboard with a step in front. This has considered to be in the shape of an ara or shrine, but could well have been used as a place of prayer. . . . If this interpretation is correct, and the excavators are strongly in favor of the Christian significance of symbol and furnishings, then here we have the example of an early house church.



(2) Historical findings have substantiated the traditional cross. One finding is a graffito dating to shortly after 200 A.D., taken from the walls of the Roman Palatine. It is a drawing of a crucified ***; a mockery of a Christian prisoner who worships Christ. The Romans were no doubt amused that Christians worshiped this Jesus whom they had crucified on a cross.



(3) In 1873 a famous French scholar, Charles Clermant-Ganneau, reported the discovery of a burial chamber or cave on the Mount of Olives. Inside were some 30 ossuaries (rectangular chests made of stone) in which skeletal remains were preserved after their bodies had disintegrated. . . . One (ossuary) had the name "Judah" associated with a cross with arms of equal length. Further, the name "Jesus" occurred three times, twice in association with a cross. . . .



(4) In 1945 a family tomb was discovered in Jerusalem by Prof. E.L. Sukenik of the Museum of Jewish Antiquities of the Hebrew University. Prof. Sukenik is the world's leading authority on Jewish ossuaries. Note his findings: Two of the ossuaries bear the name "Jesus" in Greek. . . . The second of these also has four large crosses drawn. . . . (Prof. Sukenik) concluded that the full inscriptions and the crosses were related, being expressions of grief at the crucifixion of Jesus, being written about that time. . . . Professor Sukenik points out . . . (that) the cross may represent a "pictorial expression of the crucifixion, tantamount to exclaiming `He was crucified!'" As the tomb is dated by pottery, lamps and the character of the letters used in the inscriptions--from the first century B.C. to not later than the middle of the first century A.D. this means that the inscriptions fall within two decades of the Crucifixion at the latest. (Ancient Times, Vol. 3, No. 1, July 1958, p. 35. See also Vol. 5, No. 3, March 1961, p. 13.)



(5) In June of 1968, bulldozers working north of Jerusalem accidentally laid bare tombs dating from the first century B.C. and the first century A.D. Greek archeologist Vasilius Tzaferis was instructed by the Israeli Department of Antiquities to carefully excavate these tombs. Subsequently one of the most exciting finds of recent times was unearthed - the first skeletal remains of a crucified man. The most significant factor is its dating to around the time of Christ. The skeleton was of a man named Yehohanan son of Chaggol, who had been crucified between the age of 24 and 28. Mr. Tzaferis wrote an article in the Jan/Feb. 1985 issue of the secular magazine Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR), and here are some of his comments regarding crucifixion in Jesus' time:



At the end of the first century B.C., the Romans adopted crucifixion as an official punishment for non-Romans for certain limited transgressions. Initially, it was employed not as a method of execution, but only as a punishment. Moreover, only slaves convicted of certain crimes were punished by crucifixion. During this early period, a wooden beam, known as a furca or patibulum was placed on the slave's neck and bound to his arms.



...When the procession arrived at the execution site, a vertical stake was fixed into the ground. Sometimes the victim was attached to the cross only with ropes. In such a case, the patibulum or crossbeam, to which the victim's arms were already bound, was simply affixed to the vertical beam; the victim's feet were then bound to the stake with a few turns of the rope.



If the victim was attached by nails, he was laid on the ground, with his shoulders on the crossbeam. His arms were held out and nailed to the two ends of the crossbeam, which was then raised and fixed on top of the vertical beam. The victim's feet were then nailed down against this vertical stake.



In order to prolong the agony, Roman executioners devised two instruments that would keep the victim alive on the cross for extended periods of time. One, known as a sedile, was a small seat attached to the front of the cross, about halfway down. This device provided some support for the victim's body and may explain the phrase used by the Romans, "to sit on the cross." Both Eraneus and Justin Martyr describe the cross of Jesus as having five extremities rather than four; the fifth was probably the sedile (p. 48,49).

Answer 5

The word in question is a Latin word derived from "crux," which meant an upright pole or stake.



You are in error, because the Revelation Climax's quotation is actually more accurate than the one you have provided.



"Cross" or "crucify" is a later meaning of "crux." However, most anachronistically translate it "cross" when translating first century works.



If Jesus died on a cross, you'd expect the gospel writers to use the first century word for "cross" - "tau." They do not. They use two words. "Stauros" - which meant "stake," and "xulon" - which meant "tree, piece of wood."

Answer 6

Think about it. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society regularly misquotes the Word of God. If they'll misquote Almighty God Himself, what is there to stop them from quoting any Dick, Harry or Jane they come across as long as it helps to support their faulty doctrine.



Once they misquoted Dr. Julius Mantey, the top Greek scholar living at his time, to support their rendering of John 1:1. They should have waited until after his death. You can read the letter he wrote to Brooklyn here:



http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-Mantey.htm



Dr. Mantey said in a recorded tape, "Distortions of the New Testament," "I haven't read any translation that is as diabolical and as damnable as the JW so-called translation...They (the Society) hate Jesus Christ."

Answer 7

Mmmmmm!



Which translation of Tacitus's were you quoting from?



Historically, Whilst torture was prevalent throughout the Roman Empire, Crucifixions were not.



The cross which has been adopted by the Roman Catholic Church, was actually the sign of a 'T' in honour of the pagan god Tammuz.



Look at the works of the Greek writer Herodotus (479 BC) who mentions crucifixion, which does not mean a wooden cross. It refers to the method of impalement. The palms and the feet of the victim were crossed then nailed to a stake.



Archaeologist have over the years found many such stakes, but no crosses!





The Catholics use a pagan symbol in their worship!



Whereas, Jehovah's Witnesses went to great lengths to get the facts right!!



I know who I'd stand with on judgment day!!

Answer 8

Greek Scholar, Julius Mantey, says this about being misquoted by the WBTS: "Well, as a backdrop, I was disturbed because they (Watchtower) had misquoted me in support of their translation." (These words were excerpted from the tape, "Martin and Julius Mantey on The New World Translation", Mantey is quoted on pages 1158-1159 of the Kingdom interlinear Translation)



http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-Harner.htm



I guess the WBTS misquotes to try to lend credibility to their fractured doctrine, and they doubt any of their readers will actually go back to check their sources. Of course, if the religion weren't asking you to give up your family, health and livelihood, it might not be such an important issue to live by and believe their doctrine, but I think the stakes are way too high to take what this group says at face value.

Answer 9

They have to keep the members brainwashed on their version of the truth. The can't research the information, because they would be disfellowshipped for reading apostate information. Even if they did and brought up to the elders they would be DF'ed for other reasons.

The Watchtower controls every aspect of their lives. They have no free will.

Answer 10

Because they can get away with it. The Witnesses have been conditioned to accept whatever the Watchtower leadership tells them without question.



Whether Jesus was executed on a cross or a pole is irrelevant here. The fact that some religions venerate the symbol of the cross is also irrelevant.



The simple fact is that in this instance, the Watchtower author is hiding the word "crucified" from the reader in order to avoid raising any questions in the mind of the Witness regarding the manner of Christ's death.



Just another disingenuous technique by a man-made organization.



If you want to see some excellent examples of Watchtower authors misquoting sources, look no further than this gem: "Life, How Did it Get Here? By Evolution or Creation."

Answer 11

We have only had printing gear in the last couple of hundred years or so, and since then, we have been able to reproduce anything from then on with accuracy. Anything at all before that has been hear say and the story teller would make his own changes and ad his own twist to make the story more exciting. Goliath was 6' according to one teller but the next would have made it more exciting by possibly making that 10' None of you can say this was right or that was, as history has been interfered with that much, it is mostly fiction that is slightly based on fact.

Answer 12

Why do JW's always say I look forward to the end of times so you'll get yours? Actually I am putting it down in a kinder way than it was said to you. I am just sick of the judging that goes on here and elsewhere. Is judgment not only to be left to Jehovah/Yahweh? What must he think?

As to your question yes they did misquote that along with many thing other things although I don't believe there was intentionally done. I think their translators simply were not educated enough and did not research enough at the times they were translating and some I am afraid might have noticed it was not right but did not correct it.

As for more recent interpretations I am afraid what may be going through the Governing Bodies minds.

More and more JW's are seeing though their disguise of trying to control what you know.

Yes there may be many many joining there group everyday but as many are fleeing as they are brought a true light.

Answer 13

Read the History of Jehova's Witness it started in PA 1900 by Russel after defying with some issue just as Protestants from Catothlics so could anybody let me know why Religions deny they fact they protested from one belief to be what they are today and try to claim they are the way to Heaven

Answer 14

The Greek word used everywhere for "cross" is "stauros". The exhaustive concordance says, "A stake or post" .



Therefore when translating Tacitus, the real meaning of his words is accurately recorded by translating it as impaled. Consider - this does not restrict the reader to think of one particular form of torture death - the crucifix was rarely used but the tree like method was used most often and was viewed as a shameful death.



Also the accuracy of Tacitus work is doubted by some historians:



"Two major areas of critical interest in Tacitus concern his style and his reliability as an historian. Anthony J. Woodman, who explains that ancient historians differed considerably from modern ones, and that what the ancient historians wrote is better served by reading it as literature. Woodman suggests that Tacitus should be read as a poet and is openly skeptical that some of the events reported by him actually occurred. He notes that the Annals is quite different than the Histories. "

Answer 15

There is usually one reason people misquote others or their sources. And that is because they are trying to sway the listener/reader to a certain view.



In this case, not being a member of the WT$ I haven't a clue why they would change the "crucified" to "impaled". ??

Answer 16

David W says it all. A torture stake didn't just dangle people limply on a piece of wood for a few hours, it worked by putting stress on the diaphragm in the chest by the hanging weight of the body from the nail in the upright position of the wrists directly vertically over the head. The person who was impaled had to bear his weight on the nail to his feet to support his body weight so he could breath by taking the weight stress off his diaphragm. This would go on for hours and was excruciatingly painful to push on the foot nail but the instinct to breath is so powerful. Hence the name torture stake. The original texts support the stake or "tree" than it does the cross which was implemented in Christendom along with other pagan doctrines and traditions such as hellfire, purgatory, trinity and inclusion of Saturnalia and Eostre.

Answer 17

Their organization is founded on false prophets.



They also alter the apostle John's words (God's Word) & deny that Jesus is God, written, "The Word was God...made flesh." John.1:1,14. The same apostle said that if they don't confess/acknowledge this truth that they are "false prophets & of the antichrist spirit", 1 John 4:1-4. [Their NWT bible changes John 1:1, to make Jesus "a god" ! And says he was Michael the archangel ! Even though Hebrews 1:4-7,13,14; 2:5, clearly tells us that Jesus was never an angel & that all the angels - including Michael, are to worship Jesus. Verse 8, says that the Son Jesus is God!

I think I'll stick with the Greek Text & believe those words instead of the twisted NWT of the Jehovah Witnesses!

Answer 18

If one picks up a Watchtower magazine they will find right away the absence of an appendix. No references or source material. Any college freshman and high school senior is taught in English you MUST give credit to your source material. Otherwise this is called plagerism. Producing mountains of literature yearly covering a wide variety of subject material and NOT citing your sources is disingenuous at the least and deceitful at most. This practice gives the reader the false impression that the Watchtower is an all knowing entity. Also, this pattern of behavior has been manifest for decades: Quoting from one's own material as an authoritative reference. Quoting from obsolete literature written by men a century or more from works that are very difficult to authenticate and are no longer in publication. Making statements such as: 'one bible scholar wrote...' or ' one dictionary describes...' or making sweeping or broad statements with no concrete evidence to back up the claim is common practice. The mis-quotes are also common and are self-evident to anyone who does a little digging. But woe to the witness who opens his eyes to this and openly questions or doubts this dispicable practice.

Answer 19

Probably like the politicians who misquote;

probably like the other Christians who misquote;

probably like the Muslims who misquote;

and any others who misquote:

who are always trying to bring others to their side:

they are human.

Answer 20

Whether or not Tacitus was misquoted is irrelevant in view of a much more important issue concerning the cross.



The world of Christendom tops its churches with these grand symbols, they wear gold crosses on chains around their necks, they use them in their worship, some even hold crosses up to ward off "evil forces." A large portion of them "cross" themselves when they pray. They place crosses on the graves of their dead. They bow down before their crosses in worship.



Clearly, the cross has become a religious image. There is no question about this.



Yet, the God they claim to serve commanded of them: "“You must not make for yourself a carved image...You must not bow down to them...because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion.”—Ex. 20:4, 5.



If this were not reason enough for not using a cross in their worship, I would ask you this. Why do they venerate the very murder weapon that was used to kill Jesus, the one they purport to follow?



How do you think he feels about this? Do you think the apostles began wearing crosses after Jesus was murdered?



No, I think not. The use of this symbol, the cross, has been around since early times, way before Jesus, in the worship of false gods. And who do you think encourages this type of behavior? Is it not Satan himself?



Please, let's stick to the important issues. We are in the last hours of the last days now. Our time is short. It is time for each of us to make wise decisions. Shall we follow Jesus or not? Our everlasting lives depend on the answer.



Jehovah's Witnesses do not use the cross or any other religious images in our worship. We try our best to follow Jesus as closely as we can.

Answer 21

Because the ends justify the means, and no Jehovah's Witness is going to research or question the ethics of the GB. there is Ca$h to be made and the witnesses need to listen to what they are told and be obedient.





edit: Wanted to point to Debbie's brilliant and intellectual answer.

Answer 22

Where is the misquote? I must have missed it.

Answer 23

The answer is simple, look at "David W's" answer. Defend the lie at all costs. They have indoctrinated the JW's so well that they will not look outside the "Almighty Watchtower" for answers. If they do, they will not believe due to the fact that everybody, except them, are from the system of things run by Satan. So the Watchtower can make all kinds of stuff up to explain their doctrine, those who check won't believe and those that do are too scared to say anything as they feel they would be turning their back of Jehovah.



We all know that the Romans used the cross, just twelve years after Jesus' death, Archaeologists have uncovered graves with the sign of the cross on them. Many other records also have been found to agree with the cross. Will the JW's believe, not unless it comes from their "almighty watchtower! The white horse with the anti-christ has many tools of deception, this is just one, but the most dangerous.

Answer 24

Since when do these gullible fools ever cite a credible source? Their own version of the Bible is a joke, a laughing stock which was cobbled together by a committee of men who spoke almost no Greek or Hebrew and had no formal training in either language. I wouldn't believe a JW if he or she told me Tuesday followed Monday



I love that these dribbling cretins cite their own Bible as evidence that theirs is the "true" way. So, let's see...you have a Bible written by men who could not speak a word of any of the languages that Biblical texts were written in.....yet you claim yours is the true way. Hmm, does anyone else smell BULLSHIT?

Answer 25

when you point a finger at someone else..you have 4 pointing back at yourself.....JWs don't lie and twist what they say....they use what is appropriate to the conversation.

Answer 26

What deep thought said

Answer 27

Because they know they can get away with it-----No JW will ever question the Watchtower, and when EX JW's point these things out they think we are "lying apostates trying to turn them away from 'Jehovah'"

Answer 28

in their 1960 version of n.w.t they have thomas saying to jesus .' my lord and my god.

in their later version they change the wording

Answer 29

Because they hope you don't look it up so that they can convert you more easily.