Do Jehovah's Witnesses claim a unique source of divine authority?
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I understand that Jehovah's Witnesses believe their organisation to be the only one on Earth that is recognized by God as His Kingdom and do not, for example, recognize a baptism performed by another denomination. In my experience, most groups that have such a belief claim some unique source of authority. For example, Catholics claim Apostolic succession from Peter, and LDS claim to have a line of succession that was restored by divine intervention.
Is there an equivalent idea in Witness theology, or is it purely a matter of nobody else having a compatible understanding of scripture?
I am not necessarily looking for a line of succession, but something the Witnesses can point to to say "this is why you should join us and not Church X".
The Witnesses I've spoken to tended to focus on having the correct (in their view) understanding, and I get the same impression in their literature. If understanding is the only criterion, then it should be possible for a separate group to study the Bible, draw the same conclusions and have their theology and practices recognised by the Witnesses as correct. I'm not inviting comment on whether that would be likely or desirable but I would like to know, in light of my main question above, whether it would be considered possible.
Asked by Pastychomper thanks Monica
(181 rep)
Oct 3, 2025, 12:32 PM
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Last activity: Oct 6, 2025, 05:15 AM