What year did the Jehovah Witness religion begin?

Answer 1

ANSWERIn the 1870's there was a small Bible study group that expanded from a handful of Bible students in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, into the worldwide organization of over 7 million in 236 lands, and in hundreds of languages worldwide.

JW's believe that their religion is not something new, but a restoration of first century Christianity.

ANSWERHowever, the historical assumption is that the Charles Taze Russell was the founder of what is now called Jehovah's Witnesses, although Russell did not believe in an organization such as the Jehovah's Witnesses. The name was first taken at Columbus Ohio in 1931 as a way of differentiating between the Watch Tower organization and another group which consisted of most of the earlier Bible Student movement that had rejected Russell's new organization doctrines and other teachings. These retained the designation as the Bible Students movement, being served by several publishing houses, such as the Dawn Bible Students Association and the Pastoral Bible Institute. ANSWERJehovah's Witnesses do not claim to have Charles Russell as their "leader" or any other human for that matter. They claim recognition of the truthfulness of the words at Colossians 1:18 which indicates that the head (or leader) of the Christian congregation is the Christ. The qualified men who take the lead in the congregations of JW's are regarded as under-shepherds, and do not assume high sounding titles such as "Rabbi, Father, Reverend," or the like. In order to be recognized as a legal entity in the US and many countries it is necessary to have a body organized that has a designated president, secretary, and treasurer. Russell was the first president of the legal corporation, followed by Rutherford, and the others. Watchtower Society presidents assume their duties with no fanfare among JW's. In fact, many of JW's do not even know who the current president is. AnswerSome claim that regardless of any ignorance on the part of JW's themselves about their own history and doctrines present and past, Charles T Russell was the founder of what came to be known later as the Jehovah's Witnesses. It is claimed that all the major doctrines they now hold are identical to what he taught, although the Jehovah's Witnesses rejected the basis of the central doctrine of atonement as Russell had taught it, and they also reject the major doctrine of Russell of no "central authority" other than Jesus and the apostles through the writings of the Bible, as well as many other teachings of Russell. FURTHERJWs claim that Russell's had a role in the modern day organization of Jehovah's Witnesses (although Russell himself did not believe in such an organization). However, Jehovah's Witnesses profess that they are not beholding to any one man's teachings. It is avowed that all of JWs' teachings are based entirely on the Bible. It is claimed that much of what Russell taught are still beliefs of JWs because they have been proven to be true over the course of time and close Bible scrutiny. For example, such teachings of his include that the name of GOD almighty is Jehovah, (something that even the churches of Christendom know) that Jesus is the Son of GOD, and is the appointed ruler of GOD's Kingdom. The Apostle Paul "founded" several congregations in the first century. It did not mean that these congregations were following the doctrine of Paul. They learned from Paul, but recognized that what they were learning was from GOD's word. It was GOD's teachings. Russell, nor any of the Watchtower Society's members claim infallibility. Russell, from the very start, disclaimed that his studies should be considered prophecy, or that he was a prophet. As a contrast, the Pope claims to be infallible, something that JWs do not claim.

Jehovah's Witnesses aver recognition of the truthfulness of Proverbs 4:18 that states that the "path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter" so we are continually being refined and adjusted in our understanding, just as the first century Christians were in their understanding. It is claimed that if Russell were looked to as the sole "leader," then -- projecting their concept of "organization" back to that time, the organization would have died back when he did in 1916. The fact is, the organization is growing more and more, and is even the fastest growing religion in many countries. Isaiah 60:22 speaks prophetically that "The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation." When Russell died, the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses -- being projected back to his day -- was just a literally a handful, a few thousand, a "small one," but today, the growth is nothing short of phenomenal, with active ministers of JWs number over 7 million, which is a "mighty nation," greater than the number of the populations of over half of the countries on earth today.

While Jehovah's Witnesses today refer back to the days of Russell, and of the Bible Students of that time as representative of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization, in reality, there was no such organization at that time, since Russell did not believe in a "central" controlling authority such the Jehovah's Witnesses organization has today. Because of this, many believe the real beginning of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization was with Joseph Rutherford, after the death of Charles Taze Russell.

Answer 2

There are several answers to that question:

According to Hebrews 11:4 & 12:1, Abel, son of Adam, was the very first faithful witness of Jehovah God.

Then, the nation of Israel were the first organized group of people referred to as Jehovah's Witnesses by none other than Jehovah himself in Isaiah 43:10-12: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; ... therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God." (ASV)

Next, after Israel proved unfaithful, the Christian Congregation became his Witnesses, with Jesus Christ, the "Faithful and True Witness," as the head of the congregation. (Revelation 1:5 & 3:14)

Much later, in the late 1800's, true Christianity began to be restored by a small group who called themselves "Bible Students." Later they formed the International Bible Students Association.

These ones realized that anyone, even non-Christians and Atheists, could be properly called "Bible students" if they actually did study The Bible, regardless of their motives. Also, there were many who were (and are) called Christians who have a great variety of differing and divisive beliefs and practices.

But this faithful group of Christians, wanting to serve Almighty God Jehovah under the headship of his Son Jesus Christ, would continue to be Christians, and needed to distinguish themselves from those nominal (in name only) "Christians" who did not actually practice true Christianity so, in 1931 they adopted the Scriptural name that honors the Universal Sovereign, and thereafter became known as Jehovah's Witnesses.

Additional Opinion

The group, Jehovah's Witnesses, were founded in 1879 in Pennsylvania USA by Charles Taze Russell who began publishing a monthly magazine of religious rhetoric to put forward his theological ideas (Arianism was discredited as a heresy way back in the early church). He was a prolific writer producing over 50,000 printed pages. Russell was a charismatic person, but he was also a self-confessed fraud - he claimed to be an expert in Biblical Greek but could not even recite the Greek alphabet when cross-examined in court during a case where he was accused of fraud in selling 'miracle wheat' at great profit.

In 1881, he founded The Watchtower Society for the purpose of selling more of his religious tracts but Russell's beliefs offended many Christians and he was branded a heretic. He called himself 'Pastor' Russell, but he had no training nor qualifications for the post, nor was he ever ordained as a minister, and large clouds hung over his life especially with regards to many incidences (not unfounded) of marital infidelity.

After many schisms and lots of infighting, Joseph Rutherford became the leader of the Watchtower society (despite many disputes and irregularities in the process that elected him) which by now was making huge profits from its sale of tract material. In 1931 the society changed its name to 'The Jehovah's Witnesses', the name by which we know this organisation today.

Answer 3

There were always true Christians

but the name was originated from

this scripture:

"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. (Isaiah 43:10)

So this scripture is saying Jehovah's Witnesses are

Witnesses of Jehovah - The true God - Hence they

are Jehovah's Witnesses.

I hope this helped! This is the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses:

Watchtower.org

Christian Answer

The Jehovah's Witness organisation was started in the 19th Century by Charles Taize Russell. He set up the 'Watchtower' Society with the purpose of printing and selling religious tracts. Rather than believe all that the Church, the Bible, theologians, Bible scholars, and devout Christians had taught right from the time of Jesus himself, he revisited 'Arian Theology' which was deemed heretical even in the early Church. This belief refuses to accept Jesus as God iincarnate, but instead dismisses the Trinitarian nature of God as described throughout scripture, and expressly by Christ himself at the end of Matthew's gospel.

As stated above, the Jehovah's Witnesses were founded by a self-confessed charlatan Russell, in the 19th Century, who set himself up as a bible expert and pastor, despite having no education in Bible interpretation, having no training or calling to ministry, and having no understanding of either Hebrew or Greek necessary for correct scriptural understanding. As a charismatic leader, he drew the unwary to him so that his publishing of tracts under the Watchtower name created great wealth. JWs will deny this, of course, but the Jehovah's Witness organisation still tends to prey on those outside the cult and still distribute their tract material, and still peddle a bogus theology that is not only harmful, but unBiblical and wrong.

The Christian Church, however, can trace its roots back to Biblical times. On the whole it does not merely rely on scriptural interpretation for its doctrine, but also on the tradition it has enjoyed throughout the last 2000 years, back through countless eminent theologians, right back to the desert fathers and the early Church, many of whom could actually remember the apostles themselves as Christian doctrine of the divinity of Jesus Christ was formulated.

Answer 4

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 disagreement 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.
1879

Answer 5

To be quite truthful, Jehovah's Witnesses don't consider themselves a 'denomination'.

Cambridge Online Dictionary, defines 'denomination' as: a religious group which has slightly different beliefs from other groups which share the same religion.

Then it cites this example: Protestantism and Roman Catholicism are both denominations of the Christian faith.

Well Jehovah's Witnesses don't consider Protestantism and Catholicism as 'Christian' religions. Those religions subscribe to the Trinity concept, which originates in pagandom, not from the Bible. Those religions believe that God 'eternally torments' souls in a fiery hell (or purgatory); this also originates in pagandom, not from the Bible. Those religions also celebrate Christmas, which originates in pagandom, not from the early Christians.

Just because they insert the word 'Christ' into Christmas; does not make it 'Christian'. Just because they speak of God the Father, & Jesus, & the holy spirit; does not make 'the Trinity' 'Christian'. Those are all pagan things, with a Bible word plastered over it.

By that explanation, you can see why JWs do NOT consider those religions as Christian; and thus we are NOT a DENOMINATION of those Pagan religions (under the guise of the word 'Christian'.)

If your question inquires about how long Jehovah's Witnesses have been around: - - - The term 'Jehovah's Witnesses' is a 'designation' that applies to any personage that 'witnesses' for / about Jehovah God. All angels are 'Jehovah's Witnesses'. Jesus was one of 'Jehovah's Witnesses'. The ancient nation of Israel were 'Jehovah's Witnesses' (until Jehovah rejected them as his name people.)

Hebrews chapter 11 contains a partial LIST of other Witnesses of Jehovah God going all the way back to Noah, even Abel (son of Adam & Eve). That's why Hebrews 12:1 calls them 'a cloud of witnesses'; (witnesses of Jehovah God of course).

Therefore 'Jehovah's Witnesses' had their beginnings way before even the creation of mankind on earth; even before the creation of the physical Universe. Angels are not a 'denomination' of any group. Neither are Jehovah's Witnesses today. We would never proclaim any connection with other religions who 'proclaim themselves' as 'Christians'.

Jehovah's Witnesses are comprised of people who have 'resigned' from their religions (by writing a letter to their former religion). Among us are former Catholics, Lutherans, Hindus, tribal religions, etc etc. They abandoned their former beliefs, celebrations, and practices; and are now worshiping Jehovah God in 'spirit and truth.'