Great Name

OUR BIBLE
Only a Translation

Many don't stop to think that the King James Version of 1611 and other common Bibles are merely English translations from the original Hebrew.
Although the King James and some others are very accurate in preserving the meaning of the originals, translators took some liberties with certain words--especially is that true of the Name of the Heavenly Father and His Son. An unfounded fear of using the sacred Name led to the use of substitute titles in our Bibles.
At top is the first complete English Bible translated from the Latin Vulgate version by Oxford scholar John Wycliffe in 1384. At right are samples of ancient language translations of the Bible. The oldest manuscripts are in Hebrew, followed by Aramaic (related to Hebrew) and then Greek.

HEBREW
HEBREW	ARAMAIC

KOINE GREEK	The pottery frag-ment directly above contains a message to the commander of a garrison at La-chish, written about 586 BCD. The writer sends a greeting in "the name of Yahweh."
GREEK CODEX

The Truth is Traditionally Unpopular

All through scriptural history the majority religious view has been in the wrong. From the start, Yahweh has revealed His truth only through a relatively few people in His plan for the world. Why? Because the truth is not popular. The majority reject it. The end-time true assembly--the Philadelphia Assembly--will also be small and insignificant in the eyes of the world. Read Revelation 3:8, speaking about the Philadelphia Assembly: "I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My Name."

People sometimes give all kinds of reasons for not using the Sacred name, (some of which are found beginning on page 3). We take up one of them here because it is based on a poor translation of the King James Version and many refer to it. Their reasoning goes like this: "If we know the Father's nature--His justice and holiness, His love and mercy, His saving grace and His power--we know His Name and we know that to know Him is life eternal." They seek proof for this type of reasoning from Psalm 138:2, which seems to indicate that His Word is above His Name. "...for You have magnified Your Word above all your Name." But when we read this text in the Hebrew, the meaning is quite different. Both His Word and His Name are placed on an equal basis as supported by most other versions of Scripture.

The Revised Standard Version renders Psalm 138:2, "I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou has exalted above everything they name and thy Word." The New International Bible translation reads, "I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your Name and your Word." The Smith and Goodspeed translation does not compare His Name with His Word, but translates the Hebrew as follows: "I prostrate myself toward thy holy temple; and give thanks to thy name for thy kindness and thy faithfulness; for thou has magnified thy name over all."

None of these translations state that His Word or character is to be exalted above His Name. His Name stands for His Word and character and it is impossible to separate them as some try to do.

Most Sacred Name believers agree that His Word and character are all-important, but we believe that the use of His Holy Name is of equal importance. We readily agree that it is vital to have His Holy Name sanctified in our lives. If we fail to live our lives in conformity to the character of His Holy Name, we are taking it in vain just as much as those who ignore it by the substitution of improper titles.

It is easy to find reasons for believing something that one does not want to do. What many overlook is that Yahweh named Himself (Isaiah 42:8), and desires to be identified by that sacred Name (Zechariah 13:9). We are to extol Him by this Name (Psalm 68:4). We are told to call upon Him in the time of trouble by the use of His Name (Joel 2:32). We are told that the families who refuse to use His Sacred Name prior to our Savior's Second Coming will be destroyed with the wicked (Jeremiah 10:25). John was shown in a vision of the last days people gathered on the Sea of Glass singing a Hallelu-Yah chorus, Revelation 15:1-5 and 19:5-8. HalleluYah means "Praise You Yah."

Are you preparing to sing that HalleluYah chorus by praising that Holy Name now, or are you still singing in the name of "God" and "Lord"? We are told to hallow His Name in prayer--"Hallowed by Thy Name," Matthew 6:9. How can one hallow it in prayer when not once is it ever used in prayer or song to Him? The Name is vital to your salvation.

In Review

Yahweh to Remove Substitute Titles

Practically all modern scholars recognize "Yahweh" as the best possible English transliteration of the Holy Name of our Almighty One. Because our Savior "came in the Name of" His Father, we use "Yahweh" or the shortened form "Yah" (and not "Je" as in "Jesus") in the Name of His Son. The last syllable "shua" derives from Hoshea, meaning "save" in the Hebrew and carries the meaning that the angel told His earthly parents to give Him. He would "save his people from their sins," Matthew 1:21. The "sus" in Je-sus does not carry the meaning of salvation.

The scholars who translate the Bible into the English language know that His Name is not Jesus, but they continue to use it because it has for centuries been accepted as His Name. Tradition has made it more popular than His true Name.

In center column reference Bibles, the name is usually rendered more correctly. For example, in the center column of the King James Version on Hebrews 4:8 you will see a footnote before the name Jesus. If you look down to the reference you will see a note that reads: "That is, Joshua." The spelling is different from "Yahshua," but the pronunciation is practically the same. Correctly pronounce the "J" as a "Y" and the "o" as in "top" and you have pronounced our Savior's Name so He could recognize it. Recall that the Hebrew has no "J" in its language, and the "J" is pronounced "Y" as in the word "Hallelu-Yah." Our "Joshua" will lead us into our Promised Land as His namesake led the children of Israel into the land of Canaan.

Remember that "Jesus" is a Latin-Greek name transliterated from the Greek "Iesous." Our Savior was not a Greek, but had a Hebrew Name. The name "Jesus" carries no more the meaning of "Yahweh is our Salvation" than the Greek "Jason" (which means healing) carries the meaning of the Hebrew "Jesse" (which means wealth). For the sake of accuracy, if for no other reason, we should use the Name that the angel of Yahweh told His parents to call Him. Any other is not His Name.

Hosea was inspired to write of the near future, "And it shall be at that day says Yahweh, that you shall call Me Ishi...." Why call Him "Ishi"? Because this term that means "husband" has never been used in association with pagan idols, and because spiritually speaking, He is our Husband. His saints are married to Him. The rest of this text gives a startling prophecy of the future age. "For you shall call me no more Baali [My Lord]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [God and Lord] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name" (Hosea 2:16, 17). Scripture states, "I am Yahweh, that is My Name and My glory will I not give to another [name], neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).

"What's the difference?" you ask. The difference is either obedience to His will or disobedience. The decision is yours, but if you love Him, you will call Him by His correct Name. You will call the Messiah by the Name His Heavenly Father gave Him, the Name that He came to proclaim, the Name that He kept His disciples in, the Name that assures us of salvation, and the Name in which we are sealed.

The Heavenly Father's Great Name

The Truth is Traditionally Unpopular

In Review

Yahweh to Remove Substitute Titles