Verified answer

Yes, they admit that there is only one true God and other gods are false gods, but when we point to them that when they believe Jehovah is the one true God, then Jesus must be a false god..then they say no. They are so confused

It is a known fact that NWT translators did not have any formal training in Biblical languages

If you are a member of an evangelical church, you're going to run up against lots of things that you'll disagree on. I'm not surprised that your discussions wind up as heated. JWs do not enter into dialogue. They have no interest in learning about what they see as false belief. That's why you're getting the WTBS tracts & pamphlets. If you are truly interested in JW beliefs, and wish to continue talking to family members, read the pamphlets and look at their website. Try to be as objective as you can and deflect any hostilities. You would probably get the same responses from ANY Jehovah's Witness. It's important to know your own theology. Things that sound good on the surface can be looked at with a little more depth that way. The verses they provide about blood transfusions, for instance, need to be looked at in the light of what was really intended by the biblical authors. Again, look at it objectively. Yes, the verses quoted can be looked at in a JW light. They will show you black-and-white proof, and make no exceptions to the verse. But is taking in blood intravenously in order to save a life, the same as the intent of the verse in Acts, i.e. a blanket statement that includes the medical world, equating it to entertainment or as devotion to idols? You'll have to make your own call on this. Hopefully you're just trying to understand JW beliefs, and you're taking the "high road" with your questions. I haven't seen JWs reciprocate in that effort. Keep asking, keep trying to understand.

This is what Greek Scholars say about the New World Translation:

Dr. Bruce M. Metzger, professor of New Testament at Princeton University, calls the NWT "a frightful mistranslation," "Erroneous" and "pernicious" "reprehensible" "If the Jehovah's Witnesses take this translation seriously, they are polytheists."

(Professor of New Testament Language and Literature)

Dr. William Barclay, a leading Greek scholar, said "it is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest."

Dr. Julius Mantey , author of A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament, calls the NWT "a shocking mistranslation." "Obsolete and incorrect." "It is neither scholarly nor reasonable to translate John 1:1 "The Word was a god.'"

How could their be one true, almighty, everlasting GOD - who JW's call "Jehovah," and also a lesser G-d who is "a" G-d, and a "mighty" G-d, but not Almighty G-d.

How is this "other" being even a G-d at all ? If he get's his powers and godly attributes from the almighty, everlasting God, then he's not a G-d at all, but a false G-d - a creation. To be a "god" would by definition denote a certain autonomy.

Do they (JW's) say there are any OTHER beings out there in the cosmos who have some G-dness, but are not the one supreme, almighty, true and everlasting God ?

This is probably the witnesses most precious doctrine. The rulers in NY drill it into their heads from day one and never let up on it. Sadly, it is the one doctrine that will condem them. Once your eyes are opened to who Jesus really is you see it everywhere when you read the bible. It is crystal clear. Here is just one example:

Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psa 36:7 How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Psa 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.

And here is what Jesus said:

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!

It is so obvious, Jesus is God! It is not hard to see it, but satan blinds the eyes of the unbelievers

2Cr 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The NWT is NOT a Holy Bible - it's a man made book! - which isn't the truth! - and sadly misleads people!!

If you look up www.biblegateway.com you will find a selection of translations of the Holy Bible - the NWT is NOT among them - it's only for JW's....

I'm in agreement with Schneb, great answer as always : )

and RGrz

This would be a correct assumption. Adding the "a" makes Jehovah Witness religion Henotheist, not monotheistic.

So, if Jesus is "a" god and not Jehovah God... should He be worshiped?

Pre-1950, Jehovah Witnesses instructed that Jesus was worthy of worship...

"Jehovah God commands all to worship Christ Jesus because Christ Jesus is the express image of his Father, Jehovah, and because he is the Executive Officer of Jehovah always carrying out Jehovah's purpose (Heb.:3-6)." - Watchtower 1939 Nov. 15 p.339

"The people of all nations who obtain salvation must come to the house of the Lord to worship there; that is to say, they must believe on and worship Jehovah God and the Lord Jesus Christ, his chief instrument (Philippians 2:10, 11)." Salvation p.151

Since Jehovah God now reigns as King by means of his capital organization Zion, then whosoever would worship Him must also worship and bow down to Jehovah's Chief One in that capital organization, namely, Christ Jesus, his Co-regent on the throne of The Theocracy." Watchtower 1945 Oct. 15 p.313

Post-1950, Jehovah Witnesses changed this fundamental doctrine 180 degrees...

"Trinitarians who believe that Jesus is God, or at least the second person of the triune God, do not like to have Jehovah's witnesses say that it is unscriptural for worshipers of the living and true God to render worship to the Son of God, Jesus Christ" Watchtower 1964 Nov. 1 p.671

"Reverent adoration should be expressed only to God. To render worship to anyone or anything else would be a form of idolatry, which is condemned in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. …. Accordingly, true Christians do well to direct their worship only to Jehovah God, the Almighty." Awake! 2000 Apr. 8 pp.26,27

The following source is from watchtower and there you will see that the Questioner has not misinterpreted the translation at all, it does indeed include "a".

Presumably I have the right bit of this thing (there are lots of Jo* chapters).

you are correct, how ever the scripture has been changed so many times that you don't know who god is, i think some people want to confuse others by changing scriptures.

TRUE translations of John 1:1 say, "...and the word WAS God."

Not "a" god.

Jesus is not a false god.