Colossians 1:16
Colossians 1:16 - Jesus created all things
Colossians 1:16
The
Jehovah's Witnesses' mistranslation of and commentary on Colossians 1:16 opens a
way to witness to a Jehovah's Witness that keeps him engaged. The dialogue below
assumes that he remains logical. If he doesn't, use
this page.
Christian - Are your beliefs based on the Bible?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - So if the Bible says it, you believe it?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - Sounds fair enough. So who is Jesus?
Jehovah's Witness - He's the son of God.
Christian - "The Son of God..." Is He also the Creator God?
Jehovah's Witness - No.
Christian - Then what do we do with the Bible saying that
Jesus created all things?
Jehovah's Witness - Where does it say that?
Christian - Colossians 1, verse 16. Could you
please google that verse on your phone and let me know what it says?
Jehovah's Witness - "For by Him all things were created that are in
heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and
for Him."
Christian - Yeah, there we go. So the Bible says all things in heaven and on
earth were created by Jesus. So what do we do with that?
Jehovah's Witness (after pulling up his
New World Translation,
turning to and reading Colossians 1:16 in it) - But
my Bible says, "Because by means of him all
other
things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the
things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or
authorities. All other
things have been created through him and for him."
(Note: It's good for the Jehovah's Witness to visit a source other than his JW.org. But if he refuses to do so, have him read from his New World Translation, then you can google Colossians 1:16 on your phone, read it and show it to him.)
Christian - So yours says Jesus created "all
other things,"
but the first one you read says that He created "all things"?
Jehovah's Witness - That's correct.
Christian - Do you see how by saying "all
other things," your translation makes it possible for Jesus to have been created
first and then used to create everything else, but if Jesus created "all
things," then He is the Creator God?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - So the word "other" makes a big difference, doesn't it?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes it does.
Christian - Now, the two English versions you read are translations
of the same original Greek text. If the original Greek says "all other things,"
intentionally deleting the word "other" to make
the English translation say "all things" would be a serious sin, wouldn't it,
since it would be twisting the Bible to say that a creature is the Creator God?
Jehovah's Witness - That's right.
Christian - And if the original Greek says "all things," intentionally adding
"other" to make
the English translation say "all other
things" would
also be a serious sin, since it would be twisting the Bible to say that the Creator God is a mere
creature, wouldn't it?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - Could you please look up Colossians 1
in your Kingdom Interlinear and scroll down to
verse 16?
Jehovah's Witness - Ok, I did (He will be on
this page of his own website).
Christian - What does the 6th word of verse 16 mean?
Jehovah's Witness - "all (things)."
Christian - What does the 7th last word of verse 16 mean?
Jehovah's Witness - "all (things)."
Christian - So why does your translation say "all
other things"?
Jehovah's Witness - I'm not sure.
Christian - Does your website have anything to say on this?
Jehovah's Witness - Well, there's a commentary (boxed in red below) on
this page
of my website that explains why it says "all
other
things" in this verse:
Christian - Ok, let's go through this point by
point. Please read the first sentence.
Jehovah's Witness - "All other things:
a literal rendering of the Greek text would be
'all things.' "
Christian - So, what are they admitting "all
things" has been changed into?
Jehovah's Witness - "all other things."
Christian - Ok, please read the next sentence.
Jehovah's Witness - "However, such a rendering
could give the impression that Jesus was not created but was the Creator
himself."
Christian - So they are admitting that they added "other" to
prevent the Bible from saying that Jesus is the Creator, aren't they?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - Now, let's take a moment to think about this - The
Bible is the word of God, isn't it?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes it is.
Christian - So if God says, "all things," but the translator
thinks God should say "all other
things," should the translator translate God's words faithfully as "all things"
and then at most add a commentary - if he dares - on the side on why he thinks
God should says "all other
things," or does the translator have the right to simply change God's word to
say whatever he thinks God should say?
Jehovah's Witness - He should at most
add a commentary on the side.
Christian - Now, please read the next sentence in the
paragraph up to the
first comma.
Jehovah's Witness - "And that idea would not
agree with the rest of the Bible,"
Christian - First, Jesus being the Creator is not an "idea"; it is what is declared in Colossians 1:16, as you read, and elsewhere in the Bible. Second, whenever the Bible's original text speaks about Jesus being the Creator God, the New World Translation mistranslates it and/or its commentary twists it to try to deny His deity. Colossians 1:16's declaration that Jesus created all things DOES agree with the rest of the Bible. What it doesn't agree with are the mistranslations in the New World Translation and/or the mischaracterizations in its commentary. But don't take my word for it. Let's continue:
Use the pages below to refute the other false claims in the commentary boxed in red above:
"Preeminent," not 'born first' - Colossians 1:15
"Ruler," not "beginning" - Revelation 3:14
All "the" Galileans - Luke 13:2
God isn't a "thing" - 1 Corinthians 15:27
Christian - Are you the Creator God or His creature?
Jehovah's Witness - His creature.
Christian - Is a dog also His creature?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - If someone said you were a dog,
you would be insulted, right?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - Saying that the Creator God is a mere creature
is a much bigger insult than you - a creature - being called a dog - another
creature. In fact, calling and believing the Creator to be a creature is blasphemy, isn't it?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - Should you repent of this blasphemy and ask God to
forgive you for it?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.