Jehovah’s Witnesses—Who Are We?

We come from hundreds of ethnic and language backgrounds, yet we are united by common goals. Above all, we want to honor Jehovah, the God of the Bible and the Creator of all things. We do our best to imitate Jesus Christ and are proud to be called Christians. Each of us regularly spends time helping people learn about the Bible and God’s Kingdom. Because we witness, or talk, about Jehovah God and his Kingdom, we are known asJehovah’s Witnesses.

What Sort of People Are Jehovah’s Witnesses?

How many of Jehovah’s Witnesses do you know? Some of us may be your neighbors, work colleagues, or classmates. Or we may have engaged you in Bible discussions. Who really are we, and why do we publicly share our beliefs?

We are ordinary people. We come from various backgrounds and social conditions. Some of us formerly practiced a different religion, while others did not believe in God. Before becoming Witnesses, however, all of us took the time to examine carefully the teachings of the Bible. (Acts 17:11) We agreed with what we learned, and then we made a personal choice to worship Jehovah God.

We benefit from studying the Bible. Like everyone else, we have to deal with problems and our own weaknesses. But by trying to apply Bible principles in our everyday lives, we have experienced a marked improvement in our quality of life. (Psalm 128:1, 2) That is one reason why we share with others the good things that we have learned from the Bible.

We live by godly values. These values, as taught in the Bible, promote well-being and respect for others, along with such qualities as honesty and kindness. They contribute to the development of healthy and productive members of society, and they encourage family unity and morality. Convinced that “God is not partial,” we belong to a spiritual brotherhood that is truly international, free of racial and political barriers. Although we are ordinary, we make up a unique people.—Acts 4:13; 10:34, 35.

Why Are We Called Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Many people think that Jehovah’s Witnesses is the name of a new religion. However, over 2,700 years ago, the servants of the only true God were described as his “witnesses.” (Isaiah 43:10-12) Until 1931, we were known as Bible Students. Why did we adopt the name Jehovah’s Witnesses?

It identifies our God. According to ancient manuscripts, God’s name, Jehovah, appears thousands of times in the Bible. In many translations this name has been replaced by titles, such as Lord or God. Yet, the true God had revealed himself to Moses by his personal name, Jehovah, saying: “This is my name forever.” (Exodus 3:15) In this way, he distinguished himself from all false gods. We are proud to bear God’s holy name.

It describes our mission. A long line of ancient people, beginning with the righteous man Abel, bore witness about their faith in Jehovah. Throughout the centuries, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, and others joined this “great cloud of witnesses.” (Hebrews 11:4–12:1) Just as an individual may bear witness in court in behalf of an innocent person, we are determined to make known the truth about our God.

We are imitating Jesus. The Bible calls him “the faithful and true witness.” (Revelation 3:14) Jesus himself said that he ‘made God’s name known’ and kept ‘bearing witness to the truth’ about God. (John 17:26; 18:37) Christ’s genuine followers must, therefore, bear Jehovah’s name and make it known. This is what Jehovah’s Witnesses are endeavoring to do.

What Can Be Found on Our Web Site?

Jesus Christ told his followers: “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.” (Matthew 5:16) To that end, we are making good use of modern technology, including the Internet. Our Web site, jw.org,is the official online source of information about the beliefs and activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses. What does it feature?

The Bible’s answers to commonly asked questions. You can find the answers to some of the most important questions that people have ever asked. Six of these are answered in the tractWould You Like to Know the Truth?which is available online in over 400 languages. You can also find the New World Translation in over 100 languages and a number of Bible study aids, including the bookWhat Does the Bible Really Teach?and the current issues of The Watchtower and Awake! Many of these publications can be read or listened to online or downloaded in audio, PDF, or EPUB formats. You can even print out a few pages to share with an interested person in his own language! Video publications are available in scores of sign languages. You can download dramatic Bible readings, Bible dramas, and beautiful music to enjoy at your leisure.

Factual information about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Also posted are the latest news and video clips about our worldwide work, events affecting Jehovah’s Witnesses, and our humanitarian relief efforts. You can find notices of upcoming conventions and contact information for our branch offices.

By these means, we are shining the light of truth into the remotest parts of the earth. People from every continent, including Antarctica, are benefiting. We pray that “the word of Jehovah may keep spreading rapidly” into all the earth, to God’s glory.—2 Thessalonians 3:1.