Watchtower Study, "Article 23," Week of August 11-17, 2025, Jehovah's Name: What It Should Mean to Us, Answers.

Watchtower Study, "Article 23," August 11-17, 2025, Jehovah's Name: What It Should Mean to Us, Answers.

“You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah. (IS. 43:10)

1, 2. How do we know that for Jesus there is nothing more important than the name of Jehovah?

We know that for Jesus, nothing is more important than the name of Jehovah, because of all he said and did in defense of that name. For example, according to Mark 14:36, Jesus was willing to die fulfilling his Father's will.

Hebrews 10:7-9 confirms this obedient attitude. Jesus came to do God's will, even if it meant sacrificing himself. This demonstrates his desire to vindicate, or cleanse, Jehovah's name, which had been tarnished by Satan.

Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 15:26-28 explains that, at the end of the thousand-year reign, Jesus will return all power to his Father. He does this not out of obligation, but because he wants Jehovah to receive all the glory. This clearly shows how much Jesus values and loves his Father's name.

3. What will we see in this article?

In this article, we'll see why Jehovah's name should be important to us, just as it was to Jesus. As 1 Peter 2:21 says, "True Christians try to follow Jesus' example, and that includes valuing his Father's name."

The article will also show how those of us who preach the good news of the Kingdom bear Jehovah's name. This means that we not only use it, but we also represent it before the world.

Furthermore, the study will help us reflect on what the name of God means to each of us personally. It is not just a word or a title, but something that should touch our hearts and affect how we think, live, and treat others.

“A PEOPLE FOR ITS NAME”

4. a) What did Jesus say to his disciples just before returning to heaven?

Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus told his disciples that they would receive power through the Holy Spirit and would be his witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but to the ends of the earth.

This mandate not only broadened the scope of the preaching, but also defined its purpose: to bear witness to Jesus, his role as Messiah, and the good news of the Kingdom.

As Matthew 28:19, 20 confirms, the disciples were to help people of all nations come to know Christ's teachings and become his followers.

4. b) What question are we going to answer?

The question we're going to answer is: What did Jesus mean when he said his disciples would be his witnesses? Or, to put it another way, did that mean they would only bear witness about Jesus or that they were also to speak about his Father's name, Jehovah?

The article will take us to Acts, chapter 15, where it explains that God is gathering a people for his name. This confirms that first-century Christians spoke not only of Jesus, but also of the name of Jehovah and represented him to people.

Therefore, the question posed in this paragraph is very appropriate: Does being Jesus's witnesses exclude being Jehovah's Witnesses? The rest of this article will help us see that both aspects are united and that we cannot separate Jesus from his Father if we want to faithfully imitate him.

5. How did the apostles and elders in Jerusalem demonstrate the importance of knowing Jehovah's name? (See also the image.)

During the meeting in the year 49, the apostles and elders discussed a fundamental issue: they discussed the requirements that non-Jews who wanted to become Christians had to meet.

James, Jesus's half-brother, quoted the words of the apostle Peter and said that God was bringing forth from among the nations a people for his name. He then supported this point by quoting the prophet Amos: "People who are called by my name." Thus says the Lord.

This makes it clear that true Christianity is not only about believing in Jesus, but also about having an identity marked by the name of Jehovah. It wasn't just about learning about God, but about being identified by his name and making it known to others.

ILLUSTRATION

James speaks to some apostles and elders of Jerusalem. Two of the brothers have scrolls open while they listen to him.

The apostles and elders in Jerusalem understood that Christians would make Jehovah's name known and would be known by that name. (See paragraph 5.)

6, 7. a) Why did Jesus come to Earth?

Jesus came to Earth primarily to give his life for humanity. According to Matthew 20:28, he himself said he did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom.

This means that he came to pay the necessary price to free humanity from sin and death, but he also came to defend and sanctify Jehovah's name. In fact, his very name, Jesus, means "Jehovah is salvation," which emphasizes that salvation comes from God, not from man.

Genesis 3:4, 5 shows that when Satan challenged Jehovah in Eden, he called into question Jehovah's right to rule and his good reputation. So, in addition to saving us, Jesus had a greater mission: to vindicate his Father's name and demonstrate that God deserves our obedience and love.

6, 7. b) What is the most important reason why Jesus came to Earth?

Although Jesus came to Earth to save humanity through ransom, the most important reason he came was to sanctify Jehovah's name. The original problem in Eden was not only Adam and Eve's disobedience, but a direct indictment of Jehovah's reputation and way of ruling.

Satan implied that God was neither just nor worthy of loyalty. Therefore, Jesus' death was more than an act of love: it was a powerful defense of his Father's name.

Jesus demonstrated that a human being could remain faithful under trial, thus defending Jehovah's justice and right to rule. By living without sin and perfectly representing his Father, Jesus vindicated Jehovah's name before the entire universe.

How can someone claim to be a Christian and not know or use the name Jehovah?

8. What would all those who became disciples of Jesus have to understand and accept?

All those who decided to be Jesus' disciples, regardless of their background, had to understand that salvation did not come from Jesus himself, but from his Father, Jehovah, who sent him. Jesus was the means God used to save humanity, but he always made it clear that the glory and credit belonged to his Father.

Furthermore, those who became disciples had to accept that they would also be identified with the name of Jehovah, just as Jesus was. This meant representing that name with dignity and living in a way that honored it.

As Acts 2:21 says, salvation is related to calling on and honoring the name of Jehovah. So it wasn't just a matter of knowing that name, but of defending it, respecting it, and making it known.

“YOU ARE MY WITNESSES”

9. How should true Christians view the name of Jehovah?

For true Christians, Jehovah's name must have the highest place in our lives. Jesus made this clear by placing it first in the model prayer: "Our Father, hallowed be your name." This means that, beyond our personal achievements, our goals, or even our needs, the most important thing should be honoring Jehovah's name.

The sanctification of God's name is not just a theoretical matter; it is demonstrated by our actions. When we live according to His principles, preach with courage, treat others with love, and make decisions that honor Him, we are helping to make it clear that Satan's accusations were false.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT

True Christians consider Jehovah's name to be of the utmost importance. We honor him with our actions: preaching, living according to principles, and proving with our lives that Satan lied when he accused Jehovah.

10. What symbolic judgment is described in chapters 42-44 of the book of Isaiah? (Isaiah 43:9; 44:7-9; see also the image.)

In chapters 42-44 of the book of Isaiah, Jehovah presents a symbolic judgment in which the debate over who the true God is is debated. It is as if God were bringing all those who claim to be gods to court and challenging them to prove it.

He tells them: "Present your evidence, bring your witnesses." But, as expected, none of these supposed gods can prove anything. They have no witnesses, no fulfilled prophecies, no facts to support their divinity.

This judgment demonstrates that only Jehovah is the true God and that other gods are human inventions, without power or support. Our work as witnesses is key to making this clear to everyone.

ILLUSTRATION

We have been called to testify as witnesses in a symbolic trial. (See paragraphs 10 and 11.)

11. According to Isaiah 43:10-12, What does Jehovah say to his servants?

These verses are a direct call from Jehovah to his people to act as witnesses to his identity and exclusive authority as the true God. He doesn't simply tell them to speak about him, but to be his witnesses; that is, to represent him to others and defend him. Jehovah has entrusted imperfect humans to act as his witnesses, which is a true honor and a great responsibility.

As Job 1:9-11 mentions, we are part of a group that contradicts the lies Satan has told about God. When we endure trials and remain faithful, we demonstrate that Jehovah is worthy of love and obedience, not only because of what he gives, but because of who he is.

12. How was the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3, 5 fulfilled?

The prophecy of Isaiah 40:3, 5 was fulfilled with the arrival of John the Baptist and Jesus. Isaiah foretold that someone would prepare the way of Jehovah, and that someone was John the Baptist, who preached and helped people prepare to receive the Messiah.

It is said that John prepared the way for Jehovah, although it was Jesus who came, because Jesus came in the name of his Father, Jehovah. Everything he said and taught, he did as a faithful representative of God.

In fact, Isaiah 45 announced that Jehovah's glory would be revealed, and that was fulfilled when Jesus came to earth. He so perfectly reflected Jehovah's personality, love, and justice that it was as if we were seeing God himself acting among men.

13. How can we imitate Jesus?

We can imitate Jesus by supporting Jehovah's name and reputation at all times. Just as Jesus was Jehovah's greatest witness, we too are witnesses to his name.

We imitate Christ when we proudly bear Jehovah's name and make it known through our words and actions. This includes speaking of God's wonderful works and explaining what Jesus has done and will do to sanctify that name.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT

We imitate Jesus when we make Jehovah's name known through our words and actions. Like him, we are Jehovah's Witnesses and should speak of both God's wonders and the key role Jesus plays in sanctifying that name.

WHAT DOES THE NAME OF JEHOVAH MEAN TO US?

14. As Psalm 105:3 indicates, How do we feel about the name of Jehovah?

According to Psalm 105:3, we feel pride and joy in bearing Jehovah's name. We don't see it as just a title, but as a privilege that fills our lives with meaning.

Being proud of God's name means that we are happy and grateful to have Jehovah as our God and to be able to represent him at all times.

As Jeremiah 9:24 says, “Our greatest fulfillment comes not from what we have or what we know, but from knowing Jehovah and understanding his love, justice, and faithfulness.”

15. What does it mean to call on the name of Jehovah?

Calling on Jehovah's name is an act that encompasses faith, trust, and responsibility. It's not just about knowing that his name is Jehovah, or mentioning it occasionally in prayer or conversation.

According to texts like Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:13, 14: Calling on his name is directly related to obtaining salvation. Calling on his name is a way of life. We show through words and actions that we recognize Jehovah as our God, trust in him, and proudly represent him to others.

16. How can we prove that Satan is a liar?

One of the clearest ways we prove Satan a liar is by remaining loyal to Jehovah, even when we are suffering. According to Job 2:4, Satan claimed that people serve God only out of self-interest and would abandon Him if their lives were in danger or if they suffered.

That accusation was not only against Job, but against all of Jehovah's servants throughout history. But Job proved Satan wrong. Despite losing his children, his health, and his possessions, he did not stop trusting Jehovah.

Today, true Christians continue to face similar trials. So, when we endure suffering with faith, we not only honor Jehovah, but we also demonstrate to the entire universe that Satan is a liar and that there are indeed people who truly love God.

17. According to 1 Peter 2:12, how else can we give glory to the name of Jehovah?

One of the most practical and effective ways to bring glory to Jehovah's name is through our conduct. According to 1 Peter 2:12, we are encouraged to conduct ourselves in an exemplary manner before the people of the world, so that even those who criticize us will recognize our good works and glorify God.

This shows that our conduct can directly influence how others view Jehovah. Although we are imperfect, a sincere effort to live by Jehovah's standards is a powerful way to honor him. Every righteous act is like a stone that strengthens the wall protecting our God's good name.

18. How else do we show that Jehovah's name is important to us? (See also footnote.)

We demonstrate that Jehovah's name is truly important to us when his reputation is worth more than our own. This attitude moves us to obey his commands and act according to his will, even when this may provoke criticism, rejection, or misunderstanding from others.

Psalm 138:2 shows that Jehovah has “magnified his name,” and we want to do the same, even if it means going through humiliation.

The paragraph note warns us that even a faithful man like Job, under pressure, became overly concerned about his personal image. This teaches us that, without realizing it, we could fall into the error of wanting to justify our reputation rather than glorify Jehovah.

19. How do you feel about the name Jehovah, and why?

I have deep admiration, respect, and gratitude for the name Jehovah, not just because of its sound or its uniqueness, but because that name represents our God, the most powerful, loving, and faithful being in the universe.

It's an honor that He allows me to wear it as identification and act as His witness in the midst of a world that ignores or attacks Him. Being called a Jehovah's Witness is not just another label; it's a great responsibility and a testament to the privilege I have as a Christian.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

Why can we say that the name of Jehovah is important for true followers of Jesus?

Because Jesus himself made Jehovah's name known, honored it with his life, and taught his disciples to love and sanctify it. Therefore, true Christians follow that example and place it above all other names.

In what symbolic trial do we act as witnesses?

In the judgment described in Isaiah 42–44, where Jehovah challenges false gods to test their power, we act as his witnesses by confirming, with our words and actions, that only Jehovah is the true God.

In what ways do we show that Jehovah's name is important to us?

We demonstrate this by speaking well of him, living in a way that honors him, calling on his name with faith, remaining loyal in the face of trials, and being proud to be his witnesses, even when others mock or criticize us.