Impale in the NWT

In 1950, the New World Translation was released which, in the spirit of being accurate and open-minded, employed “impaled” instead of the traditional “crucified.” However, this word has always included an unintended meaning of running a stake through a person. Thus, the 2013 Revised New World Translation Appendix A2: Features of This Revision, admits the following concerning the translation choice of “impale”:

The English verb “impale” was used in previous versions of this Bible in connection with the execution of Jesus. While this term could refer to the way that Jesus was nailed to the torture stake, it is more often used in reference to the ancient method of execution by running a sharp stake through the body and fixing the victim on it. Since Jesus was not impaled with the torture stake, this revision uses such expressions as “executed on a stake” and “nailed to the stake” with regard to the manner in which Jesus was fastened to the torture stake.—Matthew 20:19; 27:31, 35. (italics original) https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070202 (First bullet, last paragraph.)

The Roman impalement stake was specifically called a stipes in Latin. Thus, as the Romans also practiced rectal impaling on a stake (which Jesus thankfully did not experience), I applaud its removal for clarity. May we ever continue to humbly smooth-out translation choices and not cower from making further emendations to our RNWT “in order to touch the heart of today’s reader.” (Appendix A2, second paragraph.)

Thus, we should also conform to this usage and refrain from saying that our Lord Jesus Christ was impaled. Frankly, that sounds horribly confusing.


Related news, released the same day as this posting!

• Ring of Roman Governor Pontius Pilate Who Crucified Jesus Found in Herodion Site in West Bank
  www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-ring-of-roman-governor-pontius-pilate-who-executed-jesus-found-in-herodion-site-1.6699353

Humor: The 2013 movie Frozen illustrated the unintended meaning of “impaled” of running a stake through a person when the snowman Olaf was run-though by an icicle. He said: “Oh look at that, I’ve been impaled.” (This movie was released a month after the 2013 RNWT.)

Appendix

In the Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching video entitled “Conversational Manner,” a public speaker is first shown reading instead of speaking. This is because “he was reading from an older issue of The Watchtower.” (Minute-marker 2:44) The “older issue” he was reading from is from 1989. In reading it, he had to make a couple of adjustments for his audience to use current vocabulary:

At the impalement of Jesus in 33 C.E., it hardly looked possible that he could have a kingdom at all. But in his preaching of the Kingdom of God, he had not been a proclaimer of erroneous news. On the third day after his impalement, the Founder of the Kingdom made sure that the disciples of Jesus would not be offering up prayer for a government that was not possible. Jehovah resurrected the One who was to represent Him in the prayed-for Kingdom and clothed him with immortality. (8/15 p. 13 par. 16 Opening Up the Way Back to Paradise)

The adjustments made are to the underlined text:

When Jesus was nailed to the stake in 33 C.E., it hardly looked possible that he could have a kingdom at all. But in his preaching of the Kingdom of God, he had not been a proclaimer of erroneous news. On the third day after his death, the Founder of the Kingdom made sure that the disciples of Jesus would not be offering up prayer for a government that was not possible. Jehovah resurrected the One who was to represent Him in the prayed-for Kingdom and clothed him with immortality.

Then, when putting this material in his own words, the first part was changed again to: “For when he died in 33 C.E.” (3:09) This change shows that we no longer use “impaled” or “impalement” for Jesus. It also shows that we still shy away from using the word for “nailed to a stake”: “crucified.”

www.jw.org/en/publications/videos/reading-teaching-videos/2-conversational-manner-video/

Linchpin of Truth

The Greek word for “east” (anatolon, genitive case) in Isaiah 43:5 and 46:11 LXX

In mathematics, a truth claim is easy to test without any debate. In science, it becomes more complicated as evidence is weighed and experiments are tested for repeatability, with bias occasionally rearing its ugly head. Religious truth claims are even harder to test, as biases and emotions usually hold sway over interpretations of sacred text. However, that does not mean it’s impossible to test a religious truth claim. Even if it has devout adherents, if a religious teaching is thoroughly refuted, sometimes repeatedly, then honesty will eventually prevail. This is especially true if the teaching is exposed to be completely without merit and only benefitting a select few or even just one leader.

A sterling example of this is with a non-Trinitarian church originating in the Philippines, officially going by its name in Tagalog: Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) (“Church of Christ”). The INC has a very central, unique and equally testable truth claim. It is so central, that if it fails, then the entire INC implodes, like removing a linchpin holding an entire structure together.

This church states: “We believe that the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s last messenger; he was the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies concerning the messenger from the Far East (Rev. 7:2-3).” (Under “Beliefs” of their official website.)

Scrutinizing this truth claim is rather easy.

The NET Bible says for Revelation 7:2, “Then I saw another angel ascending from the east...” The Greek word for “east” is ἀνατολῆς (anatolēs) which means “1) a rising (of the sun and stars) 2) the east (the direction of the sun’s rising).” (Anatolia derives from this word, being “east” of Greece.) The NET Bible notes here that it means “from the rising of the sun,” and may be taken “as a geographical direction.” The Greek text specifically reads ἀνατολῆς ἡλίο (anatolēs hēlio), which literally means “rising of the sun.”

But the INC says it means “Far East” for the Philippines. While it is true that in modern geographical terminology that the Philippines are in the “Far East,” as opposed to the “Near East” or “Middle East,” this is a self-serving identification that is inconsistent with the same usage in Revelation 16:12. This interpretation appears then to be a clear and tangible linchpin.

In its article “The fulfillment of the prophecy” on its official website, INC also uses Isaianic references to “east” to validate its truth claim: Isaiah 43:5 and 46:11. Both scriptures use the same Greek word in Revelation 7:2 in the LXX, ἀνατολή (anatolḗ) for the Hebrew word מזרח (mizrach). It additionally claims that the “bird of prey” in Isaiah 46:11 is the INC founder, the “last messenger.”

However, it must be stated that there was a fulfillment of these prophecies with Cyrus from the east acting like a “bird of prey” and liberating the Jews from Babylonian captivity. Thus, Isaiah 43:5 was fulfilled when they were released from that captivity and reunited in the west in the Promised Land. The reference to “north” and “south” in Isaiah 43:6 are assurances that “Not even the remotest parts of the earth will be beyond Jehovah’s reach when the time comes to free his sons and daughters and to bring them back to their beloved homeland. (Jeremiah 30:10, 11)”^[1] This was fulfilled.

INC’s problem then is failing to look at how the prophecy was originally fulfilled. Instead, they are just grabbing frantically at anything in scripture to validate their church. Simply put, it’s getting lost in small details and not seeing the bigger picture on how those prophecies were initially fulfilled.

Concisely: If it does not demand the meaning of “Far East,” then the linchpin of INC’s truth claim has been removed and the structure falls down.

Honest truth seekers follow the truth wherever it leads. A religion may have some things right, but if a central, primary teaching shows signs of having a linchpin removed, then it really is time to move on and follow the truth wherever it takes you. Fortunately, there is another non-Trinitarian family of believers that does not suffer from having a linchpin of this nature being removed: Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s worth investigating.

Footnote:
^[1] Isaiah’s Prophecy vol. II page 50.