September 26, 2005
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Sometimes we have to DIG!
I work in an office of varied faiths and denominations: Muslim (non-practicing), Jehovah’s Witness, Baptist, Agnostic (perceived), and possibly others. We often have discussions about God, faith and Jesus. This week I was approached by a friend, Gary who is a Christian. He had been having a discussion with another Friend, John, a Jehovah’s Witness. Gary asked me if I had and resources that would help him convince my friend John of the Trinity. I felt up to the challenge, however, the challenge to me is to look for the “disconnect” and seek the truth for myself. So here is what I did and what I found.
This is what I did to answer my questions as to how trustworthy my belief in the Trinity is in comparison to lack of belief in the Trinity. I chose only to look at one major scripture. I must note that the issue is much bigger that one scripture reference, however, my intention is to determine if I can believe their interpretation of scripture. You will see in a moment that their interpretation is MUCH different than ours.
Here is John 1:1
New International Version (NIV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
New King James Version (NKJV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
King James Version (KJV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
New World Translation (NWT)
“In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” (emphasis in bold added by me)
NOTE: All scripture from the NWT is copied and pasted directly from their website.
The Dilemma: All English Bibles are translated. What does the original Greek tell us? How did they come at so different an interpretation? My question was, did they use the same Greek manuscripts we used and if not, what words were different in Greek? If they did use the same Greek manuscripts, do they derive their differing interpretation from a difference in the definitions of the words?
A little background information: Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own translation of the scriptures, the New World Translation. First published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society between 1950 and 1960, the New World Translation is used solely by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 1969 the New World Bible Translation Committee published The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, which presented under the Greek text, a word-for-word translation into English.
The Journey: I acquired an Interlinear Greek New Testament Bible based on the KJV. I also acquired a digital photocopy of the cover as well as the first page of John in their Interlinear Greek New Testament so I could compare the Greek.
NOTE: The words under the Greek are the literal translation of each word.
Now, let’s compare the literal translation and the rendered translation out of each Bible:
NOTE: The “rendered translation is how each party has translated the “literal” into what is printed in our/their Bible.
King James Version (KJV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Rendered)
“In (the) beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.” (Literal)
New World Translation (NWT)
“In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” (Rendered) (emphasis in bold added by me)
“In beginning was the Word, and the Word was toward the God, and god was the Word.” (Literal)
Okay, now I have more question in my quest that I have answers. However, I have come to one conclusion: The NWT translation very much took liberties, in my opinion, in adding the “a” at the end of John 1:1 and translating Theos into “god” rather than “God”.
Q: “Theos” and “Theon”: What is the best meaning for both words (both are translated into “God” in our bible and in the NWT “Theon”= “GOD and “Theos”= “god”) ?
Q: The article “TOV ” (Ton) , what is the definition of this word that is translated into “the”? (this has little bearing on the overall outcome of this journey, it just is a question I am unable to answer and strikes my curiosity).
There will be more to come soon as I continue to study the Greek in both translations (Our versions verses the JW New World Translation). Next, I need to look at more verses and look for consistencies throughout each translation.
I NEED A FULL “New World Translation” Greek-English Interlinear New Testament.
Comments (17)
it’s all greek to me..
God bless you Jan. I just love to see the passion and love you exude. I admire your pursuit and will stay tuned for more
It’s funny, I just realized that God has prepared me for some things that I was not aware of. I am a bookeeper, and, when the books or anything is off by even a penny, I have to audit the transactions to find the disconnect and correct it. In other words, I have to “drill down” to fully understand the problem or situation. I then have to spend time and effort seeking the answer to the problem or question.
Conclusion: You may wonder why God has you where you are now, you may feel that you should be doing something else, CONSIDER that God may be preparing you for things to come.
In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus tells us: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. ” Jesus is quoted also in Luke11:9-10 saying the same thing.
Wow!
veddy interesting.
ya, cant wait to see what you finally come up with!
You know, I dont know what the Hebrew translantion would be , but my New American Standard Bible says, in Gen 1:26 Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness, let them rule over etc.. It also says in Gen:3:22 Then the Lord God said, Behold the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil and now etc.. the point is God refers to Himself as a plural deity. Thats enough for me not to mention the vs that say I and the Father are One.. you know all these verses I am sure. I just wanted to encourage you to keep being a witness for Christ , that is our calling.. And the word became Flesh and dwelt amoung us. AMEN
Thank you ICNOW
Yes, I am very aware of these verses, however, I have not looked at the Hebrew. I agree, that is proof enough to me that they are one and the same….to me…the earliest prophecy of Christ to come. Thanks for your comments.
Hey Jan, if you don’t mind me helping a little…I have interacted with many, many, many Jehovah’s Witnesses and done a paper on the NWT for my Origins of the Bible class at Florida Christian College. There’s some pretty interesting facts about the NWT and their translation.
Here’s a tid bit. The NWT is actually considered one of the most accurately translated bibles in the last few hundred years……except for the few places that they “obviously” change words to meet their theology….like John 1:1
If you need any info or want any let me know. If you don’t have a NWT bible I can bring you one…I’ve got two.
I updated. Peace.
Thanks Jason
What I really need is a Intranliner NWT Bible so that I can see their word for word translation as I have the Westcott & Hort 1881 Greek as well as the Texus Receptus 1894 Greek the KJV was built on as well as their NWT Bible (available online from their website). I certainly would welcome any help you could bring to the table 
your scholarship is accurate, I believe the question will come down to what presupositions you both bring to the table.
Interesting,
I am going to subsribe to your site,
if you do not mind.
Take Care.
Don’t know where to start here, but will add my .02 cents regarding ancient Greek. I am admittedly “rusty” with my Greek:
First – capitalization rules: at the beginning of sentences and for names – only.
the interchanging of capitalization in translation for theon and theos are on the part and intentionality of the interpreter, their presuppositions. I can’t tell for certain if the Greek translations you have posted have the Greek letter, theta, the first letter in theos and theon, as being capitalized. Whether capitalized or not, both words have the same “case” for the first letter. You could write each version translation with all the words in upper case, then all in lower case and see how it reads.
Also, the Scrivener text has capitalized the Theta in both Theon and Theos. The presuppositions of the interpreter are evident in your posted examples.
Second – I don’t think that because of the above there will be a clear point where you can point to say that their version is “wrong” and other versions are more “right.” Simply because they use their own version of the Bible, these technical arguments will likely fall on deaf ears. Just as we discount the NWT, they will also discount our arguments that our versions are the “true scriptures.”
Q: “Theos” and “Theon”: What is the best meaning for both words (both are translated into “God” in our bible and in the NWT “Theon”= “GOD and “Theos”= “god”) ?
Perhaps the rules for capitalization may help answer this. Also the other words in the sentence and how they are used inter-relate to how each other word is interpreted. Greek has several “cases” that provide meaning to how the word is used in the sentence. Some of the most common cases are Nominative, Genitive, Accusative and Dative.
The word Theon in your example is in the “Accusative Case,” (noun accusative masculine singular common). Most likely in the Accusative of Direct Object, the most common case found in the NT. The accusative “receives the action” from the verb; in this case “hn” or “was.”
The word Theos in your example is in the “Nominative Case,” (noun nominative masculine singular common). The nominative case is commonly referred to as the “naming case.” The nominative case identifies the subject of the sentence, most likely in the form of “nominative of address.”
I hope this helps in your studies.
References used:
“The New Greek – English Interlinear New Testament”, Brown and Comfort
“It’s Still Greek To Me;” Black, David A.; Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1998
Bible Works; version 5; Bible Works, LLC; computer software
Jim, thanks! I am admittedly not a Greek scholar
In all honesty, I am looking into this not to change my friends mind, but more to discover truth for myself. I realize that often, when we get down to the bottom line…..it is a matter of interpretation. Thank you for your insight 
Your questions intrigued me and I enjoyed “looking into it” with you. I just hope I don’t appear to be smarter then I really am!”
)
I found the book by Black to be an easy reading tool to develop insight and understanding of the Greek text. Lots of examples and it is written in common language…it gives you confidence that anyone can learn, understand and take a stab at interpreting the Greek Text.
But I am a novice at this and the real possibility exists that I could be wrong!
)
Brian would be an excellent contact to ask questions. He teaches this stuff. I’m sure he would be happy to answer your question and would be an encouragement to you.
Blessings
Hi Jan,
Just read your study on John 1:1 of Monday, September 26, 2005. I love your enthusiasm for God’s Word and your sincere desire to learn, so I pray I may add a little something.
As far as the Greek is concerned, Theos and Theov are not two different words, but the same word with different endings to show their use in a sentence. They both mean God; however, Theos is the nominative case in Greek. Its main use is that of the subject of the sentence or clause; therefore God is the subject of John’s statement. Theov is the accusative case, which is the case of limitation. Its main usage is that of direct object.
There is no indefinite article in Greek. Thus, theos by itself means god or a god. But there are definite articles, and the definite article for the masculine singular is ‘o (pronounced hoe) theos for the nominative case , and tov theov for the accusative. These articles accompany the words, God and Word to point out a particular identity. This is called the “articlar” use of a noun or other substantive. So “In the beginning was the Word, (‘o logos) and the Word (‘o logos) was with God (tov theov) and God (referring back to tov theov with the article) was the Word (‘o logos). Therefore, the definite article before God and Word means they are the same thing.
John meant to identify Jesus as God when he wrote:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John’s decision to open his book in the same manner as Moses in Genesis 1:1 shows he wanted to identify Jesus existing as God the Son with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit before the world and mankind was created. In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew word elohiym (el-oh-heem) is plural and means the triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who created all things. Verse 3 above says, “All things were made by him (Jesus).” The same Spirit spoke to and through Moses, the prophets, and the evangelists b y the Holy Spirit; therefore, Jesus, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the Father are one. Jesus is Jehovah. Jesus said so plainly in Ch. 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” However, the next verse (31) relates the Jews did not want to hear that and “took up stones again to stone him.” Nevertheless, Jesus existed before creation; therefore, he is eternal. What gave existence to all things could not have derived its being from anything. The fact that Jesus is the Eternal God is the theme of John’s book. One of the Lord’s names is “The Word.”
Every name of Jesus describes some excellence of his person, nature or work. The original Greek logos, translated “Word” means something said, but when it has the article “the” before it, it means Divine Expression (Jesus). Therefore, the spoken word, speech, eloquence, doctrine and reason apply to Jesus because he is the source of all wisdom, the given of life, and the dispenser of knowledge and reason to all men. Jesus is the One who revealed God to humanity. First he spoke by His prophets, “…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Then he came himself to declare the Word of God. 2 Timothy 1:9, 10 says that Jesus, “Who hath saved us, and callled us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given un in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immprtality to light through the ghospel.” Jesus has demonstrated what life and immortality is by his Gospel or Word. The ninth verse of this chapter calls Jesus the true Light (uinderstanding) meaning he manifested the deep mysteries of God by his Word.