Official source
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Official Jehovah's Witnesses Bible translation available on JW.org.
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, JW.org, accessed June 16, 2026.
Open sourceObjection
John 1:1 Says a god
John 1:1 should say the Word was a god, not that the Word was God.
John distinguishes the Word from God and identifies the Word as God; the rest of John's Gospel confirms that Jesus receives divine confession rather than creaturely honor.
Do not isolate the clause
The opening line of John says the Word was with God and the Word was God. John then unfolds that claim through Jesus' works, words, resurrection, and Thomas's confession.
Avoid creating a lesser god
Rendering the Word as a separate lesser god creates tension with biblical monotheism. John's distinction between the Word and God is not permission to place Jesus among created gods.
Sources
Official source
Should You Believe in the Trinity?
Official Watch Tower brochure arguing against the Trinity.
Should You Believe in the Trinity?, JW.org, accessed June 16, 2026.
Open sourceReference
BibleRef
Reference pages used for BibleRef-first links to Scripture passages.
BibleRef, accessed June 16, 2026.
Open sourceSecondary context
Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of John
Christian apologetics source on Jehovah's Witness Christology and John.
Robert M. Bowman Jr., Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of John, Baker Book House, 1989.