# How Reliable Is the New World Translation? > Jehovah’s Witnesses present the New World Translation as a clear, faithful Bible. Its own study notes show where the English was chosen to fit the Society’s teaching. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/how-reliable-is-the-new-world-translation - Religions: Jehovah's Witnesses - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: jehovahs-witnesses, scripture, nwt - Updated: 2026-10-08 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) > A translation can be clear and still be steered. The places to test are the places where the Study Edition tells you, in its own words, why the English says what it says. ## The question Jehovah’s Witnesses say the New World Translation is a faithful Bible, and that where it differs from older English versions it is only clearer. Christians answer by reading the Society’s study notes beside the Greek text those notes describe, and beside the King James Version of the same paragraphs. This page does not say the whole translation is useless. Many verses are ordinary English of the same underlying text. Reliability is tested where the wording changes a claim about who Jesus is, and where the note explains the change. Five passages are enough to see the pattern. Each one has a longer article when the passage is doing more than illustrating the translation. ## What the Study Edition says it is doing The 2013 Study Edition prints the New World Translation with notes. The notes are the Society’s account of its own choices. They should be quoted, not summarized into a motive the page does not state. Where a note says the literal Greek would mislead, or that manuscripts differ, that sentence is the evidence. ### [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) [(9)](#ref-9), in the King James Version: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The [New World Translation of John 1:1](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/1/#v43001001) [(1)](#ref-1): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” The study note on that clause [(2)](#ref-2): > the Word was a god: Or “the Word was divine [or, “a godlike one”].” This statement by John describes a quality or characteristic of “the Word” (Greek, ho loʹgos; see study note on the Word in this verse), that is, Jesus Christ. The Word’s preeminent position as the firstborn Son of God through whom God created all other things is a basis for describing him as “a god; a godlike one; divine; a divine being.” Many translators favor the rendering “the Word was God,” equating him with God Almighty. However, there are good reasons for saying that John did not mean that “the Word” was the same as Almighty God. The note says many translators render “the Word was God,” and it gives the Society’s reasons for refusing that equation. The indefinite article “a” is the English result. [John 1 and the Word](/jehovahs-witnesses/john-1-and-the-word) answers the reasons. The point here is narrower. The note does not claim the Greek sentence contains the word “a.” It claims the grammar describes a quality, and that identifying the Word with Almighty God would disagree with the Society’s reading of the rest of the Bible. Thomas’s sentence in the same Gospel is still [John 20:28](/bible/john/20/28): “My Lord and my God.” ### [Colossians 1:16](/bible/colossians/1/16) [Colossians 1:16](/bible/colossians/1/16) [(10)](#ref-10): “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” The [New World Translation of Colossians 1:16](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/colossians/1/#v51001016) [(3)](#ref-3) reads: “because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him.” The study note [(4)](#ref-4) says why “other” is there: > all other things: A literal rendering of the Greek text would be “all things.” (Compare Kingdom Interlinear.) However, such a rendering could give the impression that Jesus was not created but was the Creator himself. And that idea would not agree with the rest of the Bible, including the preceding verse, which calls Jesus “the firstborn of all creation.” The note says the literal Greek is “all things.” It says “other” was added because the literal rendering could give the impression that Jesus is the Creator, and because that impression would not agree with the Society’s reading of “firstborn.” The Kingdom Interlinear is the Society’s own Greek-English line, and the note tells the reader to compare it. [Is Jesus the Creator or a creature?](/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-the-creator-or-a-creature) and [What does “firstborn of all creation” mean?](/jehovahs-witnesses/what-does-firstborn-of-all-creation-mean) stay with that argument. For the translation, the admission is enough: the word that keeps the Son on the created side of the line is an English word the note does not claim is in the Greek. ### [Acts 7:59–60](/bible/acts/7) [Acts 7:59–60](/bible/acts/7) [(11)](#ref-11), in the King James Version: “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” The [New World Translation of Acts 7:59–60](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/acts/7/#v44007059-v44007060) [(5)](#ref-5): > [59] As they were stoning Stephen, he made this appeal: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] Then, kneeling down, he cried out with a strong voice: “Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.” And after saying this, he fell asleep in death. Verse 59 keeps “Lord Jesus.” Verse 60 prints “Jehovah.” The study note on verse 60 [(6)](#ref-6): > Jehovah: Available Greek manuscripts use the term “Lord” (Kyʹri·os) here. In the Christian Greek Scriptures, this title often refers to Jehovah God or to Jesus Christ, depending on the context. In this case, the reference is apparently to Jehovah God for the following reasons: The note says the Greek manuscripts have “Lord,” not the divine name. “Jehovah” is an interpretation of which Lord is meant. [Does “Jehovah” belong in the New Testament?](/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) takes the reasons the note then gives. The translation fact is the one the note states first. No Greek manuscript of this verse prints the name the English prints. ### [John 14:14](/bible/john/14/14) Not every difference is a case of the same kind. [John 14:14](/bible/john/14/14) [(9)](#ref-9), in the King James Version: “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” The [New World Translation of John 14:14](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/14/#v43014014) [(7)](#ref-7): “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” The King James Version does not say “ask me” either. The study note [(7)](#ref-7): > ask: This reading is supported by some ancient manuscripts and agrees with the wording at Joh 15:16 and 16:23. Other ancient manuscripts read: “ask me.” The note tells the truth about the copies. Some read “ask,” and some read “ask me.” The New World Translation follows the shorter reading, and so does the King James Version. A Christian who prefers a modern edition that prints “ask me” is choosing the other set of manuscripts the note already names. That is a textual question. It is not the same thing as inserting “other” where the note says the Greek says “all things,” or printing “Jehovah” where the note says the manuscripts say “Lord.” Fair criticism does not treat every variant as a trick. ### [Hebrews 1:6](/bible/hebrews/1/6) [Hebrews 1:6](/bible/hebrews/1/6) [(12)](#ref-12): “And let all the angels of God worship him.” The [New World Translation of Hebrews 1:6](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/hebrews/1/#v58001006) [(8)](#ref-8): “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.” The study note [(8)](#ref-8): > do obeisance to him: Or “bow down to him,” that is, to Jesus. God has exalted Jesus to a position second only to that of the Most High. The Greek verb is the verb the New World Translation renders “worship” when the object is Jehovah and “do obeisance” when the object is Jesus. The note explains the choice as a matter of rank: Jesus is second, so the act is homage, not the worship due to the Most High. [Should Jesus be worshipped?](/jehovahs-witnesses/should-jesus-be-worshipped) reads [Hebrews 1:6](/bible/hebrews/1/6) with [Revelation 5](/bible/revelation/5). The translation point is that one Greek verb is being divided into two English ideas according to who receives the act. ## How to read a difference Put three lines in a row: the King James sentence, the New World Translation sentence, and the study note. Ask what the note says is in the Greek, and what it says would be the wrong impression if the English followed that Greek. In [Colossians 1:16](/bible/colossians/1/16) the note answers both questions. The literal rendering is “all things.” That rendering is refused because it could make Jesus the Creator. In [Acts 7:60](/bible/acts/7/60) the note says the manuscripts have “Lord,” and the English has “Jehovah” because the translators judge which person “Lord” names. In [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) the note says many translators equate the Word with God Almighty, and the Society does not. Those are not hidden changes. The Study Edition publishes them. A reader can be grateful for the candor and still decline the result. Candor about a choice is not the same as the choice being required by the Greek. Where the note’s reason is “otherwise Jesus would be the Creator” or “otherwise he would be God Almighty,” the doctrine is doing the work the note assigns to it. The articles linked above argue the doctrine from the passages. This page only asks the translation to say, in the English, what the note says the Greek says. [John 14:14](/bible/john/14/14) is the control. The note reports a real split in the manuscripts, and the King James Version stands with the New World Translation. A difference of that kind should be described as a difference of copies. The other four should not be folded into it. ## Common objections **Every translation interprets. The King James Version adds words too.** Translators do supply English words, and the King James printers marked some of them in italics. The test is not whether any English word lacks a single Greek token. The test is whether the added word changes who Jesus is, and whether the translator tells you the Greek says otherwise. “Other” in [Colossians 1:16](/bible/colossians/1/16) is that kind of word. The Society’s note says so. **The Kingdom Interlinear shows the Greek, so nothing is hidden.** The note on [Colossians 1:16](/bible/colossians/1/16) tells the reader to compare the Kingdom Interlinear, and it says a literal rendering would be “all things.” Publishing the Greek beside an English line that says “all other things” lets a reader see the addition. It does not make the addition part of the Greek. The interlinear is why the note can be checked. It is not a reason to stop at the English. **“Jehovah” only restores a name the copyists removed.** The note on [Acts 7:60](/bible/acts/7/60) does not say a Greek manuscript of this verse has the divine name and that the New World Translation is restoring those letters. It says the available Greek manuscripts use “Lord,” and it gives reasons for taking that Lord to be Jehovah rather than Jesus. [Does “Jehovah” belong in the New Testament?](/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) is that argument. Restoration would be a manuscript. This is a judgment about a title. **[John 14:14](/bible/john/14/14) proves critics are inconsistent.** It proves the opposite if the critic pretends every New World Translation choice is the same. Here the Society’s note and the King James Version agree on the shorter reading, and the note names the longer one. Use that passage as the model of a real variant. Then read [Colossians 1:16](/bible/colossians/1/16) again. ## Keep reading - [John 1 and the Word](/jehovahs-witnesses/john-1-and-the-word) - [Is Jesus the Creator or a creature?](/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-the-creator-or-a-creature) - [Does “Jehovah” belong in the New Testament?](/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) - [Should Jesus be worshipped?](/jehovahs-witnesses/should-jesus-be-worshipped) - [Does the Trinity depend on 1 John 5:7?](/article/does-the-trinity-depend-on-1-john-5-7) ## Passages quoted on this page ### John 20:28 King James Version. > And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. ### Colossians 1:16 King James Version. > For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ### Acts 7:59–60 King James Version. > [7:59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. [7:60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. ### Hebrews 1:6 King James Version. > And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. ### Hebrews 1:6 New World Translation (2013). [Open on jw.org](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/hebrews/1/#v58001006) > But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.” ### Acts 7:60 King James Version. > And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, John 1:1 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/1/#v43001001) (Study Edition. The study note on “the Word was a god” defends the rendering.) 2. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Study note on John 1:1, “the Word was a god” (Study Edition)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/1/#v43001001) 3. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Colossians 1:16 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/colossians/1/#v51001016) (Study Edition. The rendering “all other things” is explained in the study note on verse 16.) 4. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Study note on Colossians 1:16, “all other things” (Study Edition)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/colossians/1/#v51001016) 5. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Acts 7:59–60 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/acts/7/#v44007059-v44007060) 6. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Study note on Acts 7:60, “Jehovah” (Study Edition)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/acts/7/#v44007060) 7. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, John 14:14 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/14/#v43014014) (Study Edition. The study note on “ask” records the manuscript difference.) 8. [New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Hebrews 1:6 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/hebrews/1/#v58001006) (Study Edition. The study note on “do obeisance to him” is on this page.) 9. [Gospel of John, 1:1; 14:14; 20:28](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/1). King James Version 10. [Letter to the Colossians, 1:16](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/colossians/1/16). King James Version 11. [Acts of the Apostles, 7:59–60](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/acts/7). King James Version 12. [Letter to the Hebrews, 1:6](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/hebrews/1/6). King James Version ## See also - [Does “Jehovah” Belong in the New Testament?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) — The New World Translation uses the name Jehovah 237 times in the New Testament. The Study Edition’s note on Acts 7:60 says the Greek manuscripts read “Lord.” - [Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-michael-the-archangel) — Insight on the Scriptures identifies Michael the archangel with Jesus. Hebrews 1 sets the Son over every angel and has God command the angels to bow to him. - [Is Jesus the Creator or a Creature?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-the-creator-or-a-creature) — Jehovah’s Witnesses say a literal reading of Colossians 1:16 would make Jesus the Creator, so the New World Translation adds “other.” John 1:3 and Hebrews 1:10–12 do not leave him outside creation as a creature. - [Is the Holy Spirit a Person or an Impersonal Force?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/is-the-holy-spirit-a-person) — Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the holy spirit is God’s active force, not a person. The New World Translation still has the Spirit speaking, being lied to, and being grieved, and it calls the lie a lie to God. - [John 1 and the Word](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/john-1-and-the-word) — Why the New World Translation reads John 1:1 as “a god,” what the Study Edition’s note says about a qualitative theos, and why Nicene Christians still say the Word was God. ## History [View history on GitHub](https://github.com/Apologetics-Wiki/apologetics-wiki/commits/main/src/content/articles/how-reliable-is-the-new-world-translation.md)