Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses are a restorationist Christian movement founded by Charles Taze Russell in the 1870s, organized under the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and governed by the Governing Body based in Warwick, New York. The movement rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, teaching that Jehovah alone is God and that Jesus Christ is a distinct, subordinate divine being—God's first creation. They are distinguished by their intensive door-to-door evangelism, strict organizational discipline, a non-Trinitarian theology derived from their own translation of Scripture (the New World Translation), their absolute prohibition on blood transfusions, refusal of military service and political involvement, and non-observance of traditional Christian holidays.
Theology
Christology
Soteriology
Salvation
Nuanced
Salvation through faith in Jehovah and Christ's ransom; two destinies taught
Atonement & Ransom
Affirms
Christ's ransom sacrifice is the central truth; one perfect life covers Adam's sin
Predestination
Nuanced
144,000 selected by Jehovah; the great crowd can gain salvation through faithfulness
Original Sin
Nuanced
Adam's sin brought inherited death and imperfection; Christ's ransom is the remedy
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Denies
Soul is not immortal; death means complete nonexistence until resurrection
Hell
Denies
Hell as fiery torment denied; death is unconscious; the wicked are annihilated
Heaven
Nuanced
Only 144,000 go to heaven; most faithful will inherit a paradise earth
Second Coming
Nuanced
Christ's invisible presence began 1914; visible Armageddon is imminent
Millennium
Affirms
Literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth; mass resurrection and paradise restoration
Ecclesiology
Church Authority
Affirms
Governing Body is the 'faithful slave'; Watchtower publications are authoritative
Clergy & Priesthood
Nuanced
No professional clergy; all baptized members are ministers and publishers
Sacraments & Ordinances
Nuanced
No sacraments; Memorial of Christ's Death observed once yearly; baptism by immersion
Scripture
Biblical Canon
Affirms
66-book Protestant canon; New World Translation is the official JW Bible
Biblical Inerrancy
Affirms
Bible is Jehovah's inspired, inerrant word; interpreted by the Governing Body
Extra-biblical Revelation
Nuanced
No new revelation; Governing Body provides authoritative ongoing biblical interpretation
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Denies
Denies Christ's divinity; 'word was God' interpreted as 'word was divine'
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Denies
Isaiah 7:14 does not prophesy virgin birth; 'almah' means young woman
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Denies
Peter not the rock; Jesus is the rock; no papal succession or primacy
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Nuanced
God's choice is sovereign but not arbitrary; God foreknows human choices
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Affirms
Faith demonstrated through works; obedience essential to God's approval
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Nuanced
Baptism in Jesus' name; Trinitarian formula understood differently
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Denies
Hebrews 1:8 does not affirm Christ's divinity; Father alone is God
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Affirms
Millennium is future literal thousand-year reign after Christ's return
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Affirms
God created all things; Genesis account received as revelation
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Longer ending absent from earliest texts; resurrection message affirmed
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
John 7:53–8:11 absent from early texts; mercy and justice themes are biblical
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Denies
Comma Johanneum is not authentic; Trinity doctrine rejected
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books not canonical; Protestant 66-book canon affirmed
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian text but non-scriptural
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Denies
Sabbath not observed; the Mosaic Law including Sabbath was abolished at Christ's death
Blood Transfusions
Denies
Blood transfusions absolutely prohibited; blood must be 'abstained from' medically
Military Service
Denies
Absolute conscientious objectors; no military service, voting, or political involvement
Holidays
Denies
All holidays rejected except the annual Memorial of Christ's Death