A Study of Languages
Prove All Things Bible Study
SHOULD CHRISTIANS TODAY USE THE HEBREW NAMES TO ADDRESS OUR FATHER AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST?
SOME VEHEMENTLY INSIST THAT IT IS A SIN TO TRANSLATE THE NAMES OF GOD INTO ENGLISH! THEY CONTEND THAT IT IS THE SOUND OF THE NAME, NOT ITS MEANING, THAT IS IMPORTANT!
1. Some say we must use the name YHWH of the Old Testament Hebrew for the name of God?
In the ancient Hebrew, only four consonants of a word were written. YHVH is generally translated "LORD" in the KJV and distinguished from words translated "Lord" by use of capitals, as here. "The Jews considered YHVH so sacred that they would not pronounce it even when reading the Scriptures, lest they unintentionally profane the name of the Lord. (see Lev.24:16). Instead they read Adonai. Consequently the true pronunciation of YHVH, now thought to have been Yahweh, was lost" (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. I page 172).
"The Work of the Masoretes---The Jewish scholars of the first five centuries of the Christian Era completed the work of dividing the Bible text into the greatest and smaller paragraphs, as they are still found in the Hebrew Bible texts today" (pg.34). The Masoretes also invented two complicated systems of accents. The Masoretes, true to their principle of not changing the Scriptures left the four Hebrew consonants YHVH wherever they were found, but added to them the vowels of the word Adonai. Every initiated Jewish reader coming to this word would there read 'Adonai, although he had only the vowels of the word 'Adonai added to the consonants YHVH" (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol I, pg.35).
"In the second half of the first century C.E. (A.D.) Jewish scholars introduced a system of points to represent the missing vowels in the consonantal Hebrew text. When it came to God's name, instead of inserting the proper vowel signs for it, they put other vowels" (Insight into Scripture, pg. 7).
When asked by Moses what name shall I tell the people? "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations" (Exo 3:13-15).
2. Should we use the name Jehovah?
The New Brown-Drivers-Briggs-Gesenius-Hebrew-English Lexicon (copyright 1979), on page 218, states, Strongs #3069 YHWH -- Jehovah The pronunciation of Jehovah was unknown until 1520 when it was introduced by Galatinus.
The Jewish Encyclopedia says: "Jehovah" is generally held to have been the invention of Pope Leo X's Confessor, Peter Galatin.. who was followed in the use of this hybrid form by Faguis.... But it seems that even before Galatin, the name "Jehovah" had been in common use..It is found in Raymond Martin's "Pugio Fidei, written in 1270" (from Jewish Encyclopedia, article "Jehovah," Volume VII, page 88).
3. How did the true pronunciation of the Hebrew word YHVH become lost?
In the centuries since Jeremiah's day, the Jew became superstitious and made an idol out of this name! They treated it with such superstitious reverence that they decided never to pronounce it! "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal" (Jer 23:25-27).
No one knows absolutely how YHVH should be pronounced today. Yet the meaning of this name is preserved for us today. It means, the "Eternal, the Everliving, the Eternal LORD." The meaning of the Almighty's name is far more important than its mere sound!!
Most Bible Commentaries says the pronunciation of the name YHVH has been lost. But the Encyclopedia Judaic Vol. 7, page 680, says, "The true pronunciation of the name "YHVH" was never lost. Several early Greek writers of the Christian Church testify that the name was pronounced "Yehweh." Isn't it strange that Judiasm would use "Christian" authority on how to pronounce YHVH?
4. What does the Apostle Paul say about using another language?
The word tongue in the following
scriptures are from the Strong's #1100.
In the original Greek this word was language.
"So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air" (I Cor 14:9). "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue" (I Cor14:19).
To the Greeks, Hebrew was an unknown language. For most Bible students today, both Greek and Hebrew are unknown languages. If God had wanted us to use Hebrew, why did He have the New Testament preserved in Greek?
5. Are Hebrew names in the New Testament translated to Greek?
"Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did" (Acts 9:36). "But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith" (Acts 13:8).
6. Is it necessary to use the Hebrew pronunciation or can we use the language we speak today? What happened at the day of Pentecost?
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirt, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:1-11).
7. The purpose of words are to transmit thoughts. If we speak so people cannot understand and if we use words that cannot be translated to their language, what good are we doing to teach others truth?
"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?" (I Cor 14:2-7). "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air" (I Cor 14:9). "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful" (I Cor 14:12-14).
The Apostle Paul shows, we must speak so people will understand. "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue" (I Cor 14:19)
8. Is it a sin to use the word God? Some say because the word God was used by our ancestors to refer to their idols, it is improper to use it to refer to the Eternal. But the Bible reveals the answer to this very question.
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things" (Rom 1:21-23). "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Rom 1:28).
9. What was the language used in Christ's life time?
The native born Jews in Palestine in the days of the apostles generally used Aramaic as their common language, yet Greek was the next in importance even to them.
"Greek was the universal language which united the common people in the Roman Empire in New Testament times. The Jewish Historian Josephus himself testified to Greek as the language which the Jews everywhere understood in New Testament days! Greek speaking Jews were so prevalent in Palestine that synagogues for them had to be built (Act 6:9). Jewish law permitted "that the Books (of the Bible) may be written in any language," but that at the time of Christ the Books were "only permitted to be written in Greek" (Megillah 1:8) From The Mishnah by Herbert Danby, Oxford University press.
10. Some say we should never use the word "Christ". They say this word comes from the Hindu god Krishna!
"Christ" comes from the Greek word Christos. It is a common Greek word which means "to anoint." The New Testament was inspired to read that Jesus is "the Christ." Even the enemies of the early true Church called the disciples "Christians." "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26).
11. Why, if we should only use Hebrew names does the Bible say we should be reproached for the name of Christ?
"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified" (I Peter 4:14). The English word "Jesus" is an anglicized spelling of the Greek word Iesous. The Greek word for "Jesus" is but the common Greek name used to translate the Hebrew name Joshua. The meaning of the Hebrew word for "Joshua" is "the Eternal is the Savior." Over 910 places in the New Testament God inspired the New Testament writers to use the Greek word Iesous as the personal name of Christ, the Messiah.
12. Some say that the Greek word "Jesus" comes from the pagan god Zeus!
This is not true!!! The Greek word Zeus and the Roman word Jove are both ultimately derived from the Hebrew YHWH or JHVH. The Greeks and other heathens did not like to retain God in their knowledge. So they took the names of God and attached them to their idols!
Man from the beginning of time has mixed paganism with God's truth to deceive the people. This is called syncretism. Mixing truth with error. "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:22-23).
13. What is the family name of our Father in Heaven?
"For this cause I bow my knees unto
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Eph 3:14-15). "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive" (John 5:43). "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?" (John 10:36) "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled" (John 17:11-12).
14. What is the Fathers Name in which the New Testament Church is to be kept?
THE NAME OF GOD! In 12 passages in the New Testament, the name of the church is called "The Church of God."
"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (John 17:11). "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
1. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
2. "Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours" (I Cor 1:2).
3. "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God" (1 Cor. 10:32).
4. "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the Churches of God" (1 Cor. 11:16).
5. "What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the Church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not" (1 Cor.11:22).
6. "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God" ( 1 Cor. 15:9).
7. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia" ( 2 Cor. 1:1).
8. "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it" (Gal 1:13).
9. "For ye, brethren, became followers of the Churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews" (1 Thes. 2:14).
10. "(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?)" (1 Tim. 3:5).
11. "So that we ourselves glory in you in the Churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure" (2 Thes. 1:4).
12. "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).
The Hebrew name YHVH, The Greek Kyrios, the Eternal or "LORD" in English-- is but one of God the Father's numerous given personal names. It is also one of the personal names of the Son, because both are ETERNAL!
The whole message of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, was the message about the Family Name, the Family Kingdom and the whole purpose of human life, TO BECOME SONS OF GOD!!
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