What do the Jehovah's Witnesses believe? Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses?

TL;DR:

Jehovah's Witnesses differ significantly from biblical Christianity; they reject the deity of Christ, the Trinity, and salvation by grace alone. Instead, Jehovah’s Witnesses adhere to works-based salvation, promote their own altered Bible translation (the New World Translation), and hold unbiblical views about the afterlife, thereby classifying Jehovah's Witnesses as a cult, rather than a Christian denomination.

what does the bible say?

The Bible presents a radically different picture from the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses on foundational issues, such as Jesus’s identity, salvation, and the afterlife. Scripture affirms that Jesus is fully God and eternal (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16–17), while Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that He is a created being. Salvation, according to the Bible, is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9); whereas, Jehovah’s Witnesses require a combination of faith and works, dictated by their organization. Additionally, the Bible describes two eternal destinations—heaven and hell (Luke 16:22–23; Revelation 20:11–15)—in contrast to the Jehovah’s Witness teaching of annihilation for unbelievers and a tiered afterlife for the faithful. The New World Translation, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible, has been altered to reflect their theological biases, deviating from the original languages and traditional biblical translations. This makes Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs not only extra-biblical, but also contrary to the Word of God.

from the old testament

The prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 points to Jesus as fully divine and eternal, opposing the claim that He is a created being: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Micah 5:2 says, "But you, O Bethlehem…from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." Jesus existed eternally, directly contradicting the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teachings that He was a created being.

from the new testament

John 1:1–3 also confirms Jesus’s divinity and role as Creator, refuting the altered translation used by Jehovah’s Witnesses: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Ephesians 2:8–9 tells us that salvation is by grace through faith alone: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." This truth stands in direct opposition to the works-based system taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Revelation 20:15 clearly describes eternal punishment for unbelievers, contrasting the Jehovah’s Witness belief in annihilationism: "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

implications for today

Jehovah’s Witnesses hold beliefs that differ significantly from biblical Christianity. Their denial of Jesus’s deity, works-based view of salvation, and reliance on an altered Bible lead many away from the true gospel. Understanding these differences equips Christians to share the truth of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Believers can confidently point to Scripture’s clear teaching that Jesus is God, salvation is a gift, and eternal life is available to all who trust in Him.

understand

Jehovah's Witnesses reject the deity of Christ and the Trinity.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a works-based salvation.
Jehovah's Witnesses’ altered Bible translation, the New World Translation, distorts key theological truths, making their beliefs extra-biblical.

reflect

How does the Bible’s teaching about the deity of Christ and salvation by grace alone shape your understanding of the gospel?
Reflecting on the importance of Scripture’s integrity, how can you guard against any alteration of God’s Word in your own life?
How does the biblical teaching that salvation is a gift by grace through faith impact the way you live out your faith day to day?

engage

How does the Jehovah's Witnesses' denial of Christ’s deity affect the message of the gospel and salvation?
What are the implications of salvation by grace versus works, and how can we explain this to those who believe in works-based salvation?
How can we engage with Jehovah's Witnesses in a loving and respectful way, while pointing them to the truth of the gospel?