80%
Confidence
Belief overview
Bible as the only doctrinal authority
The Bible is the exclusive basis of doctrine, without an equivalent ecclesial tradition.
5
Supportive
2
Contrary
1
Neutral
What it is: The religion teaches that the Bible, composed of 66 books, is the only fully inspired and sufficient doctrinal norm for faith and practice.
How the religion understands it: Every legitimate belief must be capable of biblical grounding. Publications, speeches, and teaching materials carry great weight in internal life, but are presented as explanations and applications of Scripture, not as new public revelation.
Context: This position is related to the movement's restorationist character and its search to recover apostolic Christianity. In outside discussions, special attention is often given to the organization's interpretive authority and to translation choices in disputed texts.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Classic text on the inspiration and usefulness of Scripture.
Reference: 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Content: Paul states that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, reproof, and training in righteousness.
Use in debate: The religion uses it to support the functional sufficiency of the Bible as a doctrinal and moral basis.
Atos 17:11
Os bereanos são apresentados como modelo de exame direto das Escrituras.
Referência: Atos 17:11.
Conteúdo: O texto elogia os bereanos por examinarem diariamente as Escrituras para verificar o ensino recebido.
Uso no debate: É usado para defender a ideia de que doutrina e prática devem ser testadas diretamente pela Bíblia.
João 17:17
A palavra de Deus é tratada como verdade normativa.
Referência: João 17:17.
Conteúdo: Jesus ora ao Pai afirmando que sua palavra é a verdade.
Uso no debate: É frequentemente usado como apoio à centralidade normativa da Escritura na formulação doutrinal.
Marcos 7:8-13
Crítica de Jesus a tradições humanas aplicadas contra a palavra de Deus.
Referência: Marcos 7:8-13.
Conteúdo: Jesus critica tradições humanas que, em sua análise, acabam anulando o mandamento divino.
Uso no debate: A passagem é usada para reforçar leituras que priorizam a Escritura em relação a tradições religiosas posteriores.
What Are the Main Beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses?
Official summary of core beliefs published on jw.org.
Reference: Frequently asked questions page on jw.org about the main beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Content: The text presents in a concise way beliefs about God, the Bible, Jesus, the Kingdom, death, morality, blood, neutrality, and worldwide unity.
Use in debate: It is one of the best official sources for formulating the religion's public and contemporary position without depending only on secondary literature.
Contrary
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Exhortation to hold to traditions received by word of mouth and by letter.
Paul exhorts the faithful to hold fast to the traditions they received, whether by word or by letter. The passage is important for the Catholic argument that apostolic transmission is not limited to written text. In confessional debates, it is one of the classic references against reducing religious authority to Scripture alone.
Dei Verbum 9-10
Vatican II document on Scripture, Tradition, and the magisterium.
The dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum of the Second Vatican Council teaches that Scripture and Tradition proceed from the same divine source and form one sacred deposit, whose authentic interpretation has been entrusted to the magisterium. It is a central text for the contemporary Catholic formulation of revelation and is frequently cited in ecumenical dialogue.
Neutral
Who Are Jehovah's Witnesses?
Official institutional page with self-definition and statistics.
Reference: Institutional section of jw.org on identity and global presence.
Content: The page defines the group as a worldwide religious organization that worships Jehovah, follows Jesus, and bases its beliefs on the Bible, while also presenting global statistics.
Use in debate: It serves for institutional origin, public self-image, mission, and basic descriptive data.