Jehova's Witnesses, in light of Deuteronomy 32:39 and Isaiah 43:10, how are we to understand John 1:1 in NWT?

Question

Deuteronomy 32:39 "See now that I - I am he and there are no Gods with me". Isaiah 43:10 "Before me there was no God formed and after me there continued to be none. John 1:1 "In the beginning the word was, and the word was with God, and the word was A God." Surely if Jehovah had already said that there was no God with him, before him or after him this verse is incorrect, either that or Jehovah has lied, which is impossible as he cannot lie. Surely, the correct translation should be as in KJ which reads "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." As we know that Jesus is the Word then from these scriptures we can also say that he is God. I have heard the explanations using the 2 Corinthians 4:4 calling Satan the "god of this system of things". However, Satan, in this instance, made himself a god and as such is a false God, if we apply this premise to John 1:1 then it would also follow that Jesus was a false God, which of course he is not.

Answer 1

I follow your reasoning and agree with your conclusion.

Another way of looking at things which might be helpful is to consider that unless Christ were indeed God then He could not have accomplished salvation for us.

He must have three essential qualifications to be our Substitute and be able to redeem us.

He must be fully human or He could not stand in our place and take the punishment rightly due.

He must be infinite or else He could not satisfactorily bear our punishment of infinite duration. Only God is infinite.

He must be perfect, having no sin or corruption. Of course God is perfect and sinless and that is also why the virgin birth was necessary, the mother being the vessel, the carrier and not imparting her blood system, her sin.

That Christ has suffered for all, leaves the possibility that all might be saved if united to Christ. God is full of love and mercy and is not willing for any to be lost and seeks out those who are away from or who have fallen or strayed or been stolen or led away from Christ. We do not always know how God reaches people nor what dealings He may privately have with an individual but we do know that through faith in Jesus Christ we are saved.

Unless we really do stand in jeopardy of eternal separation and punishment from a holy and just God of perfection, Who will not allow sin in His presence nor to corrupt Heaven and all who dwell there, then why was it so necessary for Christ to take our punishment upon Himself and cleanse us from our sin?

The reality of our perilous and desperate state has been met by the greatest expression of love possible by a merciful and compassionate Saviour Who held nothing back and could do no more, and Who truly shows both in His loving and compassionate life and supremely in His glorious death on the cross, the very heart of God.

How could He then be anything other than God?

Answer 2

John1:1 says "In the beginning," Okay, now lets change scenes and subjects.

In Deu. Jehovah tells Moses to write a song, the song is about how the people are going to worship other gods and how Jehovah has been the one to provide for them something the other false gods cannot do. The NKJV uses the word "besides" instead of "together."

My dictionary gives several definitions of the word god: n 1 cap : the supreme or ultimate reality; esp: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness whom humans worship as creator and ruler of the universe 2: a being held to possess more than human powers (ancient peoples worshipped many gods) 3 : a natural or man-made physical object etc.

Jesus is known as the only begotten Son of God, again, according to my dictionary, beget means : 1 : to become the father of : Sire 2 : CAUSE 1 -- begetter n

So pray tell, how can a father and son be one? They can agree with each other and have similar traits, but they are seperate entities, and the father came first, so he would have the authority. Now if the father is a god, then of course the son would be a god also, but not the Father God.

Kieran b: You are lying, why would a JW tell you all their business about pregnancies in the family etc., and the man's name is Charles Taze Russell, not Arthur, and his family were Calvinist, not Catholics. You are so busted!

Answer 3

There is not a single thing to add to this. My brothers and sisters have laid this open to the bone for all to see. The truth of the matter is self-evident. That so many cling to the doctrine of man is mind-boggling especially in light of all the evidence not only Scriptural, but historical as far as when the false doctrine of triune gods entered the scene dressed up as 'christianity'. The great Apostasy as foretold.

Answer 4

Bible verses that are in the Greek language have a construction similar to that of John 1:1 use the expression “a god.” For example, when referring to Herod Agrippa I, the crowds shouted: ‘It is a god speaking.’ And when Paul survived a bite by a poisonous snake, the people said: “He is a god.” (Acts 12:22; 28:3-6) It is in harmony with both Greek grammar and Bible teaching to speak of the Word as, not God, but “a god.”—John 1:1.

Answer 5

How far you have fallen!

Reject JWs if you want but now you are rejecting Jehovah aren't you? Trying to argue that Jesus is Jehovah? Have you forgoton everything you learned?

You know how many verses mention "the only true God"?

One.

Does that one verse sound like Jesus is God?

(John 17:3) This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.


Here are some questions for you and your new anti-Jehovah freinds.

1. If Jesus was God then why is he called the “firstborn” of all creations? Please read Colossians 1:15 and Revelation 3:14.
2. If Jesus was God then why did he say that he did not come of his “own initiative” but was sent? Who sent him? John 8:42 and 1 John 4:9
3. If Jesus was God then why did Jesus not know the “day and the house” of the Great Tribulation but God did? Matthew 24:36
4. Who did Jesus speak to in prayer if he was God? Did he speak to himself when he asked help and strength from God?
5. Jesus “appeared before the person of God for us”? How did he do that if he was God? Hebrews 9:24
6. Why did Jesus say “the Father is Greater than I am”? John 14:28, Philippians 2:5,6
7. Who spoke to Jesus at the time of his baptism saying “this is my son”? Matthew 3:17
8. How could he be exalted to a superior position if he was God? Can you exalt the one who is already the highest? Philippians 2:9,10 (Note: It says “God exalted him to a higher position”. In proper English the word higher and highest is different. This means that God is the highest; Jesus is in the higher position. God has the authority to exalt him to a higher position. That means Jehovah, the father is higher than Jesus)
9. If Jesus was God how can Jesus be the “mediator between God and man?” Jesus is called the MEDIATOR in 1 Timothy 2:5
10. If Jesus was God why did the Apostle Paul say “the head of the Christ is God?” 1 Corinthians 11:30
11. Is Jesus was God then why did Jesus “hand over the Kingdom to his God” and “subject himself to God”? 1 Corinthians 15: 24,28
12. If Jesus was God then who does he refer to as “my God and your God”? John 20:17
13. How does he sit at God’s right hand? Psalms 110:1, Hebrew 10:12, 13
14. If Jesus was God why does John say “no man has seen God at any time?” John saw Jesus. John 1:18
15. Why did not people die when they saw Jesus? Exodus 20:18-19, Exodus 30:20
16. How were Jesus dead and God alive at the same time if they are one? Acts 2:24
17. Why did Jesus need someone to save him? Hebrews 5:7
18. If Jesus was God the one who is referred to prophetically at Proverbs 8:22-31?
19. If Jesus was God then did Jesus say “that all authority has been GIVEN to me in heaven and on earth”? Who gave that authority? Matthew 28:18, Daniel 7:13,14
20. Why did Jesus have godly fear if he was the God? Hebrews 5:7
21. How could he learn obedience and be made perfect? Whom did he obey if he was God? Hebrews 5:8-9
22. Why would an angel be able to strengthen him or the angels minister to him? Does God need to be strengthened and ministered by angels? Luke 22:43, Matthew 4:11
23. Why would Satan try to tempt him if he KNEW that he was GOD? Matthew 4:1-11
24. Jesus when sent to earth was made to “be Lower” than the angels Hebrews 2:7 says. How could any part of a God Head ever be lower than the angels?
25. Then if Jesus was the same as God, who was he being tempted to rebel against? Matthew 4:1
26. Near the end of his earthly life, Jesus cried out “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 Can God desert or forsake himself?
27. Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus learned obedience! To whom would he obey if he was God? And does God need to LEARN anything?

Answer 6

The Bible says that interpretations belong to God. Regardless of how we reason out a verse of the Bible, it must harmonize with the whole, for "all Scripture is inspired of God."

Grabbing a verse here and there doesn't cut it. But that is a common fallacy of those who insist that Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong.

The fact is that the Greek text of John 1:1 does not say that "the Word was God." That is the traditional English reading, but as Jesus himself said, traditions of men can make the word of God invalid.

John 1:1 also says clearly that "the Word was *with* God." And throughout the Gospel of John distinction is made between the Lord Jesus Christ and his Father, Jehovah.

John 1:1 cannot be interpreted in isolation from the rest of John's Gospel, nor from the rest of the Bible.

Jehovah's Witnesses have it right. That doesn't make them popular with others, but the Bible said that would be the case, too.

Religious bias does not establish truth.

Answer 7

This is very simple, "god" is not a name is a title; God almighty call to his sons "gods" in Psalms 82:1-6, So Jehovah (God almighty) call them gods, why we are going to say the opposite?

Jesus is the firstson of God and if the sons of God are called gods then he is one a god, simple. but of course not the almighty. (John 14:28).

In greek John 1:1 was written "God" and "god" not "God" and "God" would you like to see it? it is easy in the original scripture, the vatican manuscript.

Jesus is god but not Jehovah god,

Answer 8

In the beginning before the other angelic creatures were formed. Jehovah God caused Jesus to exist (God created Jesus with His own hands). That's why Jesus was called the first born of all creations. Jesus being created first, he served as God's spokesman (therefore Jesus was called the word). The word (Jesus) was WITH God, so the word (Jesus) was a god (not the God himself).

You can reason backward, forward, upside down, horizontal, zig zag, anyway you want but the fact remains. Jesus is still the Son of God (he was created). Jehovah is the Father (no one created Him) and He is not the Son (Jesus).

Jesus is not one of the false gods. He is not the one true God either. If you worship Jesus, that do not make him false god but it makes you false worshipper of the one true God. Jesus do not want any worship from anyone. Matt 4:10 states: Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

(Exo 3:15) Then God said once more to Moses: “This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘Jehovah the God of YOUR forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to YOU.’ This is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation."

God do not and can not lie. He does not change His name either. If He did, that would be a lie after saying "to time indefinite" He will be called Jehovah.

Answer 9

Isaiah 43:10 Jehovah says: “Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.” Again, the context answers, No. None of the idolatrous Gentile nations formed a god before Jehovah, because no one existed before Jehovah. Nor would they at a future time form any real, live god that was able to prophesy. (Isaiah 46:9, 10.) But that does not mean that Jehovah never caused to exist anyone who is properly referred to as a god. (Psalms 82:1, 6. John 1:1, New World Translation.) At Isaiah 10:21 Jehovah is referred to as “mighty God,” just as Jesus is in Isaiah 9:6; but only Jehovah is ever called “God Almighty.”—Gen. 17:1.

If a certain title or descriptive phrase is found in more than one location in the Scriptures, it should never hastily be concluded that it must always refer to the same person. Such reasoning would lead to the conclusion that Nebuchadnezzar was Jesus Christ, because both were called “king of kings” (Daniel 2:37; Revelation 17:14); and that Jesus’ disciples were actually Jesus Christ, because both were called “the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14; John 8:12) We should always consider the context and any other instances in the Bible where the same expression occurs.

If you would like further information & learn more - please get in touch with Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit

Answer 10

--WHERE DID Jesus ever show the attitude Satan shows. Of usurping anything that is God's alone?
--JESUS CHOSES not to be worshipped , How can he be a false god , unless as many make him, SOMETHING he does not validate!
--You quote what John said about Jesus being the word, which is correct! And without arguing a god or God for that goes no where!
--Did Jesus ever say IN CONTEXT 'I am Jehovah'; 'I am God'; "I worship myself 'IN SPIRIT & TRUTH'; 'worship me in spirit & truth'(John 4:24) "Jehovah & I are the same God"
***TO Mary Magdalene: "I am going my way to Me as the father & your father & ME as God & your God"?---------OR---------WAS IT-------?
(John 20:17-18) “. . .7 Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me. For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But be on your way to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and YOUR Father and to my God and YOUR God.’” 18 Mary Mag′da·lene came and brought the news to the disciples: “I have seen the Lord!” and that he said these things to her.”

--WHY IS IT only Jehovah makes that claim that he is God hundreds of times & Jesus never does?
--SIMPLE QUESTION why don't you trinitarians just accept what Jesus says rather than interpret what he says or think he says? OR what the Bible says rather than interpret what you think-- it says, is the Bible so lacking in wisdom for it to need your interpretation?
--Did he not teach simply & say
(Matthew 5:37) “. . .Just let YOUR word Yes mean Yes, YOUR No, No; for what is in excess of these is from the wicked one.”
--WHY WOULD he ever teach something as complicated , confusing & unsolvable as the trinity ---when he taught in simplicity & truth?
---THUS YOU AND your friends could be fulfilling this warning of what not to do as christians:
(1 Timothy 6:4-5) “. . .he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, 5 violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain. . .”

YOUR QUESTIONS breed arguements, strife,--IF THAT is your view of Christianity, that indeed was not Christ's Christianity!
--IF YOU CHOOSE to try and flim flam the scriptures whose purpose are you serving?

Answer 11

Great question and research!
To bad some just can not open their minds up to the possibility that Jehovah is telling the truth.
It is easier for them to live their lives there own way rather than search for Jehovah and serve him his way.
But Jehovah has promised us a great crowd from all the nations, more than any man could number...we well see that soon!