Bible Question:
Can anyone tell me if the original Greek and Hebrew texts of the NEW Testment used the name of Yahweh? If the answer is no, the what name did they use for GOD? Please identify your source references |
Bible Answer: Hi Eddie, The answer is yes. Hebrew manuscripts contain YHWH but Greek manuscripts of the New Testement no longer exist that have what must have been the original. So a study of evidence (both Biblical and secular) provides for us that it was changed except in Revelation 19:1 (praise Jehovah)where the shortened form is still there. The original Hebrew text of the Holy Scriptures used numerous terms for God, such as Almighty, Creator, Father, and Lord. Yet, the instances in which he is referred to by his personal name far outnumber all of the other terms combined. Clearly, it is God’s will that we use his name. Consider the following list of terms as they appear in the Hebrew Scriptures. Jehovah-- 6,973 times; God-- 2,605 times; Almighty-- 48 times; Lord-- 40 times; Maker-- 25 times; Creator --7 times; Father-- 7 times; Ancient of Days-- 3 times; and Grand Instructor -- 2 times. In the New Testament the name of Almighty God Jehovah or YHWH appeared at least 237 times. http://hector3000.future.easyspace.com/jhvh.htm provides a compressive list of Bible translations (around 200 New Testament translations) that uses the Divine Name YHWH. It is true that many modern translations do not use God’s name. They have chosen to follow the “custom” of the Catholic priest Jerome of 405 C. E. who translated the Latin Vulgate and substituted the word “Lord” for YHVH. His practice followed the practice or custom of Judaism who during the first and second centuries C. E. had a superstition regarding the Divine Name as too sacred to pronounce. Tara1 |