How Did We Get The Name Jesus

This Is What Jesus’ Friends And Family Actually Called Him — And No, It Wasn’t Jesus

Even among people of different religious beliefs, the name “Jesus” is almost universally recognized. It may come as a surprise, however, that the name “Jesus,” which millions of Christians all over the world are urged not to use in vain, was not in fact the name of the historical figure. Despite the fact that the assertion appears to be controversial, the truth is that it is more of a translation issue.

What Was Jesus’ Real Name?

Commons image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons “Isous” is the Greek transcription of Jesus’ given name, whereas “Yeshua” is the late Biblical Hebrew form of Jesus’ given name. Of course, neither English nor Spanish existed in their present forms during the time when the genuine Jesus was living, nor was the New Testament written at the time that the original Jesus was alive. Jesus and his followers were all Jewish, and as a result, they all received Hebrew given names – despite the fact that they would have spoken Aramaic.

As a result, the majority of academics think that the Christian Messiah’s given name was really “Yeshua,” which was a very popular Jewish given name during Jesus’ lifetime.

This raises the question of how the name “Jesus” got to be unique in the first place, given that there were apparently so many individuals called “Yeshua” moving around at the time.

How “Yeshua” Became Lost In Translation

Commons image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Because of this, the King James Bible was written in the “I” spelling rather than the “J” spelling. Given the fact that not every language has the same sounds, people have traditionally adopted their names in order to be able to pronounce them in a number of different languages. Even in modern languages, there are discrepancies in how Jesus is pronounced from one dialect to another. In English, the name is pronounced with a hard “J,” yet in Spanish, the name is pronounced with what would be a “H” in English, despite the fact that the spelling is the same.

The New Testament was initially written in Greek, which not only has a completely different alphabet than Hebrew, but also does not include the “sh” sound present in the Hebrew word “Yeshua,” which means “Yeshua.” After deciding to use the Greek “s” sound instead of the “sh” sound in the name Yeshua, the New Testament authors added a final “s” to the end of the name to make it more masculine in the original language.

When the Bible was translated into Latin from the original Greek, the term “Iesus” was used by the translators to refer to the person who had given the name.

For decades, this inscription has been a typical feature of portrayals of the crucifixion in Western Christianity as “INRI,” an acronym for the LatinIesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, or “Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews,” which translates as “Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews.” Because Latin being the main language of the Catholic Church, the Latinized form of the name “Yeshua” was used to refer to Christ across the rest of Europe and beyond.

Even the King James Bible, which was first published in 1611, utilized the “Iesus” spelling.

How “Yeshua” Eventually Became “Jesus”

It’s difficult to identify precisely where the “Jesus” spelling originated, while some historians believe that a variant of the name that originated in Switzerland is the most likely candidate. It is more common for the “J” in Swiss to be pronounced like an English “Y” or the Latin “Ie” as in “Iesus.” In 1553, when the Catholic Queen “Bloody” Mary ascended to the English throne, thousands of English Protestant intellectuals fled, with a large number eventually settling in Geneva. It was at Geneva that a group of some of the best English minds of the day collaborated to create the Geneva Bible, which was the first to utilize the Swiss spelling of the name “Jesus.” Commons image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons A significant contribution to the popularization of the “Jesus” spelling was made by the Geneva Bible.

Eventually, it was transported to the New World on the Mayflower, which arrived in 1620.

As a result, the name used by English speakers today is an English adaption of a German translation of a Latin transliteration of a Greek transliteration of an initially Hebrew name, which was then adopted by the English language.

Then read about Jesus’ tomb being opened after it had been sealed.

The Grammarphobia Blog: How Jesus got his name

Q: As part of my preparation for a future lecture, I was wondering if you could tell me anything about how the name Jesus came to be used in English. A: I’d be interested in hearing if you have any information regarding how the name Jesus came to be used in English. In particular, how did it come to be spoken in such a different way from the original Greek/Latin language? A: The term “savior” was originally used to allude to Jesus in Old English, when it was referred to as ashlend, which means “savior.” Until the early Middle English era, the name “Jesus” did not appear in our language under its current spelling (1150-1250).

  • As far back as recorded history goes, the name didn’t begin with “j” and didn’t conclude with the letter “s” (the letter “s” didn’t exist at the time).
  • First, let’s take a brief detour into the etymology of the name “Jesus” before moving on to how the spelling formed in English.
  • It had been borrowed into Greek from the late Hebrew or Aramaic name Yeshua, which was a popular Jewish boy’s name at the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
  • This name is also known by the variations Yehoshua, Jehoshua, and Joshua.
  • According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the omission of a final “s” was influenced by Old French.
  • As previously stated, the name “Jesus” was not initially spelt with a “j” since the letter “j” did not exist at the time of its creation.
  • Here’s how things progressed.
  • The consonant sounds “d” and “y” (which are akin to the sounds heard in the English words “odious” and “hideous”) were blended together and eventually became known as the “j” sound.

While this was going on, the guttural letter “g,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was experiencing its own metamorphosis, and began to have a “softer” sound, akin to that of the contemporary “j.” Clearly, European printers need a new letter to express a sound that had previously been represented by both the letters I and “g.” It was thus that the letter “j,” which in lowercase form resembled a I with a tail, first arose in 15th-century Spanish and afterwards in other languages that used the Roman alphabet.

The new letter was introduced in English during the mid-1600s as a tool for the publication of the King James Version of the Bible in 1611.

Despite the fact that the “differentiation of I and J, in form and value” was finished by 1640, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “the sense that they were, nonetheless, just forms of the same letter lasted for many generations.” It should be noted that “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name.

  1. As we’ve previously said on the site, “Christ” is a term that literally translates as “anointed one.” It is an Anglicized form of the GreekKristos and the LatinChristus, respectively.
  2. Not a modern construct that depicts the secularization and/or commodification of Christmas, to be sure.
  3. However, secularists are not to be blamed.
  4. This is due to the fact that the Greek word for Christ, o, begins with the letters “chi” (also known as “X”) and “rho” (also known as “P”).

In addition, the monks used the abbreviations “X” or “XP” to represent “Christ” in their writing. Donate to the Grammarphobia Blog to assist in its ongoing operation. Also, be sure to check out our books on the English language.

If His name was Yeshua, why do we call Him Jesus?

QuestionAnswer Some believe that our Lord should not be referred to as “Jesus” because it is offensive. Instead, we should only refer to Jesus by his given name, Yeshua. Some even go so far as to suggest that naming Him “Jesus” is blasphemous and should be avoided at all costs. The name “Jesus” is considered unbiblical by some since the letterJ is a later innovation because there was no letterJ in ancient Greek or Hebrew. The Hebrew name Yeshua is pronounced “Joshua,” while the English form is “Joshua.” It is pronounced “Iesous,” which is the Greek transcription of the Hebrew name, and it is spelled “Jesus.” In this way, the names “Joshua” and “Jesus” are nearly identical; both are English pronunciations of the Hebrew and Greek names for our Savior.

  1. A collection of pages that has been bound and covered is referred to as a “book.” In German, it is spelled as abuch.
  2. The language changes, but the item itself remains the same as before.
  3. Furthermore, we can speak to Jesus as “Jesus,”” Yeshua, or ” YehSou” (Cantonese) without His essence being altered.
  4. As for the issue around the letter J, it appears to be all for naught.
  5. However, this does not rule out the possibility of references to “Jerusalem” in the Bible.
  6. Even within a same language, spellings might differ: Americans write “Savior,” whilst the British write “Savior,” respectively.
  7. Jesus is the Saviour and the Savior, and He is the Lord.
  8. Not once in the Bible does it say that we must only pronounce or write His name in Hebrew or Greek.
  9. Instead, on the Day of Pentecost, the apostles delivered the gospel news in the languages of the “Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; citizens of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the regions of Libya near Cyrene,” according to Acts 2:9.
  10. It didn’t matter if the words were spelled correctly.
  11. Scripture does not place a higher priority on one language over another, and it makes no hint that Christians must use the Hebrew language when addressing the Almighty.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what language we use to call on Him: He is our salvation in English, Korean, Hindi, or Hebrew. Return to the previous page: Questions concerning the deity of Jesus Christ Why do we refer to Him as Jesus while His given name was Yeshua?

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Was Jesus a Common Name Back When He Was Alive?

Ary Scheffer created this painting in 1851. Image courtesy of the Walters Art Museum and shared via Wikimedia Commons. The name was used by a large number of individuals. It was extremely popular in first-century Galilee to be addressed by Christ’s given name, which is frequently romanized as Yeshua. (Jesus is derived from the transcription of Yeshua into Greek, which was subsequently translated into English.) Archaeologists have discovered the tombs of 71 Yeshuas from the time of Jesus’ death, according to the New York Times.

  • (Ezra 2:2).
  • The reason we refer to the Hebrew hero of Jericho as Joshua and the Christian Messiah as Jesus is not clear.
  • Because the Greeks did not utilize the soundsh, the evangelists used anSsound in its place.
  • Currently, the name Jesus is romanized as Iesous, which is derived from the oldest documented version of the name Jesus.
  • It was a long time before the initial came about.
  • Until the mid-17th century, there was no distinction between English and other languages.
  • It was under the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I that a group of English Protestants escaped to Switzerland and created the Geneva Bible, which was spelled in the Swiss style.

The Old Testament, on the other hand, was translated straight from the original Hebrew into English, rather than through the medium of Greek.

During this time, the Syrian Orthodox church’s sacred book, known as the Syrian Bible, is written in the Aramaic language.

As a result, the Syriac text makes reference to Yeshua.

It wasn’t Christ, either.

(This is referred to as “Jesus, son of Joseph” or “Jesus of Nazareth.” Galileans separated themselves from others who shared the same first name by adding either “son of” and their father’s name or their place of birth to the end of their names.

Inquire with the Explainer. The explainer expresses gratitude to Joseph P. Amar of the University of Notre Dame and Paul V.M. Flesher of the University of Wyoming for their contributions.

Meaning, origin and history of the name Jesus

Save This is the English form of the Greek name o(Iesous), which was the Greek form of the Aramaic name o(Yeshu’a). Yeshu’ais itself a contraction of the name Yehoshua (the Messiah) (seeJoshua). Yeshua ben Yoseph, better known as Jesus Christ, was the major character of the New Testament and the originator of the Christian faith, according to the New Testament. According to the four gospels, he was the son of God and the Virgin Mary, and that he was the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah.

Languages other than English Cultures Isa(Albanian) Yeshua (Jesus) (Ancient Aramaic) Eesa,Essa,Isa,Issa,Yasu,Yusha(Arabic) İsa(Azerbaijani) Josu(Basque) Iesous is a French word that means “Iesous is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is a person who is (Biblical Greek) Yeshayahu, Yeshayahu (Biblical Hebrew) Iosue, Iesus, Iesus, Iosue (Biblical Latin) Jesús(Catalan) Joshua(English) Josué(French) Xesús(Galician) Iokua(Hawaiian) Yehoshua(Hebrew) Giosuè(Italian) Isa(Persian) Jesús,Josué,Chucho,Chus,Chuy(Spanish) İsa(Turkish) Descendants of a Surname Jesus(Portuguese) Raphael’s The Transfiguration in its entirety (1520)

People think this name is

Classicmatureformalnatural wholesomestrongrefinedstrangeserious Characters from American Gods, characters from American Horror Story, gods, and assistance Jesus Christ Superstar, martyrs, Oscar Wilde characters, philosophers, prophets, Rick and Morty characters, song titles, supreme gods, Tori Amos songs, William Faulkner characters, Xeno characters are some of the terms that come to mind.

How did the name Jesus come about?

A variant of the Hebrew name Yeshua/Y’shua is derived from the Semitic root y—-, which means “to deliver; to rescue.” The name Jesus is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua/Y’shua, which is based on the Semitic root y—- (Hebrew: y ), which means “to deliver; to save.” It is said to have originated in proto-Semitic (y’), and it appears in various Semitic personal names outside of Hebrew, such as the Aramaic name Hadad Yith’i, which translates as “Hadad is mine.

How did Jesus get his name?

Christ was not originally a given name, but rather a title derived from the Greek word christos, which is a translation of the Hebrew phrase meshiah (Messiah), which means “the anointed one,” as in “the anointed one.” Jesus’ disciples considered him to be the anointed son of King David, and some Jews anticipated him to restore the fortunes of Israel as a result of this title attribution.

What was Jesus name before he was called Jesus?

Jesus’ given name in Hebrew was “Yeshua,” which translates to “Joshua” in the English language. So, how did the name “Jesus” come to be given to us?

What is it about the name of Jesus?

Who was Jesus, and what is his significance in history?

Most dictionaries will interpret Jesus’ name (which was presumably more correctly rendered as “Joshua” than “Jesus”) as “God is salvation,” which appears to be a more accurate translation. Using the term “God is salvation” implies that God is in a state of complete passiveness.

Was Jesus a common name when Jesus was born?

Yes. It is the Greek transcription of Joshua, which is appropriate because the New Testament was composed in Greek.

Did Jesus have a last name?

Jesus does not have a last name. He is simply known as Jesus. In those days, last names were not commonly used. Christ is not a personal name, but rather a title. Christ is derived from the Greek words for “anointed” and “Messiah,” and as a result, when Jesus was 30 years old, he was recognized as the “Christ” or “Messiah.”

What is God’s real name?

The Hebrew personal name for God, YHWH (often written “Yahweh”), is the name most widely used by those in the Middle East.

Is Yahweh God or Jesus?

YAHWEH was first conceived as the all-powerful creator, preserver, and redeemer of the universe, and later developed by the early Christians as their god who had sent his son Jesus to earth as the promised messiah. Islam, on the other hand, interpreted this same deity as Allah in their religious system.

How did Yeshua turn into Jesus?

A result of the countless translations that the Bible has undergone, “Jesus” has become the popular name for the Son of God in the modern day. His given name in Hebrew is Yeshua, which is a shortened form of the word yehshu’a. … When the name Yeshua is translated into the Greek language, from which the New Testament is derived, it becomes Isous, which is spelled “Jesus” in the English language.

What Zodiac is Jesus?

Because the account of Christ’s birth coincides with this day, many Christian icons for Christ include the astrological symbol for Pisces, the fishes, into their designs. The figure of Christ himself embodies many of the temperaments and personality features associated with the Piscean zodiac sign, and as such is regarded as an archetype of the Piscean sign.

Does Jesus mean Emmanuel?

Simon Ushakov’s Christ Emmanuel, a Christian icon with riza, was created in 1668. Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel of Matthew, is referred to as Immanuel (God with us).

Is there someone named Jesus?

In the Latin language, Jesus is the masculine given name derived from the names IESVS and Isous (both Greek: o), which are the Greek forms of the Hebrew and Aramaic names Yeshua and Y’shua (both Hebrew: ). … JESUS CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST (name)

How many names does Jesus have in the Bible?

Although the precise distinction between a ‘name’ and a ‘title’ may be open to debate, Cruden’s Concordance, which was first published in 1737 and has remained in print ever since, lists 198 different names and titles of Jesus in the Bible. Cruden’s Concordance was first published in 1737 and has remained in print ever since.

When did the letter J come into existence?

Both the letters I and J were employed interchangeably by scribes to indicate the sound of both the vowel and the consonant in their writing. Not until 1524, however, did Italian Renaissance grammarian Gian Giorgio Trissino, referred to as the “Father of the Letter J,” make a clear difference between the two sounds.

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What Does the Name ‘Jesus’ Mean?

The name Jesus literally translates as “Savior.” It is the same name as Joshua, who appears in the Old Testament of the Bible. The crown of glory has been granted to our Lord because “He rescues His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). For sinners who are feeling the weight of the world, the name Jesus is a source of great encouragement. Considering he is already known as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, it is possible that he may have legally adopted a more prestigious title.

He, on the other hand, does not do so. Many of the rulers of this planet have referred to themselves as “great,” “conquerors,” “bold,” “magnificent,” and other like titles. In his own words, theSon of God is satisfied to refer to himself as Savior.

Where the Name Jesus Came From: Hebrew and Greek Origins

Eastern Bible Dictionary states that the name Jesus is a Greek variant of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshea (which means “salvation” in Hebrew) (Numbers 13:8,Numbers 13:16). This form was modified by Moses to Jehoshua (Numbers 13:16; 1 Chronicles 7:27), which is also known as Joshua. Then, following Israel’s exile in Babylon, it adopted the form Jeshua, which is derived from which we obtain the Greek name Jesus. It was given to our Lord to serve as a reminder of the purpose of his mission, which was to rescue mankind (Matthew 1:21).

The Importance of Jesus’ Title as Christ

Before and after the biblical Jesus, there have been a slew of persons with the name Jesus. However, only this Jesus is referred to as Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus, not the other Jesuses. The term Christ serves to further emphasize his exclusive identity and purpose. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, the term “Christ” refers to the anointed one. The Greek term “anointed” refers to the Hebrew word “Messiah,” which is the title given to Jesus by the Romans. This term appears 514 times in the New Testament, all of which are associated with Jesus.

Jesus’ given name includes the terms Christ, Anointed/Messiah, which is significant because of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah.

The Meaning of Jesus’ Name as Savior

As previously established, the name Jesus refers to a rescuer. This is the unique role He has. He frees his people from the penalty of sin by washing them clean in His own atoning blood on the cross. He delivers people from the tyranny of sin by instilling the sanctifying Spirit in the hearts of believers. When He removes them out of this world and places them in His presence, He saves them from the presence of sin. The Lord will save people from all of the consequences of their sins when He returns to earth in a gorgeous form at the end of time.

  1. It is His responsibility and pleasure to extend mercy.
  2. (See also John 3:17).
  3. It has frequently been beneficial to them.
  4. It has relieved their burdened consciences and brought relief to their aching hearts, and they are grateful.

A common sensation for many people is described in the Song of Solomon when it says: “Your name is oil poured forth” (Song of Solomon 1:3). The individual who places his or her faith on “Jesus” rather than in nebulous notions of God’s kindness and goodness will be happy.

Why Do Christians Pray “In Jesus’ Name”?

Take a look at this video to hear Don Whitney, professor of biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary, discuss why Christians frequently finish prayers with the phrase “in Jesus’ name.” The act of praying in Jesus’ name signifies that we are come in the righteousness of Christ, rather than our own righteousness. Our prayers aren’t worthy of being heard by God, but Jesus’ prayer is, and we come in his name.” In addition, it implies that we are coming in and asking the kinds of questions that we imagine Jesus would ask if he were in our position.

“Because of Jesus, God hears our prayers.” You can listen to the remainder of the interview here.

What Does it Mean to Take the Name of Jesus in Vain?

The third commandment of the Ten Commandments states that one should not use God’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7). The phrase “in vain” refers to something that is “empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous.” As a result, to take God’s name in vain implies to speak it in a way that is empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous in its intent. And one of the most apparent methods of accomplishing this is by the use of profanity in one’s speech. We’ve all heard the name of Jesus used as a punctuation mark to emphasize a point.

“Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 reminds us that “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should The name of Jesus carries great weight.

God desires that His people – His followers – never use His name in jest, but rather that they reverence it instead.

Research Source:

Dr. Walter C. Kaiser Jr., of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, has written a book on Jesus in the Old Testament. Based on the book The Gospel of Matthew by J.C. Ryle (Chapter 1). Photograph courtesy of Thinkstock/Eskemar

Yeshua or Joshua? Jesus may actually go by a different name

Getty Although some people feel that Christmas is represented by a jovial man in a red and white suit, others believe that Christmas has more religious roots. A common misconception about Christmas is that it is about celebrating Jesus Christ, who many Christians believe to be his real name. A result of the countless translations that the Bible has undergone, “Jesus” has become the popular name for the Son of God in the modern day. His given name in Hebrew is Yeshua, which is a shortened form of the word yehshu’a.

  • Michael L.
  • When the name Yeshua is translated into the Greek language, from which the New Testament is derived, it becomes Isous, which is spelled “Jesus” in the English language.
  • According to the Bible, anybody who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
  • – Romans 10:13 (NASB) The majority of the time, the discrepancy in names is due to translation.
  • Regardless matter whether he is referred to as Jesus or Yeshua, the tale of his birth is the same.

Despite the fact that December 25th is not the real day of Jesus’ birth, it has been designated as a day for Christians to convert nonbelievers, according to William Walsh’s 1970 book, The Story of Santa Claus.

Should You Really Be Calling Jesus by the Name Yeshua?

Is Yeshua the correct spelling of Jesus’ given name? It is believed by followers of Messianic Judaism, Jews who embrace Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and they are not alone in their belief. In fact, some Christians believe that individuals who refer to Christ by his Hebrew name, Yeshua, rather than by his English name, Jesus, are worshipping the incorrect savior. These Christians believe that naming the Messiah by his given name, Jesus, is equivalent to calling the Messiah by the name of the Greek deity Zeus.

What Is Jesus’ Real Name?

Indeed, the Hebrew word for Jesus is Yeshua (Jesus). It is an acronym that stands for “Yahwehis Salvation.” Yeshua is spelled “Joshua” in the English language. However, when the name Yeshua is translated from Hebrew into Greek, which is the language in which the New Testament was written, the name becomesIsous. “Jesus” is the English spelling of the name Isous. The names Joshua and Jesus are the same, which suggests they are related. One name has been translated from Hebrew into English, and the other has been translated from Greek into English, respectively.

  1. Consider the following scenario: Languages use various words to describe the same item in different ways.
  2. Furthermore, we can refer to Jesus by several names without altering his character in any way.
  3. In English, he is referred to as Jesus, with a “J” that sounds like the letter “gee.” Portuguese speakers refer to him as Jesus, but with a “J” that sounds like “geh,” and Spanish speakers refer to him as Jesus, but with a “J” that sounds like “hey,” respectively.
  4. Of course, they are all speaking in their own tongue.

The Connection Between Jesus and Zeus

The names Jesus and Zeus have absolutely nothing to do with each other. This hypothesis is based on fabrications and has made its way across the internet, where it has been joined by a slew of other false and misleading material.

More Than One Jesus in the Bible

Jesus Christ, in reality, was not the only Jesus mentioned in the Bible; there were other others. Jesus Barabbas is one of several people with the same name who are mentioned in the Bible. He is commonly referred to as simply Barabbas, and he was the prisonerPilate was released from instead of Jesus Christ: “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate inquired of the crowd when it had gathered. (Matthew 27:17, New International Version) In the genealogy of Jesus, an ancestor of Christ is referred to as Jesus (Joshua) in Luke 3:29, according to the Bible.

and Jesus, whose surname is Justus. My fellow workers for the kingdom of God are the only ones who are circumcised among them, and they have been a source of comfort to me. (Colossians 4:11, English Standard Version)

Are You Worshiping the Wrong Savior?

The Bible does not give preference to one language (or translation) over another in terms of significance. We are not required to invoke the Lord’s name entirely in Hebrew, as we are in other languages. Furthermore, it makes no difference how we say his name. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved, according to the text of Acts 2:21. (ESV). God is aware of those who invoke his name, regardless of whether they do it in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or Hebrew.

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Matt Slickat, Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, summarizes the situation as follows: “Some believe that if we do not pronounce Jesus’ name correctly, we are in sin and serving a false deity; however, this claim cannot be supported by Scripture.

Receiving the Messiah, God manifested in human, through faith is what distinguishes us as Christians.” So go ahead and call out in the name of Jesus with confidence.

Where did the name Christ come from and what does it mean?

-Wally Grant et al. Jesus Christ has a lengthy and fascinating history! In the Old Testament, the Jewish people looked forward to the day when God would send a King to govern over the entire world, a King who would be chosen by Him. Messiah is the Hebrew term for this monarch, and it literally translates as “the anointed (chosen) one.” Several centuries later, the word Messiah was translated into the Greek word Christos in the New Testament. The Greek word Christ is the source of the English term Christ.

  1. His last name is not Christ, and neither is the word Christ.
  2. Today’s titles identify people’s work and aid in explaining what they do or who they are as individuals.
  3. Jim Brown, to mention a few examples.
  4. The fact that God’s Word, the Bible, refers to Him as “Jesus Christ” means that you may be certain that He is God’s one and only Son, who has been chosen to bear the punishment for your sins.

Nobody else on the planet can claim the title of Jesus Christ, and no one else can rescue you (Acts 4:10-12) except Jesus Christ alone!

What the Name “Jesus” Means for Believers

God’s Son is known by the human nameJesus (Greek: Isous). This was not a choice made by Joseph and Mary; rather, it was an order from on high (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31). That is not to argue that the name “Jesus” was unique, because there were other males with the same name (Col. 4:11). Until the beginning of the second century AD, it was a prevalent given name among Jewish people. 1As a result, people referred to him as “Jesus of Nazareth” in order to distinguish him from other people who shared the same name.

  1. Why did God, through angels, decree that this name be given to his incarnate Son in the first place?
  2. Historically, “Jesus” was the Greek form of “Joshua” (HebrewYehoshu’a), as evidenced by the usage of the name “Jesus” in the Septuagint and the New Testament for the famous Israelite leader Joshua, the son of Nun, in both the Old and New Testaments.
  3. 13:16 ESV) after Joshua’s parents named him “Oshea” or “Hoshea” (ESV).
  4. 14:6–9).
  5. 1:1–2; 24:29), and he led Israel into the Promised Land in accordance with God’s promise to Abraham (Josh.
  6. As a symbol of the Christians’ eternal rest in their beautiful inheritance, the kingdom of God, the country of Canaan was used in Hebrews 4 and 11 to represent their eternal rest in the kingdom of God.

The Origins of the Name “Jesus”

The names “Jesus” and “Joshua” are derived from Hebrew origins that signify “the Lord is salvation,” according to etymology. God’s name is associated with salvation in the Scriptures, which convey the message that the Lord, and only the Lord, rescues his people from evil via his sovereign mercy. 8Normally, we should proceed with caution when deducing the meaning of words from their etymology rather than from their usage, but the Scriptures plainly teach, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall redeem his people from their sins” (Matt.

  1. As a result, according to John of Damascus, the name “Jesus” refers to the fact that he is the Savior.
  2. He will save himself, as the Greek word “he shall save” (autos) emphasizes: he and he alone will accomplish this task.
  3. 29).
  4. As a result, the name “Jesus” identifies Christ as God’s human servant who is the only one who can save people and bring them into their eternal inheritance.
  5. 43:11; cf.
  6. 14

Hope in His Name

When people are casual about their faults, the word “Jesus” serves as a sobering reminder. After all, how can they accept this “Savior” if they do not think that they are sinners in need of salvation? Perkins reminded us that we must believe and experience the offense caused by our sins against God before we can embrace the Savior as our Savior. In order to welcome Jesus, we must understand that we would perish eternally if we do not accept him, because lost people are the only ones whom Jesus came to redeem (Matt.

15 To those who believe in Jesus, a wonderful promise is contained inside the word “Jesus.” “Since God, who cannot lie, decreed from heaven that His Son revealed in the flesh be given this name Jesus, which means ‘Savior,’ I know for certain and have the certainty that He entirely and perfectly rescues me, body and soul,” Caspar Olevianus wrote.

He will follow through on what He has promised.” 16Notes:

  1. Kittel, Gerhard, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich edited Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, which was published in 10 volumes. 3:285
  2. Matt. 26:71
  3. Mark 1:24
  4. 14:67
  5. Luke 4:34
  6. 18:37
  7. 24:19
  8. John 1:45
  9. 18:5, 7
  10. 19:19
  11. Acts 2:22
  12. 6:14
  13. 10:38
  14. 22:8
  15. 26:9
  16. Cf. Matt. 21:11
  17. Acts 3:6
  18. 4:10
  19. 4:10 Since then, the Hebrew nameYehoshua has been reduced toYeshua, which has been transliterated into Greek as IsouorIsous (Ezra 2:2
  20. Neh. 8:17). When translated into Latin, it becameJesus (pronounced Yay-soos)
  21. Ex. 17:9-10
  22. 1 Kings 16:34
  23. And other passages in the LXX. As previously stated, this is the same name as the prophet “Hosea” (Hebrew, Hoshe’a)
  24. It’s possible that the name “Jesus” also references to another Joshua, son of Josedech, who served with Zerubbabel as high priest and prophesied the future Priest-King by serving the returning exiles (Hag. 1:1, 13, 14
  25. 2:2, 4
  26. Zech. 3:1-10
  27. 6:11-13). V.O.S., Reformed Dogmatics, 3:8
  28. Vos, Reformed Dogmatics, 3:6, among others. It is derived from “the LORD” (YHWHor its abbreviated form,Yah) and a word that means “rescue, save” (yasha’), which is the name of a biblical character. Consider the name “Elisha” (Elisha’), which means “God is salvation.”
  29. Perkins,An Exposition of the Symbol, 5:98
  30. Exodus 14:13, 30
  31. 15:2
  32. 1 Sam. 17:47
  33. 2 Chron. 20:17
  34. Ps. 3:8
  35. Lam. 3:26
  36. Jonah 2:9
  37. John of Damascus,An accurate Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 3.2, in NPNF, 9.2:46
  38. Morris and Morris,The Gospel according to Matthew, 29-30
  39. The Three Forms of It should be noted that Perkins was not dismissing the other members of the Trinity, but rather highlighted that God saves via the Son and that the Holy Spirit saves through putting into practice the work of the Son (99). 3:7
  40. Herman Witsius, Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, trans. Donald Fraser, 2 vols. (1823
  41. Rept., Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2010), 9.12 (1:237)
  42. Perkins,An Exposition of the Symbol, inWorks, 5:100
  43. Olevianus,An Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed, 54
  44. Vos,Reformed Dogmatics, An allusion to Scripture that Olevianus made is left out of the text.

Adapted fromReformed Systematic Theology: Volume 2: Man and Christby Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley (Reformed Systematic Theology: Volume 2) Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is the author of more than one hundred books in various genres. Besides serving as the president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, he also serves as a pastor at the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the editor of the journalBanner of Sovereign Grace Truth, as the editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, as the president of Inheritance Publishers, and as vice president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society.

Professor Joel Beeke is assisted by Paul M.

He previously worked as a pastor in the Baptist General Conference in the midwestern United States, where he spent the preceding twelve years.

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