At Colossians 1:16, 17 and 20 the New World Translation adds the word “other” five times — “all other things” — where the Greek reads only τὰ πάντα, “all things”, and where no major English version adds it.
Claim ID claim-bible-col-1-16-other-addedConcerns 2013Explicit statement
The organisation’s position or later explanation: The organisation's own study note states: “A literal rendering of the Greek text would be ‘all things.’ (Compare Kingdom Interlinear.) However, such a rendering could give the impression that Jesus was not created but was the Creator himself.” It argues that the Greek word for “all” can in some contexts mean “all other”.
2013 · Colossians 1:16-20 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth … All other things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist … 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all other things by making peace through the blood he shed on the torture stake”
The word 'other' appears five times in these verses in the 2013 revision, with no brackets and no footnote marking it as an addition.
Provenance and verification note for New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), Colossians 1:16-20
Confidence note. Chapter page opened on wol.jw.org on 19 September 2026 and the running text of verses 15-23 read in full; the absence of brackets confirmed by eye.
1985 · Colossians 1:16-20 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“16 ὅτι because ἐν in αὐτῷ him ἐκτίσθη it was created τὰ the πάντα all (things) … τὰ the πάντα all (things) δι’ through αὐτοῦ him καὶ and εἰς into αὐτὸν him ἔκτισται· it has been created; 17 καὶ and αὐτὸς he ἔστιν is πρὸ before πάντων all (things)”
The Society's own word-for-word line renders τὰ πάντα simply 'all (things)' at every occurrence. There is no word in the Greek corresponding to 'other'.
Provenance and verification note for The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, Colossians 1:16-20 (word-for-word English under the Greek)
Confidence note. Interlinear text for Colossians 1 opened on wol.jw.org on 19 September 2026 and the Greek and gloss read directly.
19 September 2026 · Bible Hub (reproducing the named copyright translations)
“New International Version: “For in him all things were created”; English Standard Version: “For by him all things were created”; New American Standard Bible: “for by Him all things were created”; King James Bible: “For by him were all things created”; New Revised Standard Version: “for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created”.”
No major English version consulted inserts 'other' at Colossians 1:16.
Provenance and verification note for Bible Hub parallel translations, Colossians 1:16 in the parallel English versions
Confidence note. Page opened and every rendering read on 19 September 2026 on Bible Hub's reproduction; the printed editions themselves were not consulted.
Notes. This quote field compiles renderings quoted separately from one Bible Hub parallel page; it is not a continuous passage. Each rendering was checked word for word against the page, which carries over forty versions.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-nwtv-bh-col-1-16
2013 · study note, Colossians 1:16 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“all other things: A literal rendering of the Greek text would be “all things.” (Compare Kingdom Interlinear.) However, such a rendering could give the impression that Jesus was not created but was the Creator himself. And that idea would not agree with the rest of the Bible, including the preceding verse, which calls Jesus “the firstborn of all creation.””
The organisation's own study note states plainly both that the literal Greek says 'all things' and that the reason for adding 'other' is doctrinal consistency, not grammar. The note goes on to argue that 'the Greek word for “all” can in some contexts have the meaning “all other”'.
Notes. The note ends: 'So both the Bible’s teachings as a whole and the probable meaning of the Greek word used here support the rendering “all other things.”'
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-nwtv-nwtsty-note-col-1-16
A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-bible-col-1-16-other-added/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.