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Doctrine changes · Claim record

In July 2013 The Watchtower redefined the faithful and discreet slave as 'a small group of anointed brothers' (the Governing Body) selected by Jesus 'in 1919', and redefined the 'domestics' to include 'the great crowd of other sheep'.

Claim ID claim-doctrine-fds-2013-governing-body-1919Concerns 15 July 2013Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 July 2013 Verified

In July 2013 The Watchtower redefined the faithful and discreet slave as 'a small group of anointed brothers' (the Governing Body) selected by Jesus 'in 1919', and redefined the 'domestics' to include 'the great crowd of other sheep'. The Watchtower (study edition), 15 July 2013Watch Tower Publications Index (Research Guide) — 'Beliefs Clarified' entry, 2026

The organisation’s position or later explanation: Presented as a clarification ('our understanding … needs to be clarified'); listed in 'Beliefs Clarified' under 2013.

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (study edition), ““Who Really Is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?””

15 July 2013 · pp.20-25 · par. 3 (p. 20); par. 10 (p. 22); pars. 12-13 (p. 23) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“that slave is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ's presence. … In 1919, a time of spiritual revival, Jesus selected capable anointed brothers from among them to be the faithful and discreet slave and appointed them over his domestics.”

Par. 3 states the former understanding: 'At Pentecost 33 C.E., Jesus appointed the faithful slave over his domestics. The slave represents all anointed Christians on earth as a group at any one time since then. The domestics refer to the same anointed ones as individuals.' Par. 13: 'Early in the last days, the domestics were all anointed ones. Later, the domestics came to include the great crowd of other sheep.'

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol.jw.org; wording, paragraphs and pages confirmed.

Corroborated by. src-idx-beliefs-clarified, src-w-1990-0315-faithful-slave-governing-body

Notes. The 'Beliefs Clarified' index dates this change to 2013.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2013-0715-who-really-is-fds

Primary JW publication Verified

Watch Tower Publications Index (Research Guide) — 'Beliefs Clarified' entry, “Beliefs Clarified”

2026 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“1988 … no resurrection for dead in Sodom and Gomorrah: w88 6/1 30-31 … 1996 … civilian service in lieu of military service: yb97 16; w96 5/1 19-20 … 2024 … help for ones removed from the congregation: w24.08 27-28”

The organisation's own dated list of adjusted beliefs, with references; also lists 1929/1962 'superior authorities', 1927/2013 'faithful and discreet slave', 1995 and 2008-2010 'this generation', 2024 Sodom and great-tribulation entries. No lines match 'transplant', 'vaccin' or 'beard'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol.jw.org and full text searched locally.

Notes. Referenced by the jw.org FAQ as the place where changes are 'recorded and published'.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-idx-beliefs-clarified

Claim page

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