In this series, we will use the Authorized King James Version (AV) of the Holy Bible to show how the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), responsible for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, has altered the Word of God to hide the true nature of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ from their followers.

We selected this edition of the Holy Bible because the Authorized Version (AV) was essentially the principal Bible used by Jehovah’s Witnesses up until 1950. The Watchtower Society persisted in printing and distributing it even after the publication of its own New World Translation (NWT).

Note, for instance, what The Watchtower, 1 November 1959, p. 672, stated about the AV:

“Up until 1950 the teachings of Jehovah’s witnesses were based mainly upon the King James Version of the Bible.”

(Questions From Readers ● Is it true that the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are based on the New World Translation of the Bible?)

The Watchtower Society further wrote that,

“The early settlers from England who landed in North America brought with them the Geneva Bible. Later, however, the King James Version gained greater acceptance in America. As the British Empire expanded throughout the world, Protestant missionaries spread its use. Since many who translated the Bible into local languages were unfamiliar with Biblical Hebrew and Greek, the King James Version in English became the basis for these local translations.

Today, according to the British Library, “The King James, or Authorised, Version of the Bible remains the most widely published text in the English language.” Some estimates put the number of copies of the King James Version produced in print worldwide at over one billion!…

Although the Bible remains the world’s best seller—and the King James Version is the most popular one—Professor Richard G. Moulton observed: “We have done almost everything that is possible with these Hebrew and Greek writings. . . . We have translated them [and] revised the translations . . . There is yet one thing left to do with the Bible: simply to read it.”

Without question, the King James Version is a literary masterpiece, appreciated and valued for its unparalleled beauty of expression. But what about the importance of its message? The Bible’s inspired writings reveal the lasting remedy for the problems of our critical times. No matter which version or translation you choose to use, Jehovah’s Witnesses will be happy to help you in your study of the Bible.”

(Awake!, “The King James Version—How It Became Popular,” December 2011, p. 24; bold and highlighted emphasis mine)

And:

“In 1907 a Bible Students Edition of the King James Version was published in the United States of America for the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. It included an extensive appendix called the “Berean Bible Teachers’ Manual.” Later, Jehovah’s Witnesses printed the King James Version on their own presses. By 1992 the Witnesses had produced 1,858,368 copies.“

(Ibid., p. 24; bold and highlighted emphasis mine)

This situation creates a dilemma for Jehovah’s Witnesses, as they cannot oppose our use of the Authorized Version (AV), especially when it conflicts with the way the New World Translation (NWT) translates a particular verse. Claiming the AV is inaccurate or unreliable suggests that the Society knowingly used and published a version with substantially misleading text. Due to the perceived shortcomings of the AV, many have accepted doctrines such as the Trinity, Christ’s dual natures (the Hypostatic Union), physical and bodily resurrection, Christ’s ascension and return, and the Holy Spirit’s divine personhood. Therefore, how can the Watchtower Society be trusted when it has willfully published and distributed what is considered a “perversion” of the Holy Bible?

Furthermore, why would they continue to praise it in the December 2011 edition of their “Awake!” magazine and include it within their Online Bible, and Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY, as well as the JW Library App, unless the Society endorses it as an accurate and God-honoring translation?

Therefore, the JWs have no choice but to see the AV as a completely accurate representation of the inspired Scriptures and, as a result, cannot dismiss or question any passage we cite from it to support our arguments moving forward.

Building on this, we’ll start our discussion by analyzing a particular text the Society uses to deny Christ’s deity, and demonstrate how the AV offers an answer to this alleged denial of Christ’s divinity.

Please continue to the second part of our series.

• Holy Bible
• Jehovah's Witnesses