JWTruth.orgDocumented comparison resource
Search

Authority and accountability · Claim record

In February 2017 The Watchtower stated that the Governing Body 'is neither inspired nor infallible' and 'can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction', noting that the Watch Tower Publications Index heading 'Beliefs Clarified' lists adjustments since 1870.

Claim ID claim-authority-2017-governing-body-neither-inspired-nor-infallibleConcerns February 2017Explicit statement
Explicit statement · February 2017 Verified

In February 2017 The Watchtower stated that the Governing Body 'is neither inspired nor infallible' and 'can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction', noting that the Watch Tower Publications Index heading 'Beliefs Clarified' lists adjustments since 1870. The Watchtower (study edition), February 2017

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The same article (par. 13) says holy spirit has helped the Governing Body 'grasp Scriptural truths not previously understood' and presents the record of adjustments as evidence of spirit direction.

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (study edition), “Who Is Leading God’s People Today?”

February 2017 · pp.23-28 · par. 12 (p. 26); par. 13 (p. 26) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural understanding since 1870.”

Study article on how the Governing Body functions; paragraph 12 concedes fallibility and then asks what evidence shows the Governing Body is the faithful slave. Paragraph 13 says holy spirit has helped the Governing Body grasp truths not previously understood.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened the WOL document (HTML downloaded via curl); page marker confirms par. 12 is on p. 26.

Corroborated by. src-w-2013-0715-who-really-is-fds

Notes. Also reproduced in Examining the Scriptures Daily 2018 (July).

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2017-0200-who-is-leading-gods-people

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-authority-2017-governing-body-neither-inspired-nor-infallible/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.