english grammar on John 1:1

by mineralogist 7 Replies latest jw friends

  • mineralogist
    mineralogist

    I am in need of some help in english grammar:
    John 1:1 states "the word is god" or in the NWT "the word is a god"

    I don't need a theological discussion but only to know if english speaking people see a major difference in this little "a". In german you could ommit it or write it so it is only a matter of bible interpretation.

  • IP_SEC
    IP_SEC

    English doesnt work that way. "A" makes the phrase indefinate and changes the meeing totally. In english "the" can be left out because it is understood definate so long as an indefinate article is not used.

  • Elsewhere
    Elsewhere

    Right... "a god" refers to one of many gods.

    "God" (without "a") refers to what is supposed to be the one and only true God. (Also, notice the differenece between the uppercase and lowercase "G" in god. This makes a big difference too. "God" with the uppercase, again, refers to what is supposed to be the one and only true God.

    Refering to "god" or "a god" is supposed to be a lesser god than "God".

  • mineralogist
    mineralogist

    Thanks for that clarification. I didn't even recognize the difference in "g" and "G"

  • Narkissos
    Narkissos

    In German all nouns are capitalised, but in English as in French the capital makes a big difference: the Word was a god = la Parole était un dieu = das Wort war ein Gott.

  • MAHABA
    MAHABA

    Following are a few rendering of John 1:1

    (ALT) In the beginning was the Word [or, the Expression of [divine] Logic], and the Word was with [or, in communion with] God, and the Word was God [or, was as to His essence God].

    (AOV) In die begin was die Woord, en die Woord was by God, en die Woord was God.

    (ASV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (BBE) From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.

    (BCN) Yn y dechreuad yr oedd y Gair; yr oedd y Gair gyda Duw, a Duw oedd y Gair.

    (Bibeln) I begynnelsen var Ordet, och Ordet var hos Gud, och Ordet var Gud.

    (Bishops) In the begynnyng was the worde, & the worde was with God: and that worde was God.

    ( BUL ) В началото бе Словото; и Словото беше у Бога; и Словото бе Бог.

    (CEV) In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God.

    (CUV-S) 太初有道,道与神同在,道就是神。

    (CUV-T) 太初有道,道與神同在,道就是神。

    (DRB) In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God: and the Word was God.

    (DSV) In den beginne was het Woord, en het Woord was bij God, en het Woord was God.

    (EMTV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (FDB) Au commencement était la Parole; et la Parole était auprès de Dieu; et la Parole était Dieu.

    (FLS) Au commencement était la Parole, et la Parole était avec Dieu, et la Parole était Dieu.

    (FPR) Alussa oli Sana, ja Sana oli Jumalan tykönä, ja Sana oli Jumala.

    (GB) In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God.

    (GEB) Im Anfang war das Wort, und das Wort war bei Gott, und das Wort war Gott.

    (Geneva) In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God.

    (GLB) Im Anfang war das Wort, und das Wort war bei Gott, und Gott war das Wort.

    (GNB) In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (GNEU) Am Anfang war das Wort. Das Wort war bei Gott, ja das Wort war Gott.

    (GNT) ᾿Εν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος.

    (

    (GNT-TR) εν αρχη ην ο λογος και ο λογος ην προς τον θεον και θεος ην ο λογος

    (GW) In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (HCSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (HKB) Kezdetben vala az Íge, és az Íge vala az Istennél, és Isten vala az Íge.

    (HNV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (HOT)

    (IBIS) Pada mulanya, sebelum dunia dijadikan, Sabda sudah ada. Sabda ada bersama Allah dan Sabda sama dengan Allah.

    (IRL) Nel principio era la Parola, e la Parola era con Dio, e la Parola era Dio.

    (ISV) In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (ITB) Pada mulanya adalah Firman; Firman itu bersama-sama dengan Allah dan Firman itu adalah Allah.

    (JPS)

    (KJV+) In 1722 the beginning 746 was 2258 the 3588 Word, 3056 and 2532 the 3588 Word 3056 was 2258 with 4314 God, 2316 and 2532 the 3588 Word 3056 was 2258 God. 2316

    (KJV-1611) In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (KJVA) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (KJVR) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (KKJV) 처음에 말씀이 계시니라 . 이 말씀이 하나님과 함께 계셨으니 이 말씀은 곧 하나님이시니라 .

    (LBLA) En el principio existía el Verbo, y el Verbo estaba con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.

    (LITV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (LXX)

    (MKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (MRC) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (MSG) The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God,

    (Murdock) In the beginning, was the Word; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.

    (New World Translation) In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.

    (PBG) Na początku było Słowo, a ono Słowo było u Boga, a Bogiem było ono Słowo.

    (PJFA) No princípio era o Verbo, e o Verbo estava com Deus, e o Verbo era Deus.

    (RDCT) La început era Cuvîntul, şi Cuvîntul era cu Dumnezeu, şi Cuvîntul era Dumnezeu.

    (ROB) La început era Cuvântul şi Cuvântul era la Dumnezeu şi Dumnezeu era Cuvântul.

    (RST) В начале было Слово, и Слово было у Бога, и Слово было Бог.

    (RusVZh+) В 1722 начале 746 было 2258, 3588 Слово 3056 , и 2532, 3588 Слово 3056 было 2258 у 4314, 3588 Бога 2316 , и 2532, 3588 Слово 3056 было 2258 Бог 2316 .

    (SRV) EN el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo era con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.

    (SSE) En el principio ya era la Palabra, y aquel que es la Palabra era con el Dios, y la Palabra era Dios.

    (SVD) فِي الْبَدْءِ كَانَ الْكَلِمَةُ وَالْكَلِمَةُ كَانَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ الْكَلِمَةُ اللَّهَ .

    (TKJV) ในเริ่มแรกนั้นพระวาทะทรงเป็นอยู่แล้ว และพระวาทะทรงอยู่กับพระเจ้า และพระวาทะทรงเป็นพระเจ้า

    (UBIO) Споконвіку було Слово, а Слово в Бога було, і Бог було Слово.

    (UPDV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (Vamvas) Εν αρχή ήτο ο Λόγος, και ο Λόγος ήτο παρά τω Θεώ, και Θεός ήτο ο Λόγος.

    (Vulgate) in principio erat Verbum et Verbum erat apud Deum et Deus erat Verbum

    (WEB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (Webster) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (WNT) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    (YLT) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;

  • stillajwexelder
    stillajwexelder

    Wow that is incredible research - thankyou for posting

  • MAHABA
    MAHABA
    Wow that is incredible research - thankyou for posting

    Very easy indeed!

    You can get for free ,by downloading it, a copy of e-sword , wich is the soft with wich this job has been done.

    http://www .e-sword.net/

    Download and enjoy!

    Ivan

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