For a master copy of the outline, click here: The Deity of Jesus Christ
To Listen on YouTube, click here: The NIV Denies the Deity of Jesus Christ (Part 1)
The NIV Denies the Deity of Jesus Christ
I. The purpose of this study.
1. The purpose of this study is to see if the New International Version (NIV) and the New World Translation (NWT) (the Jehovah's Witness bible) teach the deity of Jesus Christ.
A. It is common knowledge that the Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ and that they have tried to remove all references to the deity of Christ from their NWT bible.
B. It is not so commonly known that the NIV translators did much of the same thing to the NIV.
C. The study will expose the NIV for the antichrist translation that it is.
2. This outline is derived from an outline called "The Deity of Jesus Christ" which was written to prove that Jesus is God using a KJV Bible.
A. The idea for this current study was conceived after the outline "The Deity of Jesus Christ" was completed, and the verse references in that outline were not modified after it was completed.
B. Therefore, the verses in this study were not cherry-picked to prove that the NIV is antichrist.
C. The outline below is unchanged from the original with the exception of the addition of the printed verse references from the KJV, NWT, and NIV.
II. The goal of this study
1. Cults and all other false religions deny the deity of Christ.
2. As Christians, you will be challenged to defend your believe that Jesus is God.
3. The aim of this study is to give overwhelming scriptural proof that Jesus Christ is God.
III. Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would be God.
1. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah, Jesus would be called the mighty God (Isa 9:6 c/w Luk 2:11).
i. Isa 9:6 (KJV) - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
ii. Isa 9:6 (NWT) - For a child has been born to us, A son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. PASS
iii. Isa 9:6 (NIV) - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. PASS
B. The mighty God is Jehovah (The LORD) (Jer 32:18; Psa 50:1).
i. Jer 32:18 (KJV) - Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
ii. Jer 32:18 (NWT) - the One showing loyal love to thousands, but repaying the error of the fathers to their sons after them, the true God, the great and mighty One, whose name is Jehovah of armies. FAIL
iii. Jer 32:18 (NIV) - You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, PASS
iv. Psa 50:1 (KJV) - The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
v. Psa 50:1 (NWT) - The God of gods, Jehovah, has spoken; He summons the earth From the rising of the sun until its setting. FAIL
vi. Psa 50:1 (NIV) - The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. FAIL
C. Therefore, Jesus Christ is Jehovah God.
D. Jesus, the son of David would be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jehovah our righteousness) (Jer 23:5-6).
i. Jer 23:5-6 (KJV) - Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
ii. Jer 23:5-6 (NWT) - “Look! The days are coming,” declares Jehovah, “when I will raise up to David a righteous sprout. And a king will reign and show insight and uphold justice and righteousness in the land. 6) In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will reside in security. And this is the name by which he will be called: Jehovah Is Our Righteousness.” PASS
iii. Jer 23:5-6 (NIV) - “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6) In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior. PASS
2. The Messiah was prophesied to be God (Psa 45:2-7 c/w Heb 1:8-9).
i. Psa 45:2,6-7 (KJV) - 2) Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever....6) Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7) Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
ii. Psa 45:2,6-7 (NWT) - 2) You are the most handsome of the sons of men. Gracious speech flows from your lips. That is why God has blessed you forever....6) God is your throne forever and ever; The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness. 7) You loved righteousness, and you hated wickedness. That is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your companions. FAIL
iii. Psa 45:2,6-7 (NIV) - 2) You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever....6) Your throne, O God,[a] will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 7) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (Note a. Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.) FAIL
iv. Heb 1:8-9 (KJV) - 8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
v. Heb 1:8-9 (NWT) - 8) But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. 9) You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you+ with the oil of exultation more than your companions.” FAIL
vi. Heb 1:8-9 (NIV) - 8) But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9) You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”[a] (Note: a. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7) FAIL
3. The Messiah was also prophesied to be eternal.
A. His goings forth have been from everlasting (Mic 5:2 c/w Mat 2:6).
i. Mic 5:2 (KJV) - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
ii. Mic 5:2 (NWT) - And you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, The one too little to be among the thousands of Judah, From you will come out for me the one to be ruler in Israel, Whose origin is from ancient times, from the days of long ago. FAIL
iii. Mic 5:2 (NIV) - “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” FAIL
B. He would be called the everlasting Father (Isa 9:6).
i. Isa 9:6 (KJV) - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
ii. Isa 9:6 (NWT) - For a child has been born to us, A son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. PASS
iii. Isa 9:6 (NIV) - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. PASS
4. Jesus would be called Emanuel which means "God with us" (Isa 7:14 c/w Mat 1:23).
i. Isa 7:14 (KJV) - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
ii. Isa 7:14 (NWT) - Therefore, Jehovah himself will give you a sign: Look! The young woman will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. FAIL
iii. Isa 7:14 (NIV) - Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Note: b. Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman) FAIL
iv. Mat 1:23 (KJV) - Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
v. Mat 1:23 (NWT) - “Look! The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means, when translated, “With Us Is God.” PASS
vi. Mat 1:23 (NIV) - “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[a] (which means “God with us”). PASS
5. God said that "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" (Zec 12:10).
i. Zec 12:10 (KJV) - And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
ii. Zec 12:10 (NWT) - “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and supplication, and they will look to the one whom they pierced, and they will wail over him as they would wail over an only son; and they will grieve bitterly over him as they would grieve over a firstborn son. FAIL
iii. Zec 12:10 (NIV) - “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. PASS
B. They looked on Jesus whom they pierced (Joh 19:33-37).
C. The shepherd who was pierced was Jesus Christ the fellow of the LORD (Zec 13:6-7 c/w Mat 26:31).
i. Zec 13:6-7 (KJV) - 6) And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 7) Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
ii. Zec 13:6-7 (NWT) - 6) And if someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds between your shoulders?’ he will answer, ‘Wounds I received in the house of my friends.’” 7) “O sword, awake against my shepherd, Against the man who is my companion,” declares Jehovah of armies. “Strike the shepherd, and let the flock be scattered; And I will turn my hand against those who are insignificant.” FAIL
iii. Zec 13:6-7 (NIV) - If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body[a]?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’ 7) “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. (Note: a. Or wounds between your hands) FAIL
D. Fellow - 1. a. One who shares with another in a possession, official dignity, or in the performance of any work; a partner, colleague, co-worker. Also, one united with another in a covenant for common ends; an ally.
E. Jesus is the Word who is God (Joh 1:1), the second person of the Trinity (1Jo 5:7), and is therefore the fellow of the LORD.
i. Joh 1:1 (KJV) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
ii. Joh 1:1 (NWT) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. FAIL
iii. Joh 1:1 (NIV) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. PASS
iv. 1Jo 5:7 (KJV) - For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
v. 1Jo 5:7 (NWT) - For there are three witness bearers: FAIL
vi. 1Jo 5:7 (NIV) - For there are three that testify: FAIL
F. Therefore, Jesus is God.
6. God said, "Cast in unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them...", prophesying of when He would be prized for thirty pieces of silver (Zec 11:13).
i. Zec 11:13 (KJV) - And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
ii. Zec 11:13 (NWT) - Then Jehovah said to me: “Throw it into the treasury—the magnificent value with which they valued me.” So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw it into the treasury at the house of Jehovah. PASS
iii. Zec 11:13 (NIV) - And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord. PASS
B. This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus who was prized at thirty pieces of silver (Mat 26:14-15; Mat 27:9-10).
C. Therefore, Jesus is God.
IV. Jesus claimed to be God.
1. Jesus plainly claimed to be God.
A. Jesus claimed to be Jehovah.
i. Jesus told the Jews, "before Abraham was, I am." (Joh 8:58)
a. Joh 8:58 (KJV) - Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
b. Joh 8:58 (NWT) - Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” FAIL
c. Joh 8:58 (NIV) - “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” PASS
ii. "I AM" is Jehovah God's name (Exo 3:14).
a. Exo 3:14 (KJV) - And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
b. Exo 3:14 (NWT) - So God said to Moses: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become.” And he added: “This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘I Will Become has sent me to you.’” FAIL
c. Exo 3:14 (NIV) - God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.[a] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Note: a. Or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE) FAIL
iii. Therefore, Jesus was claiming to be Jehovah God.
B. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, making Himself equal with God (Joh 5:17-18; Joh 10:36; Mat 26:63-64; Mar 14:61-62; Joh 9:35-37).
i. Joh 5:17-18 (KJV) - 17) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18) Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
ii. Joh 5:17-18 (NWT) - 17) But he answered them: “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” 18) This is why the Jews began seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God. PASS
iii. Joh 5:17-18 (NIV) - 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. PASS
iv. The NIV and the NWT both also get passes on Joh 10:36; Mat 26:63-64; Mar 14:61-62; Joh 9:35-37.
C. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the Christ (Joh 4:25-26).
a. Joh 4:25-26 (KJV) - 25) The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26) Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
b. Joh 4:25-26 (NWT) - 25) The woman said to him: “I know that Messiah is coming, who is called Christ. Whenever that one comes, he will declare all things to us openly.” 26) Jesus said to her: “I am he, the one speaking to you.” PASS
c. Joh 4:25-26 (NIV) - 25) The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26) Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” PASS
ii. The OT declared that the Messiah was God (Isa 9:6; Mic 5:2).
a. See Section III,3,A&B for these verses in the NWT and NIV.
iii. Therefore, Jesus claimed to be God.
D. Jesus said that He and God the Father were one, declaring Himself to be God (Joh 10:30-33; Joh 17:11).
i. Joh 10:30-33 (KJV) - 30) I and my Father are one. 31) Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32) Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33) The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
ii. Joh 10:30-33 (NWT) - 30) I and the Father are one.” 31) Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32) Jesus replied to them: “I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?” 33) The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.” FAIL
iii. Joh 10:30-33 (NIV) - 30) I and the Father are one.” 31) Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32) but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33) “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” PASS
iv. The NIV and the NWT both also get passes on Joh 17:11.
