What Jehovah's Witnesses believe — grounded in a careful, respectful reading of the Bible
Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs on the Bible. We do not add to nor take away from Scripture, and we encourage everyone — including visitors to our congregation — to verify what we teach by examining the Bible for themselves. The following summarises our core beliefs, each of which is drawn directly from Biblical text.
We believe the Bible — both the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Greek Scriptures (New Testament) — is the inspired Word of God. As 2 Timothy 3:16 states, "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness."
This conviction means we take the Bible seriously as a guide for daily life. It is not merely a collection of ancient myths or cultural documents, but a cohesive message from God to humanity — addressing questions about our origins, our purpose, the problems we face, and the hope for the future.
At the Clayton Congregation, we use the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, a translation that aims for accuracy and clarity in rendering the original Hebrew and Greek texts into modern English. All of our programmes, teachings, and outreach are grounded in careful, context-sensitive reading of the Biblical text.
We believe in one God, whose personal name — used nearly 7,000 times in the original Hebrew Bible — is Jehovah (Psalm 83:18). Jehovah is the Creator of all things, the source of all wisdom, and the God who deeply loves humanity and desires a personal relationship with every individual.
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God — the first and greatest of God's creations, and the one whom God appointed as the Saviour of humanity. Jesus gave his life as a ransom sacrifice to redeem imperfect humans from sin and death (John 3:16). Through faith in Jesus and obedience to his teachings, mankind can receive forgiveness and the prospect of everlasting life.
The Holy Spirit, in our understanding, is God's active force — the power by which he accomplishes his purposes. We do not believe the Trinity doctrine is supported by a careful reading of Scripture; rather, the Bible consistently portrays Jehovah as the one supreme God and Jesus as his subordinate Son.
One of the most central teachings of the Bible — and the primary subject of Jesus' ministry — is God's Kingdom. This is not a vague spiritual concept but a real government, ruled by Jesus Christ, that will bring lasting peace, justice, and prosperity to the entire earth (Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:9-10).
God's Kingdom is a heavenly government with Jesus Christ as King. Unlike human governments, it will never be corrupted by greed or self-interest. It will rule over the entire earth and fulfil all of God's original purpose for humanity.
The Kingdom will usher in a period of unparalleled peace — an end to war, crime, inequality, and suffering. This is the "good news of the Kingdom" that Jesus commissioned his followers to preach worldwide (Matthew 24:14).
The Bible promises that faithful humans will live on a renewed earth — a paradise like the Garden of Eden — where disease, ageing, and death are eliminated (Revelation 21:3-4; Psalm 37:29). This hope sustains our congregation's faith and service.
The Bible's design for the family — a husband and wife committed to one another in marriage, raising children with love, discipline, and spiritual guidance — is at the heart of Jehovah's Witnesses' social values. We believe God established marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, and that this arrangement, when practised with love and mutual respect, is the foundation of a stable, thriving community.
The Clayton Congregation provides ongoing practical education for families — not through mere lecturing, but through studying Bible-based principles that address real, everyday challenges: communicating under stress, disciplining children without anger, building intimacy and trust in marriage, and caring for ageing parents with dignity.
These programmes are available to anyone in the Surrey community — you do not need to be a member of our congregation to benefit from what the Bible teaches about family life.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that every person, regardless of race, nationality, language, or background, is made in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Acts 10:34,35 affirms that "God is not partial, but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." Our congregation actively celebrates the diversity of its membership and the broader Surrey community.
Jehovah's Witnesses maintain strict political neutrality. We do not vote in political elections, hold political office, or take sides in political conflicts — following Jesus' example of staying out of political affairs (John 18:36). We respect the authority of all governments while maintaining that our ultimate allegiance is to God's Kingdom. This neutrality enables our members to be genuine peacemakers in every community where they live.
We understand these beliefs may raise questions. We welcome honest, respectful inquiry — our congregation members are trained to explain our beliefs clearly and to point you directly to the Bible passages that support them. No question is too simple or too challenging.
