Posts by UnDisfellowshipped

22

Watchtower says: Anointed DO NOT have MORE Bible Understanding

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

the anointed do not have more bible understanding than the great crowd!.

the watchtower, june 15th, 1996, page 31:.

the other sheep today perform the same preaching work as the remnant, under the same trying conditions, and manifest the same faithfulness and integrity.

UnDisfellowshipped

The Watchtower, April 15th, 1952, Pages 255-256:

Questions From Readers
• Do the “other sheep” have as much of the Lord’s spirit as the anointed remnant, and as clear an understanding of Jehovah’s purposes as the anointed have?—A. M., Colorado.
If they are filled with holy spirit, how could any others have more than that? If a container is full, how can it hold more? Both classes must be equally faithful, under the same trying conditions. It is only by Jehovah’s spirit that any of us can stand. So if the “other sheep” do not have as much of the Lord’s spirit, yet have to endure the same tests and prove the same high quality of faithfulness as the anointed, they would be operating under a great disadvantage in the test of integrity. Jehovah God does not so handicap them, but gives them equal help for similar tests. Faithful men of old had Jehovah’s spirit, to write inspired scriptures, to cure lepers, to raise the dead, to cause rain or drought, to pull down pagan temples, to slay lions and bears, and to perform many other powerful works possible only with the help of God’s active force. Though not of the anointed class, they were filled with holy spirit.
The “other sheep” today perform the same preaching work as the remnant, under the same trying conditions, and manifest the same faithfulness and integrity. They feed at the same spiritual table, eating the same food, absorbing the same truths. Being of the earthly class, with earthly hopes and a keen interest in earthly things, they might interest themselves more in scriptures relating to earthly conditions in the new world; whereas the anointed remnant, with heavenly hopes and strong personal interest in the things of the spirit, might study more diligently those things in God’s Word. So because of these different personal interests the two classes might show greater interest in different features of the message, and comprehend more in those fields because of their special study of them; yet the fact remains that the same truths and the same understanding are available to both classes, and it is just how the individuals apply themselves in study that determines the comprehension of heavenly and earthly things they acquire. The Lord’s spirit is available in equal portions to both classes, and knowledge and understanding are offered equally to both, with equal opportunities for absorbing it.
So rather than the determining factor’s being whether one is of the anointed or other sheep class or not, it lies with the individual himself. One may be more willing to receive the Lord’s spirit and its guidance in his life than another, who may be quenching the spirit by not walking wholly according to its guidance. One may spend more time studying or naturally have greater mental capacities for learning than another, who may neglect study and mental training.

22

Watchtower says: Anointed DO NOT have MORE Bible Understanding

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

the anointed do not have more bible understanding than the great crowd!.

the watchtower, june 15th, 1996, page 31:.

the other sheep today perform the same preaching work as the remnant, under the same trying conditions, and manifest the same faithfulness and integrity.

UnDisfellowshipped

The Watchtower, June 15th, 2009, Pages 23-24:

"They do not believe that their being anointed gives them special insights beyond what even some experienced members of the "great crowd" may have. They do not believe that they necessarily have more holy spirit than their companions of the "other sheep" have."
______________________________

Also, here is a link to another great thread on this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/196806/1/Response-to-Do-you-think-the-F-DS-are-directed-by-Holy-Spirit

457

TRINITY Challenge for JW's, Unitarians and Anyone Else

by UnDisfellowshipped in

trinity challenge using only the new world translation of the holy scriptures -- let us debate and reason on the scriptures about whether god almighty is a trinity, or is only one person.. on another thread, bane said that we know for a fact immediately that nearly all religions other than jehovah's witnesses are false because almost all of them believe in the trinity.

and bane claims he can "out-scripturize" anyone with the help of jehovah.

* the son was praying to the father.

UnDisfellowshipped

djeggnog,

I apologize if you misunderstood the questions I was asking. I was asking rhetorical questions that Jehovah's Witnesses might ASK those who believe in the Trinity (and in fact some of those questions HAVE BEEN ASKED by JW's and by other non-Trinitarians in this thread).

For example, people have brought up that Jesus could NOT be God Almighty because He is "the Only-Begotten" and He could NOT be God Almighty because He is the "Firstborn of all creation" and He could NOT be God Almighty because He is "the Beginning of the creation by God" and He could NOT be God Almighty because He was praying to God.

So, in those posts, I was addressing THOSE points that were brought up earlier in this thread (not necessarily by you). I did not specifically address those posts to you djeggnog. Those were meant for ALL of those people who have been participating in this thread and have brought up those questions/arguments.

djeggnog said:

"There's nothing about the word "firstborn" as it is used elsewhere in the Bible that suggests a reference to "rank" or "position," so there is no reason for anyone to take a different view of what the word "firstborn" means at Colossians 1:15."

MY REPLY:

In Psalm 89:27 the word "Firstborn" is used as a "rank" or "position." It HAS TO BE a "rank" or "position" in Psalm 89:27 because God is declaring that He will make someone into the "Firstborn" IN THE FUTURE. Psalm 89:27 is NOT referring to someone who WAS A FIRSTBORN in the past.

djeggnog, Who is "The Firstborn, the most high of all the kings of the earth" spoken of at Psalm 89:27?

djeggnog said:

"But this point makes no sense, for the New World Translation -- the Bible translation that you stated at the outset of this thread you would be using to prove that the Bible supports belief in God being a trinity -- does not use the word "worship" at all! Is there a reason you are here violating your own rules here?"

MY REPLY:

When we agreed on the "rules" for this debate, I very clearly stated that I would be using the New World Translation WITH REFERENCES and FOOTNOTES, and that I would also use the Appendixes of the New World Translation.

The NWT Footnote for Hebrews 1:6 says "OR WORSHIP." Also, the older editions of the New World Translation do indeed render the word proskyneo (or a different form of proskyneo) "worship" in Hebrews 1:6.

Either way, call it "worship" or call it "obeisance." The Greek word remains the same. It matters most what the word MEANS. What is the definition of the Greek word proskyneo? (or a different form of proskyneo)

There is NO WAY that we can have an intelligent informed debate or discussion unless we determine WHAT words MEAN.

If you want to say that "Obeisance" only means a lesser form of "worship" and that "Worship" means the fullest form of "worship," then I would ask you to provide a source for how you are determining the MEANINGS of these words.

The New World Translation clearly shows that people gave "Obeisance" to Jehovah God:

2nd Chronicles 20:18 (NWT): At once Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the earth, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem themselves fell down before Jehovah to do obeisance to Jehovah.

Are you trying to say that this "Obeisance" that was given to Jehovah was a lesser or lower form of "worship"?

Also, the Apostle Peter FORBADE Cornelius from doing "Obeisance" to him:

Acts 10:25-26 (NWT): As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet and did obeisance to him. But Peter lifted him up, saying: “Rise; I myself am also a man.”

Are you trying to say that Cornelius was only bowing down in honor and NOT in worship to Peter? If so, then WHY would Peter have rejected so strongly to the act that Cornelius was performing?

Further, Hebrews 1:6 is a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:43 (from the Septuagint) or Psalm 97:7, and in BOTH of those verses it is saying that WORSHIP is to be given TO JEHOVAH. Yet Hebrews 1:6 applies one (or both) of those passages TO JESUS.

djeggnog said:

Furthermore, God can certainly make a law for human beings that would not have the same "teeth" or would even be "toothless" with regard to the angels of heaven, and, similarly, God can make a law for angelic host that would be totally inapplicable to human beings. For example, whereas it is not unlawful for human beings to engage in sexual relations with someone to whom they have become "one flesh" and procreate, it is unlawful for an angel to engage in sexual relations and procreate with a human being for sexual relations between angels and humans is unnatural. However, a law forbidding an angel to not engage in sexual relations with a human being to whom he is not married would have no teeth and would be totally unnecessary just as a law forbidding a human being from trying to enter the spiritual heavens with his or her flesh-and-blood body would be toothless since this is impossible for a human to do!

MY REPLY:

This is a very interesting argument. I have to hand it to you. You are getting somewhat more creative. By saying that God has a DIFFERENT STANDARD of Exclusive Devotion for humans than He has for angels.

That's funny, because at Matthew 4:10, Jesus was SPEAKING TO AN ANGEL (Satan) when He delcared "‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

Also, the Hebrew Scriptures repeatedly declared that Jehovah was a JEALOUS GOD who TOLERATES NO RIVALRY and that the angels MUST WORSHIP JEHOVAH. Yet, here you are djeggnog, so desperate to cling to your own beliefs, that you have COMPROMISED Jehovah's Exclusive Devotion in order to say that Jesus is not God.

So, are you saying that all of a sudden, when Hebrews 1:6 is fulfilled, Jehovah just sets aside His Exclusive Devotion and Jealousy because it's okay now for angels to worship someone other than Jehovah?

Also, djeggnog, you have never responded to what I said about ALL HUMANS AND ANGELS WORSHIPING THE LAMB AND THE FATHER at Revelation 5:13-14. And you have never responded to what I said about ALL HUMANS rendering sacred service to The Son of Man at Daniel 7:14.

In addition, Jesus commanded ALL PEOPLE to honor The Son JUST AS [or, "to the same degree as"] they honor The Father. "Just as" means "Just Like" or "To the same degree as."

djeggnog said:

"As to the addition of the word "other" used in the NWT, so what? You are supposed to be proving the trinity using the NWT, which Bible includes the word "other" at Colossians 1:16, 17. These were the terms that you set. Deal with it! We're supposed to be discussing what the Bible teaches according to the NWT and not what statements a Bible study aid like the "Reasoning" book or the "Insight" volumes might include in order to clarify what one reads in the Bible. If you cannot follow your own rules, then I'm going to withdraw from this thread."

MY REPLY:

djeggnog, first of all, I did NOT address that post to you.

Secondly, the New World Translation itself shows that those words were NOT inspired original words, because they put them in SQUARE BRACKETS.

Why should we base our arguments on NON-INSPIRED WORDS which were NOT WRITTEN by the Inspired Writers?

djeggnog said:

"it is to Jehovah and not to Jesus that Revelation 22:13 refers."

MY REPLY:

Based on what authority do you say this?

djeggnog said:

"If you are concerned how the title "the First and the Last" could be applied to both Jehovah and Jesus, consider this: At Hebrews 11:24-26, the apostle Paul refers to Moses as the "Christ." You don't have a problem accepting that the leadership of Moses over God's people as God's anointed one was prefigured by Jesus Christ as God's anointed one, do you? At Matthew 17:11, Jesus, in referring to his second cousin, John the Baptist, tells his disciples that "Elijah has already come." You don't have a problem accepting that the ministry of John the Baptist was prefigured by the prophet Elijah, do you? I suspect figures of speech and anything mentioned in the Bible that foreshadows realities haven't really been your forte."

MY REPLY:

First of all, on what authority or basis do you claim that Moses was called "The Christ" at Hebrews 11:24-26. Whenever I read that passage, I have ALWAYS understood it to mean that Moses gave up his material possessions and pleasures in order to pursue THE FUTURE MESSIAH.

What kind of "prefiguring" or "foreshadowing" are you claiming is happening in the SAME BOOK OF REVELATION when in some Verses, Jehovah is called The First and The Last, and in other Verses, Jesus is called The First and The Last?

I suspect reading the Book of Revelation IN CONTEXT hasn't really been your forte.

22

Watchtower says: Anointed DO NOT have MORE Bible Understanding

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

the anointed do not have more bible understanding than the great crowd!.

the watchtower, june 15th, 1996, page 31:.

the other sheep today perform the same preaching work as the remnant, under the same trying conditions, and manifest the same faithfulness and integrity.

UnDisfellowshipped

The Anointed DO NOT have MORE Bible Understanding than the Great Crowd!

The Watchtower, June 15th, 1996, Page 31:

“The ‘other sheep’ today perform the same preaching work as the remnant, under the same trying conditions, and manifest the same faithfulness and integrity. They feed at the same spiritual table, eating the same food, absorbing the same truths. Being of the earthly class, with earthly hopes and a keen interest in earthly things, they might interest themselves more in scriptures relating to earthly conditions in the new world; whereas the anointed remnant, with heavenly hopes and strong personal interest in the things of the spirit, might study more diligently those things in God’s Word. . . . Yet the fact remains that the same truths and the same understanding are available to both classes, and it is just how the individuals apply themselves in study that determines the comprehension of heavenly and earthly things they acquire. The Lord’s spirit is available in equal portions to both classes, and knowledge and understanding are offered equally to both, with equal opportunities for absorbing it.”

________________________

The Watchtower, March 15th, 1991, Page 22:

In the first century C.E., when a general invitation was going out to seek entrance into the heavenly Kingdom, not all anointed Christians held positions of responsibility as members of the governing body or as elders or ministerial servants. Many were women, and they had no special authority; nor does spirit anointing bring extraordinary understanding of God’s Word, for Paul found it necessary to instruct and counsel certain anointed ones. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14) Those with the heavenly calling do not view themselves as prominent individuals, and they do not draw attention to their being anointed ones. Rather, they manifest the humility rightly expected of those having “the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16) They also realize that God’s righteous requirements must be met by all Christians, whether their hope is heavenly or earthly.

Professing to have a heavenly calling does not bring a person special revelations. God has a channel of communication through which he provides spiritual food for his earthly organization. (Matthew 24:45-47) So nobody should think that being an anointed Christian gives him wisdom superior to that of the “great crowd” with the earthly hope. (Revelation 7:9) Spirit anointing is not indicated by proficiency in witnessing, answering Scriptural questions, or giving Bible talks, for Christians with the earthly hope also do very well in these respects. Like anointed ones, they too are living exemplary Christian lives. For that matter, Samson and others of pre-Christian times had God’s spirit and were filled with zeal and understanding. Yet, none of that ‘great cloud of witnesses’ had the heavenly hope.—Hebrews 11:32-38; 12:1; Exodus 35:30, 31; Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Samuel 16:13; Ezekiel 2:2.

457

TRINITY Challenge for JW's, Unitarians and Anyone Else

by UnDisfellowshipped in

trinity challenge using only the new world translation of the holy scriptures -- let us debate and reason on the scriptures about whether god almighty is a trinity, or is only one person.. on another thread, bane said that we know for a fact immediately that nearly all religions other than jehovah's witnesses are false because almost all of them believe in the trinity.

and bane claims he can "out-scripturize" anyone with the help of jehovah.

* the son was praying to the father.

UnDisfellowshipped

Romans 8:26-27: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. But He that searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes on behalf of the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us to the Father. How can an impersonal force intercede or pray for us?

457

TRINITY Challenge for JW's, Unitarians and Anyone Else

by UnDisfellowshipped in

trinity challenge using only the new world translation of the holy scriptures -- let us debate and reason on the scriptures about whether god almighty is a trinity, or is only one person.. on another thread, bane said that we know for a fact immediately that nearly all religions other than jehovah's witnesses are false because almost all of them believe in the trinity.

and bane claims he can "out-scripturize" anyone with the help of jehovah.

* the son was praying to the father.

UnDisfellowshipped

Jesus Christ has the same Unchangeable Nature as The Father:

Malachi 3:6: For I am Yahweh, I do not change....

Hebrews 1:12: ... You are the same, and Your years will not fail."

Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

457

TRINITY Challenge for JW's, Unitarians and Anyone Else

by UnDisfellowshipped in

trinity challenge using only the new world translation of the holy scriptures -- let us debate and reason on the scriptures about whether god almighty is a trinity, or is only one person.. on another thread, bane said that we know for a fact immediately that nearly all religions other than jehovah's witnesses are false because almost all of them believe in the trinity.

and bane claims he can "out-scripturize" anyone with the help of jehovah.

* the son was praying to the father.

UnDisfellowshipped

The Bible says that only God Almighty can read human minds and hearts:

1 Kings 8:39: then hear in Heaven Your dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know. For You [Yahweh], You only, know the hearts of all the sons of Adam.

1 Chronicles 28:9: ... Yahweh searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. ...

Jeremiah 17:10: "I Yahweh search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."

The Bible says that Jesus can read human minds and hearts:

Revelation 2:23: ... all the Churches shall know that I [Jesus] am He who searches minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

John 2:24-25: But Jesus did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Luke 5:22: But when Jesus perceived their reasonings, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

Matthew 9:4: But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Matthew 12:25: But Jesus, knowing their thoughts ...

Mark 2:8: And immediately, when Jesus recognized in His spirit that they were reasoning thus among themselves, He said to them, "Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts?

Luke 6:8: But He knew their thoughts ...

John 1:47-51: Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" Nathanael said to Him, "From where do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Most assuredly I say to you, from now on you shall see Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

457

TRINITY Challenge for JW's, Unitarians and Anyone Else

by UnDisfellowshipped in

trinity challenge using only the new world translation of the holy scriptures -- let us debate and reason on the scriptures about whether god almighty is a trinity, or is only one person.. on another thread, bane said that we know for a fact immediately that nearly all religions other than jehovah's witnesses are false because almost all of them believe in the trinity.

and bane claims he can "out-scripturize" anyone with the help of jehovah.

* the son was praying to the father.

UnDisfellowshipped

Notice, God Almighty is The Alpha and The Omega and The Beginning and The End and The First and The Last:

Isaiah 41:4: Who has planned and done it, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, am the First and the Last; I am He.

Isaiah 44:6: So says Yahweh, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer Yahweh of Hosts; I am the First, and I am the Last; and besides Me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:11-12: For My sake, for My sake I will do it; for why should My Name be defiled? And I will not give My glory to another. Listen to Me, O Jacob and Israel, My called; I am He; I am the First, I also am the Last.

Revelation 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "He who is and He who was and He who is to come, The Almighty."

Revelation 21:6-7: And He said to me, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give from the spring of the water of life freely to him that is thirsty. He that overcomes I shall give to him these things, and I shall be God to him, and he shall be to Me a son.

Notice, in the following Verses, Jesus Christ is The Alpha and The Omega, The Beginning and The End, and The First and The Last:

Revelation 1:17-18: And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He put His right hand on me, saying, "Do not fear; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and became dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Death and of Hades.

Revelation 2:8: "And to the angel of the Church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who became dead, and came to life:

Revelation 22:12-13: "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

Revelation 22:16: I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you for the Churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

What does Alpha and Omega mean? What does First and Last mean? How could there be TWO DIFFERENT GODS who were BOTH The First and The Last?

457

TRINITY Challenge for JW's, Unitarians and Anyone Else

by UnDisfellowshipped in

trinity challenge using only the new world translation of the holy scriptures -- let us debate and reason on the scriptures about whether god almighty is a trinity, or is only one person.. on another thread, bane said that we know for a fact immediately that nearly all religions other than jehovah's witnesses are false because almost all of them believe in the trinity.

and bane claims he can "out-scripturize" anyone with the help of jehovah.

* the son was praying to the father.

UnDisfellowshipped

If Jesus Christ is God Almighty, why would He say "The Father is greater than I am"?

When Christ became flesh, He humbled Himself, emptied Himself, and took the position of a human slave, a little lower than the angels. He voluntarily gave up some of His rights, privileges, and glory that He enjoyed in Heaven with His Father. As a Man on earth, Jesus was abused, slandered, mocked, and tortured. He experienced all of the same human limitations and temptations that we face (except without sin).

God the Father, however, remained in Heaven, and did not become a human being, so He never gave up His rights, privileges, or glory. He did not suffer the horrible insults and abusive treatment that His Son experienced on earth. He did not have to suffer and die on the Cross as Jesus did. The Father always kept His exalted, glorious, heavenly position, greater than all else.

That is why Jesus, as a Man on earth, told His disciples that "The Father is greater than I am."

Here is the entire verse in question:

John 14:28 (ESV): You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

I think it is clear that Jesus is telling His disciples they should rejoice because He is about to return to His Father, and thus, He will be returning to His original, glorious position next to His Father in Heaven, greater than anyone or anything else. (Compare John 17:5 and Matthew 28:18)

This same Greek word for "greater" was also used by Jesus in Mark 9:34 and Luke 22:26-27, where it is clear that the word "greater" is referring to positions of authority, NOTnature or essence. So, no matter how you understand John 14:28, there is really no basis whatsoever for claiming that The Father has a better Nature or Essence than Jesus does. This verse will not support that teaching.

Something else to think about: If Jesus was not already on an equal (or almost-equal) level with The Father, why would Jesus have ever needed to say "My Father is greater"? If Jesus was only a human being, it would have been extremely obvious and pointless to say that "God is greater." That would have been like a janitor at a Wal-Mart store saying that "the President of the United States has more authority than I do."

And remember that Jesus, even as a Man, taught that all people should honor Him just as they honor The Father, and that if you have seen Him you have seen The Father. (John 5:23; John 14:9)

Also, even within the Nature of God, there are different "positions" or "ranks" or "roles" for The Father, The Son, and The Spirit. The Father is always described as having the "Head" or "Greater" position, He is always shown as the One who initiates all things and has the final say on all things. However, The Father, The Son, and The Spirit are all equally God in Nature, and deserve to be worshiped equally.

457

TRINITY Challenge for JW's, Unitarians and Anyone Else

by UnDisfellowshipped in

trinity challenge using only the new world translation of the holy scriptures -- let us debate and reason on the scriptures about whether god almighty is a trinity, or is only one person.. on another thread, bane said that we know for a fact immediately that nearly all religions other than jehovah's witnesses are false because almost all of them believe in the trinity.

and bane claims he can "out-scripturize" anyone with the help of jehovah.

* the son was praying to the father.

UnDisfellowshipped

If Jesus Christ is God Almighty, why does John 1:1 (NWT) call Him "a god"?

Nearly all modern Bible translators and Bible scholars do not agree with the rendering "The Word was a god" found at John 1:1 in the New World Translation.

Look carefully at what the following Watchtower publications admit about the true meaning of John 1:1, and how it should be translated (bold, italics, and underlining were added by me):

"Reasoning From the Scriptures," Pages 416-417, says the following about how John 1:1 should be translated:

"In his article "Qualitative Anarthrous Predicate Nouns: Mark 15:39 and John 1:1," Philip B. Harner said that such clauses as the one in John 1:1, "with an anarthrous predicate preceding the verb, are primarily qualitative in meaning. They indicate that the logos has the nature of theos." He suggests: "Perhaps the clause could be translated, ‘the Word had the same nature as God.’" (Journal of Biblical Literature, 1973, pp. 85, 87)"
"The Watchtower" issue of June 1st, 1988, Page 17 says this about John 1:1:
"the second the·os´ is a singular predicate noun occurring before the verb and without the definite article ho in Greek. In this verse, such a sentence construction points to a characteristic or quality of the subject. It highlights the nature of the Word [...]"
"Insight on the Scriptures," Volume 2, Page 54, says the following about John 1:1:
"Philip B. Harner brought out that the grammatical construction in John 1:1 involves an anarthrous predicate, that is, a predicate noun without the definite article "the," preceding the verb, which construction is primarily qualitative in meaning and indicates that "the logos has the nature of theos." He further stated: "In John 1:1 I think that the qualitative force of the predicate is so prominent that the noun [the·os´] cannot be regarded as definite." (Journal of Biblical Literature, 1973, pp. 85, 87) Other translators, also recognizing that the Greek term has qualitative force and describes the nature of the Word, therefore render the phrase: "the Word was divine."—AT; Sd; compare Mo; see NW appendix, p. 1579."
"The Watchtower" issue of August 15th, 1984, Page 30 says this about John 1:1:
"So professor B. F. Westcott hastens to state that the phrase rendered "the Word was God" describes "the nature of the Word and does not identify His Person." Well and good. But this true meaning of the original Greek is certainly not the thought conveyed by most Bibles. Still, some scholars, less supportive of Trinitarian ideas, have translated it "the Word was a divine being" or "the Word was divine." In the Journal of Biblical Literature (Volume 92, 1973), Philip P. Harner writes: "Perhaps the clause could be translated, ‘the Word had the same nature as God.’" "
"The Watchtower" issue of January 15th, 1975, Page 63, has this to say about John 1:1:
"Then, too, in the phrase rendered "the Word was a god," the term "god" is a predicate noun that describes "the Word." Says the noted scholar Westcott, coproducer of the famous Westcott and Hort Greek text of the Christian Scriptures: "It describes the nature of the Word and does not identify His Person." In view of the descriptive nature of the predicate noun for "god" in the original Greek, An American Translation renders John 1:1: "The Word was divine." "

"The Watchtower" issue of March 15th, 1975, Page 174 says this about John 1:1:

"The word "God" in this application to the "Word" simply calls attention to that one’s divine nature" [...]"
"The Watchtower" issue of November 15th, 1975, Page 703 says this about John 1:1:
"Certain scholars have pointed out that anarthrous predicate nouns that precede the verb in Greek may have a qualitative significance. Thatis, they may describe the nature or status of the subject. Thus some translators render John 1:1: "The Logos was divine," (Moffatt); "the Word was divine," (Goodspeed); "the nature of the Word was the same as the nature of God," (Barclay); "the Word was with God and shared his nature," (The Translator’s New Testament)."

So, according to the Watchtower Society, John 1:1 should be translated this way: "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word has the same nature as God," or "the Word shares God's nature."

Isn't that quite a bit different in meaning from the way that John 1:1 is rendered in the New World Translation? When you read "The Word was a god" in the NWT, do you think that it means The Word shares the same exact Nature that God Almighty has? Or, rather, do you think of the Word as a separate, lesser, inferior created god?

Why would the New World Translation translate it as "a god" when their very own publications teach that it should actually be translated a different way? Why would the New World Translation choose to render John 1:1 in a way that actually promotes polytheism, the worship of more than one divine God?

Here is a very serious question for all people who do not believe that Jesus Christ is God:

What does it mean for the Logos ("Word") to share the same exact Nature that God Almighty has? God, in His Nature, is Eternal, Immortal, and Almighty. How can He share in that same Nature and still not be Almighty, Eternal, or Immortal?

In addition, there are many other things to consider about the correct way of translating John 1:1, such as "Colwell's Rule." I highly recommend that you do your own research into John 1:1, examine what the Greek experts have to say, and then come to your own conclusions based on the facts, reasoning, and logic.