Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

Lesson 68

FEATURES OF "THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT"

One of the three Scripture editions published by the Watchtower Society is The Emphatic Diaglott. The arrangement of this work and the avenues for critical study which it opens to the Bible student make it a most valuable translation of the Greek Scriptures available for analytical study. The Emphatic Diaglott was prepared by Benjamin Wilson, and published by Fowler & Wells Co., New York city, in 1864. His work was used more extensively by Jehovah's witnesses than by any other group, and in

course of time the copyright and plates and publication rights were bought from Fowler & Wells Co. and presented to the Society, and today The Emphatic Diaglott is published exclusively by its owners, the Watch Tower Society.

The author's preface briefly lists the provisions of the Diaglott, saying, "These features are: An approved Greek text, with the various readings of the Vatican Manuscript No. 1209; an interlineary literal word-for-word English translation; a new version, with the signs of emphasis; a copious selection of references; many appropriate, illustrative, and exegetical footnotes; and a valuable Alphabetical Appendix." In addition to the preface, the introductory material of the Diaglott contains a concise history of the Greek text, a history of English versions, a statement to the reader (in which it is shown that due to the availability of older manuscripts the Diaglott translation is able to correct many errors that appear in the King James Version), an outline of the plan of the work, an explanation of the signs of emphasis used in the emphatic English translation, and the letters and pronunciation of the Greek alphabet, along with a few elementary rules of Greek grammar.

In the main body of the Diaglott the work is arranged in parallel columns on the page. The left-hand column contains the Greek text, being Dr. Griesbach's recension of the eighteenth century. It is based on a comparison of many Greek texts, the older ones being preferred, and particularly does it tend to conform to the Alexandrine Manuscript, of the fifth century. An interlinear word-for-word English translation appears with this Greek text, and enables the student who is not a Greek scholar to get at the original sense of the Greek Scriptures. This is one of the Diaglott's finest features.

In the right-hand column is Mr. Wilson's own emphatic or emphasized English translation, the emphasis being shown by typographical style, as explained in the introductory matter on "Signs of Emphasis". His translation is based on the interlinear translation, on the renderings of

eminent critics, and on the various readings of the Vatican MS. No. 1209, a fourth-century manuscript. For the most part it is very good. (He frequently uses the name Jehovah.) However, if the Theocratic minister, reading along in Mr. Wilson's emphatic translation, finds something that does not agree with what the Bible teaches elsewhere, he can check up on Mr. Wilson by shifting the eye to the left-hand column and noting the word-for-word translation, and even in some cases going to the untranslated Greek text to settle the matter.

That controversial text of John 1:1 well illustrates the value of the features the interlinear and signs of emphasis. In the Diaglott John 1:1 reads: "In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with GOD, and the Logos was God." This seems to support the view of trinitarians. But the interlinear translation says: "In a beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and a god was the Word." This clears up the difficulty. The introductory matter explaining the signs of emphasis says: "The Greek article often finds its equivalent in the English definite article the, but in the majority of cases it is evidently only a mark of emphasis. . . . Those words rendered positively emphatic by the presence of the Greek article are printed in small capitals." The emphatic translation of John 1:1 prints the first occurrence of the word "GOD" in capital and small capital letters, thereby showing the reader that it is "the God" being referred to; whereas in the second occurrence, "the Logos was God," the word "God" is written with a capital and lower-case letters, thereby showing that the Logos was not "the GOD" but "a God", or mighty one.

How will the Greek text aid in a critical study of the Diaglott? The Catholic Hierarchy claims that the church is built on Peter. They cite Matthew 16:18. Mr. Wilson's emphatic translation in the right-hand column reads (Jesus speaking to Peter): "Thou art a Rock, and on this ROCK I will build my church." The interlinear does not clear up the matter, the term "rock" being used both times.

But note the Greek text. The first occurrence of the word "rock" is seen to be Petros, a noun of masculine gender applied to Peter. The second occurrence of "rock", the rock upon which the church is built, is translated from an entirely different Greek word, petra, of the feminine gender. First Corinthians 10:4 speaks of a spiritual rock and identifies that rock as Christ, and this same Greek word, petra, occurs there. Hence, the "rock" of Matthew 16:18 on which the church is built is not Petros, or Peter, but is Christ, the chief cornerstone.

As the eye runs up and down the columns on both the left and the right-hand side of the pages it will spot here and there a star or asterisk (*) and brackets enclosing certain Greek and English words. These signs cause one to look at the footnotes running across the bottom of the pages, and there one will find under the number corresponding to the verse number in the text a reference as to how other manuscripts render the verse or words involved. The reference is usually to the Vatican MS. No. 1209, and the enclosing of words in brackets always means that though they are authorized by Griesbach they do not appear in this ancient Vatican MS. (For illustration, see asterisk footnotes on Mark 16:9-20 and Luke 23:34.)

Another mark, other than the asterisk, will meet the eye as it reads along in the right-hand column. It is the obelisk, or dagger (†). It likewise is referring one to a footnote, but the material to which it calls attention is more in the nature of a commentary. Such a mark appears at Luke 17:21, and a very enlightening discussion is offered as to why the verse should read "God's Royal Majesty is among you", rather than saying, "The kingdom of God is within you." Many points of historical and exegetical value are to be found under these obelisk references. The footnotes drawn to the reader's attention by double obelisks, or double daggers (‡), show cross-references to related texts.

There is just one feature of the Diaglott left for mention: the Alphabetical Appendix. It has a wealth of information. It may help in clarifying a doctrinal point, a Bible character, a seeming contradiction, or matters of historical background. So one should add to the criticalness of his study by familiarizing himself with this appendix.

Truly, then, The Emphatic Diaglott opens up a wide field for intense study of the Greek Scriptures. No other translation begins to match its features in this respect. Use them in private study and in gospel-preaching.