Before I begin, let me just point out that, in making my case for the deity of Christ, I haven't really said anything about the Watchtower. I've been focused on Scripture, as the case stands or falls on its support from Scripture. But because of the topic of this post, l have to discuss the Watchtower, specifically, in regard to their New World Translation of the Bible, because I think it's accurate to say they've superimposed a piece of themselves onto the Scriptures.
John 1:1 is a straightforward verse for establishing Jesus' identity as God. I haven't brought it up because I know the Watchtower's translation of the verse gives it a different meaning than other translations. I also am under the impression Jehovah's Witnesses are trained at length to reject the historic Christian understanding of the verse. Therefore, I figure any case I make for Jesus being God is probably going to be more persuasive if I focus on other evidences from Scripture (as I have been doing). But today a few things about John 1:1 struck me as worth considering.
As you know, the Watchtower's translation reads:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. [Or “was divine.]"Based on the verses that follow, the Watchtower asserts that the term "Word" is referring to Jesus (I think, correctly).
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."I just happened to look up John 1:1 on BibleGatway and noticed that they provide a way to view the verse in multiple English translations, which I've listed at the bottom of this.
You'll notice that in the over 50 translations listed, none of them end with the term "a god." They all end in some variation of the word "God." While it could be argued this isn't conclusive evidence that the Watchtower's translation is inaccurate, it's certainly notable. Scholars who do Biblical translations are masters of ancient Hebrew and Greek and are fully aware of the gravity of their task. You have to know they approach it soberly and take great care to do the best translation possible. (For a technical explanation of why, according to Greek rules of grammar, "God" is a proper translation, see this helpful post.) As far as I know, the Watchtower's New World Translation, which came out in 1950, is the only English translation in the history of Christendom to use the term "a god."
This strikes me as particularly suspicious considering that, at the time of the translation, the organization doing the translating specifically had as one of its unique and defining characteristics opposition to the majority understanding of Jesus' nature. In other words, rightly or wrongly, if anyone had an axe to grind regarding the idea that Jesus was God in the flesh, it was the Watchtower.
The Watchtower's translation also strikes me as suspect in that, while other religions in Biblical times believed in multiple gods (polytheism), the belief that there is one and only one God (monotheism) was a fundamental tenant of Judaism and Christianity. The Watchtower doesn't deny this. In the Bible, other gods are referred to as false gods, representing false religions. They are imaginary. Any belief or trust in them is condemned. Given that context, a translation that says Jesus is "a god" is thematically out of place. This is especially true since Jesus is always characterized in Scripture in a favorable light -- far from being a false god.
I know a common Jehovah's Witness rebuttal cites Psalm 58, where a group of men are called "gods." But if you actually read that passage, the reference to "gods" in lowercase is tongue-in-cheek, ridiculing evil men who abuse governing authority. It's sarcasm. This use of the word is not at all similar to the manner in which the Watchtower believes the term should be applied to Jesus in John 1:1, namely, that Jesus is a good god, but distinct from "almighty God."
I'm not positive what the Watchtower thinks characterizes the type of god they think Jesus is, but since the Watchtower acknowledges Jesus created the universe, it must be supernaturally powerful on a massive scale -- on a scale most people would associate with "God" is uppercase letters.
Regardless of how they want to characterize their teaching, it seems undeniable the Watchtower is claiming the universe has two god-like beings. That's polytheism. At the same time, they know Scripture is strict regarding monotheism, so I realize they would never want to accept the characterization of it as polytheism. Neverltheless, it fits the definition.
Note, this is a problem for the Watchtower regardless of whether "God" is lowercase or uppercase. Without a triune understanding of the nature of God -- where there's one God in three Persons -- the fist chapter of John leaves one with a polytheistic theology. To me, this is a compelling reason to conclude the Watchtower's understanding of God's nature is flawed. It also provides good insight into what the doctrine of the Trinity has to offer.
These are the 50+ alternate English translations of John 1:1:
KJ21 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.ASV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.AMP In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.AMPC In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.BRG In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.CEB In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.CJB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.CEV In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God.DARBY In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.DLNT In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.DRA In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.ERV Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.ESV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.ESVUK In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.EXB In the beginning [Gen. 1:1] ·there was the Word [the Word already existed; C the Word refers to Christ, God’s revelation of himself]. The Word was ·with [in the presence of; in intimate relationship with] God [C the Father], and the Word was [fully] God.GNV In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God.GW In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.GNT In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.HCSB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.ICB Before the world began, there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.ISV In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.PHILLIPS At the beginning God expressed himself. That personal expression, that word, was with God, and was God, and he existed with God from the beginning. All creation took place through him, and none took place without him. In him appeared life and this life was the light of mankind. The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.JUB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was God.KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.AKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.LEB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.TLB Before anything else existed, there was Christ,* with God. He has always been alive and is himself God.MSG The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one.MEV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.MOUNCE In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with · God, and the Word was God.NOG In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.NABRE In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NASB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NCV In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.NET In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.NIRV In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NIVUK In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NLV The Word (Christ) was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was God.NLT In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.NRSV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NRSVA In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NRSVACE In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NRSVCE In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.NTE In the beginning was the Word. The Word was close beside God, and the Word was God.OJB Bereshis (in the Beginning) was the Dvar Hashem [YESHAYAH 55:11; BERESHIS 1:3], and the Dvar Hashem was agav (along with, etzel, Mishle 8:30;30:4) Hashem, and the Dvar Hashem was nothing less, by nature, than Elohim! [Psa 56:11(10); Yn 17:5; Rev. 19:13 i.e., the Ma’amar Memra]RSV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.RSVCE In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.TLV In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.VOICE Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking. The Voice was and is God.WEB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.WE The Word already was, way back before anything began to be. The Word and God were together. The Word was God.WYC In the beginning was the word, and the word was at God, and God was the word. [In the beginning was the word, that is, God's Son, and the word was at God, and God was the word.]YLT In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;
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