Who founded the Jehovah's Witnesses?

Answer 1

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started with Charles Taze Russell.

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, started by a man named Charles Russell who also formed the Watchower Bible and Tract Society in 1879, which is a legal instrument of Jehovah's Witnesses. At first they were known only as Bible Students, but in 1931 they adopted the Scriptural name Jehovah's Witnesses. (Isa. 43:10-12) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their form of worship is not new, but a restoration of first century Christianity.

FURTHER Joseph Rutherford was the president of the Watchtower Society when the name of the orgnization was changed from the International Bible Students Association, to the biblical name Jehovah's Witnesses. (Isaiah 43:10,11) Jehovah's Witnesses do not credit their beginning, founding, or teachings to any human. They claim not to hold strictly to the teachings of Russell. They claim to realize that he had an incomplete knowledge, citing, as the basis of their claim, Proverbs 4:18, which indicates that the 'path of the righteous ones is like a light that gets brighter and brighter.' They thus claim to make adjustments to their teachings as new light comes to the fore. Supposedly to make the organization truly "theocratic," the Watchtower Society does not allow its President preside in any way over the teaching aspect of the organization. Many present-day members of the Watchtower Society deny that they even know exactly who the current President of the Society is. Instead, they claim to believe that the true founder, leader, and teacher of the organization is none other than Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:18; Revelaltion 1:16-20) A LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION ON THE STATEMENT ABOVE Currently, the arrangement of the organization is that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is the teaching arm of the worldwide congregation. Most of us do not know the names of these individuals. This body operates as one body, with no member of it excercising any authority over the others. There is no one designated "president" or "head" of this group, since they recognize that Jesus Christ is the true Head of the congregation according to the scriptures. They operate under the legal name, "The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses." Their function is strickly to teach the congregation. The Watchtower Society is the publishing arm of the organization, and it is the tool used by the Governing Body to dispense information. It is a legal corporation, recognized as such by the governmental authorities. As an incorporated entity, they are required to have a president, secretary, and treasurer. No member of the Governing Body may occupy any seat on the Watchtower Society, and vice versa. So now, unlike in years past when Joseph Rutherford was the president and head of the Governing Body, the Watchtower Society and the Governing Body have been separated from each other into two units that, while working in cooperation with one another, function as two separate and distinct entities.

The very first faithful witness of Jehovah God was Abel. (See Hebrews 11:4 and Genesis 4). Jehovah'sWitnesses would not recognise any human founder since they believ all Christian belief to be founded on Scripture as revealed through the Bible.

However the modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses is generally recognised to have been founded by Charles Taze Russell, who in the 1870's established a bible study group in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., which is now a part of Pittsburgh. He eventually went on to become the first president of the Watchtower Tract Society which remains one of Jehovah's Witnesses legal entities for publishing their literature.

He died in 1916.

Most people would say that the founder was Charles Taze Russell who founded the group in 1879. He also began publishing the Watchtower magazine. In 1912 Russell admitted to perjury and (under oath) to not knowing Greek, Hebrew, or Latin. The next year he lost a law suit against a newspaper which exposed a scam he had run selling "Miracle Wheat." In the case it came out that the Watchtower was little more than a moneymaking scheme for Russell, who owned 99% of the shares in the holding company the profits went to. In the same year his wife sued him for divorce on the grounds of "his conceit, egotism, domination and improper conduct toward other women." He was was deported from Canada in 1916 and died the same year. During his life, Russell warned members (repeated by the Watchtower in 1981) not to read the Bible exclusively or there would be a danger that they would revert back to orthodox Christian beliefs quite quickly. To prevent this, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society continues to publish huge amounts of literature which is compulsory reading for members. (It's also a huge money-spinner for the Watchtower.)

CHARLES T. RUSSELL

Most Jehovah's Witnesses would answer, Charles Taze Russell in the latter half of the 19th century.

Jehovah. Isaiah 43:12 ... you are my witnesses...

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started with Charles Taze Russell.

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started with Charles Taze Russell.

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started with Charles Taze Russell.

Without Jehovah god's will nothing happens..so Jehovah god is the founder of Jehovah's witnesses...

Judge Rutherford. Judge Rutherford was the president o the Watchtower Society when the name of the orgnization was changed from the International Bible Students Association, to the biblical name Jehovah's Witnesses. (Isaiah 43:10,11) However, the International Bible Students Association was founded by Charles Russel in the late 1800's. But, going further back than that, we trace our beliefs back to the first century Christian congregation.

The Modern day history Jehovah's Witnesses started in July 1879 century with a small group of bible students lead by one Charles Taze Russell. These individuals endeavored to find bible truths independent of popular church dogma and in doing so realised the need to look back to the 'church' or congregational teachings of the first century christians.

Thus while these individuals played a leading role in the re-establishment in the 20th century of true Christianity, Jehovah's Witnesses (as this group eventually came to be known) base their beliefs on the teachings of Christ and thus view Jesus himself as their "founder". They recognize the legitimacy of no governmental authority, since they believe all earthly authority is of Satan. They will not serve in the military, salute the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, vote, run for office, or serve as officials of labor unions. No matter how peculiar their doctrines, they deserve to be complimented on their determination and single-minded zeal. However, as Paul might have said concerning them, "I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge" (Rom. 10:2, NIV).

From one of ex-Jehovah's Witnesses!!!

ANCIENT ROOTS According to the Bible, there have been faithful witnesses of Jehovah all the way back to Abel, one of Adam and Eve's sons. We can read about these at Hebrews 11:1-12:1, where it speaks of a "great cloud of witnesses" which includes such well-known Bible names such as Abel, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, and more. We can even add Jesus to that list, because in Revelation 1:5, Jesus himself is called "the Faithful Witness."

ONE SHOULD CONSIDER:

(from a Bible Student)

Charles Taze Russell did not believe in an authoritarian organization such as the Jehovah's Witnesses. Russell believed that Christians could be found amongst all denominations, and that the church did not need a visible headship, such as a governing body here on earth. Russell was associated with the Bible Students movement, and he was the main founder of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, but that legal entity did not control the activities of the congregations of the Bible Students. Russell believed in the religion that was started by Jesus and the apostles, and did not seek to start a new religion.

Joseph Rutherford is the real founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization, since no such organization existed in the days of Russell. After Russell died, Rutherford use the legal entity as a basis for form a new religious organization, claiming it to be the "God's visible organization on earth." By 1930, most of the earlier Bible Students movement had rejected Rutherford's new organization, and they rejected Rutherford's new doctrines that would deny their central doctrine of the "ransom for all." The Bible Students movement was existing and carrying on its affairs without Rutherford or Rutherford's new organization and teachings. In order to distinguish his organization from the Bible Students movement, in 1931, Rutherford had the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" adopted to distinguish his new organization from the Bible Students movement.

With this in mind, it is misleading to associate Charles Taze Russell with an organization (Jehovah's Witnesses) that he did not believe in.

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started with Charles Taze Russell.

Most Jehovah's Witnesses would answer, Charles Taze Russell in the latter half of the 19th century.

Jehovah. Isaiah 43:12 ... you are my witnesses...

The Jehovah's Witnesses believe their religion is the restoration of believers in biblical times. The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses began in the 1870 with a group of bible student one of which was Charles Taze Russell, the first President of the Watchtower Bible Society. Before he got his religious career well underway, Russell promoted what he called "miracle wheat," which he sold at sixty dollars per bushel. He claimed it would grow five times as well as regular wheat. In fact, it grew slightly less well than regular wheat, as was established in court when Russell was sued. Later he marketed a fake cancer cure and what he termed a "millennial bean" (which a wag has said probably got that name because it took a thousand years to sprout).

The modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses started with Charles Taze Russell.

(This could be answered in a number of ways, but the following might best explain 'who' and 'how' it happened.)

The name 'Jehovah's Witnesses' was adopted by a group of Christians who were known as 'Bible Students'. They felt the name 'Bible Students' did not speak adequately to who they were and what they were all about. They considered themselves MORE THAN simply 'students'. They were really 'Bible Teachers', but then that's not too unique a name. Others were calling themselves 'teachers'.

So they looked very closely at what their real purpose is as Christians.

Unlike the other religions, they alone worshiped Jehovah God. Others worshiped a god who 'torments eternally'. This was not the God of the 'Bible Students'. They distanced themselves from such worshipers. But they didn't just 'worship' Jehovah; - - - they spoke about him and his purposes. They 'witnessed' to others about Jehovah. They didn't call themselves 'Jehovah's Teachers'; neither 'Jehovah's Worshipers'. They chose the designation 'Jehovah's Witnesses' in 1931. It was a unanimous decision made by an official 'Resolution'; and attested to. (So we really don't make a big ado of any one individual with coming up with the idea of that designation.)

Interestingly: before 1931, that unique name was available to anyone in the world. But no one wanted it. They rejected such a name. To this day, many 'despise' that name; it makes their stomachs crawl. The 'Bible Students' were eager and grateful to adopt that unique name.

Also of interest: The whole world has accepted that designation of us. This is quite something, that everyone agrees that we are in fact 'Jehovah's (apostrophy s = belonging to Jehovah) Witnesses' (plural = a group, or more than one). Many don't realize that by rejecting that designation for themselves, they may be sealing their own fate. (Same principle as in Matthew 10:32,33 Good News Translation = 'belong to me') Russell taught his followers the non-existence of hell and the annihilation of unsaved people (a doctrine he picked up from the Adventists), the non-existence of the Trinity (he said only the Father, Jehovah, is God), the identification of Jesus with Michael the Archangel, the reduction of the Holy Spirit from a person to a force, the mortality (not immortality) of the soul, and the return of Jesus in 1914. When 1914 had come and gone, with no Jesus in sight, Russell modified his teachings and claimed Jesus had, in fact, returned to Earth, but that his return was invisible. His visible return would come later, but still very soon. It would result in the final conflict between God and the Devil-the forces of good and the forces of evil-in which God would be victorious. This conflict is known to Witnesses as the battle of Armageddon, and just about everything the Witnesses teach centers around this doctrine.

AN ACTUAL ANSWER TO THE QUESTION

A man named Charles Taze Russell, who had strong ties to the 19th century Millerite/Adventist movement, founded the "Bible Students" is the 1870's. When Russell died in 1916, a man named Joseph Franklin Rutherford took control of the "Bible Students" and began teaching differently to Russel. There grew a great divide among the "Bible Students". And Rutherford and his followers later adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" to separate themselves from the rest of the "Bible Students".

Answer 2

Most Jehovah's Witnesses would answer, Charles Taze Russell in the latter half of the 19th century.

Jehovah. Isaiah 43:12 ... you are my witnesses...