Problems with The Joseph Smith Translation in John 1

The Joseph Smith Translation is seen by many Latter-day Saints to be the most correct version of the Bible that exists. Joseph Smith’s “translation”, also called the JST, is said to have restored many corrupted sections of the Bible that were compromised during the Great Apostasy.

When the Joseph Smith Translation differs from traditional translations of the Bible, many Mormons believe that the JST is what the Bible would say had it not been corrupted. But is this true? Should we trust Joseph Smith and the JST?

Can We Trust the Joseph Smith Translation?

While Joseph Smith’s “translation” includes numerous changes, alterations, and additions to the Biblical text, these additions cannot be found in any existing manuscript. Additionally, there are incredibly problematic internal inconsistencies that show us that the JST cannot be trusted.

The JST and John 1

Let’s take a look at just one example from John 1. The beginning of John’s Gospel says,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1–2 ESV).

This verse is really significant for Christians! It tells us that the Word of God (referring to Jesus) is The Eternal Creator! This is a crucial text for understanding the Biblical teaching on the Trinity. But Joseph Smith made profound changes to this verse in the JST,

“In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God. The same was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2 JST).

Joseph alters the beginning of John’s Gospel by writing that the “Word of God” is the Gospel, and clarifying that the “Son was with God, and was OF God”. This is a significant change—Christian Bibles teach that Jesus was with God and was God! So what should we do with this change? Should we trust the JST’s version of John 1?

Why we shouldn’t trust the Joseph Smith Translation

No, we cannot trust the JST. This “translation” is inconsistent with the rest of John 1! John 1:14 says

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 ESV).

The JST reads,

“And the same word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 JST).

These two versions are very similar. The Word was made flesh, or made human, and lived on earth with us. Notice that John says “we beheld his glory, the glory of the Only Begotten (or only Son) from the Father” in verse 14. The “Word” used here is a “He”, a person! And not just any person, but the only Son of God! The Word, who IS God!

The problem for the JST is that the “Word of God” is defined as the “Gospel” back in verses 1-2, not the Son! If the Word is the Gospel, then the Gospel took on flesh and dwelt among us. But this isn’t what happened, and it doesn’t even make sense! Furthermore, look what John 1:16 says in the JST:

“For in the beginning was the Word, even the Son, who is made flesh, and sent unto us by the will of the Father….” (John 1:16 JST).

John 1:1-2 and 1:16 in the JST are incompatible and contradictory! In verse 1-2 of the JST, the Word is the Gospel, not the Son, but in verse 16 (in the very same chapter of the JST), The Word is called the Son, not the Gospel.

John is trying to be clear about this point: The only Son of God became a human and dwelt among us! This is not meant to be a confusing text! When considering Joseph Smith’s translation we find that he altered a critical text that teaches a doctrine contrary to Mormonism, but he wasn’t consistent in his changes.

The beginning of John’s Gospel did not need to be corrected. John 1 teaches us that Jesus, being God, took on human flesh and dwelt on earth to grant eternal life to all who believe in Him. We should not trust the JST – its inconsistencies demonstrate that it is not from God. Joseph Smith was wrong to change the manuscript-supported reading of John chapter 1.

But while the JST itself is flawed, we can confidently trust the Bible, because God has faithfully preserved the Biblical text through the ages.