Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jehovah is the one true God, that Jesus is a created being rather than God himself, and that the Holy Spirit is God’s active force, not a person. They use their own Bible translation and look to the Watchtower organization as God’s channel of truth. While they speak often about Jesus, their teachings differ from biblical Christianity on who Jesus is and how a person is saved.
A Movement Built on Predictions
The movement traces back to Charles Taze Russell, who started a Bible study group in Pittsburgh in the 1870s. Influenced by Adventist teaching about Christ’s return, Russell launched Zion’s Watch Tower magazine in 1879 and later organized the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. After Russell’s death, Joseph Rutherford centralized the organization and introduced the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in 1931. Today the group reports more than 8 million active members worldwide.
From the beginning, the movement was shaped by predictions about the end of the world. Leaders pointed to 1914 as the year of Armageddon, then to 1925 for the return of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and later the organization strongly hinted at 1975. When those dates passed, the teachings were adjusted, and in some cases members were blamed for misunderstanding. The Bible offers a simple test for anyone who claims to speak for God.
Deuteronomy 18:22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
Repeated failed predictions don’t mean individual Witnesses are insincere. Many are deeply devoted people. But they do raise serious questions about whether the organization can claim to be God’s only voice on earth.
A Different Bible and a Different Authority
Jehovah’s Witnesses use the New World Translation, produced by their own organization. In several key places it reads differently from other translations in ways that support Witness teaching. The clearest example is the opening verse of John’s Gospel, where the New World Translation says “the Word was a god.” Compare that with the way virtually every other English translation renders it.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Witnesses also rely heavily on publications like The Watchtower and Awake!, and on a Governing Body that claims exclusive authority to interpret Scripture. In practice, that means the organization’s explanations shape how members read the Bible, rather than the Bible shaping the organization.
Who Is Jesus to a Jehovah’s Witness?
This is where the biggest difference lies. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is the first and greatest creation of Jehovah, and they identify him with Michael the archangel. They believe he was only a man during his earthly life and that his resurrection was spiritual rather than physical. They also reject the Trinity and describe the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force.
The Bible paints a very different picture. Jesus received worship, forgave sins, and claimed to share God’s glory. The Holy Spirit can be lied to and grieved, which only makes sense if he is a person; in Acts 5, lying to the Spirit is called lying to God. And when the risen Jesus showed Thomas his wounds, Thomas responded in a way Jesus never corrected.
John 20:28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
If Jesus were only a created being, that would have been a shocking act of idolatry. Instead, Jesus accepted it, because he is fully God and fully man. For more on this, see Are Jesus and the Holy Spirit Really God?
Salvation and Sharing the Truth in Love
Witnesses believe Jesus’ death opens the door to salvation, but they also teach that faithfulness to the organization, including door-to-door ministry, is necessary to remain in God’s favor. They believe a limited group of 144,000 will reign in heaven, while most faithful Witnesses hope to live forever on a paradise earth. The Bible offers a far more secure hope.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
If you have Witness friends or neighbors, start with a genuine relationship. Ask thoughtful questions, such as who Thomas was speaking to in John 20:28, and be patient. Keep the focus on Jesus rather than on scoring points. Sincerity doesn’t equal truth, but kindness and prayer can open doors that arguments never will.
The Takeaway
To understand what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe, start with Jesus: they see him as a created being, while the Bible reveals him as fully God. Their history of failed predictions, their own translation, and their works-based view of salvation set them apart from biblical Christianity, so engage them with patience, truth, and love.
