Who are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and what do they believe?
The beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses raise important questions about their identity and the distinct beliefs that set them apart from historic Christianity. Jehovah’s Witnesses form a religious movement originating from the teachings of Charles Taze Russell in the 19th century. They are known for their door-to-door evangelism, their distinct translation of the Bible, and their emphatic rejection of the full deity of Jesus Christ. Their movement presents itself as Christian, yet its doctrines diverge sharply from biblical teaching on the nature of God, the identity of Christ, and the meaning of the gospel.
1. How Jehovah’s Witnesses Understand God’s Name
A defining feature of Jehovah’s Witness theology is their insistence on the name “Jehovah” as the only correct designation for God. They claim that true believers must use this name to worship faithfully. However, this claim rests on a misunderstanding of ancient Hebrew usage. The divine name YHWH was not pronounced aloud as “Jehovah” in antiquity. Instead, Israelites substituted the word Adonai (“Lord”). Later vowel markings added to the Hebrew text led some medieval readers to combine the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai, producing the hybrid form “Jehovah.”
Because of this history, “Jehovah” is not the ancient name of God, nor is it uniquely authoritative. The Bible itself uses multiple names and titles for God—YHWH, Elohim, Adonai—and the New Testament most frequently uses “Father,” “Lord,” and “God.” The central issue is not vocalizing a particular form but worshiping the God who has revealed Himself fully in Jesus Christ.
2. What Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe About Jesus
The most significant doctrinal deviation of Jehovah’s Witnesses is their denial of the deity of Christ. They argue:
Jesus is “a god”—a divine being of lesser rank.
Jesus is not eternal, but the first creation of God.
Jesus is a spirit-being on par with angels, often identified with Michael the archangel.
Jesus is not the eternal Word who is God (John 1:1).
Their translation of John 1:1—“the Word was a god”—is central to their theology but lacks linguistic and contextual support. In biblical terms, denying that Jesus shares the divine identity is equivalent to rejecting the very heart of the gospel. Scripture repeatedly identifies Jesus as:
the Creator through whom all things exist (Colossians 1:16),
the One worshiped by angels (Hebrews 1:6),
the eternal Word who is God (John 1:1),
the “I AM” who speaks with divine authority (John 8:58).
Christianity confesses Christ as the eternal Son, sharing the divine nature with the Father and the Spirit. Jehovah’s Witnesses explicitly deny this, placing themselves outside the bounds of biblical Christianity.
3. Their View of Salvation and the Gospel
Though Jehovah’s Witnesses speak of “good news,” their message is not the biblical gospel. They reject salvation by grace through faith and teach a system of works-based acceptance before God. Their system includes:
Requirements emphasized by the movement
Strict organizational loyalty
Door-to-door witnessing
Observance of Watchtower teachings
Moral performance and adherence to their internal rules
Consequences of their doctrine
Christ’s atoning work becomes insufficient
Salvation is tied to human effort
Assurance is impossible
The kingdom of God becomes primarily an earthly organization rather than the rule of Christ over His people
In Scripture, salvation rests fully on the person and work of Christ—not on human performance. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject this foundation and therefore stand apart from the gospel revealed in the New Testament.
4. Their Distinct Scripture Translation: The New World Translation
The Jehovah’s Witnesses use their own Bible translation, the New World Translation (NWT). This translation was produced not by recognized scholars but by anonymous members of the Watchtower Society. The NWT often alters key texts that proclaim the deity of Christ. Examples include:
John 1:1 — changed to “the Word was a god.”
Colossians 1:16–17 — adds words like “other” to imply Jesus created “all other things,” excluding Himself.
Hebrews 1 — reduces the force of passages showing Christ as divine and worshiped.
These adjustments align Scripture with Watchtower doctrine rather than receiving Scripture as it stands. This creates a closed interpretive system that reinforces their theological conclusions.
5. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Identity
Though Jehovah’s Witnesses frequently identify themselves as Christian, their teachings significantly distort the biblical picture of Christ and the nature of God. They deny:
the Trinity,
the eternal Sonship of Jesus,
the deity of the Holy Spirit,
the bodily resurrection,
the scriptural description of judgment and eternal life,
and the finished work of Christ.
The Christian faith stands or falls on who Christ is. If Jesus is not God incarnate, then His death cannot atone for sin, His resurrection cannot accomplish redemption, and His reign cannot bring new creation. Jehovah’s Witness theology therefore cannot be reconciled with the Bible’s portrayal of Jesus as the Lord who sits at the Father’s right hand.
6. Where Jehovah’s Witnesses Show Zeal—and Why It Falls Short
It is true that Jehovah’s Witnesses demonstrate zeal in evangelism. Their commitment to spreading their beliefs is notable, and they often display disciplined moral conduct. Yet Scripture distinguishes zeal from truth. Paul speaks of those who have “a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). The issue is not sincerity but whether their message aligns with the revelation of God in Christ.
Because they reject the deity of Christ and promote an alternative gospel, Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot be considered a legitimate Christian denomination. Their movement invites compassion, clarity, and gospel conviction—calling them away from a diminished Christ toward the fullness of biblical truth.
7. The Biblical Response to Denying Christ’s Deity
Scripture consistently warns against any teaching that undermines the identity of Jesus.
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father” (1 John 2:23).
“Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God” (1 John 4:3).
“This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
“Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
The biblical portrait of Jesus is not compatible with a created, lesser god. The Christian confession—that Jesus is Lord, the eternal Word, the visible image of the invisible God—is the cornerstone of the faith.
8. The Hope the Bible Offers That Jehovah’s Witnesses Cannot
The biblical gospel proclaims:
a Savior who is truly God and truly man,
a finished atonement that frees sinners from condemnation,
a kingdom already inaugurated through Christ’s resurrection,
and a hope grounded in the living Christ who reigns now and will renew creation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses offer instead a Jesus who cannot save and a gospel built on human effort. The Scriptures call all people to trust in the risen Lord who alone has the power to forgive sins and reconcile us to God.
Bible Verses About the Identity of Christ and the True God
“In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
“In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (Colossians 1:19)
“He is the radiance of the glory of God.” (Hebrews 1:3)
“Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Hebrews 1:6)
“This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)
“Every knee shall bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2:10–11)
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
“The grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:2)
