Jehovah’s Witnesses are members of a Christian religious movement who believe in and follow the teachings of the Bible. The name “Jehovah’s Witness” comes from Isaiah 43:10 in the Bible which states “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” They view themselves as witnesses of Jehovah, the personal name of God.
Some key beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses include:
- God: There is one almighty God named Jehovah who is the Creator and Supreme Being. Jesus is God’s son, but not part of a Trinity.
- Jesus Christ: Jesus is the Son of God, and his life and death provide salvation to those who demonstrate faith in him. He was created by God and is subordinate to him.
- Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God’s active force rather than a person.
- Bible: The entire Protestant canon of scripture is viewed as the inspired, inerrant word of God.
- Human Nature: Humans are mortal, imperfect and subject to sin. Only Jesus Christ had a sinless human life.
- Salvation: Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ and demonstration of that faith through obedience to God’s commands. Only 144,000 selected faithful Christians will be resurrected to heaven to rule with Christ. The others have an earthly hope.
- Kingdom of God: God’s kingdom is a heavenly government that will soon replace all human governments and rule over the earth.
- Death: The dead sleep in unconsciousness awaiting resurrection to an earthly paradise or heavenly kingdom.
- Hell: Hell is simply death or non-existence, not a place of suffering or torment.
- Evangelism: Witnessing and evangelizing about God’s kingdom to others is a requirement of faithful practice.
Jehovah’s Witnesses originate from a Bible study group established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the late 1870s. The group was founded by Charles Taze Russell, a businessman who had split from another Bible study group due to doctrinal differences. In 1879, Russell began publishing a monthly religious journal called Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence which helped spread his biblical interpretations. In 1884, the Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society was formed as a non-profit legal entity to distribute literature and facilitate the religious work. The Jehovah’s Witnesses adopted their distinctive name in 1931 under the leadership of Joseph Franklin Rutherford, Russell’s successor.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are best known for their door-to-door evangelistic ministry and distribution of literature including their flagship journal The Watchtower. They avoid involvement in politics, refuse military service, and do not celebrate holidays or birthdays that they believe have pagan origins incompatible with Christianity. They prefer to use their own Bible translation called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Members are organized into congregations that meet at Kingdom Halls. Leadership of the nearly 8.7 million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide comes from the central Governing Body based at the Watch Tower Society headquarters in Warwick, New York.
Here are some key biblical beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses explained in more detail:
God
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe there is one almighty God who is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing and unmatched in wisdom. His personal name is Jehovah, revealed in the Bible at Exodus 6:3 which states: “I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them.” They believe calling God by his name is important and critical to true worship. Jehovah created all things and is the sovereign ruler of the universe.
Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the doctrine of the Trinity. They believe Jehovah alone is God and that Jesus is the created son of God, not equal to or co-eternal with his Father. The Holy Spirit is viewed as an impersonal active force emanating from Jehovah and Jesus, not as a distinct person of God. Biblical passages cited to support their anti-Trinitarian theology include Deuteronomy 6:4, John 14:28, Colossians 1:15, and 1 Corinthians 8:6.
Jesus Christ
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is the Son of God, created by the Father billions of years ago as the first of God’s creations. Jesus is therefore subordinate to and distinct from Jehovah. Though inferior to God, Jesus is the second greatest personage in the universe according to Witness theology. Jesus’ life in heaven before coming to earth as a man is believed to have included supervising the creation of all other things.
Jehovah sent Jesus to earth to become a perfect human. Jesus provided the ransom sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind by dying on a torture stake. Biblical passages cited regarding Jesus’ identity and role include John 3:16, Hebrews 1:6, Colossians 1:15-17, and Revelation 3:14.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus appeared in visible form again in 1914 and has been ruling in heaven since then. At Armageddon, Jesus will lead God’s army to destroy the wicked and usher in God’s kingdom over earth. Thereafter, Jesus will rule God’s kingdom and restore paradise conditions on earth.
Holy Spirit
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the Holy Spirit is not a person or part of a Trinity, but rather God’s impersonal active force which moves his servants to do his divine will. They cite scriptures like Genesis 1:2, Acts 2:1-4, and Micah 3:8 to argue that the Holy Spirit refers to God’s power in action rather than a distinct divine entity. They reject the personhood of the Holy Spirit based on their non-Trinitarian theology.
Bible
Jehovah’s Witnesses view the entire Protestant canon of scripture (66 books) as the inspired Word of God, without error in its original writings. This includes the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. They use their own translation called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, revised in 2013. The Old Testament contains the Law, histories, prophets and writings. The New Testament contains the four gospels, Acts, letters of the apostles, and Revelation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses rely on the Bible as the ultimate source of authority for doctrine, lifestyle and decisions. They believe the Bible clearly communicates Jehovah’s purpose for mankind and provides practical guidance for modern living. Regular Bible reading and study are viewed as crucial to spiritual health and growth.
Human Nature
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe humans were created perfect by God but inherited sin and death after Adam and Eve disobeyed Jehovah in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, all people today are born as sinners condemned to die. Mankind in its present sinful state cannot attain perfection or earn salvation apart from Christ. Only Jesus lived a sinless life as a perfect man while on earth.
Despite sinful imperfection, people are still capable of doing good works and displaying love, wisdom, justice and other positive qualities that please God. But no human can earn immortality apart from Jehovah’s grace and Christ’s redemption. Key scriptures cited regarding human nature include Psalms 51:5, Romans 5:12, and Romans 3:23.
Salvation
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ coupled with obedience to God through his organization. A person is saved and gains a favorable relationship with God when they exercise faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice to cover their sins. This faith must be accompanied by changes in behavior and regular worship.
Entry into God’s heavenly kingdom is limited to only 144,000 faithful Christians who are selected to be “born again” with a spiritual resurrection to immortal life as spirits ruling with Christ. Revelation 7:4 and Revelation 14:1-3 are cited. The vast majority of Witnesses expect to receive everlasting life on a paradise earth, not in heaven.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe people who do not gain salvation will be totally annihilated and cease to exist rather than suffer eternal torment in hell. Hell is simply death or non-existence. Scriptures referenced include Romans 6:23, John 3:16, and Revelation 21:4.
God’s Kingdom
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God’s kingdom is a literal heavenly government that will replace all human governments and rule over the earth. Jesus Christ has been ruling as king of God’s kingdom since 1914. He will soon unleash Armageddon to destroy the wicked and deliver the righteous. Then God’s kingdom will bring a thousand years of peace and prosperity to the earth.
The signs and prophecies regarding God’s kingdom are viewed as being fulfilled since 1914. Witnesses teach this year marked the beginning of the “last days” when Christ became king in heaven. Scriptures cited include Daniel 2:44, Matthew 6:10, and Revelation 11:15.
Death
Jehovah’s Witnesses deny any form of consciousness or existence after death, believing the dead enter a state of complete unconsciousness like sleep. When a person dies, their mind, emotions, and personality cease to exist, while their body decomposes back to dust. However, God can choose to resurrect the dead back to physical life by recreating their body and memories.
At death, the righteous are preserved in God’s memory to be resurrected to an earthly paradise. The wicked will remain dead forever, annihilated into nonexistence. No aspect of a person continues living after death. Relevant scriptures include Ecclesiastes 9:5, Psalms 146:4, and Ezekiel 18:4.
Evangelism
Jehovah’s Witnesses consider public evangelism and witnessing for God’s kingdom to people in their homes or public places to be a responsibility of every baptized member. Proclaiming the “good news” of salvation through Christ and sharing biblical literature is a key component of their faith. This fulfills Jesus’ commission at Matthew 28:19-20 to make disciples and teach people biblical truth.
Jehovah’s Witnesses devote significant amounts of their time and resources to spreading their beliefs, knocking on doors, speaking with people informally, and undertaking organized preaching activity. The goal is to educate people about God, convert them to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and bring them into association with their organization.
Notable practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses tied to their biblical beliefs include:
- No celebration of holidays: Christmas, Easter, birthdays and all other holidays are viewed as having pagan roots or promoting nationalism and are therefore inappropriate for true Christians.
- No blood transfusions: Eating or transfusing blood is forbidden based on scriptures like Acts 15:28-29.
- No military service: They refrain from military service which they believe is contrary to Christian neutrality and peace.
- No political involvement: Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid participating in secular government or politics, insisting on political neutrality.
- No Trinity: They reject concepts like the Trinity, hellfire, and inherent immortality of the soul which they consider unscriptural.
- No clerical class: All members are ordained ministers who fulfill roles based on scriptural qualifications rather than formal seminary training.
- Strong emphasis on separation: Witnesses are told to minimize socializing with non-Witnesses including family.
In summary, Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian religious group who believe in the Bible as God’s Word. Central to their beliefs are that there is one almighty God named Jehovah, Jesus Christ is God’s son and Savior, the Holy Spirit is God’s power rather than a person, and God’s kingdom will soon rule over the earth. Distinctive practices stem from their biblical interpretations and emphasis on Christian separateness from the secular world.