How many God's?

[Paul.]

I understand that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jehovah is God, creator of everything.

Does this mean Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jehovah is the only true God and everything else referred to as a god is a false god, or can there be other things or beings that are a god but not a false god?

 

[The Gregorian]

The short answer:

For even though there are those who are called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” 6[wash my mouth]there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him.

... you may also be referring to a question on the NWT's translation of John 1:1c referring to the word as "a god." Many people suggest that because there is only one true God that referring to Jesus as "a god" would imply that Jesus is a "false god" or a "demigod"... however, that's not the intention of the translation. For clarification on the NWT's reasoning, the NWT includes a set of references in the back to address common questions. Appendix 6A deals with the reasoning for the rendition of Jesus as "a god". After a list of a dozen or so other translations which translate 1:1c as either "a god" "divine" or "godlike" it continues:

These translations use such words as “a god,” “divine” or “godlike” because the Greek word θεός (the‧os&#8242 is a singular predicate noun occurring before the verb and is not preceded by the definite article. This is an anarthrous the‧os′. The God with whom the Word, or Logos, was originally is designated here by the Greek expression ὁ θεός, that is, the‧os′ preceded by the definite article ho. This is an articular the‧os′. Careful translators recognize that the articular construction of the noun points to an identity, a personality, whereas a singular anarthrous predicate noun preceding the verb points to a quality about someone. Therefore, John’s statement that the Word or Logos was “a god” or “divine” or “godlike” does not mean that he was the God with whom he was. It merely expresses a certain quality about the Word, or Logos, but it does not identify him as one and the same as God himself.
In the Greek text there are many cases of a singular anarthrous predicate noun preceding the verb, such as in Mr 6:49; 11:32; Joh 4:19; 6:70; 8:44; 9:17; 10:1, 13, 33; 12:6. In these places translators insert the indefinite article “a” before the predicate noun in order to bring out the quality or characteristic of the subject. Since the indefinite article is inserted before the predicate noun in such texts, with equal justification the indefinite article “a” is inserted before the anarthrous θεός in the predicate of John 1:1 to make it read “a god.” The Sacred Scriptures confirm the correctness of this rendering.
In his article “Qualitative Anarthrous Predicate Nouns: Mark 15:39 and John 1:1,” published in Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 92, Philadelphia, 1973, p.[wash my mouth]85, Philip B. Harner said that such clauses as the one in Joh 1:1, “with an anarthrous predicate preceding the verb, are primarily qualitative in meaning. They indicate that the logos has the nature of theos. There is no basis for regarding the predicate theos as definite.” On p.[wash my mouth]87 of his article, Harner concluded: “In John 1:1 I think that the qualitative force of the predicate is so prominent that the noun cannot be regarded as definite.”

... No, there isn't a "pantheon of gods" ... no we're not polytheistic, nor do we believe that Jesus is a "lesser god" or "demigod" ... He is a heavenly being that is qualitatively like his father (divine) without actually BEING his father (THE divine one).

... that help at all?

 

[Paul.]

Thanks Gregorian, it was very helpful.

I was after some more information about the comments you made.

For clarification on the NWT's reasoning, the NWT includes a set of references in the back to address common questions. Appendix 6A deals with the reasoning for the rendition of Jesus as "a god".

I chased up a copy of the NWT but it doesn’t have the appendix you mentioned. I checked the front for a publication date but there wasn’t one. It does however refer to the fact that the NWT has had two print runs. You may have a copy that was printed later and has had more appendices added. Are you able to give me more info on which print run your version comes from and would you mind listing the

dozen or so other translations which translate 1:1c as either "a god" "divine" or "godlike"

 

[The Gregorian]

Thanks Gregorian, it was very helpful.

I was after some more information about the comments you made.



I chased up a copy of the NWT but it doesn’t have the appendix you mentioned. I checked the front for a publication date but there wasn’t one. It does however refer to the fact that the NWT has had two print runs. You may have a copy that was printed later and has had more appendices added. Are you able to give me more info on which print run your version comes from and would you mind listing the

Indeed. I'm using what we call the "reference bible." It's still the NWT so the text is the same, but there's a lot more cross-references, footnotes, and appendices. If you ask for a "big ugly brown one" they'll get you one if you like.

The normal sized bible (usually black or red) still has 4 smaller articles and some maps of the areas talked about in the bible.

If you want your own reference bible (or any other JW material) just let me know. If you PM me the city you're in and maybe a phone number I can get ahold of the closest hall to you, call 'em up and ask them to deliver you one.


Why?

Cuz I'm awesome.

 

[Paul.]

Thank you for your offer, if I need too, I will certainly take you up on it.

I was interested in finding out the list of the

dozen or so other translations which translate 1:1c as either "a god" "divine" or "godlike"

I am able to chase it up myself but thought it may be quicker if you were able to provide the list yourself. If you are able to provide the info I would appreciate it. I also wondered about this sentence

He is a heavenly being that is qualitatively like his father (divine) without actually BEING his father (THE divine one).

What do you understand the term divine to mean and are there any other heavenly beings that are divine?