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Doctrine changes · Claim record

In May 1968 The Watchtower, while concluding that Jesus wore a beard, said that in many lands a beard 'may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society' and that God's ministers therefore avoid such an impression.

Claim ID claim-doctrine-beards-1968-extremistsConcerns 1 May 1968Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 1 May 1968 Verified

In May 1968 The Watchtower, while concluding that Jesus wore a beard, said that in many lands a beard 'may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society' and that God's ministers therefore avoid such an impression. The Watchtower, 1 May 1968

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The 2023 Governing Body Update #8 refers to 1968 as the year the Watchtower accepted that Jesus wore a beard and says grooming styles 'have changed over the years'.

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Questions From Readers — When Jesus Christ was a man on earth, did he wear a beard?”

1 May 1968 · pp.286-288 · p. 288 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God's ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth.”

After concluding that Jesus did wear a beard, the answer explains why Witness ministers nevertheless 'strive to dress inconspicuously'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol.jw.org; wording confirmed; p. 288 from page marker.

Corroborated by. src-gbu-2023-1215-update8-beards

Notes. The 2023 GB Update itself refers to this 1968 article as the point where the organisation accepted that Jesus wore a beard.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1968-0501-qfr-beard

Claim page

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