Source recordPrimary JW publicationverified2010sThe Bible and the translation

Source record · Primary JW publication

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), “Study note on Colossians 1:16, 'all other things'”

2013Source ID src-nwtv-nwtsty-note-col-1-16Accessed 19 September 2026
Primary JW publication Verified

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), “Study note on Colossians 1:16, 'all other things'”

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”'.

Provenance and verification note for New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), Study note on Colossians 1:16, 'all other things'

Confidence note. Study note read in full on the nwtsty Colossians chapter 1 page on wol.jw.org, 19 September 2026.

Corroborated by. src-nwtv-int-col-1-16

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