The Word: a god?

 

Jehovah's Witnesses are known for denying the Deity of Christ. They explain on their website:

'While many Bible translators render the verse this way, others see the need to render it differently. In the original-language text, the two occurrences of “God” (Greek, the·osʹ) at John 1:1 are grammatically different. In the first occurrence, the word “God” is preceded by the Greek definite article, while the article does not appear before the second occurrence. Many scholars note that the absence of the definite article before the second the·osʹ is significant. For example, The Translator’s New Testament says regarding this absence of the article: “In effect it gives an adjectival quality to the second use of Theos (God) so that the phrase means ‘The Word was divine.’” Other scholars and Bible translations point to this same distinction.—See “ John 1:1 From Additional Translations.”

Is Jesus 'a god' with a lower case 'g'? Does translating the Greek as 'divine' make a difference to our understanding of Jesus' nature? Where is the bias here, is it with the mainstream translators, or is it with the Watchtower translators?

Is Jesus God?

To show that Jesus is not God the NWT translates John 1:1, “... and the Word was a god...” The Society’s main defence for its translation is:

“John 1:18 says: ‘No one has ever seen God.’ Verse 14 clearly says that ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... we have beheld his glory’. Seeing Jesus can’t be seeing God. Also, verses 1,2 say that in the beginning he was ‘with God’. Can one be with someone and at the same time be that person? At John 17:3, Jesus addresses the Father as ‘the only true God’; so, Jesus as ‘a god’ merely reflects his Father’s divine qualities -Heb. 1:3.” - Reasoning, p.416.

The Watchtower argues that because the first ‘God’ in John 1:1 is preceded by the Greek definite article ‘the’ it must have a big ‘G’ and refer to Jehovah. However the second ‘god’ does not have the definite article and so is translated ‘a god’, and refers to the ‘little god’, Jesus.

However, in John 1:18 there is no definite article connected with the first theon translated ‘God’, in the NWT, but the second theos is followed by the definite article ‘the one’ and yet they translate it ‘god’.

‘Only,’ in the term ‘only-begotten’ in John 1:18, is the same as ‘only’ in verse 14, meaning unique, one of a kind. John 1:18, then, says no man has ever seen God but now God the unique Son, clothed in flesh, reveals God in a way that can be seen by men. Jesus tells Philip in John 14:9, ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’

The Society also uses an argument that speaks of Jesus being ‘with’ God and then asks ‘how can He also be God?’ This does not stand the test of comparing Scripture with Scripture.

The Father is God, and Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus the Word was with God, but that does not make Him any less part of the Godhead. In the NWT Hebrews 1: reads:

‘He [Jesus] is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being…’

The ESV gives, ‘He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature…’

The NWT translates that Jesus is the ‘reflection of’ His Father and argues that you are not the same as your reflection! The Greek word is apaugasma, literally translated in the Kingdom Interlinear Translation as ‘beaming forth from’. Joy beams forth from a face and that is not a reflection; it is what is in the person coming out. The AV uses ‘effulgence’, more modern translations ‘radiance’, and that is exactly what the word means: not looking at a reflection but a shining out from that which is within. Note the next phrase, ‘the exact representation of his very being’. Jesus is not a pale reflection but from His being shines forth that which He is; God.

‘Philip said to Jesus,’Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the father. How can you say, ‘show us the Father?’Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?’’ John 14:8-10

It is possible to spend time with Jesus yet not know who he is. Jesus chides Philip for being so slow. When you gaze into the face of Jesus, the Father is gazing back at you. Look closer, take a good long look. Will you wait for him to chide you, or will you say, with Thomas, ‘my Lord, and my God!’ John 20:28