magamo Wrote:It seems you can download the audiobook version in mp3 format here:
http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQZRQVNlVlYR
Choose Japanese and the Bible book you want. If you're interested in improving oral/aural skills as well, this might be better than furigana.
Yes, the audio is better than furigana, not only to improve listening/speaking skills, but it also improves kanji reading. Thank you magamo.
Hashiriya Wrote:it also goes into saying they have their own Bible called the Watchtower Bible that they modified and retranslated to fit their belief system
In 2003 Professor Jason BeDuhn, associate professor of religious studies at Northern Arizona University in the United States, published a 200-page study of nine of "the Bibles most widely in use in the English-speaking world," including the New American Bible, The King James Bible and The New International Version. For each passage, he compared the Greek text with the renderings of each English translation, and looked for biased attempts to change the meaning.
BeDuhn states that "most of the differences are due to the greater accuracy of the NW (the JW's translation) as a literal, conservative translation."
He says that "it emerges as the most accurate of the translations compared," calling it a "remarkably good" translation.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia says of the NWT reference edition: "[Jehovah's Witnesses'] translation of the Bible [has] an impressive critical apparatus. The work is excellent."
Hashiriya Wrote:This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God
Jesus never declared that he is God.
"They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." Matthew 15:9
There is not a single unequivocal statement in the entire Bible where Jesus himself says, "I am God" or where he says, "worship me". In fact the Bible contains statements attributed to Jesus in which he preached quite the contrary. The following statements in the Bible are attributed to Jesus Christ:
"
My Father is greater than I." John 14:28
"My Father is greater than all." John 10:29
"
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." John 5:30
"And this is life eternal, that
they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." John 17:3
Jesus Christ is a man approved of God:
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words;
Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." Acts 2:22
Hashiriya Wrote:Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience.
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way,
faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17
"19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"
and he was called God's friend. 24 [b]You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. " James 2:19-20
Hashiriya Wrote:Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being
"That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me,
that they may be one as we are one" John 17:21-22
If Jesus Christ and God are one, and he is part of God, does that mean that all of the 12 disciples are also part of God?
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered.
No one is good–except God alone." Mark 10:18
If Jesus doesn't consider himself as "good", then how can any sane person put him on the same level as God?
Also, another important point to notice in Mark 10:18 is the word "alone."
Jesus in this verse is clearly giving exclusivity to God when he said "alone". If Jesus was truly part of God Almighty and the trinity was true, then Jesus, to say the least, would not have said that.
Let us look at Exodus 4:22 "Thus saith Jehovah,
Israel is my son, even my firstborn." Here we see in this verse that Israel is not only God's so called "Son", but also his first born !!. Does this mean that Jehovah is Israel? Does it mean that we must worship Israel as Jehovah? Of course not !!!
Also, let us look at Jeremiah 31:9 "
I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." Ephraim in this verse means Israel. This verse is similar to Exodus 4:22.
Let us also look at Psalm 2:7 "....
Jehovah had said onto me (David), thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Here in this verse we see that God not only called David his "Son", but also had made him his begotten Son !!!
"
How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?" Jeremiah 8:8
Edited: 2009-11-09, 12:39 pm
