Until the release of the New World Translation, Jehovah’s Witnesses in English-speaking countries primarily used the King James Version.^[7][8] According to the publishers, one of the main reasons for producing a new translation was that most Bible versions in common use, including the Authorized Version(King James), employed archaic language. The stated intention was to produce a fresh translation, free of archaisms.^[9] Additionally, over the centuries since the King James Version was produced, more copies of earlier manuscripts of the original texts in the Hebrew and Greek languages have become available. According to the publishers, better manuscript evidence had made it possible to determine with greater accuracy what the original writers intended, particularly in more obscure passages, allowing linguists to better understand certain aspects of the original languages.^[10]

In October 1946, the president of the Watch Tower Society, Nathan H. Knorr, proposed a fresh translation of the New Testament, which Jehovah’s Witnesses usually refer to as the Christian Greek Scriptures.^[11] Work began on December 2, 1947 when the “New World Bible Translation Committee” was formed, composed of Jehovah’s Witnesses who professed to be anointed.^[12][13] The Watch Tower Society is said to have “become aware” of the committee’s existence a year later. The committee agreed to turn over its translation to the Society for publication^[14] and on September 3, 1949, Knorr convened a joint meeting of the board of directors of both the Watch Tower Society’s New York and Pennsylvania corporations where he again announced to the directors the existence of the committee^[15] and that it was now able to print its new modern English translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. Several chapters of the translation were read to the directors, who then voted to accept it as a gift.^[14]

The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures was released at a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Yankee Stadium, New York, on August 2, 1950. The translation of the Old Testament, which Jehovah’s Witnesses refer to as the Hebrew Scriptures, was released in five volumes in 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1960. The complete New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures was released as a single volume in 1961, and has since undergone minor revisions.^[16]Cross references which had appeared in the six separate volumes were updated and included in the complete volume in the 1984 revision.^[17]

In 1961 the Watch Tower Society began to translate the New World Translation into Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish; the New Testament in these languages was released simultaneously in July 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By 1989 the New World Translation was translated into eleven languages, with more than 56,000,000 copies printed.^[18]

The New World Translation was produced by the New World Bible Translation Committee, formed in 1947. This committee is said to have comprised unnamed members of multinational background.^[19] The committee requested that the Watch Tower Society not publish the names of its members,^[20][21] stating that they did not want to “advertise themselves but let all the glory go to the Author of the Scriptures, God,”^[22] adding that the translation, “should direct the reader… to… Jehovah God”.^[23] The publishers believe that “the particulars of [the New World Bible Translation Committee’s members] university or other educational training are not the important thing” and that “the translation testifies to their qualification”.^[23]

Former high-ranking Watch Tower staff have identified various members of the translation team. Former governing body member Raymond Franz listed Nathan H. Knorr, Fredrick W. Franz, Albert D. Schroeder, George D. Gangas, and Milton G. Henschel as members of the translation team, adding that only Frederick Franz had sufficient knowledge in biblical languages.^[24][25] Referring to the identified members, evangelical minister Walter Ralston Martin said, “The New World Bible translation committee had no known translators with recognized degrees in Greek or Hebrew exegesis or translation… None of these men had any university education except Franz, who left school after two years, never completing even an undergraduate degree.” Franz had stated that he was familiar with not only Hebrew, but with Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French for the purpose of biblical translation.^[26][27]

In 1989 a Translation Services Department was established at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, overseen by the Writing Committee of the Governing Body. The goal of the Translation Services Department was to accelerate Bible translation with the aid of computer technology. Previously, some Bible translation projects lasted twenty years or more. Under the direction of the Translation Services Department, translation of the Old Testament in a particular language may be completed in as little as two years. During the period from 1963 to 1989, the New World Translation became available in ten additional languages. Since the formation of the Translation Services Department in 1989, there has been a significant increase in the number of languages in which the New World Translation has been made available.^[28][29]

At the Watch Tower Society’s annual meeting on October 5, 2013, a significantly revised translation was released. Referring to the new revision, the publishers stated, “There are now about 10 percent fewer English words in the translation. Some key Biblical terms were revised. Certain chapters were changed to poetic format, and clarifying footnotes were added to the regular edition.”^[30]

The Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53 – 8:11) and the Short and Long Conclusions of Mark 16 (Mark16:8–20)—offset from the main text in earlier editions—were removed. The new revision was also released as part of an app called JW Library.^[31] As of July 2019, the 2013 edition of the New World Translation has been translated into 29 languages.^[32]