The Deity of Jesus Christ
✅ Introduction
📌 As I go out soul-winning I notice a lot of people do not believe that Jesus is God, I bumped into a Jehovah Witness today and they said that Jesus was a god, not thee God, and they got that from their Fantasy version of the Bible because the KJV is the bible that holds the truth for English speaking people, and in the KJV the Bible states…
📖 John 1:1-4 (KJV) 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. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
📌 It states that he was God. Yet JWs states this as wrong because there modern translation says “a god” well I have to say by what authority do they think their modern version is more correct then the good ole King James, don’t make me do a weight test, its not even close to the King James Version, but I was curious to look into the history of their book they pride themselves on, so lets take a look.
✍️ Who Wrote the New World Translation (NWT)?
The New World Translation (NWT) was first published in sections between 1950–1961 by the New World Bible Translation Committee (NWBTC).
Officially, the committee members’ names were never released, with the claim that this was to give credit to God alone?
However, later investigations (ex-JWs, historians, court cases) have revealed the likely members:
Suspected Committee Members:
Frederick W. Franz – later president of the Watchtower Society (main translator, focused on Greek and Hebrew portions).
Nathan H. Knorr – Watchtower president (administrator, not a linguist).
Albert D. Schroeder – member of the Governing Body (administrative, no known Greek expertise).
George D. Gangas – Greek-speaking background, but not a trained scholar.
Milton G. Henschel – later Watchtower president (administrative, no linguistic training).
📌 So the heavy lifting (especially in Hebrew/Greek) was mostly done by Frederick Franz, with some input from Gangas for Greek readability.
📖 How Great Were They in Greek?
This is where it gets controversial.
Frederick Franz studied Greek (and some Hebrew) at the University of Cincinnati for a few years, but he never graduated and was self-taught beyond that.
In the 1954 Walsh Trial (Scotland), Franz was cross-examined about his Greek knowledge. When asked to translate a simple passage from Hebrew (Genesis 2:4) into English, he failed. This cast serious doubt on his proficiency.
George Gangas, though of Greek heritage, was not a trained biblical scholar—he could read modern Greek but was not known for academic Koine Greek expertise.
The others (Knorr, Schroeder, Henschel) had no Greek or Hebrew training.
Scholarly Assessments of the NWT:
Bruce M. Metzger (world-renowned NT scholar): called the NWT “a frightful mistranslation,” especially criticizing John 1:1 (“the Word was a god”).
William Barclay (Scottish theologian): “It is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest.”
F.F. Bruce (Greek scholar): “It is a translation of a sectarian nature, with no justification in Greek grammar.”
Even non-Trinitarian scholars (who don’t believe Jesus is God) have said the NWT goes beyond what Greek allows to support JW theology.
⚖️ Bottom Line
The NWT was not written by a panel of top Greek/Hebrew scholars, but by a small internal committee of Jehovah’s Witness leaders—most of whom lacked formal training.
Frederick Franz had basic Greek training but nowhere near the level of professional translators behind the KJV.
The translation reflects Watchtower theology first, Greek accuracy second, which is why it’s heavily criticized in academic circles.
📌 Now Real greek scholars criticize their translation because they mess up greek grammar in this case they forget to use the Colwell’s Rule which is a greek word order rule.
To call Jesus “a god” creates a contradiction with Isaiah 43:10–11 (“Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me”).
📖 Isaiah 43:10-11 (KJV) Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
1. Why “a god” Creates Contradiction
📌 If John 1:1 meant Jesus is “a god,” it would contradict Isaiah 43:10–11; 44:6; 45:5, which insist there is no other God besides Him.
Isaiah 43:10 – “Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
Isaiah 44:6 – “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
📖 Revelation 1:17–18 – “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore…”
📖 Revelation 22:12–13 – “Behold, I come quickly… I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
Isaiah 45:5 – “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.”
So if Jesus is “a god” but not the One True God, it forces a contradiction with the Old Testament.
But if Jesus is understood as the eternal Word, fully God, yet distinct in person from the Father — then Scripture is consistent: one God, revealed in Father, Son, and Spirit.
2. Are people called “gods” in Scripture
There are indeed places where the word “god(s)” is applied to humans:
📖 Psalms 82:6-7 (KJV) I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Here, God is rebuking unjust judges/rulers in Israel. They were called “gods” (elohim) because they acted as representatives of God’s authority, judging the people. But they were still mortal (v.7: “ye shall die like men”).
📖 Exodus 7:1 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
Moses was called “a god” to Pharaoh, in the sense of standing as God’s representative with divine authority.
📖 John 10:32-36 (KJV) Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 when the Jews accused Him of blasphemy, because Jesus is saying how is it blasphemy if I’m called “a god” don’t you guys believe the scriptures? The problem wasn’t that he is called “a god” it was because he made himself God with a capital G.
3. The Difference With Jesus
Those men were called “gods” only in a metaphorical or representative sense — they were never divine in nature.
Jesus, however, is uniquely called The God…..
📖 John 20:27-28 (KJV) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
📖 Titus 2:13 (KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
📖 Hebrews 1:8 (KJV) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
✅ Submission Doesn’t Mean Inferiority
Many people try to measure God by human logic, but His ways and wisdom are beyond us (Isaiah 55:8–9). Some argue that because Jesus submits to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:27–28; John 5:19), He must be less in nature. Scripture shows this is not true.
Submission can be about role, not essence because Jesus is fully God
📖 Colossians 2:8-9 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Yet willingly submits to the Father in role….
📖 Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
His submission does not diminish His deity, marriage illustrates the same principle: wives submit to husbands
📖 Ephesians 5:22-24 (KJV) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
But are equal in value and worth
📖 Galatians 3:28 (KJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Submission is functional, not a measure of worth.
✅ Jesus is the firstborn (Colossians 1:15)
Colossians 1:15-18 (KJV) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
📌 Jesus is not a created being, when it speaks of firstborn in this passage its speaking about Jesus being firstborn of the glorified bodies, first to be resurrected from the dead, and this is explained in the feast of first fruits……
Also In Scripture, “firstborn” often means preeminence or rank, not literal birth order
David is called firstborn
📖 Psalms 89:25-28 (KJV) I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
📌 David was not the firstborn in the sense of first created, but the firstborn in the sense of preeminence.
Israel is called firstborn
📖 Exodus 4:22 (KJV) And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
✅ Jesus prayed to God — that proves He’s not God.
📌 Jesus is both fully God and fully man
As man, He prayed in dependence on the Father.
📖 Luke 22:42 (KJV) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
As God, He is the One who answers prayer.
📖 John 14:13-14 (KJV) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
We need to understand that when Jesus came to earth, He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6–8), taking on “the form of a servant” and becoming “a little lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:9).
📖 Hebrews 2:9 (KJV) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
In His humanity, He lived in complete obedience to the Father even praying and depending on Him not because He was less than God in His divine nature, but because He willingly submitted to the Father’s will in His role as the Son. But once He was glorified, He returned to His eternal position at the right hand of God (John 17:5; Hebrews 1:3). Today, we do not see Jesus praying to the Father on our behalf as a servant, but rather, He is the one we pray to (John 14:13–14; Acts 7:59–60; 1 Corinthians 1:2), and He Himself is the one Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).
