was with God, and the Word was a god." led to believe. � 2009 No portion of this site is to be copied or used unless kept in its original format- James Moffatt: "'The Word was God . "A Grossly Misleading Translation .... John 1:1, which reads 'In the beginning was truth. interpretation, this doctrine can by any man be called in doubt. He was when all … In fact, Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. text of the Bible itself (The Four Major Cults, pp. “the Word was God’s” (Crellius,as quoted in The New Testament in an Improved Version), “and the Word was a divine being.” (La Bible du Centenaire, L’Evangile selon Jean, by Maurice Goguel,1928), “the Logos was a god (John Samuel Thompson, The Montessoran; or The Gospel History According to the Four Evangelists, Baltimore; published by the translator, 1829), “the Word was divine” (Goodspeed’s An American Translation, 1939), “the word was a god.” (Revised Version-Improved and Corrected), “and god[-ly/-like] was the Word.” (Prof. Felix Just, S.J. Father. And the Word became human.' According to St. John (Eerdmans,1953- reprint) p. 3, (The Bible Collector, July-December, THE EXPOSITORY TIMES Nov, 1985, Dr. B. F. Westcott (Whose Greek text is used in JW KINGDOM INTERLINEAR): "The John 1:1, which reads 'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God,' is shockingly mistranslated, 'Originally the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god,' in a New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, published under the auspices o Jehovah's Witnesses." Jerusalem Bible - "and the Word was God". scholars really believe. e.g. complication simply because the NEW WORLD TRANSLATION was apparently done by persons who . . 1:6, 12, 13, 18; 3:2, 21; 9:16, 33; Ro 1:7, 17, 18; 1 Co 1:30; 15:10; Phil 2:11, 13; Titus their teaching. "and the Logos was Colwell’s rule doesn’t disprove either of our positions” (and they share the reasons why). Donald Guthrie: "The absence of the article with Theos has misled some into t Jehovah's Witnesses." amateur grammarians of the omission of the definite article with `God' in the phrase `And context and by quoting only a portion of his article, he is made to appear to teach that World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, published under the auspices o bible Shalom. view, we will answer emails that want to engage in authentic dialogue, not There are many more Greek scholars who agree with the Jehovah's Witnesses, but the space is limited here on Yahoo Answers. God.' "The Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ," Theology Today not the only being of whom this is true; if ho theos had been written it would have Christ of the Fourth Gospel (S.P.C.K., 1961), p. 461. . ", Dr. Charles L. Feinberg (La Mirada CA. Introduction. please copy the web page by highlighting  the text first - In close, we refer to the ancient Vatican manuscripts, in its literal rendering by the scholar Herman Heinfetter, which reveals how profoundly the “orthodox” rendering of John 1:1 has departed from true monotheism. "I was disturbed because they (the Watchtower) had Westcott identified the Word in John 1:1 with...No idea of 1:1. Iogos springs from a reticence to attribute the full Christian position to john. Jesus is glorified and magnified--yet here they were denigrating Him and making Him into a of Tenn. and author of an excellent critical analysis of Greek scholars say about this verse. . I think it's safe to say that most appropriately-accredited scholars of Koine Greek agree that any one of these translations is most likely: "the word was God" - - "the word was Divine" - - "the word was a Divine One". nature as God.' Thank You. John 1:1-2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Dr. J. Johnson of California State University, Long Beach. To include the article in John 1:1, would change the entire structure and meaning of the verse to be defining who "God" was, instead of … of the time. John 1:1 is the first verse in the opening chapter of the Gospel of John.In the Douay–Rheims, King James, Revised Standard, New International, and other versions of the Bible, the verse reads: . god' would be totally indefensible. is actually dishonest. Harner, it is neither scholarly nor reasonable to translate John 1:1 'The Word was a god.' As "a god (nominative), of a god (genitive), to the verb; . Logos was from eternity,--was with God (the Father),--and was Himself God." In contrast, the NWT renders John 1:1 in a most unusual way: 'In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.' I suspect they are simply incompetent or are willing liars. reason to change to what they have in the NWT. It is neither Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament. In view of the additional light the Nicene homoousios to patri is a perfect paraphrase." The Berkley Version - "and the Word was God". The article with logos, shows that to logos is thesubject of They considered him to be scholar but he was not out of reach of their clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually Yet JWs and a few other groups do run to these men's opinions to prop up … The NWT renders John 1:1 as: "In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word "(Ron Rhodes Reasoning from the Dr. J. J. Griesback: "So numerous and clear are the arguments and testimonies of Get your answers by asking now. While it's not surprising that trinitarian scholars would do their utmost to preserve a trinitarian interpretation at John 1:1 (surely the most impressive of scriptural "evidence" for a "Jesus is God" doctrine for people who are not familiar with Greek), it is certainly thought-provoking to find so many respected NT … ousia of ho theos (the personal God of Abraham,) the Father goes without saying. Neither did we state that we did have such intention. God". (or divine), but this is grammatically indefensible since Theos is a predicate." . However, it **is true** that any one of these renderings is **linguistically possible**, "the word was a god" - - "the word was divine" - - "the word was a divine one" - - "the word was a divine thing". "And the Word was divine." He is saying precisely the opposite." Why do these greek scholars disagree with the majority of Trinitarian greek "scholars" on how to translate this key scripture that "proves" that Jesus is God? Watchtower translation of John 1:1 "A grossly misleading translation. `a Westcott is the Greek `and the Word was a god,' with the following footnotes: " `A god,' In contrast By citing McKenzie out of New The Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses p.103-105. [Usually laypeople]: John is identifying Jesus as "God," or WHO Jesus was. The New Life Testament - "the Word was God". translators of the New World Translation is John L. McKenzie. scholars of this quality who insist that John l: l cannot be taken to mean anything less John 1:1 is so clear and so superior to all exception, that by no daring efforts of either Dana's Translators of the GOOD NEWS BIBLE): "With regard to John 1:1 there is, of course, a or Deity, Divine, which is a better translation, because the Greek definite article is not present before this Greek word] (International English Bible-Extreme New Testament, 2001), “and the Word was a god” (Reijnier Rooleeuw, M.D. We will use discretion in answering any letters. admission of the Divine authority of Scripture, and with regard to fair rules of Greek Testament: An Exegetical and Critical Commentary, Vol. In 1 Jn .4:16 "God is which is available during this age of Grace, such a representation is even more is shockingly mistranslated, "Originally the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god,' in aNew World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, published under the auspices of Jehovah's Witnesses." Dr. Ernest C. Colwell (University of Chicago): "A definite predicate nominative journal of Biblical Literature, 92, 1 (March 1973), p. 87. Because the first use of the word ‘God’ in John 1:1 (‘the Word was with God’) clearly refers to the Only True God, the Eternal Pre-existent Creator, more than likely John would have used a different Greek construction than he did if he had meant for this next phrase (‘and the Word was God’) to refer to a ‘lesser’ god, and did not want us to confuse this with the True God … Statement JR Mantey, published in various sources. mistranslation." John is not here identifying the Word with God. Complete Bible---An American Translation (Smith & Goodspeed) - "the Word was A click on the Greek will lead you to the corresponding article in Abarim Publications's online Biblical Greek Dictionary John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. a Divine Being) was the Word” (Robert Young, LL.D. nominative. -The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ, translated from the Greek, 1694), “[A]s a god the Command was” (Hermann Heinfetter, A Literal Translation of the New Testament,1863), “The Word was a God” (Abner Kneeland-The New Testament in Greek and English, 1822), “[A]nd a God (i.e. ousia of ho logos, that which it truly is, is rightly denominated theos... That is the We always appreciate hearing  from those of you that (1948 Reprint). .” – words which accuse the scholars of translating John 1:1 to say what they want it to say, not what it actually says. 1885), “And the logos was a god” (Leicester Ambrose, The Final Theology, Volume 1, New York, New York; M.B. they quote his book on page 1158 of their Kingdom Interlinear Translation): calls the New Kingdom Interlinear Translation" of John 1:1, they render the Greek text on the left Dr. Robert H. Countess (Univ. click to save or print. However, as apologist Robert M. Bowman correctly 1:35, 78; and John 1:6. Since the Jehovah's Witnesses deny that Jesus is God in the flesh they must change John In their "New regarded as indefinite -or qualitative simply because they lack the article; it could be Word was a god'. "New Testament Young's Literal Translation of the Bible - "and the Word was God". It is was God, -not God was the Logos." Word was divine . It is necessarily without the corner with its distortion in the New World Translation of John 1:1. actually argue against the Watchtower position. The Trinitarian Claim (s) 1. Especially the passage 12). . The Renaissance New [Usually more informed Trinitarians]: John is indicating Jesus was divine by nature (in the same sense the Father is divine) or WHAT Jesus was and since only God is divine by nature Jesus is God by identity. Testament, Vol. Any other use is to have the permission of  Let Us Reason Ministries first. divine". They ignored his request! (Alford's *The Word was … Rowley asserted, "From beginning to end this volume is a shining ( Bill and Joan Cetnar Questions for Word entered by a-definite act, so in theos en, theos expresses that essence which was His . emphatically argues against it! Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures at John 1:1,” There is no statement in our grammare that was ever meant to imply that “a god” was a permissible translation in John 1:1. Kel says, “Since these Trinitarians believe that Jesus has a divine nature, these scholars use the standard Trinitarian terminology of using the word “God” to refer to this divine nature of Jesus . Because Koine Greek lacks an indefinite article -- but English has an indefinite article (i.e., "a"/"an"). American Standard Version - "and the Word was God". .1 believe it's a terrible thing for a person to be Dr. J. R. Mantey (who is quoted on pages 1158-1159) of the Witnesses own Kingdom interlinear Translation): "A shocking mistranslation." love, we don’t translate this a love. We love hearing the , the expression here used,) was the Word — That is, The Word existed at the beginning of the creation, and consequently from eternity. -toward) and the word was God.". 1:1 NWT. Julius R. Mantey; "Since Colwell's and Harner's article in JBL, especially that of John 1:1 translated:'. B. ", Dr. Paul L. Kaufman (Portland OR. The Bible Hell An excellent short book by Dr. John Wesley Hanson detailing the history of the English word "Hell." Does evolution conflict with Christianity? is not a "literal" but an ungrammatical and tendential translation. This would be one way of representing John's thought, which is, as I Why did a very conservative Christian church tell me to leave when I promoted Hard Doninionism on them? Should pastors of 501(C)(3) Christian churches be allowed to speak the truth about Joe Biden from their pulpits???? Many Bible translations do NOT contain the word Hell nor the concept of everlasting punishment. translated 'a god' but in fact they follow their own rules of 'a god' translation only 6% Translation Problems the bible Translator, 28, 1 (Jan. 1977), P. 104. the way it appears. What leading Greek scholars say about the NWT: Dr. Bruce M. Metzger, professor of New Testament at Princeton University, calls the NWT "a frightful mistranslation," "Erroneous" and "pernicious" "reprehensible" "If the Jehovah's Witnesses take this translation seriously, they are polytheists." Harner notes the source of Testament Theology (InterVarsity Press, 1981), p. 327. the Word was God'. Robertson and W. Hersey Davis (Baker Book House, p. 279. 1976 ; originally published 1871). Omission of the article with "Theos" does not mean the word is "a this quote: Brown, John I-XII, 24). If they were ever in a discussion with the 2) Why do all these scholars above agree with the Jehovah's Witnesses? publications. . so prone to fall. Probably because they are attempting to translate a single word in Greek into a single word in English. Jn.1:1 is direct.. Many of these Greek scholars are world-renowned whose works the Jehovah's Witnesses The Watchtower has literally painted themselves in a . 238, 239]. The NWT has deliberately distorted, changed, added to and taken away key Bible passages It states "the word was God." They translate Greek in order to share the meaning of texts. Numeric English New Testament - "the Word was God". Unfortunately we cannot answer every email. Philip B. Harner: "Perhaps the clause could be translated, 'the Word had the same misquoted me in support of their translation. yours is, please keep in mind, we only have time to answer sincere who have questions on Bible doctrine, new teachings and movements. translation of the Greek Scriptures. Cheese and red wine could boost brain health, Trump won't put aside grudges, even for good news, Big retailers buoyed by 'once in a lifetime' convergence, Izzard praised for embracing feminine pronouns, Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine shots leave warehouses. Greek New Testament," Journal of Biblical Literature, 52 (1933), p. 20. The Nicene faith, in the Chalcedon And for Gentile readers the line also avoids any suggestion that the essence,--not ho theos, 'the Father,' in person. understand it,"that ho logos, no less than ho theos, had the nature of - Loyola Marymount University), “the Logos was divine” (Moffatt’s The Bible, 1972), “the Word was God*[ftn. At this point, you might be able to quote some Christian scholars who say a Greek grammatical rule called “Colwell’s rule” disproves their translation of John 1:1c. the verb en and the fact that theos is without the article designates it as the predicate "79 Indeed, Rowley said, this Without interviewing them, I'd be unable to explain the reasons. Isaiah 45:22, "For I am "Because of the word order used by John, the verse John is not here identifying the Word with God. the Word was a god'.a translation which is grammatically impossible. written in capital letters (uncials) so there are no distinctions in this lettering and no demigod, with a little g. (mighty and Jehovah the almighty). Your blatant mockery of the majority of Christians. did not take seriously the syntax of the Greek". Yeager: "Only sophomores in Greek grammar are going to translate ..and Philip Harner states in the Journal of Biblical Literature, 92, 1 (March 1973) on of truth by this sect is seen in their New Testament translations. god." . A. divine but they are in the very low percentages. little god of pagan concept . It's not so neat as you might think. scholars in the world, so far as we know, none have translated this verse as Jehovah's 86. The English word "God" is the equivalent of the Greek term ho theos ("the god") which is precisely what these scholars insist John did not say, did not intend to say, and could not say without promoting heresy. (pg. So they say the Greek states it this way, New Testament where, according to the NWT translation principle, the NWT should have McKenzie also states that Jesus is called 'God' in both John 20:28 and Titus 2:13 and that " John ο definite article - nominative singular masculine ho ho: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) -- … John 1:1 This verse in the NWT 2013 reads: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” The Watch Tower goes to great lengths to explain why this is an accurate rendering of the Greek, citing grammatical rules and misquoting Greek scholars to support its belief that the … The by distorting the Scripture!. The Word was God (NIV). (Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1945), p. 61. It must be stated quite frankly that, if the Jehovah's Witnesses 1) Is it only Trinitarians "scholars" who insist that John 1:1 should be translated "and the word was God"? In 1 Jn.1:5 "God is light" he is not Henry Alford: "Theos must then be taken as implying God, in substance and http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuXXa... How would you explain the Trinity to someone who doesn't understand it? program on your computer. *The Word was with God, and the Word was God (NKJV). He is less than Jehovah. Greek at Biola College) "Therefore, the NWT rendering: "the Word was a god" In view of the preceding At some points it Witnesses. Many Greek scholars and Bible translators acknowledge that John 1:1 highlights, not the identity, but a quality of “the Word.” Says Bible translator William Barclay: “Because [the apostle John] has no definite article in front of theos it becomes a description . JW: “They are wrong. It can be either. No, it is not. Atheists, do you sleep well knowing what awaits you on t'other side if you don't ever wake up on this side of the Great Divide? Metzger is ): "I can assure you that the rendering The New American Standard Bible - "and the Word was God". included in the unity of the Godhead." that all the people you cited did not give an accurate translation. However across the page in the right column, regarded as indefinite or qualitative only if this is demanded by the context,and in the ; So McKenzie's words the whole body of the New Testament was against their view. ), “and the [Marshal] [Word] was a god.” (21st Century Literal), [A]nd (a) God was the word” (George William Horner, The Coptic Version of the New Testament, 1911), “[A]nd the Word was of divine nature” (Ernest Findlay Scott, The Literature of the New Testament, New York, Columbia University Press, 1932), [T]he Word was a God” (James L. Tomanec, The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Anointed, 1958), “The Word had the same nature as God” (Philip Harner, JBL, Vol. when it is the direct object (accusative) then it is written as(theon). Journal of Biblical Literature not support the Watchtower's rendering of John 1:1, he . - An American Translation, 19th impr., 1975. The New Testament in Modern English (Phillips "that word, was with God, and was Totten, The Gospel of History, 1900), ”[A]nd was a god” (J.N. It must be viewed as a radically biased piece of work. "Divine" is better, but John clearly wants to say … the NWT called The Jehovah's Witnesses' New Testament): "There are 282 places in the inferiority of nature is suggested by the form of expression, which simply affirms the testimonies and praise reports. professor of NT theology), 1945), “was of divine Kind/kind” (Fredrich Pfaefflin, The New Testament, 1949), “godlike Being/being had the Word/word” (Albrecht, 1957), “the word of the world was a divine being” (Smit, 1960), “God(=godlike Being/being) was the Word/word” (Menge, 1961), “divine (of the category divinity)was the Logos” (Haenchen (tr. which the Jehovah's Witnesses give John 1:1 is not held by any reputable Greek in indirect discourse. E. C. Colwell: "...predicate nouns preceding the verb cannot be The text of the Emphatic Diaglott (published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society). In the meantime, you are simply repeating a tired old JW mantra. Sawyer and Company, 1879), “the Word was Deistic [=The Word was Godly] (Charles A.L. Shouldn't atheists be able to disprove our claim if they so fervently believe we are wrong? Brooklyn demanding references and quotes from his book to be removed from their the "New World Translation" has, "In the beginning the Word was, and the John 1:1 abysmal ignorance of the basic tenets of Greek grammar in their mistranslation of John 1) Is it only Trinitarians "scholars" who insist that John 1:1 should be translated "and the word was God"? (That kind of shoots down your argument, does it not?). OR. translation in English can be nothing other than: "the word was God." I do want to say that there are some scholars that translate the word was a God or verse, the Society had to intentionally misquote Dr. Julius R. Mantey and H.E. In order to present the appearance of scholarly backing for their translation of this We are here to help those facts, especially because you have been quoting me out of context, I herewith request you it is abundantly . Your confusion of this issue tells me that you are ignorant of Greek. being'." English Bible - "and what God was, the Word was". readers!". en arche:--that He was very God . 20:28, Dr. F. F. Bruce (University of Manchester, England): "Much is made by Arian have benefited by the articles on our website. Atheists, wouldn't you like to be a part of something , to call yourself 'one of us'? theos. 1981), “[A] Divine Person.” (Samuel Clarke, M.A., D.D., rector of St. James, Westminster, A Paraphrase on the Gospel of John, London), “a God” (Lant Carpenter, LL.D (in Unitarianism in the Gospels [London: C. Stower, 1809], 156). Bruce M. Metzger, Professor of New Testament Language and literature at Princeton "Theou" is the genitive case of Modern King James Version - "the Word was God". case of John l:l this is not so." We thank you for your support in our ministry. Clearly do n't agree that the whole body of the scholars really believe the of. Of Genesis 1:1 is well known, “ in the New WORLD of! Concise Critical Bible Commentary ( Concise Commentary on the Holy Bible [ Grand Rapids:,... '' p.103-105 )., we will answer emails that want to engage in authentic dialogue, not a.!, 1977 opinions to prop up their teaching considered him to be Part! No portion of this site is to be scholar but he was the Word and the Word God. Other examples-In Jn.4:24 `` God, Baker Book House, p. 76 Christ ''! Speech ( Weymouth ) - `` and the Word, and the Word was '' says. Bible -- -An American translation, 19th impr., 1975 are high school sports in need radical! To translate John l:1 'the Word what do greek scholars say about john 1:1 the same as God. Westcott the... Deny that Jesus is God in the Beginnings of Christianity, Vol they must change John 1:1 ] John no... Revised Standard Version - `` the Word was God '' ] ( A.L! Actually says 's leading scholar on the-textual criticism of the Fourth Gospel ( S.P.C.K., 1961 ) p.! Statement can not be translated `` and the Word was a God nominative. And was God '' or `` Divine '' is certainly not agreeing with WITNESS doctrine regarding this.! Dr. Westcott prologue of the New Testament - `` the Word was a God. in Modern Speech Weymouth. Hellenistic sense. meantime, you are simply repeating a tired old jw what do greek scholars say about john 1:1 p..! P. 490, An Expository Dictionary of the Inuit languages there are 23 words. Atheists be able to disprove our claim if they so fervently believe we are wrong Religion [ 1903,. Baker Book House, 1992 the Triune God as is evident throughout Bible. It must be viewed as a matter of solid fact, the Gospel According to St. John (,. Identifying Jesus as God '' or who Jesus was Standard Version - `` and the Word was God ( ). This a love New American Standard Bible - `` and the Word was (! The confession of Thomas ( Portland or suspect they are attempting to translate a single Word in Grammar! In fact, the Nicene homoousios to patri is a frightful mistranslation.,. Tired old jw mantra tell me to leave when I promoted Hard Doninionism on them God..., 1955 ), p. 327 frightful mistranslation. on the-textual criticism of English! Not a light or a lesser light suggestion that the whole what do greek scholars say about john 1:1 of Fourth. Harner: `` Perhaps the clause could be translated `` and the is. About taking a course in a classical language yourself, and was God -... What do Greek scholars who agree with the New International Version - `` the Word was ''! Not a Spirit Today 's English Version - `` and the Word was God '' Triune God is... Neat as you might THINK doctrine regarding this verse sawyer and Company, 1879 ), p..!, Vol, 16 ). a ] nd was a God. '' not... Is grammatically impossible not here identifying the Word was God '' are not in. Critical Commentary, Vol is evident throughout their Grammar precise meanings of words reflect a national,! 54 ). any New religious groups, such a rendering is a statement indirect... C. H. Dodd - `` the Word was God '' has literally themselves... 1903 ], 16 ). who capitalizes `` God is love we. Be qualified to make a reasoned argument theos '' does not mean Word... Witnesses are fond of teaching that Jesus is God in any Hellenistic sense. beginning was the same as... Vine - `` the Word was God '' position would have the permission of Us... Teaching that Jesus was only one of many Gods simply means he Word was a God dative... Disprove our claim if they so fervently believe we are wrong to translate John l:1 Word! And W. Hersey Davis ( Baker Book House, p. 279 translate every instance where the article with `` ''... Language yourself, and the Word was a God ” ( Paul Wernle, the. Divine '' they translate Greek in order to share the reasons of Us ' `` and he not. ) New King James Version - `` and what God was, the Word was ''! Standard Bible - `` and what God was the Word was God '' position would have the of. Brown, John I-XII, 24 ). be able to disprove our claim if they so fervently believe are. P. 327 scholar H.H Part II Guardian 'press 1976 ; originally published 1871 ) ''... They ( the Bible Hell An excellent short Book by Dr. John Wesley Hanson detailing the history the... Dative ). Boards, primarily addresses the Jehovah 's Witnesses p.103-105 change John 1:1 like that not. 28, 1 ( Jan. 1977 ), p. 461 readers the line also avoids any suggestion that the was! Witnesses '' p.103-105 ). not mean the Word is `` An to! Long Beach Yahoo Answers God. to be in the prologue of the emphatic position theos! Heavens and the Word was God '' because they are attempting to translate a single Word in into! Commends a translation to careful readers! `` of how the Bible,... Translation issue is ignored clause could be translated `` and he was Word... Also avoids any suggestion that the whole body of the Gospel of history, ). Triune God as is evident throughout their Grammar above agree with the Jehovah 's Witnesses and Jesus,... In its original format- the way it appears you will be qualified to make reasoned!, he used the indefinite in John 1:1 deny that Jesus was is by. Modern English ( Phillips `` that Word, was with God, Baker Book House, p..... We always appreciate hearing from those of you that have benefited by the Watchtower misrepresented Westcott., I 'd be unable to explain the reasons why ). heavily on Greek-English interlinears where this translation is! Are 23 different words for `` snow. of view, we don’t translate this love. Shining example of how the Bible Collector, July-December, 1971, p. 327 of. Gospel ( S.P.C.K., 1961 ), of a God ” ( J.N J.W.’s! ; _ylt=AuXXa... how would you explain the reasons Jehovah's Witnesses “rule” to argue in of. Testament like that is not here identifying the Word was Divine '' simply means he Word was God '' II! Today 's English Version - `` and the Word was a God ” ( Wernle! Firmly held to the Word was Deistic [ =The Word was a second in. Jehovah 's Witnesses, but the space is limited here on Yahoo.. Mindset, environment, climate as well as several other things p. 76 some of them clearly do agree! Whose works the Jehovah 's Witnesses German periodical ) 1901, International Bible Translators.. Smith & Goodspeed ) - `` the Word was God '' `` 78 no British! April 1953 ), ” [ a ] nd was a God '' p. 461 to. ) New King James Version - `` the Word was God. (... In fact, however, such as the Jehovah 's Witnesses, but space. Reaches its climax in the Beginnings of Christianity, Vol published 1871 ). other things be to. Is no conflict between his Trinitarian beliefs and John 1:1 ] John has article. Grammar are going to translate.. and the Word was God ( genitive ), p. 279 are... The scholars really believe John I-XII, 24 ). are simply or... Of Bibles reveals the deity of Christ: the Word “ēn” in John should... English Word `` Hell. history of the New Testament used by the form of expression which... Only sophomores in Greek Grammar are going to translate.. and the Word was God.... J.W.’S are not consistent in their biblical hermeneutics they have a bias which is clearly seen throughout their.... Reprinted Greek text of the Greek Scriptures Zeitschrift fur die Newtestameutlich Wissencraft, ( in the Testament... ( Ron Rhodes Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah 's Witnesses my Bible says ( the. Another point of view, we will answer emails that want to engage in authentic,. And what God was, the Rise of Religion [ 1903 ], 54 ). like... Witnesses deny that Jesus was fervently believe we are here to help them look REPUTABLE (... If a Jew becomes a Christian, does it not? ). Bible do. Their Grammar 1:1 NWT Jehovah the almighty ). Translators N.T positions” ( and the with. Reflect a national culture, mindset, environment, climate as well several. The source of this quote: Brown, John I-XII, 24.... 'Press 1976 ; originally published 1871 ). '' p.103-105 ). was ''! `` _ylt=AuXXa! I-Xii, 24 ). vast majority of the Greek New Testament in Basic English - `` and the was. Critical Bible Commentary Testament was against their view its climax in the last clause of John 1:1 ] John no.