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Examining Scriptures New World Translation

Is It Proper to Pray to Jesus? – Part 3

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If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:14 NWT)

However, a search on biblehub.com reveals that a significant number of Bible translations render this verse differently than the New World Translation:

New International Version
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

New Living Translation
Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

English Standard Version
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Berean Standard Bible
If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

Berean Literal Bible
If you⁺ ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

New American Standard Bible
If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Why do these Bibles add the word “me” to the verse?

In the original Greek manuscripts, “if you ask Me anything,” occurs in the P75 and P66 Bodmer Papyrus dated to 175 and 200 C.E. respectively, the codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus dated to the 4th century and the Latin Vulgate 400 C.E. indicating direct petition to Jesus.

Other manuscripts, including the Old Latin 2nd-4th century, the codex Alexandrinus 5th century, the Bezae codex 5th – 6th century omit με, likely for scribal reverence or harmonization. Thus the earliest papyrus P75 dated to 175 CE aligns with the rendering: “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it”, evidencing early Christian practice of praying to the risen Christ.

Interestingly, while the New World Translation contains the shorter reading, the Kingdom Interlinear Translation, on which their translation is based contains “me”.

Screenshot

Regarding this verse the New International Commentary on the New Testament states:

Particularly odd is the wording the second time around, “If you ask me [με] anything in my name, I [ἐγώ] will do”. It is difficult to picture the disciples asking Jesus for something in his own name (rather than asking the Father “in his name”). For this reason, certain manuscripts (including A, D, L, K, Q, and Ψ) have omitted “me.” But the more difficult longer reading should be retained, with the effect of heightening even more the emphasis on “I” (ἐγω).

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