Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses · 1870–1931 · United States; worldwide
A group of Bible students near Pittsburgh began a systematic study of the Bible in 1870 and published The Watchtower from 1879. They took the name Jehovah's Witnesses by resolution at Columbus, Ohio, in 1931, and are directed today by a Governing Body.
Jehovah's Witnesses were formed between 1870 and 1931, as a process rather than a single event. Jehovah's Witnesses continue today. They were organized apart from any body on this tree, so no line is drawn.
At a glance
- Formed
- Between 1870 and 1931, as a process rather than a single event
- Family
- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Region
- United States; worldwide
- Key figures
- Charles Taze Russell, Joseph F. Rutherford
- Cause tags
- Doctrine, Governance
- Also known as
- Bible Students (until 1931)
What it teaches
Jehovah's Witnesses worship "the one true and Almighty God, the Creator, whose name is Jehovah", and honor Jesus as Savior and Son of God while teaching that he "is not Almighty God". They hold that salvation requires faith, a changed course of life and baptism, that 144,000 will rule in heaven, and that others may live forever on earth.
- Scripture. "We recognize the Bible as God's inspired message to humans." ("What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?", jw.org)
- God. "Jesus is not Almighty God and that there is no Scriptural basis for the Trinity doctrine." ("What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?", jw.org)
- Salvation. People "must not only exercise faith in Jesus but also change their course of life and get baptized", yet "salvation cannot be earned". ("What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?", jw.org)
- Lord's Supper. "The purpose of the Lord's Evening Meal is to remember Jesus, showing our gratitude for his sacrifice in our behalf." ("Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe the Lord's Supper Differently?", jw.org)
- Church government. "A body of elders supervises each congregation", with circuit overseers and a Governing Body. ("How Are Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses Organized?", jw.org)
Are Jehovah's Witnesses Biblical?
Not gathered on divine ground.
1870; name adopted July 26, 1931. "In 1870 a small group of truth-seekers" began studying the Bible near Pittsburgh, and by 1879 they were publishing The Watchtower. At Columbus, Ohio, in 1931 a resolution stated: "We desire to be known as and called by the name, to wit, Jehovah's witnesses."
This body gathers under one worldwide direction and one body of teaching. A Governing Body provides "Bible-based guidance and instructions", and it "supervises the appointment of brothers to positions of responsibility". "The same material is studied in every one of our more than 110,000 congregations earth wide." Scripture gives one center, the Lord's name (Matthew 18:20), and one body (Ephesians 4:3–4).
“A sect is composed of those who meet together or associate themselves together on the ground of agreement in a certain truth or doctrine, or as holding to a particular form of ecclesiastical polity.”
Sources: "How Was Bible Truth Rediscovered?", jw.org; "Ninety Years Embracing the Name Jehovah's Witnesses", jw.org; "How Are Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses Organized?", jw.org; "How Does the Governing Body Function Today?", jw.org; "What Are Our Meetings Like?", jw.org.
This verdict concerns the ground of gathering, not the salvation of any individual. Whoever truly believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is a member of the one body, wherever they gather; ‘[The] Lord knows those that are his’ (2 Timothy 2:19).
Meeting comparison
| Row | A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend | The assembly meeting in Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Gathered to | Congregations meet "to worship God, to study the Scriptures, and to encourage one another"."What Will You Experience at Our Christian Meetings?", jw.org | The Lord's name alone, on the ground of the one bodyMatthew 18:20; Ephesians 4:3–4; Rossier pt. 2 |
| Who presides | "Every week, the elders preside over the congregation meetings.""How Do the Elders Serve the Congregation?", jw.org | The Lord Jesus, personally in the midst. No man presides.Matthew 18:20; Psalm 22:22; Rossier pt. 3; Kingscote pp. 10–11 |
| Lord's Supper | Once a year: "the Memorial of Jesus' death was observed once each year by the early Christians, and Jehovah's Witnesses follow that Bible-based pattern.""Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe the Lord's Supper Differently?", jw.org | Every first day of the week. It is the main object of the gathering.Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, 11:18–26; Rossier pt. 4; Miller p. 95 |
| Who administers the Supper | Not documented | No one. "The very idea of a person standing apart and claiming to administer it as a right alters and ruins the Supper."Kelly, in Huebner pp. 40–41 |
| Who takes part audibly | "Qualified teachers use the Bible." "All may participate in audience discussions and in singing.""What Will You Experience at Our Christian Meetings?", jw.org | Brothers, as the Spirit leads, one by one. Two or three speak and the others judge.1 Corinthians 14:26–33; Rossier pt. 6; Kingscote pp. 12–13 |
| Women | "Although they don't assume a leadership role within the congregation, they have a full share in the public ministry.""Do Jehovah's Witnesses Have Women Preachers?", jw.org | Silent in the assembly1 Corinthians 14:34–35; Kingscote p. 13 |
| Order of service | Weekend: a 30-minute Bible discourse and a one-hour Watchtower Study. Midweek: the three-part Our Christian Life and Ministry. "Meetings begin and end with song and prayer.""What Are Our Meetings Like?", jw.org; "Congregation Meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses", jw.org | None arranged beforehand. Liberty of the Spirit, with dependence on the Lord.1 Corinthians 14:26, 33; Dennett Letter 6 |
| Ministry | Elders and ministerial servants. "We do not have a paid clergy in our organization.""How Do the Elders Serve the Congregation?", jw.org; "What Is the Role of the Ministerial Servants?", jw.org | By gift, exercised in responsibility to the Lord. Not by election to an office.Romans 12:6–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11; Ephesians 4:11–12; Dennett Letters 4–5, 7 |
| How ministers are appointed | "Qualified overseers are appointed." The Governing Body "supervises the appointment of brothers to positions of responsibility"."How Do the Elders Serve the Congregation?", jw.org; "How Does the Governing Body Function Today?", jw.org | Gifts are given by the risen Lord. Elders were appointed only by apostles or their delegates, and there are none today.Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Dennett Letters 4–5; Ruin pt. 2 |
| Kinds of assembly meeting | "Jehovah's Witnesses hold meetings for worship twice each week", and the Memorial each year."Congregation Meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses", jw.org; "Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe the Lord's Supper Differently?", jw.org | Worship (the breaking of bread), prayer, and the open meeting for edificationRossier pts. 3–6 |
| Who may break bread | "Only a small fraction of us partake of the bread and wine": those in "a new covenant", which "includes, not all Christians"."Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe the Lord's Supper Differently?", jw.org | Every believer not under scriptural discipline for walk or doctrineDennett Letters 6, 8; 1 Corinthians 5 |
Gathered to
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Who presides
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Lord's Supper
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Who administers the Supper
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Who takes part audibly
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Women
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Order of service
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Ministry
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
How ministers are appointed
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Kinds of assembly meeting
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Who may break bread
A typical Jehovah's Witness weekend
The assembly meeting in Scripture
Last verified October 31, 2026.
Sources
- jw.org, "How Was Bible Truth Rediscovered?"
- jw.org, "Ninety Years Embracing the Name Jehovah's Witnesses"
Research compiled July 2026. Page data built 2026-11-01.