The Bracket Game

One feature of the NWT is the usage of brackets:

Their use of brackets is especially apparent at Col. 1:16,17 where the word other is inserted into those two verses four times. The NWT renders those verses as follows:

The reader should be aware that neither of the reasons cited why the NWT translating committee used brackets are applicable in Col. 1:16,17! Those two reasons, as previously stated are: (1) to make some application that is shown by the Greek word or (2) to show something that is understood along with the Greek word because of its grammatical form.

The truth is by inserting the word other in that passage, the NWT has distorted its meaning. Since they teach that Jesus is a created being and Col. 1:16 opposes this by stating that Jesus created all things, then basic logic would declare that Jesus can’t be part of his own creation. By inserting the non-inspired word other, which does not appear in the Greek in verses 16 and 17, the meaning is changed, allowing for their erroneous interpretation. Again, the reader should note: The word other does not appear in the Greek text in those two verses! If the Holy Spirit had wanted the inspired writer of that Scripture to use the word other, he easily could have done so as in Gal 1:8,9,19; 2:13; 4:22; 5:17; etc. To insert this word other in Col. 1:16,17 doesn’t clarify Scripture, but instead changes the meaning to a distortion that God never intended.

When we come to Phil. 2:9, the NWT does not have brackets around the inserted word other, in violation to their own guidelines, even though it is clearly not in the Greek text and was added by the translators. That verse as rendered in the NWT as found in the KIT (1969 edition) is:

In contrast, the Greek in the KIT says:

Consequently, the word other is inserted in Phil. 2:9, which distorts the meaning of that verse, taking glory away from the Lord Jesus, as was done in Col. 1:16,17.