Bible resource
John 1:1 and Jehovah's Witnesses: Was the Word “a god”?
John 1:1 is one of the most discussed verses in conversations with Jehovah's Witnesses. Their New World Translation renders it “the Word was a god,” while standard translations read “the Word was God.” The difference shapes everything about who Jesus is.
The translation difference
The New World Translation renders John 1:1 as “the Word was a god,” teaching that Jesus is a lesser, created god — separate from and inferior to Jehovah. Most translations read “the Word was God,” identifying Jesus with the one God.
Reading John 1:1 in context
John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him.”
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
John 20:28 “Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
John 8:58 “Before Abraham was, I am.”
Verse 1 must be read with verses 2 and 3: the Word was “with God” (a distinct person) and “all things were made through him.” A maker of all things cannot be one of the things made. The Greek grammar — the predicate noun “God” placed before the verb without the article — stresses that the Word shares the very nature of God, not that He is a lesser god.
A question to ask at the door
“If ‘the Word was a god’ means Jesus is a lesser god, doesn't that give you two Gods? And how do you reconcile John 20:28, where Thomas calls Jesus ‘my God’ and Jesus accepts it?”
Go deeper
For the full interactive guide with “Their View,” “Biblical View,” and Greek word notes, see Is Jesus God?. You may also find our page on the New World Translation helpful.