What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe About God?

This entry is part 33 of 37 in the series Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses

Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses: What Do They Believe About God?

Hello friends! Isn’t it wonderful to live in a world full of diverse people? Sometimes, we might get curious about our neighbors, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Maybe you’ve seen them sharing their faith with a smile, or perhaps you’ve simply wondered, deep down, what they believe, especially about God. It’s a beautiful thing to want to understand others, approaching it with a heart full of kindness and a desire to learn.

This article is here to shine a light on some common questions Christian readers often have about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their view of God. We’ll explore their perspective together, in a way that’s clear, respectful, and easy to grasp, mainly using information they themselves share.¹ Think of it as getting to know your neighbors a little better, understanding what truly matters to them. We’ll look at ten key questions, hoping to illuminate their faith. Our aim isn’t to find fault or start a debate simply to understand with compassion. After all, seeking to understand is a powerful way to show the love and respect we’re all called to share.

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe in God?

Oh yes, absolutely! Believing in God isn’t just something they do; it’s the very heartbeat of their faith!2 You’ll find that Jehovah’s Witnesses have a deep, abiding devotion to God.

Who is God for Them?

They believe in one single, true God, the Almighty Creator who brought this incredible universe into existence — everything we see, from the stars above to the earth beneath our feet.³ They recognize Him as the very same God spoken of throughout the Bible, the God of faithful ones like Abraham, Moses, and even Jesus himself.

How Do They Form Their Beliefs About God?

A foundational principle for Jehovah’s Witnesses is that their beliefs must spring directly from the Bible.² They hold the entire Bible as God’s inspired Word, the ultimate guide for everything they believe and how they live. They make it clear that they don’t follow creeds built on human traditions, choosing instead to stick closely to what they understand the Bible teaches.² This strong focus on the Bible as the only source of truth is central for them. It shapes their view that perhaps other religious paths might have, over time, mixed in ideas not explicitly found in scripture. They see their approach as getting back to a simpler, purely Bible-based faith.

Worship

Their worship is directed solely and exclusively toward this one true God.² And they believe this God has shared His own personal name, a name they feel is incredibly important to use when they worship Him.

Who Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe God Is? (One God or Trinity?)

here’s something important to understand, a place where their path looks a little different from many of our familiar Christian traditions.

One God, Not a Trinity

Jehovah’s Witnesses hold firmly to the belief that God is one single, individual Being. They clearly and strongly do not accept the doctrine of the Trinity — the teaching that God is three co-equal, co-eternal Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) all existing within one Godhead.¹ For them, God is one entity, the Father.

Why Do They Reject the Trinity?

Their reasons for not accepting the Trinity come mainly from how they understand the Bible and history:

Not Found in the Bible: They point out that the actual word “Trinity” doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible’s pages.¹ They also believe the idea as it’s traditionally taught isn’t found in the scriptures either.
Seen as Unscriptural and Confusing: They feel the doctrine goes against clear Bible statements that seem to show a difference in position, like when Jesus said, “The Father is greater than I am” (John 14:28).· They also note how Jesus made a distinction between himself and his Father, calling the Father “the only true God” (John 17:3).¹ They find the doctrine confusing, sometimes described even by theologians as a “mystery” beyond our understanding, which they feel contrasts with the idea that God’s truth should be clear.¹
Viewed as a Later Development: They believe the Trinity wasn’t taught by Jesus or his apostles but grew gradually over centuries after the Bible was finished, influenced by ideas outside the Bible and made official at church meetings like the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and Constantinople (381 AD).¹² They observe that even the Council of Nicaea didn’t fully define the Trinity as it’s often understood today, especially concerning the Holy Spirit.¹

God’s Identity for Jehovah’s Witnesses

So, in their understanding, the one true God is a single Person: the Father. And they believe this God has a very special, personal name: Jehovah.

this rejection of the Trinity isn’t just a small detail for Jehovah’s Witnesses; it’s truly foundational. It shapes how they see God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Because they start with the belief that God is absolutely one Person, their understanding of Jesus and the Holy Spirit must fit into that view, leading them to conclusions different from those held by Christians who believe in the Trinity.

Why Do They Call God “Jehovah”?

Using the name “Jehovah” is something many people notice about Jehovah’s Witnesses, and it carries a very deep meaning for them.

God’s Personal Name

They believe “Jehovah” isn’t just a title the unique, personal name of the one true God, revealed right there in the Bible. They see it as the name God chose for Himself.¹¹

Biblical Basis

Their strong feeling about this comes from the Hebrew Scriptures (what many call the Old Testament). They highlight that in the original Hebrew writings, God’s name — represented by four Hebrew letters, YHWH or JHVH (often called the Tetragrammaton) — appears almost 7,000 times!7 They point to verses like Psalm 83:18, which says: œMay people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth. They believe this name was well-known and used by faithful people long ago.¹¹

Why the Emphasis?

Using and sharing the name “Jehovah” is so important to their faith for several reasons:

Essential for True Worship: They feel that knowing and using God’s personal name is key to worshipping Him in the right way and building a close, personal connection with Him.· It sets the true God apart from all others.·
Following Jesus’ Example: They emphasize that Jesus put his Father’s name first. He taught his followers to pray, “Let your name be sanctified” (or “hallowed be thy name”) (Matthew 6:9), and he prayed, “Father, glorify your name” (John 12:28).· Jesus also said he had “made the Father’s name known” to his disciples (John 17:26).²²
Connection to Salvation: They believe that calling on God’s name is connected to being saved, pointing to scriptures like Joel 2:32 (which the apostle Paul quoted in Romans 10:13): “Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved”.¹¹
Restoring the Name: They believe that over time, perhaps due to superstition or tradition, God’s personal name was mostly taken out of Bible translations and replaced with titles like “Lord” or “God”.¹ They see their use of “Jehovah” and its inclusion in their New World Translation as putting the name back where it belongs.² This act of restoration is tied to their belief that they are bringing back original Christianity, feeling that other groups who mainly use titles are missing something vital in truly knowing and worshipping God.

Meaning of the Name

Jehovah’s Witnesses often understand the name “Jehovah” to come from a Hebrew verb that means “to become.” They interpret it as “He Causes to Become,” highlighting God’s amazing ability to become whatever is needed to fulfill His promises and purposes.¹¹

Their Identity

The very name they chose, “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” officially adopted back in 1931, reflects this core belief and their mission.¹ They base this name on Isaiah 43:10-12, where God calls his people his “witnesses”.¹ They feel their name clearly tells the world who they are and what they feel called to do: to share the truth about Jehovah God.² The origins of Jehovah’s Witnesses are rooted in the Bible Student movement in the late 19th century, which aimed to study and disseminate biblical teachings. Over the years, they have developed a distinct belief system that emphasizes door-to-door evangelism and community engagement. This commitment to their mission has allowed them to grow and spread their message across the globe.

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe Jesus Is God?

This is another area where it’s helpful to understand their specific view clearly, as it’s different from the traditional Trinitarian understanding.

Jesus is the Son of God, Not Almighty God

Jehovah’s Witnesses absolutely believe in Jesus Christ! They hold him in the highest esteem as the Son of God, the promised Messiah (or Christ), and the Savior who came to rescue humankind. They strongly identify as Christians because their goal is to closely follow Jesus’ teachings and the example he set.³ In addition to their deep respect for Jesus, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that he is distinct from God the Father, Jehovah, and that he serves as a mediator between God and humanity. Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs about Jesus emphasize his role in God’s purpose, including his resurrection and future return to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth. Their teachings encourage adherents to emulate Jesus in their daily lives, promoting love, compassion, and a commitment to their faith. Jehovah’s Witnesses baptism process is an important step for individuals who wish to publicly demonstrate their faith and commitment to following Jesus Christ. This process typically involves a thorough Bible study and a demonstration of understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs, culminating in the baptismal ceremony that signifies one’s dedication to God and the teachings of Jesus. By participating in baptism, new members embrace their role in God’s purpose and actively contribute to the community of believers.

Rejection of Jesus Being Almighty God

But they make a very clear distinction: they do not believe that Jesus is Almighty God Himself. They believe he is separate from God the Father (Jehovah) and holds a position under Him.¹

Why This View? Scriptural Arguments

Their understanding comes from how they interpret several key scriptures:

Jesus’ Own Words: They give great importance to Jesus’ statement in John 14:28: “The Father is greater than I am”.· They see this as a straightforward declaration that the Father and Son are not equal.
Jesus Prayed to God: They observe that Jesus often prayed to God. They believe this shows a relationship between two distinct individuals — one praying, the other hearing — rather than two persons within one God.²
Titles Used: They point out that the Bible consistently calls Jesus the “Son of God,” not “God the Son” or Almighty God directly.¹ They refer to John 20:31, which says the Gospel was written so people might believe “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”
Distinction in Knowledge: They cite Matthew 24:36 (and Mark 13:32), where Jesus says only the Father knows the day and hour of the end, not even the Son. They reason that if Jesus were equal to Almighty God, he would share the same knowledge.¹

Implications for Worship

Because they believe Jesus is the Son of God but not Almighty God, the way they worship reflects this understanding. They worship only Jehovah God.² They offer their prayers through Jesus Christ, recognizing his vital role as the one who connects us to God and saves us they do not direct worship to Jesus.¹³

this view of Jesus flows directly from their belief that God is not a Trinity. If God is understood as only one Person (the Father), then in their thinking, Jesus, the Son, cannot be that same Person or be equal to Him. This leads them to interpret scriptures about Jesus’ identity and his relationship with the Father in a way that highlights his distinctness and his position under the Father.

What Is Jesus’ Relationship to God According to Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Since they don’t see Jesus as Almighty God, how do Jehovah’s Witnesses understand his incredibly special place and connection to the Father? Their beliefs describe Jesus as being highly honored, yet distinct from God and created by Him.

God’s First and Most Precious Son

Jesus holds the most honored position right next to Jehovah God. He is God’s dearly loved and most precious Son.¹ He’s called “the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Jehovah’s Witnesses understand this quite literally: Jesus was God’s very first act of creation, brought into existence before anything else.·

Uniquely Created by God

He’s also called the “only-begotten Son” (John 3:16). They interpret this to mean Jesus is unique because he’s the only one created directly by Jehovah God alone. Everything else came into being through Jesus.

God’s Agent in Creation

After creating Jesus, Jehovah worked through him as His master craftsman or agent to create everything else — all the angels in heaven and everything here on earth.¹ They understand Colossians 1:16 this way (though their translation adds the word “other” — “by means of him all other things were created”).

Pre-human Existence as a Spirit Creature

Before he was born as a baby on earth, Jesus lived for an incredibly long time — perhaps billions of years — in heaven as a mighty spirit being.· Some Jehovah’s Witness materials, and others who study them, identify this pre-human Jesus with the Archangel Michael, the leader of the angels.²

Miraculous Human Birth (Incarnation)

His journey from spirit life to human life was a miracle performed by Jehovah. God transferred the life-force of His firstborn Son from heaven into the womb of a young Jewish woman named Mary, who was a virgin. No human father was involved, so Jesus was born as a perfect human, without sin.¹

“The Word” of God

The title “the Word” (in Greek, Logos), found in John 1:1, 14, is understood to mean Jesus was God’s main spokesperson and communicator. He delivered God’s messages and instructions to others, both angels and humans.¹ Regarding John 1:1 (“the Word was with God, and the Word was God”), they interpret the last part to mean the Word was “a god” or “divine” in his nature, having godlike qualities because of his origin and high position not being the Almighty God Himself.¹

Not Equal a Perfect Reflection

Crucially, they believe that because Jesus was created, he had a beginning. Jehovah God is eternal, with no beginning and no end.¹ Therefore, Jesus cannot be equal to God. They believe Jesus himself acknowledged this, saying the Father was greater (John 14:28).· Yet, he perfectly mirrors his Father’s personality and qualities, which is why the Bible calls him “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).¹

His Exalted Role

Even though they don’t see him as Almighty God, Jesus holds many incredibly important roles: he is the Messiah, the Savior whose death paid the price for our sins, the High Priest, the only one through whom we can approach God, and the chosen King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, who they believe began ruling in 1914 based on their understanding of prophecy.

This detailed picture of Jesus’ origin, nature, and role is a cornerstone of their faith. It shows their careful effort to bring together all the different things the Bible says about Jesus — recognizing his supreme importance and divine connection while holding fast to their core belief in the absolute oneness and supremacy of Jehovah God, all understood outside the framework of the Trinity.

What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe About the Holy Spirit?

Rounding out their understanding of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses have a specific view of the Holy Spirit that fits with their rejection of the Trinity. According to Jehovah’s Witness beliefs explained, the Holy Spirit is seen as God’s active force rather than a distinct person. This understanding underscores their emphasis on the oneness of God, as they believe the Holy Spirit is utilized by Jehovah to accomplish His purposes. Consequently, their teachings highlight a direct relationship between Jehovah and His followers, emphasizing personal devotion and study of scripture.

Not a Person God’s Power

They do not believe the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son. Instead, they teach that the Holy Spirit is God’s active force — His invisible, dynamic energy or power that He uses to accomplish His will.³ Think of it like the wind, or electricity — incredibly powerful and able to achieve amazing things not a person.³

Biblical Interpretations Supporting This View

Their understanding comes from how they interpret several Bible passages:

Creation Account: They look at Genesis 1:2, which mentions “God’s active force in Hebrew: ruach, also translated ‘spirit’ was moving over the surface of the waters.” They see this as God’s power at work creating, not a person.³
Being “Filled With” or “Baptized With” Spirit: The Bible talks about people being “filled with holy spirit” (like Elizabeth or the disciples at Pentecost – Luke 1:41; Acts 2:4) or being “baptized with holy spirit” (Matthew 3:11).³ Jehovah’s Witnesses reason that you can’t logically be “filled with” or “baptized with” another person, suggesting the spirit must be an impersonal force.³ Similarly, God promised to “pour out some of my spirit” (Acts 2:17), which they feel doesn’t fit with the spirit being an equal Person.³
Association with Power: They notice the Bible often connects the holy spirit directly with power. Jesus told his disciples, “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you” (Acts 1:8).³
Personification, Not Personality: When the Bible uses personal terms for the spirit, like “helper,” “advocate,” or “teacher” (John 14:16, 26; 16:13), they understand this as personification.³ This is like when we talk about wisdom “calling out” or sin “reigning” — giving human-like qualities to something that isn’t a person. They believe the context shows the spirit is being described by what it does (helps, teaches) rather than who it is.³
Originates from God: The Bible says the Father gives the holy spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13).³ To them, this shows the spirit is under God’s control and sent by Him, not an equal member of a Godhead.³

The Spirit’s Functions

According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, God uses His holy spirit in many wonderful ways:

To inspire the writers of the Bible.³¹
To empower His servants to do His work, like preaching, enduring hardships, or carrying out special tasks (like Bezalel building the tabernacle, or Samson’s incredible strength).³¹
To help believers develop beautiful qualities (the “fruitage of the spirit”) like love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22-23).
To guide and direct His people and His organization.³¹
In the past, to enable miracles like speaking in different languages or prophecy.³
To “anoint” certain individuals, giving them a hope of going to heaven and confirming to their spirit that they are chosen.

Defining the Holy Spirit as God’s active force is a key part of their non-Trinitarian understanding. It allows them to explain all the Bible’s references to God’s spirit and its powerful effects without adding a third divine Person alongside the Father and the Son, thus keeping their core belief in the absolute oneness of God (Jehovah).

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Use the Same Bible?

When we talk about beliefs, it’s natural to wonder about the Bible translation people use. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses use the same Bible as other Christians?

High Regard for the Bible

First things Jehovah’s Witnesses have tremendous respect for the Bible.² They believe the entire collection of 66 books usually found in Protestant Bibles (both the Old and New Testaments, though they prefer calling them the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures and the Christian Greek Scriptures) is God’s inspired, infallible Word, without error. It’s the absolute foundation and the only authority for all their beliefs and practices.² They emphasize that understanding the Bible requires careful study and interpretation through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs explained often revolve around their unique interpretations of scriptural passages, which shape their worldview, practices, and community life. Their commitment to sharing these beliefs with others is evident in their extensive outreach efforts and educational programs. Their teachings also emphasize the importance of evangelism, which is a key aspect of their faith, as they actively seek to spread their interpretations of the Bible to others. Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs is essential for engaging in thoughtful discussions about their perspectives on salvation, morality, and the end times. Through their distinctive practices and outreach, they aim to create a sense of community and belonging among their members while fostering a deeper understanding of scripture in daily life.

Use of Various Translations

Throughout their history, and even today, Jehovah’s Witnesses have used and still consult many different Bible translations in their personal study, at their meetings, and when sharing their faith with others. In their early days, their publications often quoted the familiar King James Version and the American Standard Version (from 1901), which was known for using “Jehovah” in the Old Testament. They also used other translations like J.B. Rotherham’s The New Testament Newly Translated and Critically Emphasised and the Emphatic Diaglott, an interlinear New Testament by Benjamin Wilson. Sometimes they referred to these to support specific ways of translating words, like using “presence” for the Greek word parousia instead of “coming”. They even printed their own edition of the King James Version back in the 1940s.

Preference for the New World Translation (NWT)

While they might look at various versions, the translation they mainly use, print, and share is their own, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT). They started working on this translation in the late 1940s. The New Testament part came out in 1950, and the Old Testament followed in parts between 1953 and 1960. The complete Bible in one book was published in 1961.³ It’s been updated several times since then, with major revisions in 1984 and 2013.· The committee that did the translation chose to remain anonymous, saying they wanted all the credit to go to God, the Bible’s Author, not to themselves.·

Why Did They Produce the NWT?

Jehovah’s Witnesses give several reasons for creating their own translation 24:

Modern Language: They wanted a Bible in everyday, easy-to-understand language, feeling that older versions used words that could be hard for people today to grasp.²
Accuracy Based on Scholarship: They believed that new discoveries of older, more accurate Bible manuscripts and advances in understanding the original languages allowed for a better translation of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.²
Restoration of God’s Name: A main goal was to put God’s personal name, Jehovah, back into the text wherever the original Hebrew (YHWH) appeared. They’ve included “Jehovah” almost 7,000 times in the Old Testament and also 237 times in the New Testament. They base the New Testament insertions on their research and reasoning about where they believe the name originally was or should be, even though it’s not found in the existing Greek manuscripts of the New Testament.²
Faithfulness to Original: They aimed for a translation that stayed very close to the original text, avoiding what they felt might be liberties taken by other translators.²

Distinctive Features and Criticisms

The NWT has some unique characteristics:

It uses “Jehovah” extensively.²
It uses “torture stake” for the instrument Jesus died on, instead of “cross”.³
It sometimes translates verbs in a way that emphasizes ongoing action.²
It uses the terms “Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures” and “Christian Greek Scriptures”.²

But the NWT has also received considerable criticism from many Bible scholars and other Christian groups.³ Critics often feel that certain important verses, especially those about Jesus’ divinity and the Trinity, have been translated in a way that supports Jehovah’s Witness beliefs rather than reflecting what they see as the most accurate meaning of the original Greek. Some frequently mentioned examples include:

John 1:1: Translated as “…and the Word was a god” instead of “…and the Word was God”.³
Colossians 1:16-17: The word “other” is added four times (like “by means of him all other things were created”) even though it’s not in the Greek text. This supports their belief that Jesus was created.³
Matthew 26:26: Translated as “This means my body” instead of “This is my body,” which aligns with their view of the Memorial supper (their term for the Lord’s Supper).³

So, while Jehovah’s Witnesses hold the Bible as their ultimate guide, their creation and preference for the NWT”a translation with renderings that specifically match their unique theological views”shows how important their organization’s interpretation is in how they read scripture. The translation itself helps reinforce their understanding, especially on points where they differ from mainstream Christian beliefs.

Quick Comparison: Key Beliefs

To help see some of the core differences we’ve talked about at a glance, here’s a simple table:

Feature	Jehovah’s Witnesses Belief	Mainstream Christian Belief (General Orthodoxy)
God	One Person (Jehovah), rejects Trinity	One God in Three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
Jesus Christ	God’s Son, first creation, subordinate to God	God the Son, eternally existent, fully God
Holy Spirit	God’s active force, impersonal	God the Holy Spirit, distinct Person, fully God
Bible	Inspired Word, prefer New World Translation	Inspired Word, various translations accepted
Salvation	Faith in Jesus + Obedience/Works/Witnessing	Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ
Afterlife	Paradise Earth for most, 144k to heaven, soul sleep	Heaven for believers (or Paradise), conscious afterlife

(Please remember: “Mainstream Christian Belief” represents a general agreement within historical orthodoxy; different denominations might have variations.)

Building Bridges of Understanding

Exploring what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe about God shows us a faith deeply connected to their understanding of the Bible. It’s centered on worshipping only Jehovah and being committed to following Jesus Christ as they understand his role and teachings. While they strongly feel they are Christians, their rejection of core doctrines like the Trinity and the full divinity of Christ means most other Christian groups see them as separate from historical Christian belief. Their unique interpretation of scripture leads them to engage in door-to-door evangelism, sharing what they believe is the true message of God as revealed in the Bible. Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs also highlights their distinct community practices, such as observing the Memorial of Christ’s death and abstaining from celebrations like Christmas and birthdays, which they see as incompatible with their faith. Through these practices, they aim to maintain a lifestyle that reflects their commitment to what they perceive as God’s purpose for humanity. Their doctrines on salvation are unique, emphasizing a faith that includes both belief in Jehovah and adherence to specific moral guidelines. The salvation beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses focus on the importance of living an ethical life and actively participating in their community’s activities and teachings, viewing this as essential for gaining everlasting life. Additionally, they believe that only a limited number of people will go to heaven, while the rest will enjoy eternal life on a paradise Earth, further distinguishing their views from mainstream Christianity. Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs about death emphasize that death is not the end but a temporary state until a future resurrection. They teach that the resurrection will occur when God’s Kingdom is established on Earth, providing hope for those who have died to be restored to life. This understanding underscores their view of the afterlife and the importance of living in accordance with God’s standards in the present.

Understanding these beliefs, even when they are very different from our own, is such an important step in building bridges of respect and open communication. Jehovah’s Witnesses show real sincerity and dedication in living by their interpretation of God’s Word.² Recognizing their devotion and trying to understand their perspective, instead of just focusing on where we disagree, can lead to more meaningful and kind interactions. By exploring the Catholic view on Jehovah’s Witnesses, we can gain insight into the theological differences that shape their beliefs. This understanding allows for a richer dialogue, where questions can be asked and diverse viewpoints can be discussed respectfully. In turn, this openness fosters an environment where both sides can learn from each other while still holding true to their convictions. By actively engaging with Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs explained, individuals can appreciate the nuances that underpin their faith. This approach not only deepens our understanding but also cultivates an atmosphere of empathy and respect. Ultimately, recognizing the value in different perspectives enriches our community interactions and encourages peaceful coexistence.

As followers of Christ, we’re all encouraged to love our neighbors. A beautiful part of that love is making the effort to understand them, listening with open hearts, and speaking with kindness, even when our beliefs don’t align. May this exploration help foster a spirit of respectful conversation and deeper understanding in all our communities.