According to those who adhere to the doctrine of the Trinity, God exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each of these persons is considered equal, all-powerful, and eternal. Thus, the doctrine asserts that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, but there remains only one God (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203).

Many who believe in the Trinity acknowledge that they cannot fully explain this doctrine. However, they may still feel that it is supported by the Bible. But is the concept of the Trinity truly found in the scriptures? To explore this, let's examine a passage that proponents often use to support the Trinity (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203).

John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (King James Version) Later in the same chapter, the apostle John clearly identifies "the Word" as Jesus. (John 1:14) Because the Word is referred to as God, some conclude that the Son and the Father must be aspects of the same God (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203).

Keep in mind that this part of the Bible was originally written in Greek. Later, translators rendered the Greek text into other languages. However, several Bible translators did not use the phrase "the Word was God." Why? Based on their understanding of Biblical Greek, these translators concluded that the phrase "the Word was God" should be translated differently. Here are a few examples: "The Logos [Word] was divine." (A New Translation of the Bible) "The Word was a god." (The New Testament in an Improved Version) "The Word was with God and shared his nature." (The Translator's New Testament) According to these translations, the Word is not God himself. Instead, due to his exalted position among Jehovah's creatures, the Word is referred to as "a god," where the term "god" means "mighty one."(Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203). 

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” (John 1:1, New World Translation)

John 1:14, “So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth.” (John 1:14, New World Translation)

Most people are not familiar with Biblical Greek, so how can you determine what the apostle John truly meant? Consider this analogy: A teacher explains a topic to their students. Later, the students have differing interpretations of the explanation. How can they resolve this? They could ask the teacher for more details. Undoubtedly, gaining more information would help them better understand the subject. In a similar way, to comprehend the meaning of John 1:1, you can explore other parts of the Gospel of John for further insights into Jesus' position. Gathering additional facts will help you reach a more accurate conclusion (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203). 

Consider what John further writes in chapter 1, verse 18: "No man has seen [Almighty] God at any time." Yet, people have seen Jesus, the Son, as John also says, "The Word [Jesus] was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory." (John 1:14, King James Version) So how could the Son be part of Almighty God? (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203). 

John 1:1, also states that the Word was "with God." But how can someone be with another person and simultaneously be that person? Moreover, in John 17:3, Jesus clearly distinguishes himself from his heavenly Father, calling his Father "the only true God." (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203). 

Near the end of his Gospel, John sums up by saying, "These have been written down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." (John 20:31) Notice that Jesus is referred to not as God, but as the Son of God. This additional context in the Gospel of John helps clarify how John 1:1 should be understood: Jesus, the Word, is "a god" in the sense that he holds a high position but is not the same as Almighty God (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2005, pp. 201-203).

John 1:18, “No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him.” (John 1:18, New World Translation)

John 1:14, “So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth.” (John 1:14, New World Translation)

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” (John 1:1, New World Translation)

John 17:3, “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3, New World Translation)

John 20:31, “But these have been written down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and because of believing, you may have life by means of his name." (John 20:31, New World Translation)

Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll explore how turning to another Bible writer, like Matthew, can shed more light on the relationship between Jesus and Almighty God—just as a second teacher might confirm and clarify the explanation of the first.

Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Trinity?

1. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God exists as how many distinct persons?

a. one

b. two

c. three

d. four

2. According to the Trinity doctrine, which three persons are considered to be God?

a. Father, Son, and Angel

b. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

c. Father, Spirit, and Apostle

d. Son, Spirit, and Apostle

3. What is a key question that the article raises about the Trinity?

a. Is the concept of the Trinity biblical?

b. How many gods exist?

c. Who is the true God?

d. What does it mean to be God?

4. In John 1:1, who is referred to as "the Word"?

a. God

b. Jesus

c. Holy Spirit

d. John

5. Which translation of John 1:1 uses the phrase "the Word was a god"?

a. King James Version

b. New International Version

c. New World Translation

d. Revised Standard Version

6. Some translations suggest that "the Word" was:

a. an angel

b. divine

c. almighty

d. a prophet

7. According to John 1:18, what has no man seen at any time?

a. Jesus

b. the Holy Spirit

c. Almighty God

d. an angel

8. In John 17:3, Jesus refers to his Father as:

a. the Almighty

b. the Word

c. the only true God

d. the Son of God

9. What is the purpose of the writings according to John 20:31?

a. To prove Jesus is Almighty God

b. To support the concept of the Trinity

c. So readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God

d. To demonstrate the unity of God

10. Which book of the Bible might be consulted next to understand more about Jesus’ relationship with God?

a. Matthew

b. Luke

c. Mark

d. Revelation

Answer Key

1. c. three

2. b. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

3. a. Is the concept of the Trinity biblical?

4. b. Jesus  

5. c. New World Translation

6. b. divine

7. c. Almighty God

8. c. the only true God

9. c. So readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God

10. a. Matthew

For more free, Bible-based answers to everyday topics, please visit jw.org.

Bibliography

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. (2013). New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. (2013). King James Version of the Holy Scriptures. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. (2005). What Does The Bible Really Teach? Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. 

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