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Was the Word “God” or “a god”?
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THE WATCHTOWER NOVEMBER 2008
Was the Word “God” or “a god”?

00:0003:25
THAT question has to be considered when Bible translators handle the first verse of the Gospel of John. In the New World Translation, the verse is rendered: “In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” (John 1:1) Some other translations render the last part of the verse to convey the thought that the Word was “divine,” or something similar. (A New Translation of the Bible, by James Moffatt; The New English Bible) Many translations, however, render the last part of John 1:1: “And the Word was God.”—The Holy Bible—New International Version; The Jerusalem Bible.

Greek grammar and the context strongly indicate that the New World Translation rendering is correct and that “the Word” should not be identified as the “God” referred to earlier in the verse. Nevertheless, the fact that the Greek language of the first century did not have an indefinite article (“a” or “an”) leaves the matter open to question in some minds. It is for this reason that a Bible translation in a language that was spoken in the earliest centuries of our Common Era is very interesting.

The language is the Sahidic dialect of Coptic. The Coptic language was spoken in Egypt in the centuries immediately following Jesus’ earthly ministry, and the Sahidic dialect was an early literary form of the language. Regarding the earliest Coptic translations of the Bible, The Anchor Bible Dictionary says: “Since the [Septuagint] and the [Christian Greek Scriptures] were being translated into Coptic during the 3d century C.E., the Coptic version is based on [Greek manuscripts] which are significantly older than the vast majority of extant witnesses.”

The Sahidic Coptic text is especially interesting for two reasons. First, as indicated above, it reflects an understanding of Scripture dating from before the fourth century, which was when the Trinity became official doctrine. Second, Coptic grammar is relatively close to English grammar in one important aspect. The earliest translations of the Christian Greek Scriptures were into Syriac, Latin, and Coptic. Syriac and Latin, like the Greek of those days, do not have an indefinite article. Coptic, however, does. Moreover, scholar Thomas O. Lambdin, in his work Introduction to Sahidic Coptic, says: “The use of the Coptic articles, both definite and indefinite, corresponds closely to the use of the articles in English.”

Hence, the Coptic translation supplies interesting evidence as to how John 1:1 would have been understood back then. What do we find? The Sahidic Coptic translation uses an indefinite article with the word “god” in the final part of John 1:1. Thus, when rendered into modern English, the translation reads: “And the Word was a god.” Evidently, those ancient translators realized that John’s words recorded at John 1:1 did not mean that Jesus was to be identified as Almighty God. The Word was a god, not Almighty God.

Jesus never claimed to be on the same level as Almighty God. He said: “The Father is greater than I am.”—John 14:28.

Jesus’ early followers did not view him as being equal to Almighty God. For example, the apostle Paul wrote that after Jesus was resurrected, God “exalted him [Jesus] to a superior position.” Obviously, Paul did not believe that Jesus was Almighty God. Otherwise, how could God exalt Jesus to a superior position? —Philippians 2:9.

rhektor:
If you have their back up notes towards that effect please share it here if not don't ascribe any thing to jw let jw make their case

Hi serious marketers of plantain

I have 100 big plantain ready for harvesting at ijebujesa osun state

Serious buyer can contact

Labake on 08060559832
Thanks

Buy & Drive

I can be your partner , I develop website fully but am not app developer, am base in osun state

Whatapp: 08052940665

In 1987, Lyman Swingle, a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, spoke to 63,580 people gathered in the Plaza Monumental bullring in Valencia, Venezuela. Many had traveled by bus all night to hear him. Addressing the large crowd, Brother Swingle said: “You are no longer a small branch. Now you are a medium-size branch. And by the looks of it, some day soon you will be in the ‘100,000-publishers club’!”

Back in 1987, Venezuela had over 38,000 publishers—Jehovah’s Witnesses who were active proclaimers of the good news of the Kingdom. At that time, only eight countries had more than 100,000 publishers.

The worldwide growth of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been impressive. Following World War I, only a few thousand were publicly announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. That changed. The 1943 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses stated: “The combined report for 1942, though incomplete, due to lack of communications, is a blessed one . . . , for it shows that throughout all the world there are now upward of 106,000 publishers reporting as engaging in the work [of preaching the good news].” Even amid the turmoil of World War II, many people responded positively to Bible truth. In 1950, the United States alone surpassed 100,000 publishers.

The next country to reach 100,000 publishers was Nigeria in 1974.

The following year the number of publishers in both Brazil and Germany surpassed 100,000. Such growth on four continents testified to the universal appeal of Bible truth.

Throughout the earth, the numbers of those who embraced the good news continued to grow. This was in harmony with what the Bible foretold: “The little one will become a thousand and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, will speed it up in its own time.”—Isaiah 60:22.

According to the report for the 2014 service year, there are 24 countries with more than 100,000 Witnesses each. That includes Venezuela, which reached that milestone in 2007. Worldwide, there are 115,416 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses and 8,201,545 publishers

Source ~ https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/ministry/how-many-jehovahs-witnesses-2014/

It's buy n drive not die, stop saying negative here, you having interest not must. Others will have

Still available, buy n drive

Get your hand on best recovery robot in the world, its 199usd but you can pay naira #20k


https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/7562#

check it out, its has work well with xm micro account with minimum of 100usd

contact
08132562470
08052940665

skype: jossytech
email: jossytech4u@gmail.com

Engrr:
After looking well, am still seeing 2003 Toyota Camry and NOT 2005

Alright, as your lordship pleases

tempex88:
This is not 2005

oga look well

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/camry/2005/

Neatly used and banker 2005 Toyota Camry (big daddy) for sales
Reason: wanna upgrade to RS 350
In perfectly good condition, no issue, buy n drive

Contact 08132562470
08052940665( whatsapp)
Price: #1,050,000 ( slightly negotiable)
Available for inspection by serious buyer
Location: Osogbo, Osun State

Need in Osun

agbajesaid:
please elaborate. Price for buying and price for leasing for a year in both town. Thanks

@ Ikire #70k per acre, no lease or rent

Pictures, website and how i will get 2 can in osun state please, thanks

I need in osun state, 2 can, and can I use it on plantain nd maize, thanks and please show us some pics and now effective it is

Thanks

At ikire and iwo osun state

If #20b is budget for graduate is dat bad, and tht will be #40k per month and 13,888 individual each state, d govt just like using pls like slave treating nigerians like goat you feed today ans sell tommorow in market, esp d so called graduate, road side mechanic better em and Instead of em to say no n demand what u deserve, Em go quickly rush am like hungary kid rushing indomie
Here is the analysis
#20b÷500k=40k for each graduate, #240b a year for our teaming youth annually is not bad at all, our annual budget is #6trillion right men, where dose trillion go enter only God knows coz, 360 members of national assembly gulp #150b annually, #240b for 500,000 Nigerian Youth & Graduate not bad at all beside, d fund will also help their immediate families if not extended as well as friends. God help Nigerian hardworking Youth and may He bless em

I need neat 32' led with USB support to play mp4 video, I will like something with good speaker that can reach 120 seater audience

Thanks

Whatsapp me on 08052940665

How much are u paying

Clean & Neat Samsung led TV with USB, HDMI, av output (black) is available for sale and in good working condition with its remote
Price: #69,000
Location: Osogbo osun State
Contact: 08132562470
Whatsapp: 08052940665

Wifi only or wifi + cellular

This is it, just took the pics now

pls connect me on whatsapp i can send there, not on my system

Awon ole wolu, e kaabo

A 21 inches Samsung 21 inches for sale, neat and in good working condition, 2 av and 2 anterna port with its remote
Price 17900
Phone: 08052940665( whatsapp)
08132562470

UK used or us used or Nigeria used, what is its spec, full details

Here is my data line: 08052940665. Glo data is scam

Glo has started to their fraudulence data charges, I have active plan of 5G and as at 15th of may it remain 2.9G, there it's was later that day rain fell and no light until yesterday when I waa able to raise #450 to buy 3 litre fuel, it was then am able to charge my laptop and smart phone, I'm using Nokia 101 for 5 days, as on my phone on 19 SMS came in that my plan remain 1G, how does 1.9G disappear when my phone was on, I asked em to return my data back and all they said was sorry for inconvenience and offer their insincere apology, but I don't want that but my data back, Glo can't spell out how 2.9g remain 1g on darkness

Please stay away from Glo data plan, am going back to my airtel, they just cheating and extortion in the name of big data offer

Inisa side u shud see

Na wah, lack of knowledge is really a problem, when you dont understand how system works, then you call it fraud, what is been done globally, the process of funding and withdrawal goes thru global banking system, its fraud, i started trading back in 2007 learning and still doing it today most of my asset come from it and i never defraud anyone, in fact raise more life with training and offers, study the system, know when to trade and when not to, dont be greedy, chose your broker (business partner) wisely and you are good to go, if forex shut down, your banking system is over.

Hi all

I greet and salute all the farmers here, esp Plantain farmer in Osun State, please can we please drop our line, we need for a serious association, i also has 2 acre of of plantain containing 2601 plantain stands and have strike a deal with major marketer and company in lagos to buy our products without hassle but we must be in group or association to have a say and price control

Please let gather together

Together to greater height

Mr Joshua Ibiyemi

08132562470
08052940665