What is a JW?

[Jwanon]

3 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

Jason:

After 3 pages of discussion and various replies, now is your turn to present your definition of JW 

What did you learn and how you define it? 

 

someone who loves Jehovah and wants to please him

[New World Explorer]

15 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

 

someone who loves Jehovah and wants to please him

The definition is not complete yet... so sorry for this Jason. 

"someone" does not define JW, as only dedicated and baptized persons becomes true JW per definition. 

 

Forgive me for finding a "loophole" 😉

[Jwanon]

4 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

"someone" does not define JW, as only dedicated and baptized persons becomes true JW per definition. 

 

I think that someone who has not been baptized yet can still be considered a JW, if they have already dedicated themselves in their heart

 

Baptism is simply to let other humans know that you have dedicated yourself, but Jehovah already knows if you have dedicated yourself beforehand since he reads hearts

Edited Friday at 07:46 PM by Jwanon

[New World Explorer]

3 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

I think that someone who has not been baptized yet can still be considered a JW, if they have already dedicated themselves in their heart

Yes in general, but not by true grammatical definition. 

Just think of the baptism talk and questions asked there... One truly (by definition) becomes JW only after baptism. 

Also another factor to consider is the fact that elders go through the questions with those desiring to get baptized to determine if someone "qualifies" to bear the name of JW, only when approved that person is on the way to become JW - per definition. 

 

Hope this helped you to find answers to your questions. 

[Jwanon]

4 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

Just think of the baptism talk and questions asked there... One truly (by definition) becomes JW only after baptism. 

Also another factor to consider is the fact that elders go through the questions with those desiring to get baptized to determine if someone "qualifies" to bear the name of JW, only when approved that person is on the way to become JW - per definition. 

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, but if I may add, the website calls it a "an outward symbol, or public display,"

 

So baptism is primarily for men. You are considered a JW in the eyes of men at baptism, but you are already one of his witnesses in the eyes of God before that if you dedicated yourself in your heart

 

That's how I see it

Edited Friday at 07:58 PM by Jwanon

[New World Explorer]

1 minute ago, Jwanon said:

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, but if I may add, the website calls it a "an outward symbol, or public display,"

 

So baptism is primarily for men. You are considered a JW in the eyes of men at baptism, but you are already one of his witnesses in the eyes of God before that if you dedicated yourself in your heart

 

That's how I see it

In that case … go with definition that is suitable to you. 
Problem solved. Happy for you. 

[Qapla]

32 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

you are already one of his witnesses in the eyes of God before that if you dedicated yourself in your heart

 

So, you agree that a faithful JW that has slipped into a comma is still a JW?

 

[Jwanon]

Just now, Qapla said:

 

So, you agree that a faithful JW that has slipped into a comma is still a JW?

 

 

yes

[Qapla]

So - no more "what if" questions are needed.

 

We can let this thread Rest In Peace

Edited Friday at 08:44 PM by Qapla

[Old]

43 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

Yes in general, but not by true grammatical definition. 

Just think of the baptism talk and questions asked there... One truly (by definition) becomes JW only after baptism. 

Also another factor to consider is the fact that elders go through the questions with those desiring to get baptized to determine if someone "qualifies" to bear the name of JW, only when approved that person is on the way to become JW - per definition. 

 

Hope this helped you to find answers to your questions. 

Where does that leave the thousands or so before going thru the questions became the procedure?

I am about the ready to go into a ossible coma age, where does that leave me?

 

My sister in law (82yo) is one of those persons that is always late. At NYC convention in 1958 she dallied around morning she was going to be baptised. we got to the stadium when they were loading the busses to Jone beach where the baptism was held, she climbed on the bus and was baptised without ever hearing the talk and/or answering the two questions. At that time there was no review by a BOE as to weathe she qualified (which were much different than our current two questions)

She is one of the most dedicated JWs that I know. I do not question her status now or in a coma situation, she is one of Jehovah's Witnesses

[BLEmom]

6 hours ago, Jwanon said:

 

 that's what I was looking for 😕

 

 

Why do you need one sentence to define us?

[Jwanon]

Just now, BLEmom said:

Why do you need one sentence to define us?

 

Why not?

[Dark King]

16 hours ago, New World Explorer said:

Yes in general, but not by true grammatical definition. 

Just think of the baptism talk and questions asked there... One truly (by definition) becomes JW only after baptism. 

Also another factor to consider is the fact that elders go through the questions with those desiring to get baptized to determine if someone "qualifies" to bear the name of JW, only when approved that person is on the way to become JW - per definition. 

 

Hope this helped you to find answers to your questions. 

The old proclaimers book says Able was a Jehovah's witness. He didn't go over the question.

[Parale]

5 hours ago, Dark King said:

The old proclaimers book says Able was a Jehovah's witness. He didn't go over the question.

 

Yes, a "Jehovah's witness," not a "Jehovah's Witness" which was the OP's question - I believe that is the difference between being a noun, or a proper noun 🤔

 

Proclaimers, page 13

At Hebrews 11:4, Paul identifies Abel as the first witness of Jehovah, saying: “By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than Cain, through which faith he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness respecting his gifts; and through it he, although he died, yet speaks.” In what way did Abel serve as a witness for Jehovah? The answer centers around why Abel’s sacrifice was of “greater worth” than Cain’s.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101993002#h=22

 

Edited Saturday at 05:27 PM by Parale

[New World Explorer]

The problem with the topic lays in the question. (not in the answers provided)

As it's almost impossible to define JW in one sentence as it has a broader meaning and history that encompasses period from Abel to modern history and current arrangements put in place by organization. 

 

The definition to work properly needs to include several layers and aspects joined together. 

[Shawnster]

15 hours ago, New World Explorer said:

As it's almost impossible to define JW in one sentence

Especially since the OP wanted a simple definition that encompassed the meaning from Jehovah's viewpoint as well as his organization and the secular community's.

 

That is pretty much an impossible request to simplify such complex and sometimes contradictory views into one all inclusive sentence. 

 

I'm glad he accepted the sentence/definition that a Jehovah's Witness is someone who has dedicated their life to Jehovah. 

 

 

Looks like the question was satisfactorily answered 

[LeolaRootStew]

On 2/7/2025 at 1:22 PM, Jwanon said:

 

someone who loves Jehovah and wants to please him

 

That definition could include an apostate who truly thinks the organization is wrong.

[Jwanon]

25 minutes ago, LeolaRootStew said:

 

That definition could include an apostate who truly thinks the organization is wrong.

 

I don't think so, because pleasing him involves loving the other Witnesses who serve him

 

Apostates don't love Jehovah's witnesses 

[LeolaRootStew]

12 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

 

I don't think so, because pleasing him involves loving the other Witnesses who serve him

 

Apostates don't love Jehovah's witnesses 

 

-you don't know who they love

 

-if they believe we aren't God's organization, then we wouldn't be considered those who serve God, so they wouldn't need to love us

 

-heart condition cannot be used in a secular definition because it can't be proven or disproved

[Jwanon]

4 minutes ago, LeolaRootStew said:

you don't know who they love

 

True, but God does

 

[LeolaRootStew]

Just now, Jwanon said:

 

True, but God does

 

 

You can't appeal to the knowledge of God when making a definition for secular society.

[Jwanon]

4 minutes ago, LeolaRootStew said:

if they believe we aren't God's organization

 

Their beliefs are irrelevant, what matters is what God thinks

 

5 minutes ago, LeolaRootStew said:

heart condition cannot be used in a secular definition

 

I disagree, it can: "Someone who loves God and wants to please him"

[LeolaRootStew]

Just now, Jwanon said:

I disagree, it can: "Someone who loves God and wants to please him"

 

The GB would never use that definition for a Witness during a trial. They would mention things like baptism and being in good standing. Heart condition cannot be proven in court because it involves mind reading. 

[Jwanon]

2 minutes ago, LeolaRootStew said:

 

You can't appeal to the knowledge of God when making a definition for secular society.

 

Why?

[LeolaRootStew]

Just now, Jwanon said:

 

Why?

 

There is no way to prove what God knows. It would be a claim with no evidence.