New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

The New World Translation project began in the 1950s under the direction of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses. A team of Witness scholars, fluent in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, undertook the translation work with the goal of producing an accurate, readable version that reflected their theological understanding.

First published in 1961, the New Testament marked the beginning of the translation effort. The Old Testament was published in two volumes (1965 and 1967), completing the entire Bible. From its inception, the NWT was distinctive in its use of 'Jehovah' consistently throughout the Old Testament and in the New Testament where Witness scholars believed it appeared in the original texts.

The translation philosophy emphasized literal accuracy while prioritizing clarity for contemporary readers. Witness translators sought to render the original languages word-for-word where possible, but adjusted for idiomatic English. The result was a translation that was both precise and accessible to Witness communities worldwide.

In 2013, the Watch Tower Society released a major new revision of the New World Translation. This updated version incorporated the latest scholarly findings regarding ancient manuscripts, refined the English to reflect modern usage, and enhanced the formatting and study aids. The revision demonstrated the Witnesses' commitment to ongoing translation refinement.

The New World Translation is the official Bible of the Jehovah's Witnesses and is used extensively in their meetings, publications, and personal study. While sometimes controversial in evangelical circles due to its theological distinctives, it remains a thoughtfully produced translation grounded in scholarly principles.