Jesus... Something About That Name.

Jesus… Something About That Name

Elder Joe Busby Jr.

It was probably around ten years ago that I first started to notice the use of Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yeshua, being used in place of the English translated name, Jesus, on a regular basis is some circles. I often use the name interchangeably and I can’t recall a time coming up hearing those that chose to use the Hebraic name, Yeshua, even suggest that the name, Jesus, was not correct. They used both equally correct to identify Messiah, the Christ and Savior. That seemingly equal status, however, that I thought existed has drastically changed over the years. Here are some of things found readily on the internet by those who support what is often called the Sacred Name movement (I’ll use the acronyms SN to represent their cause). There is much misinformation being circulated about the term Yeshua, as well as the precious, holy, saving name of Jesus. Please notice the following the following emails:

 “Good to hear from you, and hopefully you are reading and learning the Hebraic ways of G-d. Yeshua is the recognized Hebraic name for the one who never left Israel, or ever taught outside of his land of birth. "Jesus," is of Greek origin, and in actuality derived from the pagan source of Isus...”

“Instead of the false name "Jesus," which evidence suggests has pagan origins, I use Messiah's actual Hebrew name, Yeshua/Yahshua (Yay-shoo-ah or Yah-shoo-ah).”

“The name of Messiah is a separate issue, since we know FOR CERTAIN that his name is NOT "Jesus"; thus, a false name for Messiah is DEFINITELY being knowingly promoted. I use "Yeshua" and "Yahshua" interchangeably (capital emphasis in original).”

If we read no further, it should now be apparent that at least some of the people who use Yeshua exclusively look down on, to say the least, the usage of Jesus. To them it has pagan roots and is a false name! To such Jesus is not Messiah! Check out what I found on a popularly sited internet Q and A page:

[Question]:         Where did the name "Jesus" come from if his real name is Yeshua?

[Answer]:            The Bible was not written in English. What we read in English today are translations from other languages. The "New Testament" was written in Greek. Hence, the name "Jesus" is found nowhere in the Scriptures—it is a translation of the Greek name "Iesous" (pronounced "[ee]yeh-sooce"). "Iesous" came over into the Latin "Jesu" (pronounced "yehsoo") and finally into English as "Jesus." So in the most technical sense, saying "Jesus" is saying a twice-removed translation of the name we find in the "New Testament" Scriptures (emphasis in original).

So now we see another attack on the use of the name Jesus. Again, this person is teaching:

"Iesous" came over into the Latin "Jesu" (pronounced "yehsoo") and finally into English as "Jesus." So in the most technical sense, saying "Jesus" is saying a twice-removed translation of the name we find in the "New Testament" Scriptures.”

Now, I won’t bore you with how names in words in the Bible are translated and transliterated from Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek to English. Anyone with even a basic understanding of the New Testament Scriptures and how the original Greek language was translated into English knows the fallacy of the above seemingly “authoritative” statement. In contrast to what many are teaching, our English translation of the New Testament did NOT come from the Hebrew or the Latin! The New Testament was translated directly from the Greek and the Old Testament directly from the Hebrew and Aramaic. Hence, our English NT translation is not a twice-removed translation of the name or anything else. The same source went on and wrote about what they call the evolution of the name of Jesus from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English. Sometimes craziness, like that statement, is found on the web, so beware!

Shockingly, on one of these SN sites, the following is given for Matt. 1:20,21, but without mentioning what version:

“Yosef (Joseph), son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt.1:20b-21)

Notice that Yeshua was used in the place of Jesus!

Is Jesus a False Messiah?

Not only is Jesus now called a false messiah by many of the Sacred Name supporters but they also claim that it’s supposed to be for anti-Jewish tradition! One of their sites states:

"Jesus" is NOT a [sic] english translation of the hebrew name Yashua; it's A BRAND NEW NAME (early pronounced "Yeesoos," a false name with roots in greek-hellenistic Paganism)!!! This FALSITY OF "JESUS" AS THE NAME OF THE MESSIAH can be proven from the New Testament ... (capital emphasis his).”

“...The Angel of Yahweh commanded Joseph to name the child "Yashua." The origin of his name is in Heaven. It's not a man made name. Who on earth has the autority [sic] to rename HaShem's Messiah?”

No Scripture Identifies Yeshua as Messiah

Several SN supporters are trying to build a case with no proof from the New Testament. Again, the New Testament was not written in Hebrew but rather in Greek and translated directly into English for our English speaking society to read. God wanted the known Greek speaking world of the first-century (out of which sprang the first-century church) to know the name of Messiah, which brings salvation, healing and power over demons, to be "Iesous" (or Jesus in English) and not "Yeshua." If God wanted the Jewish writers of the New Testament to use Yeshua they would have… but they didn't! To simply say that the word “Yeshua” means "salvation" is not a clear connection to the Savior from Nazareth. The same name is used for Joshua. The name Yeshua alone doesn't identify the one who shed His blood on the cross, rose from the dead and is coming back again, as the NT identifies Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus has the name translated directly from the original Greek NT that is declared to be above every name (Phil. 2:9). It, therefore, should be used unashamedly in our English speaking society in spite of all the lies and fabrications being spread around by many SN supporters. It is also noteworthy to consider that Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews (Phil. 3:5), yet wasn't off on some strange fictional concept that “Iesous” (Greek for the English equivalent Jesus) was inferior or of pagan roots like some Hebrews of our day that claim to believe in the Messiah of Christianity. In his writings, this very Jewish Paul, also called Saul, utilized the name Iesous in his letters instead of the Hebraic, Yeshua.

No Bible Verse Tells Us Messiah's Name Is Yeshua

I like to ask SN supporters this question: “Would you please give us a Bible verse from the Hebrew Scriptures that tells us Messiah's name is Yeshua?”  None have ever done so or ever will since Yeshua is never found in the OT or NT in reference to Messiah. Messiah is never identified by name in the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures.

Regarding the Jewish Messianic ministries, we have learned that some of them emphasize the word "Yeshua" to such a degree that they say this is the name in which salvation is found and not Jesus. (Furthermore, many of them also believe in the heresy of eternal security!). In an article entitled, We Call Him Yeshua it was written:

“One of the aspects of Messianic Judaism that stands out the most is the fact we usually refer to the Messiah as Yeshua instead of Jesus. Here is why. To put it simply, in calling Him Yeshua we are restoring to Him His Jewish identity. Yeshua was and is the name He was called when He walked on this Earth.”

Jesus is the Savior of all who will repent and submissively trust in Him. Rev. 7 states there will be people in God's kingdom from every tribe, people, language and nation all redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. And though it holds prophetic and theological importance, of what nationality Messiah was as He walked the earth is totally irrelevant where salvation is concerned.

In Conclusion… for now.

To the millions of people that have been saved, healed and delivered from sin, sickness and demons because of the precious name of Jesus these aforementioned types of attacks on the Savior's name are disturbing. Several SN supporters are spreading amazing lies, fabrications and misinformation about the name that makes demons shudder and brings salvation and therefore they need to be corrected and opposed.  But consider the following and judge for yourself:

·         Jesus is not derived from the pagan source of Isus.

·         Jesus is not a false name.  

·         Jesus is not of pagan origins.

·         Jesus is not a false name for Messiah.

·         Jesus is not a twice-removed translation of the name.

·         Jesus is not merely a name used by boastful Christians who killed Jews.

·         Jesus is not being used for the sake of (anti-torah, anti-Jewish) tradition.

·         There is no emphasis in the Bible to restore to the Savior His Jewish identity.