Research, under “The Historical Present,” pages 866-869: “This vivid idiom is popular in all languages, particularly in the vernacular. . . . it is much more frequent in Greek than in English and is a survival of ‘the original stock of our languages.’ ‘It antedates the differentiation into imperfect and aorist.’ . . . It is common enough in the LXX [Septuagint], . . . Hawkins finds the historical present in the LXX 337 times. Josephus uses it also. The New Testament examples are thus ‘dramatic.’ The historical present is not always aoristic. It may be durative like the imperfect. . . . Hawkins . . . finds 93 historic presents in Matthew (15 of them in Parables), but 162 in John and 151 in Mark. It is rare in the rest of the New Testament. It is most frequent in Mark, John, Matthew and in this order. . . .”

If you will examine the New World Translation you will find that except for the final book of The Revelation the historical present is not rendered as such in the translation, but if the context calls for it the historical present is rendered in the past. For examples of where the Greek mixes the historical present with past tenses, we refer you to John 1:29-42, also John chapter 20, as shown in the King James Version. Note also Mark 1:12, 13. Even the King James Version renders some historical Greek presents as English past tenses; for instance, Matthew 3:1.

That a historical present in the Greek in the midst of a context of the past tense is properly rendered in English as a past tense is recognized by the best of modern Bible translators. Dr. James Moffatt was on the Revised Standard Version Bible Committee, and note how he translates John 8:58 in his own version: “‘Truly, truly I tell you,’ said Jesus, ‘I have existed before Abraham was born.’”

Professor E. J. Goodspeed was a member of the American Standard Bible Committee, and his translation renders John 8:58 as follows: “Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you, I existed before Abraham was born!’”

Note other translations:

Chas. Williams’ The New Testament: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘I most solemnly say to you, I existed before Abraham was born.’”

A. S. Lewis’ “The Four Gospels” According to the Sinaitic Palimpsest: “He said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I have been.”

The Twentieth Century New Testament: “‘Believe me,’ Jesus replied, ‘before Abraham was born I was already what I am.’”

G. M. Lamsa’s The Modern New Testament: “Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was born, I was.”

Jas. Murdock’s The Syriac New Testament: “Jesus said to them: Verily, verily, I say to you, That before Abraham existed, I was.”

F. Pfaefflin’s Das Neue Testament (German): “Jesus: ‘Before there was an Abraham, I was already there [war ich schon da]!’”

C. Stage’s Das Neue Testament (German): “Jesus said to them: ‘Truly, truly, I say to you: Before Abraham was born, I was [war ich].’”

Nácar Colunga’s Nuevo Testamento (Spanish): “Jesus answered: ‘In truth, in truth, I say to you: Before Abraham was born, I was [era yo].’”

F. Delitzsch’s Hebrew New Testament and that by Salkinson-Ginsburg both have the verb in the perfect form “I have been” (haiithi) instead of in the imperfect form.

From the above it is to be seen that the New World Translation is consistent with itself in rendering the historical present by rendering John 8:58 “I have been” instead of “I am.” Since Jesus was here referring to an existence from before Abraham and continuing down till he spoke, the New World Translation rendered egoʹ eimiʹ as “I have been” instead of “I was.”

When any clerical critic tries to claim inaccuracy for the New World Translation at John 8:58, then he is indicting not only it but also all these other scholars, English and foreign language, of inaccuracy. He is entitled to take and accept the version that he prefers because of bias toward a religious doctrine, in this case the trinity, but yet it should be recognized that the New World Translation has plenty of support by acknowledged, widely known translators for its rendering at John 8:58.

Announcements

1957 DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES FOR UNITED STATES

The Society is pleased to make announcement concerning the location and time for each of the seven district assemblies planned this year. This will enable you to make necessary vacation arrangements to attend the convention of your choice. They are all for five days, and you will want to be present for the entire program so as not to miss any of the spiritual food Jehovah has for his people when assembled together. Additional information will be given later relative to rooming accommodations, but still in plenty of time to take care of your requirements. It will not be necessary to write for rooms until the proper time, when the address for each city is released. The assemblies scheduled are as follows: July 3-7, Miami, Fla., and Houston, Tex.; July 10-14, Denver, Colo.. and Seattle, Wash.; July 17-21, Milwaukee, Wis.; July 24-28, Los Angeles, Calif.; August 21-25, Baltimore, Md.

GIVING PRECEDENCE TO DIVINE INTERESTS

In the ordering of our lives along worthwhile lines it is essential that we give precedence not to personal interests, but to the divine interests, as these are set forth in the Scriptures. As in days of old there were those to whom certain divine interests were committed, so today there are many who highly esteem the privilege of being so used. (1 Chron. 26:30, Mo) To do God’s will and share in advancing divine interests today one must have a part in preaching “this good news of the kingdom.” During March, this Jehovah’s witnesses will do by going from house to house giving brief sermons and offering to all the excellent Bible study aid magazine The Watchtower. A year’s subscription will be offered for $1 and to each new subscriber will be given the 96-page booklet What Do the Scriptures Say About “Survival After Death”? Be sure to give precedence to divine interests during the month and share in Kingdom service.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION

In ancient times the faithful watchman from his point of vantage warned of approaching danger or announced good tidings. The security of the nation depended on his eyes. More serious today than an enemy attack with nuclear weapons is the deadly assault being made on true worship. As a faithful watchman the Watchtower magazine warns of the impending crisis and heralds the good news of God’s kingdom. With inspired prophetic vision the apostle Paul foresaw the dangers that now threaten our civilization. Knowing that we must be forearmed for protection, he said: “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: . . . The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore . . . put on the armour of light.” (Rom. 13:11, 12) As a faithful companion to The Watchtower, Awake! magazine throws its light into the dark corners of the world and reveals what you need to know. Make each of these eye-opening magazines a regular semimonthly visitor to your home for a year for only $2. Send now and receive free the booklet What Do the Scriptures Say About “Survival After Death”? plus three other timely booklets.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

March 24: How Jehovah’s Witnesses View Their Ministry, ¶1-29. Page 113.

March 31: How Jehovah’s Witnesses View Their Ministry, ¶30-40, and Overseers of the Ministry. Page 119.

Check Your Memory

After reading this issue of “The Watchtower,” do you remember—

✔ Why house-to-house discussion of religion would not seem strange to Jesus? P. 99, ¶1.

✔ What questions will show whether you are reading the Bible to understand it? P. 100, ¶3.

✔ What particular words have changed their meaning since the translation of the King James Version Bible? P. 103, ¶2.

✔ How Jehovah’s witnesses are now in a position like that of the early Christians? P. 107, ¶1.

✔ What the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre was, and what the pope did about it? P. 112, ¶4.

✔ Whether you could be one of Jehovah’s witnesses without preaching to others? P. 114, ¶4.

✔ What example of people in love shows everyone can find time to serve God? P. 115, ¶10.

✔ What the qualifications of a Christian overseer are? P. 123, ¶4.