Jesus, or Yeshua?
There is certainly nothing wrong with speaking the name of Jesus in Hebrew; but to say that speaking His name in Greek or English or in any other language is somehow less than speaking His name in Hebrew has no Biblical support; and there is much in the Bible to support this.
1. I have witnessed countless people delivered from demons, healed, and saved through the English name of Jesus. I have yet to see one person delivered, healed or saved through those who refuse to speak His name in English but only refer to Him as Yeshua; albeit someone could certainly be healed and delivered in that name since it is the name of Jesus in the Hebrew language.
2. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each wrote His name in Greek every time they spoke of Him - so did Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews. This is because God's Spirit told them to do so. Greek was the most widely used language at the time of their writings. The name of Jesus was written in the New Testament 942 times in Greek; not once was He spoken of by His Hebrew name. Use it if you like; but do not think that it is superior in such a way that gives you favor with God.
3. According to the apostles Matthew and Luke, each of whom lived with Jesus for more than three years, the angels who were sent to foretell of Jesus' birth told both Joseph and Mary that His name should be called "Jesus." If they had said to call His name Yeshua, do you think that it would have been recorded in the Greek as it was (Matt. 1:21, Luke 1:31)?
4. Yeshua is a Hebrew name meaning Joshua - "the one who saves." It may certainly be used to identify the Savior, Jesus Christ; but not once is it used in the Old Testament to point directly to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Nor is it used to identify Jesus Christ in the New Testament. What grounds are greater than these to make it plain?
5. Judaizers insist that the name Yeshua be used when speaking of Jesus Christ because it enhances their message of returning to Old Covenant Hebrewism for life, even under the New Covenant.
6. According to the personal testimony of the apostle Paul, Jesus Christ referred to Himself as "Jesus" in the Greek language. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute." Do you think that if He had told Paul, "I am Yeshua," Paul would have written it in the Greek? If Jesus called Himself "Iesous" in the Greek, since Paul would be writing in Greek, why should we be calling Him Hebrew now that we speak English?
7. It is true that the Greek spelling and pronunciation of the name of Jesus is akin to the name of a Greek god, but there is absolutely NO connection between the name of Jesus in the Greek, and that Greek god - except that the Judaizers fabricate one.
8. Some of you testify to the fact that you were "saved" or "born again" through the name of Jesus, long before you were convinced that His name is actually Yeshua. How is it, then, that you were saved at that time, since it is only in "His name" that one may be saved? Are you still lost? Do you need to be re-saved? What about all those countless prayers that you prayed in His name "Jesus" BEFORE you were led into believing that His name is actually Yeshua, and anything else is elementary? Did God not hear them and honor them? Were they all in vain?
1. I have witnessed countless people delivered from demons, healed, and saved through the English name of Jesus. I have yet to see one person delivered, healed or saved through those who refuse to speak His name in English but only refer to Him as Yeshua; albeit someone could certainly be healed and delivered in that name since it is the name of Jesus in the Hebrew language.
2. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each wrote His name in Greek every time they spoke of Him - so did Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews. This is because God's Spirit told them to do so. Greek was the most widely used language at the time of their writings. The name of Jesus was written in the New Testament 942 times in Greek; not once was He spoken of by His Hebrew name. Use it if you like; but do not think that it is superior in such a way that gives you favor with God.
3. According to the apostles Matthew and Luke, each of whom lived with Jesus for more than three years, the angels who were sent to foretell of Jesus' birth told both Joseph and Mary that His name should be called "Jesus." If they had said to call His name Yeshua, do you think that it would have been recorded in the Greek as it was (Matt. 1:21, Luke 1:31)?
4. Yeshua is a Hebrew name meaning Joshua - "the one who saves." It may certainly be used to identify the Savior, Jesus Christ; but not once is it used in the Old Testament to point directly to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Nor is it used to identify Jesus Christ in the New Testament. What grounds are greater than these to make it plain?
5. Judaizers insist that the name Yeshua be used when speaking of Jesus Christ because it enhances their message of returning to Old Covenant Hebrewism for life, even under the New Covenant.
6. According to the personal testimony of the apostle Paul, Jesus Christ referred to Himself as "Jesus" in the Greek language. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute." Do you think that if He had told Paul, "I am Yeshua," Paul would have written it in the Greek? If Jesus called Himself "Iesous" in the Greek, since Paul would be writing in Greek, why should we be calling Him Hebrew now that we speak English?
7. It is true that the Greek spelling and pronunciation of the name of Jesus is akin to the name of a Greek god, but there is absolutely NO connection between the name of Jesus in the Greek, and that Greek god - except that the Judaizers fabricate one.
8. Some of you testify to the fact that you were "saved" or "born again" through the name of Jesus, long before you were convinced that His name is actually Yeshua. How is it, then, that you were saved at that time, since it is only in "His name" that one may be saved? Are you still lost? Do you need to be re-saved? What about all those countless prayers that you prayed in His name "Jesus" BEFORE you were led into believing that His name is actually Yeshua, and anything else is elementary? Did God not hear them and honor them? Were they all in vain?