|
Original Message
|
Hellenization (or Hellenisation) is a term used to describe the spread of Greek culture. It is mainly used to describe the spread of Hellenistic civilization during the Hellenistic period following the campaigns of Alexander the Great of Macedon. The result of Hellenization, elements of Greek origin combined in various forms and degrees with local elements, is known as Hellenism.
Middle Ages
Hellenization can also refer to the Byzantine Empire and Constantine's founding of Constantinople. Moreover, it can refer to the primacy of Greek culture and the Greek language after the reign of Emperor Heraclius in the 7th century.
It is reasonable to accept that both Yahushua Messiah and Jesus Christ existed in their own right. The Nazirene Yahshua, as supported by history, was a man justified by righteousness, a healer, teacher and mystic, nonviolent vegetarian communitarian revolutionary, showing humankind the Way to Life. Touched by the hand of the Most High at the Baptism, he was blessed by the indwelling Word and elevated to the office of Messiah, that he might fulfill the Law. The Jesus Christ of the 2nd century gospels, particularly Luke, while developing the evolved indwelling or Christ spirit, prepared the way for Gentile interpreters to assimilate the myths, and rituals of numerous pagan sun deities into the story of Jesus. Thus the gospel was made more acceptable to the gentile converts, leaving behind the historical Yahshua. By the beginning of the 2nd century pressures of the pagan world had not only altered the message of the True teacher but had also become hostile to the Nazirene followers of the Way, and to the Jews in general. Through folklore, forgeries and a liberal interpretation of history the doctrines of the “Great Church” were formulated, the Gentile Jesus Christ came into prominence, and the Nazirene followers of the Messiah were denounced as heretics.
[link to www.essene.com]
In fact, what has really happened is as follows: The early community of believers was influenced by a number of factors as outlined in Samuele Bacchiocchi's book, From Sabbath To Sunday, to change their form of worship from a strictly scriptural model based upon the teaching of Yahusha' and the Torah, to a radically different form of worship modeled after the pagan sun-god worship of Mithraism. Just as Constantine changed the scriptural seventh-day Sabbath to first-day Sun worship, the scriptural holy days into the pagan holidays of Christmas and Easter, and the Torah based walk of faith into a de-Judaized anti-Torah lifestyle, even the very name of the Messiah was stripped of its Hebraic roots and source (Yahusha') and was paganized and Hellenized into the form which is fashioned after the name of their supreme deity Zeus (Sous) and his son, Dionyzeus (Dionysous). And in its final form it became Iayzeus (Iaysous). Then, unwitting English Bible translators transliterated the Greek Iayzeus (Iaysous) into Jesus.
By 63 BCE, the partially-Hellenized territory had come under Roman imperial rule as a valued crossroads to trading territories. The Roman Prefect’s first duty to Rome was to maintain order, through his political appointee the High Priest. In general, Roman Judea was peaceful and self-managed, however riots, sporadic rebellions, and violent resistance were an ongoing risk. The conflict between the Jews’ demand for religious independence and Rome's efforts to impose a common system of governance upon its entire empire (including in religious and cultural matters) meant there was a constant underlying tension alongside peaceful governance, with minor outbreaks common. Four decades after Jesus’ death the tensions culminated with the first Jewish-Roman War and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which in turn catalysed the final stage in the birth and divergence of Early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism.
Hebrew-Greek names
Due to the Hellenisation of the Eastern Mediterranean and the movement of Jews around the area, many names were adapted to Greek, reinforced by the translation of the Tanakh in the Septuagint with many Hellenized names.
Many of the names in the New Testament are of Hebrew and Aramaic origin, but were adapted to the Greek by Hellenistic Christian writers such as Paul of Tarsus.
Such Hebræo-Greek names include Ιησους Iēsous (originally from ישׁוע Yēšûªʻ), Νωη Nōē (originally from נח Nōªḥ), Ισαιας Isaias (originally from ישׁעיהו Yəšaʻªyāhû), Ισραήλ Israēl (originally from ישראל Yiśrā’ēl which can mean "person (mind) seeing God" or it can be made up of three Greek words: Is/ra/el, i.e. is = εις or powerful; ra = ρα or king; El[ios] = ηλ or Sun god Helios or Apollo Zeus, Εμμανουήλ Emmanuēl (originally from Hebrew "God [is] with us" or Greek Εμοί εν Ηλ(ί) or εν εμοί ο Ήλιος or within me is God (Pythagoras' theory).
Also, some Jews of the time had Greek Gentile names themselves, such as the Christian Luke (Greek Λουκας Loukas). Though used by some Jews at the time, these names are generally not associated with Jews today, and are considered characteristically Greek and largely confined to use by Christians. Hebrew forms of the names exist, but they are extremely rare.
After the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Hebrews hated the Greeks and detested their language. In the first part of the Talmud, the Mishna, the Jews are emphatically taught it is worse for a Jew to learn Greek than to eat swine’s flesh.
[link to www.assemblyofyahweh.com]
From the above evidence, and other that could be provided were space available, we must conclude that the pious Hebrews, disciples of the Saviour and otherwise, were not dependent upon the Septuagint Version, with its substitutions, but used the Hebrew Scriptures expounding them in the Hebrew-Aramaic. All the earliest evidence of the disciple writers of the first centuries is that the first Gospel Scriptures were written in Hebrew-Aramaic. Scholars of renown of our day are coming to the opinion from internal evidence and linguistics that all the New Testament was originally penned in Hebrew-Aramaic, and later translated into Greek and other languages. This would explain the substitution of the Grecian forms of Hebrew Names, for the Greek translators would largely follow the current Septuagint Version of the Greek; of which we learned that in this Version the names of the prophets were changed, as Elisha to Eliseus, and Yahshua (Joshua) to Iesous (Jesus).
Now as to the name Jesus; Hastings in his, "A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels," Charles Scribners’ Sons, New York, says, "It is strange that even this name (Jesus) has not been explained with certainty."
When the name Jesus is broken down into its composite parts, as other sacred names can be, we find that it is made up of two words, "Ie" and "Sous," (Iesous, Greek). Now there was in the trinity of the gods of Babylon, one whose name was Ie (EA, the god of healing). Zeus, as we learned from Hislop, was the Greek Saviour, as well as Supreme deity, Ie (Ea) coupled with Sous, the Zeus terminal, gives us the Grecian form Iesous, "the healing Zeus," now called in English, Jesus. This is a peculiar way to pronounce the name of the Israelite leader, Joshua, or the Name of the Son of the Most High, Yahweh’s Saviour.
But the fact is well known among scholars that the Galilean never heard himself called by this hybrid pagan name. Consider this: "It is interesting that throughout his life (the one now known as) Jesus Christ never did hear himself called by that name. Jesus was the Greek word for the Hebrew (Yahshua) Joshua or Jeshua; and Christ or Christus was the Greek word for Messiah or Redeemer." --- "Man’s Great Adventure," by Edwin W. Pharlow, professor of history, Ohio State University.
The Bible Evidence
The heavenly Messenger came to the unlearned but pious maid of Galilee, and said unto Mary, "Thou shalt bring forth a Son, and call His name YAHSHUA." (Luke 1:31). To the espoused husband of the mother-to-be of the Saviour, the Angel declared, "She shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name YAHSHUA." --- Matt. 1:21.
Why do we place the name as YAHSHUA instead of Jesus, when the English Versions render the Greek text as Jesus? Because of the Scriptural evidence, as well as the internal evidence in the verse under consideration. The explanation of the Name by the Angel to Joseph was, "He shall be called Yahshua" (Yahweh-Saviour) "For He shall save His people from their sins." If Yahweh was to save His people from their sins through the person of the Son to be born to Mary, then His name would be Yahshua (Yah-Hoshua) to denote His office and mission, that it’s to be Yahweh’s Saviour to His people.
Now, if the Greeks had wished to translate the Hebrew Name into Greek faithfully, instead of substituting a name having the terminal of their supreme deity, they would have written it Yah-Soter, or "Soter" the Greek word meaning Saviour.
But, further proof of the substitution, and how we may know just what the Scriptural Name of our Saviour is, can be learned from a comparison of Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 with other instances where the name Iesous (Jesus) appears in the Greek text. In Acts 7:45 it is clearly evident that the writer is referring to the Israelites entering the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua (Yahshua); but the Greek text, following the Septuagint Version example used not the Hebrew name Yahshua (Joshua), but the Greek "Iesous." This is also the case in Hebrews 4:8.
Now the above is evidence that the Greek translators willingly substituted the Grecian name Jesus for the Hebrew name Yahshua, when referring to Moses’ successor. But this same Greek name Iesous is not only used of Joshua (Yahshua) the Israelite leader, but it is used also when referring to the Saviour. It is the same word when recording the message of the Angel unto Mary and Joseph. So, from this evidence, we know that the original not only of Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 was Yahshua, but Matt. 1:21 and Luke 1:31 and all other texts bearing this name Jesus (Iesous) would also be rendered as Yahshua, meaning Yahweh-Saviour. We should therefore Anglicize the Hebrew Name instead of the Greek, and would have thus, Yahshua, instead of Jesus.
Further Scriptures
The Saviour said, "I am come in My Father’s Name" (John 5:43). This brings us to the question of the wise man, "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name, and what is His Son’s Name, if thou canst tell? --- Prov. 30:4.
"What is His Name?" The Psalmist answers, "Fill their faces with shame that they may seek thy Name, O YAHWEH. Let them be confounded and troubled forever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish; that men may know that thou whose Name alone is Yahweh art the most high over all the earth." --- Psa. 83:16-18.
Here the Psalmist has said that the Eternal’s Name alone is YAHWEH (Jehovah in the King James Version, Yahweh in others). Scholars of the Hebrew tell us that this name is made up of two parts, "Yah" and "Hawah," having the meaning of "the Eternal Yah." The shorter form of this Name is therefore YAH, and we find it so in hundreds of instances wherein the word HalleluYAH is found in the Hebrew Scriptures. This name is also brought out very prominently in Psalm 68:4, "Sing unto the El (the Mighty One), sing praises unto His Name; extol Him that rideth upon the heavens by His Name YAH, and rejoice before Him." Here the name YAH is said to be that of the Eternal One, and this is the form that we find used in the names of the prophets as EliYAH, HezekiYAH, JeremiYAH, IsaiYAH, ObadiYAH, ZephaniYAH and ZechariYAH. Therefore, from the Saviour’s own words, we would expect the name of YAH to be in that Name in which the Son of Yah came and did His wondrous work of redeeming mankind. Since the Name denoted the mission, and the Saviour came in His Father’s Name, which is YAH, then His Name would undoubtedly be as in the Hebrew YAH-HOSHUA, Yahweh-Saviour, or as transliterated into the English (by-passing the Greek), it would be YAHSHUA. Truly He came in His Father’s Name.
The Name of the Father and the Name of the Son is One, just as any son of any parent carries his father’s name legally. That One Name is referred to in Rev. 14:1,
where the 144,000 are seen with the Lamb, having His Name and the Name of His Father in their foreheads. Yes, YAH-shua came in the Name of YAH-weh, and the Jews received Him not; another came in his own name, and the Christian world received him. The Name is Yahshua, not Jesus!
Great and wonderful things are promised to the believers who are in the Name of Yahshua. Paul says, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master YAHSHUA, giving thanks to the Elohim (Mighty One) and the Father by Him." --- Col. 3:17.
Again, Peter says, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." --- Acts 4:12.
There is healing in the name of YAHSHUA (Acts 3:16). Signs and wonders were done in the name of YAHSHUA (4:30). They baptized in the name of YAHSHUA (8:16). Forgiveness of sins was received through this Name of YAHSHUA (10:43). Devils were cast out in the Name of YAHSHUA (16:18). There is power in the Name. HalleluYAH!
Yes, beloved, Jesus is not the Name, for the Saviour came in His Father’s Name. Read it (John 5:43), and do not doubt. There are great and wonderful things to be done in these closing days of this Age. The harvest is great and the laborers are few, but unlimited power is promised unto the few, the little flock. "The Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things" (John 14:26). Hear Him, and take Him at His word. Do you need wisdom, power, salvation? Then ask: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it (to) you."
You question the name "Christ." Space will not allow for details, but we’ll cite John 1:41, wherein two Hebrew brothers were speaking. Andrew said to Simon, "We have found the Messiah." Being Hebrews they understand one another. But a Greek translator added, for his Greek readers, "Which is, by interpretation, the Christ." The real meaning of Messiah is Anointed. See the marginal reading at this text. If you don’t want to use Messiah, then use Anointed, which is its exact English Interpretation, but do not use Christ, a derivation of Chrisna, an ancient pagan god worshipped in India centuries before our Saviour was born. You should not use the name of a pagan city in your worship of the Saviour of Man (For a fuller study send for our tract, Messiah, Not Christ.)
At first thought, the reader may think it matters not what name we call the object of our worship; but the Heavenly Father is precise. He says He is jealous of His Name (Ezek. 39:25), and not to call Him Baal (Lord) any more (Hos. 2:16-17). The law condemns using names of pagan gods in the true worship, saying, "But the prophet (Preacher) which shall presume to . . . speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet (preacher) shall die" (Deut. 18:20). Plain enough, beloved? The Scriptures have spoken! What is your answer?
Before this you have seen nothing, compared with what you shall see in the days ahead in the lives of true saints who witness in the Name of YAHSHUA, as He promised, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name (You have been asking in the name of another); ASK, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
"These are written (beloved), that ye might believe that YAHSHUA is the Messiah, the son of YAHWEH, and that believing ye might have life through His Name." --- John 20:31.
|
