We are all Trinitarians here, united in our love for the Lord and in our joy to praise His name. We find delight in the scriptures, especially when the apostles bear witness to the deity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, teaching us that He is indeed God incarnate, and we rejoice. However, there are some who claim that our English Bible translations exhibit bias in certain passages. I would like to enumerate these passages, the so-called "proof texts."
It is evident that the ESV consistently opts for Trinitarian translations, the ASV often selects them, whereas the NWT invariably avoids interpretations that could be perceived as attributing divinity to Jesus. It might be argued that the ESV exhibits a bias towards evangelical doctrine, the ASV maintains a more balanced approach, and the NWT displays a pronounced bias in favor of Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings.
| Passage | ESV (evangelical protestant) | ASV (protestant) | NWT (Jehovah's witnesses) |
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. |
| John 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. | No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. | No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom [position] with the Father is the one that has explained him. |
| John 20:28 | Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" | Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. | In answer Thomas said to him: "My Lord and my God!" |
| Acts 20:28 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. | Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. | Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed YOU overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son]. |
| Romans 9:5 | To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. | whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. | to whom the forefathers belong and from whom the Christ [sprang] according to the flesh: God, who is over all, [be] blessed forever. Amen. |
| Colossians 1:16-19 | 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, | 16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; (17) and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (19) For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; | 16 because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist, 18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he might become the one who is first in all things; 19 because [God] saw good for all fullness to dwell in him, |
| Titus 2:13 | waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, | looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; | while we wait for the happy hope and glorious manifestation of the great God and of [the] Saviour of us, Christ Jesus, |
| 2Peter 1:1 | Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: | Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ: | Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith, held in equal privilege with ours, by the righteousness of our God and [the] Saviour Jesus Christ: |
| Rev 1:8 | "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." | I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. | "I am the Al'pha and the Ome'ga," says Jehovah God, "the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty." |
