The Name Above Every Name
Understanding Why We Say "Jesus"
A growing number of people—including some who claim to be believers—have begun discrediting Christians for using the name Jesus instead of Yeshua. This isn’t just a minor theological debate; it’s a subtle but dangerous attempt to undermine faith. The argument usually sounds something like this: “Jesus” is a Greek translation, not the original Hebrew name. If you don’t say “Yeshua,” you’re following a false tradition. Some even go as far as to claim that using Jesus is misleading or, worse, pagan.
But this idea is not only unfounded—it completely ignores both history and Scripture.
The Evolution of a Name Across Languages
The name "Jesus" is more than just a label—it is the English transliteration of a name that has traveled across cultures and languages. In its original Hebrew form, it was יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua), which became ῐησοῦς (Iēsous) in Greek and eventually "Jesus" in English. Language is fluid, constantly adapting to cultural and linguistic needs. Just as we refer to "Moses" rather than "Moshe" and "John" instead of "Yochanan," the name "Jesus" follows the natural course of translation. My own last name has changed over the more than 1,000 of years of it’s been used. The New Testament itself was written in Greek, not Hebrew, and the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles to use Iēsous rather than Yeshua. If God, through divine inspiration, allowed this translation, who are we to argue? The message of salvation is meant to be understood by all people, in all nations, and that necessitates translation.
Power in the Name, Not the Pronunciation
The significance of Jesus’ name does not rest in a precise pronunciation but in the One who bears it. Philippians 2:9-11 declares that God has exalted Him and given Him the name above every name, before which every knee will bow. The power of Jesus’ name is not in phonetics but in His person, His nature, and His authority. Across the world, believers call on Him in various languages—Jesús in Spanish, Yesu in Swahili, İsa in Turkish—yet all experience the same salvation, healing, and deliverance. If the power of Jesus’ name depended on an exact pronunciation, would not countless prayers throughout history have gone unanswered? Instead, we see that faith in the living Christ, not linguistic precision, is what matters.
This is the critical issue that many overlook when they insist on a particular pronunciation. Scripture never teaches that salvation is dependent on how we say a name. It teaches that salvation is found in the person of Christ (Acts 4:12). If the apostles, writing under divine inspiration, used Iēsous, then why should we reject it?
The Biblical Pattern of Name Adaptation
Throughout the Bible, we see names adapted as they move across cultures and languages. The Hebrew name Yehoshua (Joshua) became Iēsous in Greek—the very name the apostles used for Jesus in the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament widely read by Jews of that time. If the earliest followers of Christ saw no issue with using a Greek form of His name, why should we be troubled by the English form? The gospel was never meant to be bound by one language, and insisting on a single pronunciation undermines the very mission of spreading Christ’s name to all nations.
Those who push the idea that using “Jesus” is somehow inaccurate or corrupt are engaging in unnecessary legalism. It’s the same kind of thinking that Jesus rebuked in the Pharisees—straining out gnats while swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24). Discrediting believers for saying "Jesus" is divisive and distracts from the true mission of the gospel.
The Gospel Transcends Linguistic Barriers
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 commands us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. This mandate naturally involves translation, as the message of Jesus must be accessible to every tongue and culture. Requiring a specific Hebrew pronunciation would only create unnecessary divisions and hinder the spread of the gospel. The focus should never be on linguistic technicalities but on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Paul preached Christ crucified, it was the power of the gospel that transformed lives—not a particular way of saying His name.
Instead of getting caught up in debates about pronunciation, we should focus on what truly matters: following Christ and sharing His message with the world. The enemy would love nothing more than for us to waste time arguing over names while souls remain unreached.
The Weight of History and Tradition
For over a thousand years, Jesus has been the name by which believers have known and worshiped the Son of God. The Reformers, revivalists, and missionaries who carried the gospel across continents invoked the name of Jesus, and through them, God worked mightily. If God has honored the name "Jesus" throughout history, who are we to claim it is illegitimate? There is no record of God rejecting prayers, miracles, or salvation because someone did not say "Yeshua" instead. What matters is the faith behind the name, not the syllables themselves.
Conclusion: The Name That Saves
Using "Jesus" is not a mistake or a compromise; it is simply the natural linguistic evolution of His name into English. God is not confined by human language, and neither is the power of Christ's name. What matters is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, not in how we pronounce His name in a specific language. The name we use is a vessel, but it is the One it points to who holds all authority in heaven and on earth. Let us, then, focus on proclaiming His gospel, living in His truth, and calling upon Him with hearts full of faith, knowing that He hears us—whatever language we speak.
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