God's name, YHWH

[placebofactor]

What would we find out if we trace the name of God (YHWH) along a timeline that begins in Exodus 3:15 and follow it through to the New Testament? A timeline may be the right tool to clarify how the name YHWH moves from the Old Testament into the New Testament and how it becomes associated with Jesus without being replaced.

Let’s begin with Exodus 3:15, the anchor point where YHWH reveals his name. God tells Moses, “I AM that I AM: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Verse 15, “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

So, God’s name is YHWH. It’s his covenant name, which is tied to His identity as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and is meant to be known, not hidden. So, at this stage in history, YHWH is understood as our Creator, Redeemer, Covenant maker, and the One who saves Israel from the Egyptians.

As Israel’s story unfolds from here, the prophets begin to describe YHWH’s future saving action in increasingly personal terms. In Isaiah 40:3, “Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Isaiah 43:11, “I, even I, am LORD (YHWH), and besides me there is no savior.”
Joel 2:32, “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD (YHWH) will be saved.”

So, here’s what the Old Testament prophets were expecting. YHWH will come to His people, and salvation will be tied to His name. And He will come as a figure who will embody the LORD’S (YHWH’s) saving presence.
This sets the stage for the New Testament and the revealing of Jesus Christ. The angel tells Joseph what to name the child, Matthew 1:25, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The name Yeshua, Jesus, literally means, “YHWH saves.” This is our first major clue that Jesus’ mission will be YHWH’s saving action. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus does things only YHWH can do. He forgives sins, commands nature, walks on water, calls Himself “I AM,” receives worship, claims authority over Torah (the law), and said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”

Here’s a second clue. The New Testament repeatedly takes Old Testament passages about YHWH and applies them to Jesus.
In Joel 2:32, “Call on the name of the LORD (YHWH.) In Romans 10:13 “Call on YHWH” now becomes, “Call on Jesus.”
Isaiah 40:3, “Prepare ye the way of the LORD (YHWH,)” in Mark 1:3 it becomes “Prepare the way of the LORD,” points directly to Jesus.
In Psalm 102:25–27, the Creator is YHWH. In Hebrews 1:10–12, Colossians 1:16, and John 1:3, we are told the Creator is Jesus.
Isaiah 45:23, “That unto me (YHWH) every knee shall bow,” and in Philippians 2:10–11, Paul tells us, “That at the name of Jesus every knee bow.”

This is identification: What the apostles are telling us is, “The YHWH who promised to come has come, his name is Jesus.” The Early Church called on the name of Jesus, the same way the Jews called on YHWH. The early church prayed to Jesus, was baptizing in Jesus’ name, healed in Jesus’ name, suffered for Jesus’ name, and gathered together in Jesus’ name.

The book of Revelation seals the timeline. All the titles used for YHWH in the Old Testament, Alpha and Omega, First and Last, Beginning and End, are all applied to Jesus Christ in Revelation. So, our timeline ends where it began. He is the God of Israel, Savior of His people, the One whose name saves, all revealed in Christ Jesus.

The writer of the Book of Acts tells us that (YHWH) is the eternal divine name, and that Jesus is the incarnation of YHWH’s saving presence. And that the name “Jesus” contains and fulfills the meaning of YHWH.
That calling on Jesus is the New Testament way of calling on YHWH in the Old. This is why the apostle wrote, pointing directly to the Lord Jesus. Acts 4:12, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

So, the name of YHWH has not been abandoned; all the New Testament writers have done is proclaim YHWH’s salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:23, “And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is GOD (YHWH) WITH US.”

[1213]

...This is underscored in John chapter One, where Jesus is "logos". "In the beginning was logos and, logos was with God and, logos WAS God." "And logos became flesh and lived among people." Jesus is God....

The problem is, the Bible doesn't say Jesus is the God. It is an interpretation. And the problem with that interpretation is, Jesus himself says there is only one true God and the God is greater than him. Should we not believe what Jesus himself says? Is it not hypocritical to say Jesus is God and not believe what he says?

[Capbook]

The problem is, the Bible doesn't say Jesus is the God. It is an interpretation.

Yes, Jesus is not the Father, as He is the "only begotten God" in original wordings of John 1:18, supported by papyri 66 and 75.
Other renders as "only begotten Son," but was not described as the original wordings of the text.

(NAS95) John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. 

(NAS95+) John 1:18  R1NoG3762 oneG3762 has seenG3708 GodG2316 at anyG4455 timeG4455; R2the onlyG3439 begottenG3439 GodG2316 who is R3in the bosomG2859 of the FatherG3962, R4He has explainedG1834 Him.

(Greek NT Westcott & Hort+) John 1:18  θεονG2316 N-ASM ουδειςG3762 A-NSM-N εωρακενG3708 V-RAI-3S-ATT πωποτεG4455 ADV μονογενηςG3439 A-NSM θεοςG2316 N-NSM οG3588 T-NSM ωνG1510 V-PAP-NSM ειςG1519 PREP τονG3588 T-ASM κολπονG2859 N-ASM τουG3588 T-GSM πατροςG3962 N-GSM εκεινοςG1565 D-NSM εξηγησατοG1834 V-ADI-3S 

And the problem with that interpretation is,

Wescott and Hort's "The New Testament in Original Greek" is not a translation, it is in Greek.

Jesus himself says there is only one true God and the God is greater than him.

The word "only" doesn't always mean "one" as Isaac was not the "only" son, he had Ishmael and four other brothers. (Gen 25:4,5)
We, as father will always be greater to our son as they'll obey us, just like Jesus, but that doesn't mean that us and our son are not one in the nature of man. Same with the Father and Jesus, one and the same in the nature of God. (Rom 1:20, Acts 17:29, Col 2:9)
Jesus as true God in the context of 1John 5:10,11,12,20. He is the eternal life in verse 12, 20.

Gen 22:2  He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

Should we not believe what Jesus himself says?

Yes, we believe Jesus, as He ackowledged He is the "Son of God" and "Son of man." (Mat 26;63,64)

Is it not hypocritical to say Jesus is God and not believe what he says?

Is it also to say that you don not believe the testimony of the Father, Whom said to the Son, Your throne, O God.?

[1213]

The problem is, the Bible doesn't say Jesus is the God. It is an interpretation.

Yes, Jesus is not the Father, as He is the "only begotten God" in original wordings of John 1:18, supported by papyri 66 and 75.
Other renders as "only begotten Son," but was not described as the original wordings of the text.

(NAS95) John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. 

What papyri 66 and 75 you are referring to? I trust more to all the translations that has the Son, because it is not in contradiction whit the other parts of the Bible.

[Capbook]

The problem is, the Bible doesn't say Jesus is the God. It is an interpretation.

Yes, Jesus is not the Father, as He is the "only begotten God" in original wordings of John 1:18, supported by papyri 66 and 75.
Other renders as "only begotten Son," but was not described as the original wordings of the text.

(NAS95) John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. 

What papyri 66 and 75 you are referring to? I trust more to all the translations that has the Son, because it is not in contradiction whit the other parts of the Bible.

Updated American Standard Version+ renders the text about Jesus as the "only begotten God," with "N7" after it, described as the original wordings of the verse.

(UASV+) John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten GodN7 who is in the bosom of the Father,N8 that one has made him fully known. 

N7 John 1:18 (UASV+)
The original words were μονογενὴς θεός or ο μονογενης θεος “only-begotten God” or “the only-begotten God” (P66 P75 א B C* L 33 syrhmp 33 copbo) A variant reading is ο μονογενης υιος “the only begotten Son” A C3 (Ws) Θ Ψ f1, Maj syrc).

[1213]

Updated American Standard Version+ renders the text about Jesus as the "only begotten God," with "N7" after it, described as the original wordings of the verse.

(UASV+) John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten GodN7 who is in the bosom of the Father,N8 that one has made him fully known. 

N7 John 1:18 (UASV+)
The original words were μονογενὴς θεός or ο μονογενης θεος “only-begotten God” or “the only-begotten God” (P66 P75 א B C* L 33 syrhmp 33 copbo) A variant reading is ο μονογενης υιος “the only begotten Son” A C3 (Ws) Θ Ψ f1, Maj syrc).

Thanks for the information. So, you believe there is two gods? If so, I think it is wrong, because according tot he Bible, there is only one true God, the God of Jesus.

Jesus said to her, "Don't touch me, for I haven't yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
John 20:17
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Tim. 2:5

[Capbook]

Updated American Standard Version+ renders the text about Jesus as the "only begotten God," with "N7" after it, described as the original wordings of the verse.

(UASV+) John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten GodN7 who is in the bosom of the Father,N8 that one has made him fully known. 

N7 John 1:18 (UASV+)
The original words were μονογενὴς θεός or ο μονογενης θεος “only-begotten God” or “the only-begotten God” (P66 P75 א B C* L 33 syrhmp 33 copbo) A variant reading is ο μονογενης υιος “the only begotten Son” A C3 (Ws) Θ Ψ f1, Maj syrc).

Thanks for the information. So, you believe there is two gods? If so, I think it is wrong, because according tot he Bible, there is only one true God, the God of Jesus.

Jesus said to her, "Don't touch me, for I haven't yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
John 20:17
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Tim. 2:5

If we believe that we are made in the image of God, we can do the role of the Trinity.
1. We have mind and heart,
2. We can utter word,
3. We can do work/action.
Yet, we are one person/individual.

The Trinity, as one God.
1. The Father is the mind and heart, Whom send Jesus, (John 3:16)
2. Jesus is the Word, (John 1:1)
3. The Holy Spirit is working for our sanctification. (1Pet 1:2)
Yes, one God, the difference with us is, each of them possessed emotion, will and thought, a perfect definition as three distinct persons in one true God not false god.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to 1213 in post #71]

Jesus says, @1213, that "I and the Father are one." Those are Jesus' words, clearly being his claim to be God with the Father, as John 1:1 says:

Jhn_10:30  I and the Father are one.”

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

Jesus' statement that the Father is greater than he is refers to the roles they have, not to their equal status as both being fully divine. The Bible also says that after Jesus defeats his enemies, he will submit or be subject to the Father, again describing Jesus' role as the second Person of God voluntarily submitting to the first Person's will, just as Jesus does in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 
Joh 14:28  You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 
Joh 14:29  And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 
Joh 14:30  I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 
Joh 14:31  but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. 

1Co 15:28  When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 

Luk 22:41  And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 
Luk 22:42  saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 

[1213]

[Replying to 1213 in post #71]

Jesus says, @1213, that "I and the Father are one." Those are Jesus' words, clearly being his claim to be God with the Father, as John 1:1 says:

Jhn_10:30  I and the Father are one.”...

And also disciples of Jesus can be one with them.

I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.
John 17:11
that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.
John 17:21

I think that means, they all have the same will.

[1213]

... a perfect definition as three distinct persons in one true God not false god.

I think the idea of split personality God is against this:

And there are differences of workings, but the same God is working all things in all.
1 Cor. 12:6

[Capbook]

... a perfect definition as three distinct persons in one true God not false god.

I think the idea of split personality God is against this:

And there are differences of workings, but the same God is working all things in all.
1 Cor. 12:6

Yes, the Trinity worked for our salvation, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
1. The Father's foreknowledge - as the mind, Whom send Jesus (John 3:16)
2. Jesus, the Word of God, (Rev 19:13)
3. Sanctifying work of the Spirit. (1Pet 1:2)
One God, but each possessed emotion, will and thought, perfect definition of one God in three distinct person.
As we are made in the image of God, we have mind, can utter word and can do work, yet we are only one person, as only one possessed emotion, will and thought.

John 5:17  But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." 

1Pe 1:2  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.