Why Do We Not Use The Name Of God YHVH?

Wgw

Pray For Brussels!
May 24, 2015
4,304
2,074
✟15,107.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
Politics
UK-Conservative
This stems from a Jewish reticence to avoid risking speaking the Lord's name in vain, whereby only the High Priest would pronounce it in the Sanctum Sanctorum on the Day of Atonement. The custom was and still is to read "Adonai" meaning "Lord" in place of it in the Synagogue and thus the KJV and most other English translations of the Hebrew follow suit.

At that, contemporary Orthodox Jews try to avoid saying or writing the word God, so if you visit a Jewish website you will find Hashem, meaning The Name, or the abbreviation G-d, used extensively. G-d of course has the unfortunate connotation of referring to a blasphemous damnatory utterance in ordinary English.

Now, within Christianity we do of course routinely refer to God by name (Jesus Christ).
 
  • Like
Reactions: JCFantasy23
Upvote 0

justlookinla

Regular Member
Mar 31, 2014
11,767
198
✟20,665.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
This stems from a Jewish reticence to avoid risking speaking the Lord's name in vain, whereby only the High Priest would pronounce it in the Sanctum Sanctorum on the Day of Atonement. The custom was and still is to read "Adonai" meaning "Lord" in place of it in the Synagogue and thus the KJV and most other English translations of the Hebrew follow suit.

At that, contemporary Orthodox Jews try to avoid saying or writing the word God, so if you visit a Jewish website you will find Hashem, meaning The Name, or the abbreviation G-d, used extensively. G-d of course has the unfortunate connotation of referring to a blasphemous damnatory utterance in ordinary English.

Now, within Christianity we do of course routinely refer to God by name (Jesus Christ).

Are you suggesting that the name YHWH is properly translated as Jesus?
 
Upvote 0

Wgw

Pray For Brussels!
May 24, 2015
4,304
2,074
✟15,107.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
Politics
UK-Conservative
The name for God in the OT is specifically YHWH.

Indeed, however, Jesus Christ is a person of the Trinity and is properly God in the same sense that the Father and Holy Spirit are God.

Obviously my position reflects Nicene Orthodoxy; I am not a heretic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nikti
Upvote 0

justlookinla

Regular Member
Mar 31, 2014
11,767
198
✟20,665.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Indeed, however, Jesus Christ is a person of the Trinity and is properly God in the same sense that the Father and Holy Spirit are God.

Obviously my position reflects Nicene Orthodoxy; I am not a heretic.

This would mean the name for God, YHWH, isn't Jesus then, wouldn't it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mark51
Upvote 0

Wgw

Pray For Brussels!
May 24, 2015
4,304
2,074
✟15,107.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
Politics
UK-Conservative
This would mean the name for God, YHWH, isn't Jesus then, wouldn't it?

No, because according to the Council of Ephesus it is essentially heretical to refuse to ascribe to the person of Christ the full divine dignity. So one can call God Jesus Christ; it would be incorrect only if one was referring to all three persons or to a person of the Trinity other than Jesus Christ, which would imply the confused heresy of Sabellius recently revived by the moronic Oneness Pentecostals. However, to refuse to call Jesus Christ God, for example, by rejecting the term Theotokos to refer to St. Mary, one instead engages in Nestorianism or potentially Arianism or another heresy relating to Triadology.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nikti
Upvote 0

justlookinla

Regular Member
Mar 31, 2014
11,767
198
✟20,665.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
No, because according to the Council of Ephesus it is essentially heretical to refuse to ascribe to the person of Christ the full divine dignity. So one can call God Jesus Christ; it would be incorrect only if one was referring to all three persons or to a person of the Trinity other than Jesus Christ, which would imply the confused heresy of Sabellius recently revived by the moronic Oneness Pentecostals. However, to refuse to call Jesus Christ God, for example, by rejecting the term Theotokos to refer to St. Mary, one instead engages in Nestorianism or potentially Arianism or another heresy relating to Triadology.

If YHWH isn't identifying Jesus, who is it identifying?
 
Upvote 0

Wgw

Pray For Brussels!
May 24, 2015
4,304
2,074
✟15,107.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
Politics
UK-Conservative
If YHWH isn't identifying Jesus, who is it identifying?

I think the Tetragrammaton could hypothetically be used to refer to the Trinity in the abstract. I am disinclined however to support the active use of it in contexts where it is not presently used by Orthodox Christians.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

justlookinla

Regular Member
Mar 31, 2014
11,767
198
✟20,665.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
I think the Tetragrammaton could hypothetically be used to refer to the Trinity in the abstract. I am disinclined however to support the active use of it in contexts where it is not presently used by Orthodox Christians.

Yes, that was my original question. Why isn't it used.
 
Upvote 0

mmksparbud

Well-Known Member
Dec 3, 2011
17,312
6,821
73
Las Vegas
✟255,978.00
Country
United States
Faith
SDA
Marital Status
Widowed
Politics
US-Others
The name for God in the OT is specifically YHWH.

Just please give us the verse that states we are only to call Him YHWH---and explain why, when Moses asked who shall I say sent me:

(Exo 3:13) And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

(Exo 3:14) And God said unto 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.

(Exo 3:15) And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
 
Upvote 0

justlookinla

Regular Member
Mar 31, 2014
11,767
198
✟20,665.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Just please give us the verse that states we are only to call Him YHWH---and explain why, when Moses asked who shall I say sent me:

(Exo 3:13) And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

(Exo 3:14) And God said unto 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.

(Exo 3:15) And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Who are we to call YHWH is now the question. What person are we referring to by YHWH if not Jesus?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Gregory Thompson

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.
Supporter
Dec 20, 2009
28,362
7,742
Canada
✟721,286.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Married
I live in the Question if Elohiym is the Father and YHWH is the Holy Spirit or the other way around, but the text suggests that Elohiym is the Father because of the use of the word "God" in the new and old testaments. Now to think of YHWH as wisdom, it would make sense YHWH's invested interest in the teachings specifically.
 
Upvote 0

justlookinla

Regular Member
Mar 31, 2014
11,767
198
✟20,665.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Well as I said I think in the lack of clear context the name should be properly applied to God or the Trinity in the abstract as an unified entity.

In a sense then, YHVH is the name of Jesus since Jesus is one of the members of the Trinity?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums