When did Jehovah's Witnesses begin?

Answer 1

According to "Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom", a small group of individuals, including Charles Taze Russell, started meeting together in 1870 in Pennsylvania. In 1877, Russell started writing and wrote the pamphlet, "The Object and Manner of Our Lord's Return". Then, in 1879, he started publishing "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence" which latter became known simply as "The Watch Tower" which is still being published today.

Answer 2

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses began in 1870.

Jehovah's witnesses were started before the founding of the World, Jesus Christ is the first Jehovah Witness. "Proverbs 8:22-31, 32-36". But on earth Sovereign Lord Jehovah chose a faithful Nation as his witnesses, the descendents of the faithful Abraham through Isaac by Israel (Jacob) the Nation of Israel. "Isaiah 43:1-4, 5-7, 10-11, 12-13".

And in our days Sovereign Lord Jehovah had rebuilt the booth of David meaning: that after the Nation of Israel had become unfaithful on their covenant at Moab with Sovereign Lord Jehovah, "Deuteronomy 29:1, 2-6, 10-13, 14-18, 19-21, 22-29; 30:11-14, 15-16.

So after this unfaithful nation broke the covenant the malediction befall that unfaithful nation "Deuteronomy 30:17-20" and after that unfaithful nation disowned and conspired against his faithful son Christ Jesus "Heb 10:28-29, 31".

Jehovah God disowned that unfaithful Israel, until the time of the appointed times of the nations were fulfilled after Jerusalem was trampled on by nations Sovereign Lord Jehovah again chose a nation this time a spiritual Israel "Romans 9:6; Acts 15:14-18".

So accordingly to Biblical analysis the you have seen that Jehovah Witnesses started before the founding of the world and that Jehovah God the Almighty is the one who founder of Jehovah's Witnesses after the creation of Jesus Christ. Thank you may Sovereign Lord Jehovah Bless.
The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses began in 1870.

Answer 3

The modern-day history of Jehovah's Witnesses began with the forming of a group for Bible study in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., in the early 1870's. At first they were known only as Bible Students, but in 1931 they adopted the Scriptural name Jehovah's Witnesses. (Isa. 43:10-12) Their beliefs and practices are not new but are a restoration of first-century Christianity.

Another answer from our community:

The Jehovah's Witness religion originated in America with Charles Taze Russell who was known for making prophesies that did not come true. His followers were called Bible Students. Russell was succeeded by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, after which The Bible Students became known as Jehovah's Witnesses. For some ill-conceived reason Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God has rejected his people Israel in favour of them.

Answer 4

Jehovah's Witnesses are a natural evolution of the movement away from the old "church" which was solely controlled by the state. They started in the US in about 1870. Instead of encouraging old existing religious dogma into the new "Christian" religion they stepped far away and actually studied the Bible away from any dogma of culturally inflicted "religious ideas".

This is similar to what William Bradford did, to study just the Bible and forget the religious dogma of his day. People who honestly want the truth of the Bible do this and find out what is actually written. Many have been killed for this.

The fist people who were scorned for this were the Martin Luther's who caused much concern.

The publishing of the Bible in English in mass was the cause of people actually getting to read what was in the Bible for the first time. The King James Version is still used by Jehovah's Witnesses and they do Bible Studies with any version of the bible that is not just a transliteration or doctored version, but a word for word translation.

If you take the evolution of the church and state control and remove the state, and remove the original state controlled dogma and just read the Bible, that is the basis of the Jehovah's Witnesses. They remove the holidays that are not contained in the Bible. They only honor the days that are specified in the Bible.

The Protestants (protesters of the state controlled churches), the Lutherans, the Baptists, Methodists, Modern Catholics, Mormons and the rest of the break away "cults" from the big church owned by the Roman and British royalty and other states, did not take the steps as far away from that original dogma and just go with what is actually written in the Bible.

The Jehovah's Witnesses do that as best as they can within the limits of their human minds. They are to be commended. They are feared for no reason by many "Christian" churches.

They used to be called Bible Students, because that is all they did. There is none of the emotionalism and no paid clergy in this religion. That is most refreshing and removes the need to "tickle the audience" to get the collection plate filled.

They never ask for money, and they have no paid priests or paid clergy. This is a threat to any paid clergy and is part of the reason for the scorn. Their Kingdom Halls are very simple and have none of the flash that money making churches have.

The organization is open and friendly and I have never met an active Jehovah's witness that was not just a really nice kind and loving person.

The best way to find out what they are about is to go to the Kingdom Hall or to have a Bible Study with them. They do not inflict anything, but only study the Bible with you. Every service goes over the concepts they learned from the Bible. There is no coercion ever but when the students understand what they show is actually in the Bible, they are the fastest growing religion today. They do not assume anything but just see if you "get it" or not.

I am not a Jehovah's witness. I am just a student of humanity, science and religions.

AnswerAccording to the Bible, the line of witnesses of Jehovah reaches back to faithful Abel. Hebrews 11:4-12:1 says: "By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than Cain . . . By faith Noah, after being given divine warning of things not yet beheld, showed godly fear . . . By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed in going out into a place he was destined to receive as an inheritance . . . By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh, choosing to be ill-treated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin . . . So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

With reference to Jesus Christ, the Bible states: "These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful andtrue witness, the beginning of the creation by God." Of whom was he a witness? He himself said that he made his Father's name manifest. He was the foremost witness of Jehovah.-Rev. 3:14; John 17:6.

Interestingly, some of the Jews asked whether the activity of Jesus Christ represented "a new teaching." (Mark 1:27) Later, some Greeks thought the Apostle Paul was introducing a "new teaching." (Acts 17:19, 20) It was new to the ears of those who were hearing it, but the important thing was that it was the truth, in full harmony with God's Word.

The modern-day history of Jehovah's Witnesses began with the forming of a group for Bible study in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., in the early 1870's. At first they were known only as Bible Students, but in 1931 they adopted the Scriptural name Jehovah's Witnesses. (Isa. 43:10-12) Their beliefs and practices are not new but are a restoration of first-century Christianity.

AnswerAs above

10 "YOU are my witnesses," is the utterance of Jehovah, "even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. 11 I-I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior." 12 "I myself have told forth and have saved and have caused [it] to be heard, when there was among YOU no strange [god]. So YOU are my witnesses," is the utterance of Jehovah, "and I am God. 13 Also, all the time I am the same One; and there is no one effecting deliverance out of my own hand. I shall get active, and who can turn it back?" (Isaiah 43:10-12). New World Translation (The most accurate translation of the original or proper copies of the holy scriptures in Hebrew and greek)

AnswerHistorically speaking, the name Jehovah's Witnesses was taken at Columbus Ohio in 1931. This was done in order to make a distinction between the Watch Tower and those who followed more closely the teachings of Charles T Russell, these being known as the Dawn Bible Students.

Doctrinally, the Jehovah's Witnesses began with the bible studies of Charles T. Russell, much like the Pilgrims of the USA they fell away from the doctrine of the Church because of reading the actual bible and understanding it, the KJV. although they diverged somewhat from him, but owe many of their major understandings and emphases to him. Some of their teachings are repetitions of ancient dogma, such as denying the full deity of Jesus Christ, as believed by the main churches to be taught in the Bible.

Although they regularly quote Bible verses, these are often from their altered NWT, which, rather than following the Greek and Hebrew, amends it to suit their doctrine and alters the clear textual meaning in numerous places. They thus cannot rightfully claim to have a faith which has its origins in any Biblical location or time, since they do not adhere to ancient Christian or Biblical doctrine. Rather, both historically and doctrinally, their faith is of recent origin, Charles T. Russell being born in 1852, he thus being the 'where' as far as their origin.

The claims of Jehovah's Witnesses to come as descendants from any line of Bible characters whatsoever is quite obviously false. This is so since they reject nearly every major Bible doctrine or alter it to suit their theology.

",...their altered NWT"

The above contributor makes several negative and uncorroborated assertions regarding the NWT (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures).

I've compared a variety of Bible translations/versions over the last 17 years and made extensive use of "Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Word" as well as "Strong's Concordance".

Each time a specific verse differs substantially from the AV or KJV I've researched and compared to determine why. What I've found is that the NWT is consistently the most literal translation.

I highly recommend asking for specifics verses in question and doing the word studies on any passage in question. "Vine's" and "Strong's" are now accessible via the internet. Years ago, I had to buy the hardcopies.

JW's do reject many widely held religious doctrines when these have no 'biblical' basis. For example: Immortality of the soul - simply Google "Plato immortal soul" and you'll find many unbiased resources confirming the philosophical origin of this popular teaching. The words 'immortal soul' do not appear in the Bible.

Answer 5

The Modern day history of Jehovah's witnesses began at the turn of the 20th Century with a group of bible students in American that wanted to examine bible teachings free from the tradition of the established churches. One of this group, Charles Taze Russell, helped organise and spearhead the work of preaching about what they learnt. The group grew in number and adopted the name Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931. Now 7 million strong Jehovah's Witnesses believe they have merely re-established the traditions of the first century christians and claim that anyone that represents the Creator, identified in the bible by the name JEHOVAH, can rightfully be referred to as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 6

1870-1916: Charles Taze Russell and the Bible Students In 1870, Charles Taze Russell and others formed an independent group to study the Bible; in particular, Russell cited contributions by Advent Christian Church pastor George W. Stetson, and George Storrs, an Adventist preacher and former Millerite.[22][23] In 1877 Russell jointly edited a religious journal, Herald of the Morning, with Nelson H. Barbour. In July 1879, after separating from Barbour, Russell began publishing the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence,[24] highlighting his interpretations of biblical chronology, with particular attention to his belief that the world was in "the last days".[25] In 1881, Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[26] to disseminate tracts, papers, doctrinal treatises and bibles; three years later, on December 15, 1884, Russell became the president of the Society when it was legally incorporated in Pennsylvania.[24] Watch Tower supporters gathered as autonomous congregations to study the Bible and Russell's writings. Russell firmly rejected as "wholly unnecessary" the concept of a formal organization for his followers, and declared that his group had no record of its members' names, no creeds, and no sectarian name.[27] The group became known as "Bible Students".[27] Russell died on October 31, 1916, and control of the Watch Tower magazine was temporarily passed to an Editorial Committee as outlined in Russell's will, with an Executive Committee in control of the Society.[28] == In January 1917, the Watch Tower Society's legal representative, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, was elected as its next president. A power struggle developed between Rutherford and four of the Society's Board of Directors, who objected to his style of leadership.[29][30] On July 17, 1917, Rutherford dismissed four of the directors, claiming they had not been legally elected.[31] He then announced the release of The Finished Mystery as the seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures; the book was widely advertised to the public as "a posthumous publication ... of Charles Taze Russell", but was actually written by two other Bible Students under the direction of Joseph Rutherford.[32][33] The Finished Mystery strongly criticised Catholic and Protestant clergy and Christian involvement in war.[34] Patriotic fervor during World War I and other animosities fueled persecution of the Bible Students in America and Europe,[35] including mob violence and tarring and feathering.[29] Citing this book, the United States federal government indicted Rutherford and the new board of directors for violation of the Espionage Act on May 7, 1918. They were found guilty and sentenced concurrently to 20 years' imprisonment.[36] During their imprisonment, elections for the Watch Tower directors again took place and Rutherford was re-elected as president.[37] In March 1919, the judgment against them was reversed and they were released from prison;[38] the charges were later dropped.[39][40][41][42] Opposition to Rutherford among the Bible Students began to mount, prompting a significant number of members to cut ties with the Watch Tower Society and form new organizations.[43] Rutherford continued to tighten and centralize organizational control of those who remained loyal to the Society, with the Brooklyn headquarters appointing a "director" in each congregation in 1919, and a year later instructing all congregation members who participated in the preaching work to report their preaching activity weekly.[27] In 1925, following a dispute over a proposed article, Rutherford dismissed the Watch Tower's Editorial Committee, giving him full control of the organization and of material published in the magazine.[30] On July 26, 1931, the name Jehovah's witnesseswas adopted by resolution at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, based on the American Standard Version's rendering of Isaiah 43:10: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah". In 1932, Rutherford eliminated the system of selecting elders by congregational vote. In 1938, he introduced a "theocratic" or "God-ruled" organizational system, under which, all appointments in congregations worldwide are made from the Brooklyn headquarters.[27] == At an international convention held at Cedar Point, in September 1922, a new emphasis was made on house-to-house preaching.[44] Significant changes in doctrine were made under Rutherford's leadership, including the 1918 announcement that Jewish patriarchs (such as Abraham and Isaac) would be resurrected in 1925, marking the beginning of Christ's thousand-year reign.[45][46] The failed expectations for 1925, coupled with other doctrinal changes, resulted in a dramatic reduction in attendance at their yearly Memorial, from 90,434 in 1925[47] to 17,380 in 1928.[48][49] By 1933, the timing of the beginning of Christ's presence (Greek: parousía), his enthronement as king, and the start of the "last days", were each moved to 1914.[45][50][51][52][53] From 1935, it was considered that converts to the movement, if worthy, would survive Armageddon and live on a paradise earth. Membership before this time was generally composed of those who believed they would be resurrected to live in heaven to rule over the earth with Christ.[54] As their interpretations of Scripture continued to develop, Witness publications taught that saluting the flag and standing for the national anthem are forms of idolatry. They were also instructed to refuse alternative service provided for conscientious objectors. (Objection to alternative civilian service was maintained until 1996, when it was deemed a 'conscience matter'.[55][56]) In Germany, Jehovah's Witnesses came under persecution, with as many as 5000 imprisoned in concentration camps.[57][58] Witnesses also experienced mob violence in the United States, and their activities were banned in Canada and Australia because of their refusal to accept military service.[59][60][61][62] See also: Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses

See also: Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany Nathan Knorr was named the third president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society following Rutherford's death in January 1942. Knorr instituted major new training programs - the Theocratic Ministry School for all congregation members, and the Gilead School for missionaries. He also organized large-scale conventions, which attracted as many as 253,000 Witnesses to sports stadiums in the United States, Canada and Germany,[63] and began a campaign of real estate acquisition in Brooklyn to expand the organisation's world headquarters. He commissioned a new translation of the Bible, which was released progressively from 1950 before being published as the complete New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in 1961. Knorr's vice-president, Frederick William Franz, became the religion's leading theologian,[64] and helped shape the further development of explicit rules of conduct among members, with a greater emphasis on disfellowshipping as a disciplinary measure.[65] Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their preaching from house to house.

From 1938 to 1955 the Witnesses launched a series of cases in the US Supreme Court to defend their right to worship and proselytize, winning 36 out of 45 cases.[66] Main article: Supreme Court cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses From 1966, Witness publications began using their interpretations of biblical chronology to heighten anticipation of Christ's thousand-year millennial reign beginning in late 1975.[67][68][69] Focus on 1975 was intensified with talks given at conventions;[70] in 1974 a Watch Tower Society newsletter commended Witnesses who had sold homes and property to devote themselves to preaching in the "short time" remaining.[71] The number of baptisms increased significantly, from about 59,000 in 1966 to more than 297,000 in 1974, but membership declined after expectations for the year were proved wrong.[72][73][74][75] In 1980, the Watch Tower Society admitted its responsibility in building up hope regarding 1975.[76] The offices of elder and ministerial servant were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments being made from headquarters.[77] In a major organizational overhaul in 1976, the power of the Watch Tower Society president was diminished, with authority for doctrinal and organizational decisions passed to the religion's Governing Body.[78] Reflecting these organizational changes, publications of Jehovah's Witnesses began using the capitalized name, Jehovah's Witnesses.[79] Prior to this, witnesses was consistently uncapitalized, except in headings and when quoting external sources. Since Knorr's death in 1977, the position of president has been occupied by Frederick Franz (1977-1992), Milton Henschel (1992-2000) and Don A. Adams (2000-). And I am an unbaptized publisher of Jehovah Witnesses.

Answer 7

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started in 1870. Charles Taze Russell*, raised as a Presybyterian who later associated with the Congregational Church, was searching for convincing answers to his questions. His frustration in not finding them in the established churches lead him to eventually undertake an independent study of the bible with some close associates from 1870 - 1875.

This small bible study group grew to about 30 individuals. He collaborated briefly with Nelson Homer Barbour, (1824-1908) a "Millerite" Adventist who agreed with him on the invisible nature of Christ's return to produce the journal "Herald of the Morning from 1876-1878.

Russell however was never an Adventist and voiced his disagreed with much of the Adventist teachings (notably in the physical return of Christ); that having been said, Russell's group found that there other individuals that had had similar views to theirs and publically acknowledged the value of the works of individuals such as Adventist Jonas Wendell, Henry Grew (1781-1862), Baptist Minister William Miller (1782-1849), Methodist-Episcopal minister George Storrs (1796-1879) and others.

Russell's study group of around 30 members merged with Barbours larger group in 1876 but due to a difference of opinion, the two groups split in May 22, 1879 and Russell cut of all contact with Barbour and it was at this point that Russell undertook to produce his own journal "Zion's Watchtower". The first issue was in July 1979.

The readers of "The Watchtower" formed bible study groups all over the country and sought to share the things they were learning. Russell died in 1916 but the Bible Students continued. They adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.

*Jehovah's Witnesses do not view Russell as their "founder" or a Prophet but a Minister in a position of leadership during the early days of their modern day organization.
The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started in 1870. Charles Taze Russell*, raised as a Presybyterian who later associated with the Congregational Church, was searching for convincing answers to his questions. His frustration in not finding them in the established churches lead him to eventually undertake an independent study of the bible with some close associates from 1870 - 1875.

This small bible study group grew to about 30 individuals. He collaborated briefly with Nelson Homer Barbour, (1824-1908) a "Millerite" Adventist who agreed with him on the invisible nature of Christ's return to produce the journal "Herald of the Morning from 1876-1878.

Russell however was never an Adventist and voiced his disagreed with much of the Adventist teachings (notably in the physical return of Christ); that having been said, Russell's group found that there other individuals that had had similar views to theirs and publically acknowledged the value of the works of individuals such as Adventist Jonas Wendell, Henry Grew (1781-1862), Baptist Minister William Miller (1782-1849), Methodist-Episcopal minister George Storrs (1796-1879) and others.

Russell's study group of around 30 members merged with Barbours larger group in 1876 but due to a difference of opinion, the two groups split in May 22, 1879 and Russell cut of all contact with Barbour and it was at this point that Russell undertook to produce his own journal "Zion's Watchtower". The first issue was in July 1979.

The readers of "The Watchtower" formed bible study groups all over the country and sought to share the things they were learning. Russell died in 1916 but the Bible Students continued. They adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.

*Jehovah's Witnesses do not view Russell as their "founder" or a Prophet but a Minister in a position of leadership during the early days of their modern day organization.
The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started in 1870. Charles Taze Russell, raised as a Presybyterian who later associated with the Congregational Church, was searching for convincing answers to his questions. His frustration in not finding them in the established churches lead him to eventually undertake an independent study of the bible with some close associates from 1870 - 1875.

This small bible study group grew to about 30 individuals. He collaborated briefly with Nelson Homer Barbour, (1824-1908) a "Millerite" Adventist who agreed with him on the invisible nature of Christ's return to produce the journal "Herald of the Morning from 1876-1878.

Russell however was never an Adventist and voiced his disagreed with much of the Adventist teachings (notably in the physical return of Christ); that having been said, Russell's group found that there other individuals that had had similar views to theirs and publically acknowledged the value of the works of individuals such as Adventist Jonas Wendell, Henry Grew (1781-1862), Baptist Minister William Miller (1782-1849), Methodist-Episcopal minister George Storrs (1796-1879) and others.

Russell's study group of around 30 members merged with Barbours larger group in 1876 but due to a difference of opinion, the two groups split in May 22, 1879 and Russell cut of all contact with Barbour and it was at this point that Russell undertook to produce his own journal "Zion's Watchtower". The first issue was in July 1979.

The readers of "The Watchtower" formed bible study groups all over the country and sought to share the things they were learning. Russell died in 1916 but the Bible Students continued. They adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.

Answer 8

According to "Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom", a small group of individuals, including Charles Taze Russell, started meeting together in 1870 in Pennsylvania. In 1877, Russell started writing and wrote the pamphlet, "The Object and Manner of Our Lord's Return". Then, in 1879, he started publishing "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence" which latter became known simply as "The Watch Tower" which is still being published today.

Answer 9

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses began in the United States.
The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started in the United States in 1870.