When looking for the tetragrammaton in the Christian Greek Scriptures, there can be found no real evidence
of it ever being there. The reference bible of the New World Translation page 1561 states "Today, apart
from a few fragments of the early Greek Septuagint where the sacred name is preserved in Hebrew, only the Hebrew
text has retained this most important name in its original form of four letters. (YHWH)....." 
It is interesting but in an estimated 5,000 existing copies in
Greek of the Christian Scriptures, only in Revelation are there four mentions of "Hallelujah" a shortened
form of "Jehovah". What is remarkable is that, beyond these four accurrences of that abbreviated form
in Revelation, nowhere else in the Christian Scriptures contained in these ancient copies do we find a single
occurrence of this name. Since there are an estimated 5,000 existing copies in Greek of the Christian Scriptures,
the fact that not a single one of these thousands of copies contains the Tetragammaton is all the more impressive.
(1) The Chester Beatty Papyrus No 2(P461) is possibly from the first century of our common era only decades after
Jesus died. But there is not a single use of the Tetragrammaton in any form. This includes the numerous
quotations from the Hebrew scriptures. Even where the accounts of Jesus and the writings of Paul make direct quotes
of the hebrew scripture, the tetragrammaton is conspiciously absent. Why ?
Is it not true, that most people call a close friend, by their first formal name, such as George, Harry, and Sue ? Yet, what if the relationship is more personal and intimate, such a parent and child ? Do most people call their parents by their formal first names ? No, rather, the names would be more intimate such as, pappa, abba, father, mamma. When Jesus Christ died and bought us with his blood, "we became reconciled to God".(Romans 5:10) Thus, mankind would now obtain a much more personal relationship with Jehovah God, then ever before, subsequent Adam and Eve. This would certainly be a new and strange concept for the Jews , for there would be no more formal relationship with God with it's mosaic law with the priesthood and an imperfect Levite to intercede for them, and requiring his people to use his formal name Jehovah (Isa 12:4)(Heb 7:11,12) Now, we have a much more personal and intimate relationship with God, for Jesus Christ, "pleads for us", bringing us this personal relationship with God. (Romans 8:34) "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you recieved a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: Abba, father ! "For ALL who who are led by God's spirit, these are God's sons" and he becomes intimate to them as their "father", removing the formal relationship with it's formality and requirement of using God's formal name "Jehovah". (Romans 8:14,15)
Instead, Jesus name would be placed as the most important among mankind. The very name of Jesus, which actually means "Jehovah is salvation", would now be "above every other name, including "Jehovah" or "Yahweh", so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the ground., and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the father" (Phil 2:9-11) "For no matter how many the promises of God are, they have become Yes by means of him. Therefore also through him is the "Amen" said to God for glory through us. (1Cor 1:20,21) Yes, Jesus has been the fullfiller of Jehovah God's promises, he has become the "Yes" and the "Amen". His name is now above all others. As Apostle John puts it, "I write you these things thay you may know that you have life everlasting, you who put your faith in the name of the Son of God." (1John 5:13)
It is interesting, in all the prayers
Jesus prayed to God, he never addressed God by his formal name, the tetragrammaton, Jehovah. Instead he addressed
God as his "father". When with his deciples the final night before his death, both in talking to them
and in a lengthy prayer, Jesus referred to God's "name" four times. (John 17:6,11,12,26) Yet in that
entire night , filled with counsel and exhortation to his disciples and in prayer, not a single occurrence is
found of his employing the name "Jehovah". Rather he consistently employed the designation "Father",
doing so some fifty times! When dying the next day, he did not cry out using the name "Jehovah" but said,
"My God, my God," and in his final words said, "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit."
As Christians, whose example then should we follow? That of a twentieth-century religious
denomination or that of God's son, manifest at such a crucial time? (2)
What about his request
of "hallowed be thy name" (Math 6:10) and "I have made your name known and will make it known"
? (John 17:26) Apparently there is much more to knowing God's name then a literal 4 or 7 letter word. To know God's
name, is to know him intimately, his qualities and attributes. And the only way to know God intimately, is to go
through the name of his son Jesus. Abraham knew God's literal name and yet God stated that he did not know his
name. (Exodus 6:3) Why ? Because Abraham did not know the full meaning of God's name, to prove what he shall be,
I am, the fullfiller of promises. So, to "hallow" or "sanctify" God's name and "make it
known", would be much more than telling others God's literal 7 letter name. Rather, it would be making known
and hallowing the meaning and purpose of his name, his love, attributes, only by going through the name
of Jesus, who is the "Yes", the "Amen", the "savior" and the one who fullfilled God's
purpose and promises, restoring mankind in favor with God, "dying for us while we were yet sinners."
(Romans 5:8) The entire meaning of God's name is fullfilled in Jesus for "the bearing witness to Jesus is
what inspires prophesying", for he is the sole one to pay the ransom and restore mankind into an intimate
relationship with God. For "no one can get to the father unless they go through Jesus name" (John 14:6,
Rev 19:10) To use the tetragrameten or the name "Jehovah" in worship, is to miss the importance and role
given to Jesus Christ "our savior of the world" and the "only mediator between God and men."
(1 Tim 2:5) (1John 4:14)
This gives more meaning to Apostle James words at Acts chapter 15 verses 14-17. Here James, quoting from the book of Amos, speaks of "God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name .... people who are called by my name, says Jehovah". There are many religious groups on earth who identify themselves by the tetragrammaton, Jehovah or Yahweh.
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How Can a 19th Century Bible Prove This Claim? |
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"As this 1805 German translation
of the Bible indicates, when Jesus read in the synagogue from the scroll of Isaiah, he pronounced God's name outloud
-Luke 4:18-19" |
The Watchtower Society arbitrarily inserts the name "Jehovah" into the Christian Scriptures. This clearly takes away from the role assigned to Jesus. One example is in Romans chapter 10. Here Apostle Paul quotes from the book of Joel and clearly applies the quotes to Jesus and not Jehovah. Verse 9 states that one must declare that "Jesus is Lord" and yet in verse 13 the Watchtower Society inserts the name "Jehovah", where it does not belong. If the Christian writers of the bible took the position not to include the tetragrammaton, why should any group assume the right to edit their inspired writings to include it? This is truly disrespect for God's "name", taking matters into their own hands, and displaying a lack of submission to his sovereign authority and will. For only in Jesus name is salvation, for "there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved" (Acts 4:12)
 " . . there is not another name under heaven (including Jehovah's) that has been given among men by which we must get saved " (Acts 4:12) |
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To use the name Jehovah or Yahweh is to completely miss the role assigned to Jesus (Yeshua), the only "truth,
way and life" and the only name one must use for salvation. Jehovah, the father, has
appointed his son "Jesus" to the "superior position" as God, along with "all authority",
power, "keys of death and hades" , honor, worship and name. The father has given up his authority
to his son Jesus, including his name, making the name of Jesus (Yeshua) the "only name under
heaven by which we must get saved." By using the name Jehovah or Yahweh is to ignore, overlook and bypass
the purpose and role of Jesus Christ, our "Lord and savior."
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