Living Armstrongism: Herman Hoeh Announced New Translation of New Testament in 1959

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Herman Hoeh Announced New Translation of New Testament in 1959

Plain Truth, June 1959.

In the June 1959 issue of HWA's Plain Truth recruitment magazine Herman Hoeh announced that the Radio Church of God was preparing to make a new translation of the New Testament.

NEW TRANSLATION of Bible Being Prepared!

Work is already under way on a fresh, clear translation of the inspired Greek text of the New Testament! ...

Not only is the true gospel now being published and preached around the world and behind the Iron Curtain in several languages, but the groundwork is being laid for the written Word of God-the Holy Bible to be accurately, plainly and clearly translated from the inspired Greek New Testament into English!

It is time there is a translation which makes the truth of the New Testament plain, readable, clear. It is time we return to the inspired text of the New Testament as the apostles themselves wrote it. (p. 13.)

Most of the rest of the article boasts of the various old manuscripts of the Bible in various languages that had been acquired for the Radio Church of God's unaccredited college, Ambassador College.

Then near the end of the article Herman Hoeh implied that only those who had the spirit of God could properly translate the Bible which, once you untangle the cult jargon, implies that only Radio Church of God members can properly translate the Bible.

The Bible is a book of spiritual truth. Spiritual truth cannot be understood by the natural mind. One has to receive the Spirit of God-be converted-in order to understand the Bible.

Educated, scholarly critics who were born-as all human beings are-with a natural mind have only half the tools necessary to produce a proper translation of the Bible. On the other hand, uneducated, untrained individuals, though converted, are also unable to really translate the Bible. It takes both attributes--education, scholarship, ability to understand foreign languages AND a spirit filled converted mind. Without both it is impossible to make plain and clear the Word of God. (p. 20.)

Hoeh announced that probably in less than two years, that is by 1961, a new translation of the New Testament by HWA's Radio Church of God would be produced.

It will probably take no less than two years for us to have completed such a translation of the New Testament, from the original Greek, ready for our vast audience. Yes, this is Big News! (p. 20.)

But as it turned out this translation was never published.

Considering how often HWA imitated the Jehovah's Witnesses it is worth noting that back in 1950 that particular organization released their own translation of the New Testament which was named the New World Translation. Their own translation of the Old Testament followed later. Outside of that organization it is often viewed as a sectarian paraphrase which favors that organization's interpretations.

If the Radio Church of God had actually printed their own translation of the New Testament it is likely the same problems would have arisen.

2 comments:

Mike MannersOctober 12, 2018 at 12:32 AM
How could High School dropout HWA with his Public Library education EVER think he had the ability to translate the New Testament.
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nckOctober 12, 2018 at 11:24 PM
2000 years of history have in general shown that the bible is open to interpretation. Both on the big doctrinal macro issues and on many daily micro decisions.

I understand why it was said that hwa was doctrinally right even before studying a topic in ancient tongues.

The idea of translation in my opinion would have come from the ac students. Hwa was content with the king james since the first day. But students must have had difficulty coming to the same conclusions right away.

Therefore moa was seen as the "2nd most important book". Since it anounts to a "translation, summary of interpretation". Also there was the "harmony of the gospels" thing.

Any systemization attempt like the Stp was squashed since it takes away this personal interpretation quality.

Nck
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Fall of Berlin Wall NOT Proof HWA was Right

It is often asserted that the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 proved that HWA was right and he really did see the future.

This of course is nonsense. Herbert W. Armstrong said that Christ would return within twenty years in his book Mystery of the Ages. (PCG has since deleted those words so someone in there knows HWA spoke nonsense.) How convenient for them to forget this.

Also Herbert W. Armstrong never said the Soviet Union would collapse. He thought it would survive intact until a few years after Christ's return. It shows how biased some many in the COGs are that they never seem to notice this. This inconvenient truth is just tossed into the memory hole.

It is true that HWA said that some Eastern European states would break away from Moscow's orbit and join the European Empire he said would arise at any moment. But he never talked of the Soviet Union collapsing. He did not teach that. Also he portrayed the rise of the European Empire to be far quicker then what has actually happened. In Mystery of the Ages Christ was supposed to return by 2005 at the most.

So assertions that the fall of the Berlin Wall somehow prove that HWA was right is just complete nonsense spread by people who, for whatever reason, are still in denial that HWA was a false prophet who merely talked out of his own "human reasoning".

Truth about Roderick C. Meredith

What sort of man is he? A man who could say things like this.

"Mr. Armstrong has reminded us again that we are to disfellowship any members who attend GTA's [Garner Ted Armstrong's] campaigns, church services or other meetings. Some of our weaker members apparently do not realize that this man is in direct rebellion against God and His government! We must not allow them, or ourselves, to rationalize about this matter, to try to "help the underdog," or in any other way lend support to one whose gross immorality, whose long standing "play acting" and hypocrisy, and whose direct insubordination to the Government of God has long been and is now a source of confusion and DIVISION among God's people. So, as per Mr. Armstrong's instruction, I charge and exhort every one of you faithful ministers of the living Christ to explain this in no uncertain terms to your members, to warn them about this cause of division and then to disfellowship any who consort with GTA or any of his fellows." (Roderick C. Meredith, Pastor's Report, May 21, 1979, pp. 1-2.)

See here for this statement's context.

David Robinson on Roderick C. Meredith

WCG minister David Robinson had this to say about Roderick C. Meredith in a letter he wrote to him on September 19, 1979.

"During the ten years I have been an employee of the Worldwide Church, you have been poorly spoken of by most of the ministers and employees I have known. I vividly remember the absolute unbounded glee that was openly expressed by a good number of respected men in the church when you were first "shanghaied." [In 1972.] I could begin by naming names, which I am sure would shock you. I was one of the few who stood, where possible, for you. Your tenure as superintendent of ministers, as I believe the office was then called, was looked on as nightmarish. While you held office during the years of growth, most of those whom I know gave you very little credit for that growth. Almost everyone whom I know, whether they be former friends of yours, or continuing foes, recalls insensitive and terrible things you have done. Without exception, at least among my acquaintances, they all credit you with an unbridled lust for power and list you as one who is willing to pay the price of gaining that power, no matter what. I have, through many of the last few years, believed you had principles you would not violate. Many a man of experience in the church assured me of my error. Events have proven me wrong and them right. Mr. Armstrong has himself been widely quoted as saying of you that you were so righteous that you were so "righteous you were unrighteous." " (David Robinson, Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web, Chapter 16, p. 207.)

Of course it is impossible for me to personally verify these assertions but people deserve to know what this knowledgeable man had to say about him.

Living Armstrongism

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Herman Hoeh Announced New Translation of New Testament in 1959

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If You are new please read this

Fall of Berlin Wall NOT Proof HWA was Right

Truth about Roderick C. Meredith

The Truth About Europe and Prophecy

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Truth About The Key of David's Gerald Flurry and his PCG

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