Col 1:16 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 NWT has added in brackets other to show that Jesus was created. Is it true that the NWT does not contain the required brackets to show that it is added?
The 2006 printing reads: because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. No brackets anywhere. They have been removed from other which appears in earlier editions. The King James Authorised Version and the New International Version have not added the word other.
Hi Keema. All translations must add words that are implied in the original language but are not explicit in the text. This is a legitimate part of translation and does not 'require' brackets. The NWT has bracketed such words in the past to indicate which ones don't have a direct correspondence to any Greek or Hebrew word. However, the 2006 printing of the NWT regular Bible has taken *all* such brackets out, not just the ones at Colossians 1:16. Evidently, because most translations do not bracket the implied words, this was causing confusion among readers (the NWT is used by many non-Witnesses). Some were thinking that the brackets indicated words that were added information, completely foreign to the original text, which is not the case at all. So in keeping with the more standard translation policies, the brackets have been removed. For example, the New International Version doesn't use brackets for other at Luke 13:2, where there is no Greek word directly tied to it in the original text; it's only implied: Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?'
The key word here is ADDED ! Period! The newer versions of the NWT are no longer using the brackets around the word [other] in Colossian1:16,17 4 times. However, the online version of the NWT from their website still uses the brackets around the word other. They, like you have stated, need to show that Jesus is a created being. Now, you know it's pretty low when you have to ADD words to the scriptures to convey a doctrine. There is no scripture that says that Jesus was created, just like there is no scripture that says Jesus and Michael are the same. There is no scripture that says that the life force of Michael was input into Mary to become Jesus. They have a very, very bias version of Scriptures that have been changed, altered or added to, to convey a preconceived concept that Jesus came back to Earth in 1914, they have rendered the second coming as his invisible presence and that he was raised as a spirit creature, but the man of Jesus is dead, dead forever and it's Michael that is the risen Jesus. They promote this concept with Jesus coming back, invisible presence, as a spirit, as no one can see a spirit, therefore invisible, but later changed to only turning his attention towards Earth. Of Course there is absolutely no scripture that says any of this. The completely deny Jesus' deity, so much so as to be very deceptive in the creation of their scriptures. They have words in the Bible to describe what is taking place here. All I can say is the the god of this world has the ability to blind them to truth and he has done just that. We all need to pray for them that God will open those eyes to the truth and give them a chance for salvation.
15?He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16?because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. They are there and shown to make sense in English. These words were originally in Greek. Though both have the same meaning, it makes for easier understanding when read by English speakers. The same is true for [they be]. The subject of the material is Jesus. As for creation, he was the first, original, only one made personally by God as there was no one else to do it. This shows too Jesus had a beginning. Not true with Jehovah God. Even from time indefinite to time indefinite you are God. (Ps. 90:2)
