Why the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses”?
Jesus was very explicit in his instructions to those who followed him on earth. His parting directions as recorded in Acts 1:8 made it obvious the name that those bearing the good news of the kingdom should be known by.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Along with a commission to tell the whole world about Christ, his disciples were to receive two things that would make them ‘stand out from the crowd’;
- holy spirit
- the name of Christ
The holy spirit would enable the disciples of Christ to do powerful works, making it possible for a small group of believers to take the good news throughout all the nations of the earth. The holy spirit and the power it gave these 1st century evangelisers became a hallmark of their faith.
It’s also very clear from Acts 1:8 that the other gift these believers would receive would be the name of Christ. They would bear witness to him, they would bear his name. The became Christians.
Was it an option whether or not Christians would be known as witnesses of Christ? It would seem not. The book of Acts, which records the acts of the 1st century Christians, repeatedly emphasises how important the name Christ was. Peter and John were beaten and told to never speak about Jesus ever again, yet here is how they felt in Acts 5;
41 These, therefore, went their way from before the San´he·drin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name.42 And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.
Bearing the name of Christ, spreading the good news associated with that name was so precious to these 1st century Christians that they counted it an honour to be persecuted for the sake of The Name.
The reason why bearing the name of Jesus Christ, being known as Christians, witnessing to the name of Jesus Christ and being persecuted for The Name was so important is made clear in this brutally honest section of Acts 4;
12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.” - emphasis mine
Lives were at stake. The only name through which people can receive salvation from God is the name Jesus Christ. That’s why, when an honest reading of the Christian Greek Scriptures (NT) is undertaken, the name of Jesus leaps off the pages.
Now, in the 21st century, nearly 2000 years after his death, the name of Jesus Christ is known world-wide. There has been witness given to him, according to his instructions in Acts 1:8. And who has given this witness? Christians. That title, Christian, brings the name of Christ to the fore. And if the name of Jesus Christ is the only name given to men through which they should be saved, isn’t it so important that those who wish to lead people to salvation in Christ be known by that name?
So, why the name Jehovah’s Witness?
The following is directly from the official Watchtower website;
Jehovah’s Witnesses? Yes, that is the way they refer to themselves. It is a descriptive name, indicating that they bear witness concerning Jehovah, his Godship, and his purposes. “God,” “Lord,” and “Creator”—like “President,” “King,” and “General”—are titles and may be applied to several different personages. But “Jehovah” is a personal name and refers to the almighty God and Creator of the universe. This is shown at Psalm 83:18, according to the King James version of the Bible: “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”
The Scriptural account that Jehovah’s Witnesses draw on for their name is in the43rd chapter of Isaiah. There the world scene is viewed as a courtroom drama: The gods of the nations are invited to bring forth their witnesses to prove their claimed cases of righteousness or to hear the witnesses for Jehovah’s side and acknowledge the truth. Jehovah there declares to his people: “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.”—Isaiah 43:10, 11, American Standard Version.
Jehovah God had witnesses on earth during the thousands of years before Jesus was born. After Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of those men of faith, Hebrews 12:1 says: “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.” Jesus said before Pontius Pilate: “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” He is called “the faithful and true witness.” (John 18:37; Revelation 3:14) Jesus told his disciples: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.
Hence, some 6,000,000 persons today who are telling the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom by Christ Jesus in over 230 lands feel that they properly refer to themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The conclusion Jehovah’s Witnesses have come to is quite simple. Even though our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (who had earlier in Matthew 28:18 stated that he’d been given all authority in heaven and on earth and is described in Revelation as Lord of Lords and King of Kings) made it perfectly clear that his followers would be witnesses of him, Jehovah’s Witnesses have purposely removed any reference to Jesus Christ from their name. They feel that the name Jehovah is more important.
This is serious. If the Bible says that there is no name asides from Jesus Christ through which people will be saved, surely it is of incredible, life-saving importance to bear the name of Christ, to make that name known throughout the world? Why drop that name and take up the name Jehovah?
Their scriptural reason is based on Isaiah 43:10, 11. But an honest evaluation of those verses shows that God was speaking to the Jews. This statement from God pre-dated the statement of Christ in Acts 1:8.
The Jews were witnesses of Jehovah.
Christians are witnesses of Christ.
Any honest hearted Jehovah’s Witness would do well to prayerfully consider their choice not to be known publicly as a Christian but rather as a Jehovah’s Witness.
If the name of Jesus Christ brings life to those who believe in him, why replace his name with that of Jehovah?
