Curious if it's possible to tell from early texts if Mary and Joseph were instructed to give Jesus the Hebrew (Joshua) name or asked to do the more socially difficult thing of giving him the Greek (Jesus) name as symbolic of the opening of salvation to the Gentiles.
Thanks,
ann
Jesus' name
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Jesus' name
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
I don't think this can be determined from the ancient manuscripts, which were written in Greek, and consistently used the Greek form "Iesous" (Jesus)—whether with reference to Jesus Christ (and other men named "Jesus"—e.g., Acts 13:6/ Col.4:11/Luke 3:29 [Alexandrian Text only]), or to the Old Testament man, Joshua (Acts 7:45/Heb.4:8).
Though the Gospel narratives have come down to us only in the Greek versions, it is generally believed that the language spoken by Jesus, His parents, and His contemporaries in Palestine, was Aramaic, and that the dialogues were translated for us into Greek by the Gospel writers. If this is so (as seems almost certain), then Jesus' parents would have probably named Him by the Hebrew or Aramaic name "Yeshua" (Joshua). We know Him as "Jesus" due to the translation of His name into Greek in the Gospel narratives.
This fact seems to address the question that many pose today, as to why we do not call Jesus by His Aramaic name Yeshua. The simple answer is that many modern Christians do, in fact, use that form of His name in speaking of Him, and there is no excellent reason to discourage this practice. However, the translation of His name into its equivalent in local languages (i.e., "Jesus" among English-speaking people) can not be criticized, since the Apostles themselves, when preaching and writing to Greeks, preferred to use the Greek translation of His name (Iesous).
As I said above, we cannot determine from the existing manuscripts whether Jesus' parents gave Him the Greek name, in anticipation of His mission to the Gentiles, but, in my judgment, it seems unlikely that they did so.
Though the Gospel narratives have come down to us only in the Greek versions, it is generally believed that the language spoken by Jesus, His parents, and His contemporaries in Palestine, was Aramaic, and that the dialogues were translated for us into Greek by the Gospel writers. If this is so (as seems almost certain), then Jesus' parents would have probably named Him by the Hebrew or Aramaic name "Yeshua" (Joshua). We know Him as "Jesus" due to the translation of His name into Greek in the Gospel narratives.
This fact seems to address the question that many pose today, as to why we do not call Jesus by His Aramaic name Yeshua. The simple answer is that many modern Christians do, in fact, use that form of His name in speaking of Him, and there is no excellent reason to discourage this practice. However, the translation of His name into its equivalent in local languages (i.e., "Jesus" among English-speaking people) can not be criticized, since the Apostles themselves, when preaching and writing to Greeks, preferred to use the Greek translation of His name (Iesous).
As I said above, we cannot determine from the existing manuscripts whether Jesus' parents gave Him the Greek name, in anticipation of His mission to the Gentiles, but, in my judgment, it seems unlikely that they did so.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
In Jesus,
Steve
Steve
thanks
thanks, steve: very helpful. appreciate your radio discussions very much and the spirit in which they happen. You've also got an enthusiastic audience in my 19 yr old son who's encouraged by your serious approach to following Christ in life and attitude. ann
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
Wow! That is so wonderful! I do not know enough 19-year-olds who have that attitude! I would be delighted to hear from him anytime.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
In Jesus,
Steve
Steve