Numerous References to Jesus as ‘a god’

within Earlier Watchtower Publications

Was God -- Not contradicting the previous statement, but the distinction is considerably lost in the
translation. The Greek article does not appear before the word translated God, and hence the thought
in the statement is a god, as in contrast with the previous statement, the God. R3474:5

Accurately translated, it reads, the Logos was a god. R5352:1, 5768:1, 5748:1, 5352:1, 4964:3;
CR195:6

Although the KJV is not a bad translation, it fails to give to the English reading the force and
significance of the Greek--"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the
Word was a god; the same was in the beginning with the God." E86; R4107:1 3474:6, 1514:3;
HG661:6; OV114:3; PD54/67; SM497:3, 491:1; NS255:6

We do not claim originality as to the proper translation of this verse. Our attention was called to it
by the Diaglott, an interlinary word-for-word Greek and English New Testament in general use and
of high repute. R3076:2

In the Diaglott, "the" represents the article in the Greek text, while "a" shows that the article is
lacking. R1514:3

A God, a mighty one, superior to the angels. R4165:3

This translation can be verified by consulting any Greek Testament or any Greek scholar. R1514:3,
2408:5

"To us there is but one God" (1 Cor. 8:6) is not out of accord with the record that Jesus was a god
with the God, because the name Jehovah was never permitted to any but the Father supreme, while
the title "God" (Hebrew, elohim) might be applied to any mighty one in authority and power,
Jehovah himself being superior to all elohim. NS255:6

The word god signifies mighty one, and is used not only respecting the Father, but also the Son, and
also in reference to angels, and in one instance to men, influential men, the 70 elders of Israel whom
Moses appointed. R3474:6

"God" is a translation of each of four Hebrew words--el, elah, elohim and adonai, all signifying the
mighty, or great. It is a general name. R338:2; SM497:1

With the proper conception of the meaning of the word God, as used in the Scriptures, namely, a
mighty, a powerful being, we see the propriety of applying the name to the Logos. R1060:4

He is distinctly shown to be the Son and not the Father--to be a God and not the God. R5352:1

While the Father was the God above all others, the Son, the Logos, was a God above all others, next
to the Father but subservient to the Father. R3861:5

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This subservience and dependence upon the Father was true of our Lord not only while he was in
the flesh and before he was made flesh, but is distinctly asserted of him since his resurrection. (1
Cor. 15:28) R3861:5

The word god signifies mighty one; but there is only one God whose name is the Almighty. R5352:1

Our Lord Jesus is a mighty one, a great one amongst the mighty ones, and as our Lord himself
declares, all should "honor the Son even as they honor the Father." (John 5:22) R2726:1

"All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." (John 5:23) They should not honor
the Son instead of the Father, however. SM498:2

SYMBOLS USED DENOTING PAGE AREAS

A - Scripture Studies, Volume 1 - The Divine
Plan of the Ages
B - Scripture Studies, Volume 2 - The Time
is at Hand
C - Scripture Studies, Volume 3 - Thy
Kingdom Come
D - Scripture Studies, Volume 4 - The Battle
of Armageddon
E - Scripture Studies, Volume 5 - The
Atonement Between God and Man
F - Scripture Studies, Volume 6 - The New
Creation
R - Watch Tower Reprints
Q - Question Book (What Pastor Russell
Said)
T - Tabernacle Shadows
CR - Convention Report Sermons
HG - Harvest Gleanings, Vol. 1
NS - Newspaper Sermons (Harvest
Gleanings, Vol. 2)
OV - Overland Monthly (What Pastor Russell
Wrote)
PD - Photo Drama of Creation
PT - What Pastor Russell Taught
SM - Sermon Book
:1- 6 Section of Page as per Chart Herewith
(Used for Reprints, Convention Report
Sermons, Harvest Gleanings, Newspaper
Sermons)
:1- 9 Paragraph Numbers (Used for all other
books, except Scripture Studies, where only a
page number is given)
:T Referring to portion of paragraph at top of
page, carried over from preceding page
:I- x Referring to page numbers of forewords
in Six Volumes of Scripture Studies
* Referring to quotations from articles not
written by Pastor Russell
- "To," Used where a reference covers
multiple sections or pages
/ Separating page numbers of Old and New
Editions of Photo Drama of Creation
Italics Generally used to denote Hebrew
and Greek words

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