To my way of thinking, Saying "I am a Jehovah's Witness" is like saying "I am a my fathers daughter"
A witness that belongs to and bears witness to Jehovah, I would think, would suggest that the correct way to state this would be "I am/ he is/ she is one of Jehovah's Witnesses"... what do you think?
2007-04-12 14:17:13 · 18 answers · asked by Val W 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Officially, the religion prefers this questioner's preferred usage. In their publications, Jehovah's Witnesses consistently refer to a single adherent as "one of Jehovah's Witnesses". This makes the most sense according to the biblical sense of being 'witnesses of Jehovah'.
(Isaiah 43:12) You are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah
(Hebrews 12:1,2) We have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus
However, the "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" religion has long tolerated the idea that a single adherent is also "a Jehovah's Witness". Since at least the 1950's, Witness publications have included personal quotes from non-Witness and Witness individuals who refer to an individual adherent as "a Jehovah's Witness".
The terms are not identical in meaning, but are almost always understood as though they were by Witnesses and non-Witnesses alike.
2007-04-13 09:13:51 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Correct grammatics will depend on how one expresses or identifies him or herself. As an example, my grandmother is Chinese. I am of a mixed cultural background. Do I say that I have a Chinese background? Or do I say I am one of the Chinese people. Or I could say that I am Chinese? It will depend on the context of your message and how it can be properly understood by other people.
By the way, I also am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. If you note the previous sentence. Observe the last two words. When Jehovah's Witnesses is used, it is used in the plural sense. It is proper to use the phrase "one of" because you are referring to yourself as being identified with a group.
I am repeating myself for the sake of explanation. I am a Jehovah's Witness. Note the phrasing please. Since I am referring to myself in singular fashion, I can use the phrase "I am a Jehovah's Witness."
I truly am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I hope this helps.
Your Sister
2007-04-13 16:55:06 · answer #2 · answered by pinkolives 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Well saying I am a Jehovah's Witness, doesn't really fit gramatically. One of works better sentence wise. Plus often when people say A it sounds the same as THE or as though the person is taking prominence over others. My opinion.
Just please dont say, I am a Jahova, cause that is wrong on SOOOOO many levels:D
2007-04-13 02:21:48 · answer #3 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Your question refers to correct grammar. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses is the correct way to refer to yourself. (By the way, I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses.)
2007-04-13 13:46:53 · answer #4 · answered by girlinks 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am one of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses and have been for the last 28 years.
Since there is over 6.7 million now, to say, I am one of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses is the proper way of expressing it.
2007-04-12 21:31:29 · answer #5 · answered by Here I Am 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
it is grammatically correct to say "I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses". Colloquially, many will say "I am a Jehovah's Witness". The correctness depends on the subject of the statement.
2007-04-12 21:30:30 · answer #6 · answered by PleiadesMom 2 · 9⤊ 1⤋
"One of Jehovah's Witnesses"
2007-04-12 21:21:10 · answer #7 · answered by B SIDE 6 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Either way is fine. Anybody who wants to debate you about it must have nothing better to do. Make Jehovah proud and say it any way you want.
2007-04-12 23:01:30 · answer #8 · answered by jackie 1 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The religion is over thought out with all these nuance-esque terms. They don't like being called a church, but an organization. They don't have a clergy, just a Governing Body. They don't worship in churches, but Kingdom Halls. Someone isn't a Jehovah's Witness, they are one of Jehovahs' Witnesses. It's all turn of the 20th Century silliness. It's like Jehovah's Witnesses are afraid of being labelled in any way that can be mistaken for being normal.
2007-04-12 21:19:06 · answer #9 · answered by Pint 4 · 3⤊ 8⤋
Say it any way that pleases you. I am personally 1 of nearly 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses.
Now, that said, let us get back about our assigned task of finding and teaching his sheep.
2007-04-12 21:30:06 · answer #10 · answered by Wisdom 6 · 8⤊ 2⤋