Colossians 1:16

Colossians 1:16 - Jesus created all things

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Colossians 1:16

Colossians 1:16The 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).

Colossians 1:16 All Things

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:

How to witness to Jehovah's Witnesses

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

All "the" trees - Luke 21:29

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.