What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe?

Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians, but their beliefs differ from most other Christian traditions. They believe in one God, Jehovah, and that Jesus is his son but not God himself. They don’t celebrate birthdays or most holidays, which they trace to pagan origins. They refuse blood transfusions on biblical grounds. They go door to door because preaching is a core obligation. And they believe we’re living in the last days before God’s Kingdom on earth.

1 · MindWhat people believe, and how they know

Jehovah’s Witnesses emerged from a Bible study movement in the 1870s led by Charles Taze Russell in Pittsburgh. They now number about 8.7 million active members worldwide (their term: publishers). They see themselves as restoring first-century Christianity.

Key theological positions: They reject the Trinity. In their view, Jehovah God is supreme; Jesus Christ is the firstborn of God’s creation, divine but subordinate; the Holy Spirit is God’s active force, not a separate person. They use their own Bible translation, the New World Translation (1950, revised 2013).

They believe 144,000 people will rule with Jesus in heaven (Revelation 7:4, 14:1). The remainder of the faithful will be resurrected to live on a restored paradise earth. Death is described as a sleep, unconsciousness, not a state of awareness.

They refuse blood transfusions and blood-containing products, based on Acts 15:29 and Leviticus 17:14. They decline to vote in elections, serve in military, or salute flags, because they consider political allegiance incompatible with loyalty to God’s Kingdom.

Birthdays and holidays including Christmas and Easter are not celebrated; they trace their origins to non-Christian practices. Witnesses are active in disaster relief and operate one of the most-translated websites in the world (jw.org).

What each tradition or community says

Jehovah’s Witnesses

They see themselves as restoring authentic Christianity, free from traditions that accumulated over centuries. The name Jehovah’s Witnesses comes from Isaiah 43:12: ‘You are my witnesses,’ says Jehovah.

Mainstream Christianity

Most Christian denominations consider Witnesses’ rejection of the Trinity a departure from core Christian teaching established in the early church councils (Nicaea, 325 CE). The conversations can be tense.

At the door

When Jehovah’s Witnesses come to your door, they’re fulfilling what they believe is a scriptural obligation. You can decline politely. Most appreciate being treated with basic courtesy, even if you disagree.

2 · HeartWhat it feels like

Many people have complicated feelings about Jehovah’s Witnesses, from the repeated door knocks to the grief of having a family member shunned for leaving the faith. Those experiences are real and worth naming.

The people who knock are usually sincere. They believe they have something urgent to share. A polite ‘no thank you’ closes the conversation without anyone getting hurt.

If a Witness neighbor has children who don’t celebrate birthdays at school, a small note to the teacher and a low-key approach from classmates goes a long way.

They came to the door twice last year. Both times, polite as could be. I’m not going to their meetings, but I did appreciate that they remembered my name.Neighbor Radio

3 · HandsHow to be a good neighbor

If you’re curious about their beliefs, a conversation with a Witness neighbor is probably the fastest route. They’re trained to explain their faith and generally glad to do it.

If you want to understand their medical decisions (blood refusal) or why a colleague misses holiday parties, a direct, respectful question is almost always welcome.

This weekNext time a Jehovah’s Witness comes to your door, try treating the conversation the way you’d want someone to treat you if you came to share something you believed in.

SourcesWhere it is in the scriptures

Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament)

Leviticus 17:14 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture
Isaiah 43:12 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture

New Testament

Revelation 7:4 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture
Acts 15:29 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture

Plain wordsWhat do these words mean?

Trinity: The Christian belief that there is one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not three gods.
Revelation: Something people believe God has shown or told them. Also the last book of the Bible.

All the words →

Four questions to take with you

From Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, about the stranger who stopped to help. We call it the Samaritan Test.

Did they see? Or look right past?
Did they stop? Even when it was inconvenient?
Did it cost them? Time, money, comfort, reputation?
Did they treat the person like a person? Not like a label?

Try it on: someone whose sincere religious beliefs lead them to decisions you’d never make yourself. Have you ever asked them, seriously, why?

Quick questions

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Christian?

They identify as Christian and follow the Bible. Most other Christian traditions don’t recognize them as Christian because of the rejection of the Trinity, among other differences.

Why won’t they take a blood transfusion?

They interpret several Bible passages as prohibiting the ingestion of blood, which they extend to transfusions. It’s a sincere religious conviction. Medical authorities and families have debated the legal limits of this.

What happens if a Jehovah’s Witness leaves the faith?

Members who leave and are disfellowshipped may be shunned by family members who remain. This is one of the most painful aspects of the community for those who exit.

Sources and research

How this answer was made

Written in plain words by the Neighbor Radio team. Each faith's and community's section is checked by someone from that faith or community. Until then, this page says so. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We read every note and fix mistakes.

What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe?