Jehova's Witness Beliefs?

[kedge]

yes, God's name appears almost 7000 times in hebrew scriptures, it occurs 0 times in the christian greek scriptures.

But does that mean that one should forget His name?, once i know someone's personal name i don't need to keep asking what their name is.

yes, God and Lord are titles... if God wants us to pronounce his personal name, he has to tell us how to do it...

has he made his name known (the pronunciation)?

Nobody appears to have a problem calling Jesus' personal name Jesus, a very common name in those lands, but isn't Jesus a rendition of the hebrew yeshua?, also having the variants Joshua or Jeshua, nobody seems to have a problem with those pronunciations. Just food for thought really.

 

[kedge]

You calling YHWH "Jehovah" could be like me calling Jesus "Ron".

Or Joshua, or Jeshua, or yeshua

And how can you have a personal relationship with Him?.

Well, personally, i always start by knowing the personal name of an individual to start a relationship or friendship, it's common courtesy.

You don't need to address someone by their name every 5 seconds to have a conversation with them.

If I never knew my wife's name I believe our relationship would still be pretty fantastic. Do you disagree?

I disagree, no doubt in my mind if you never knew her name in the very first place she might get upset about that, also, what would you have called her if you did not know her personal name?, hello woman i am pleased to meet you, lol.

 

[Dan_473]

But does that mean that one should forget His name?, once i know someone's personal name i don't need to keep asking what their name is.



Nobody appears to have a problem calling Jesus' personal name Jesus, a very common name in those lands, but isn't Jesus a rendition of the hebrew yeshua?, also having the variants Joshua or Jeshua, nobody seems to have a problem with those pronunciations. Just food for thought really.

lots of great stuff we can talk about in your post!
I like to try to do stuff simply, so how about one step at a time?

first step... do we agree that the name of God appears almost 7000 times in the hebrew scriptures, and 0 in the christian greek scriptures?

 

[Bushido8000]

Or Joshua, or Jeshua, or yeshua

All of which are variations of Jesus and not Ron Yahweh is not a variation of Jehovah, they are polar opposite words....Like Ron and Jesus

Well, personally, i always start by knowing the personal name of an individual to start a relationship or friendship, it's common courtesy.

Common American, human courtesy. but not very necessary. I can guarantee a relationship with you from this point on. A relationship in which you never tell me your name and I never tell you mine. We can watch movies that we both like. I can know your wants, desires and dreams, and you can know mine. You can tell me all of your troubles and I can tell you mine. I can even do my best to fix your problems. In the morning we can have coffee together and talk about our home lives.

And as for my wife, I never call her by her name. In fact, she gets mad if I do. I always call her pet names

 

[kedge]

first step... do we agree that the name of God appears almost 7000 times in the hebrew scriptures, and 0 in the christian greek scriptures?

There is no reason why i should doubt others research.

 

[kedge]

Yahweh is not a variation of Jehovah

It's one vocalization transliterated from the tetragrammaton (YHWH) the name of the God of israel in the hebrew bible. Not here to score points with you, you don't want to use Jehovah's name that's your prerogative.

courtesy. but not very necessary. I can guarantee a relationship with you from this point on. A relationship in which you never tell me your name and I never tell you mine.

Except i already know your forum name, face to face friend to friend i would want to know their personal name.

And as for my wife, I never call her by her name. In fact, she gets mad if I do. I always call her pet names

That's how you roll, when i meet people for the first time i ask them their name, lol.

 

[resurrection33]

I was asked some questions about them (JWs). I know they have some beliefs that are not mainstream, but I can't remember what was controversial about them. Could someone summarize the key issues that set them apart?

I don't know what Jehovah's Witnesses believe. What I notice about them is their willingness to go out in the community and share their faith.

 

[Dan_473]

There is no reason why i should doubt others research.

I'm not sure what your answer means... is it a 'yes'?

 

[kohelet]

What about the lords prayer?, Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name. Sacrosanct?.

I don't know about "sacrosanct", kedge, and I'm wondering what you mean by it, but if the Jehovah's Witnesses are right in thinking that we have to know and use God's name, why (if we call it "Jehovah", for example) would Jesus not teach the disciples to pray "Jehovah God who art in heaven..."?

 

[slave]

resurrection33 I see that too about the JW's in there work ethic to share there faith...but I also notice that about the Mormon's too...even Satan I notice is a very active campaigner for His cause.....

My question becomes what is the real cause? what is the real truth. We have to look deeper into it..especially if our ETERNITY is at stake, wouldn't you say?

Just so you can dig deeper for your own understanding of the facts I have set up a blog relating to this discussion pointing out some things...If you would like venture into the room and read it.

But I get your point we christians can learn a lot from the fervency of others regardless of the right and wrong issue.

 

[kedge]

I'm not sure what your answer means... is it a 'yes'?

Yes i guess.

 

[kedge]

would Jesus not teach the disciples to pray "Jehovah God who art in heaven..."?

I see your point but i have to ask, when people pray to God which God are they praying to?, the ancient egyptians had many gods with names. I'm not saying the JW's are right nor am i saying they are wrong, the point is that surely to have a close relationship with someone (especially a God) i think it makes sense to call them by a personal name, God is not a personal name it is just God but which God?, i'm just curious, i'm not here to change anyone's mind on their chosen belief system or which God an individual chooses to call on.

 

[kedge]

My question becomes what is the real cause? what is the real truth. We have to look deeper into it..especially if our ETERNITY is at stake, wouldn't you say?.

Yeah i agree, i'm not quite sure where i belong, so many christians so many opinions so many interpretations but which way leads to God?, and which God?, ha. I'm still researching, that's how i came across CC, i was just researching 'what makes a christian a christian' ?, 'what is sin exactly' ?, and is 'Jesus God' ?.

 

[Bushido8000]

It's one vocalization transliterated from the tetragrammaton (YHWH) the name of the God of israel in the hebrew bible. Not here to score points with you, you don't want to use Jehovah's name that's your prerogative.

My use of Jehovah's name or the right to use His name is not what I'm debating. Many Christians refer to the Tetragrammaton as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh". As a former JW for most of my childhood and adult life, I did and still do from time to time. There's nothing wrong with it. What's up for debate is the Jehovah's Witness claim to truth and authority through the use (and also false use) of the Holy name of YHWH. Also, the idea of JW's self-rightious/legalistic idea that only they can possess a true relationship with God because they call Him by an educated-guessed name....constantly.

Except i already know your forum name, face to face friend to friend i would want to know their personal name.

Yes, YOU would need to know their personal name, I wouldn't. That's not what we are talking about.

We are talking about the Jehovah's Witness' idea of us needing to know and use one of God's names above the rest of them as stated in the "Reasoning from the Scriptures" book.

That's how you roll, when i meet people for the first time i ask them their name, lol.

What if they wont tell you? or what if they would only tell your dad and he forgot how to pronounce it...but said it probably sounds something like (insert name here)

What I'm trying to address is Witness straw-man logic, that is if A is A and B is B then the answer must be D, when instead C completely stops any roads leading to D.

But also understand that I'm doing this with love. Especially love for you, because I used to be where you are at right now.

 

[Bushido8000]

I see your point but i have to ask, when people pray to God which God are they praying to?, the ancient egyptians had many gods with names. I'm not saying the JW's are right nor am i saying they are wrong, the point is that surely to have a close relationship with someone (especially a God) i think it makes sense to call them by a personal name, God is not a personal name it is just God but which God?, i'm just curious, i'm not here to change anyone's mind on their chosen belief system or which God an individual chooses to call on.

I would have to say you would need to understand where your prayer is going first to understand the rest of these things. When you "pray through Jesus Christ, Amen" or "pray in Jesus' name, amen" your prayer goes through Him to the Father. I highly doubt Jesus catches your prayer and says "Well...this guy didn't say Jehovah....or Satan...or Horus....soooo idk what to do with this message".

Sorry for double posting. I keep catching messages after my editing time runs out CC should change that rule haha.

 

[SoulWeaver]

The Bible calls God so many different names that this whole debate about the exact "name" pronunciation is really such a waste of people's time. And it's notable that they all get into that name rulekeeping almost without exception a time AFTER they have been already saved, when they have been saved without knowing the exact recipy (according to their respective congregation) for "the name" and it did not prevent God to answer when they called Him to help. Praying that God will open minds and hearts to understand.
God is not a lawyer. It's like Muslims say you must address god (just to note, no, allah is not the God of the Bible) in Arabic only. I really dont think so.
God's name is His character and His good name is the glory of His goodness around the world, not a bunch of phonetics. When you call someone by their name, you use the name to represent just whom are you calling. Think about that.
Do we not know His name is Salvation (precisely, Jesus/Yeshua means "God is salvation")?
That's who God is. He is our salvation, and He has shown this to us on the Cross.
God bless!

 

[lleonard88]

Sorry for this major delay, for some reason I don't get notifications about forum replies sent to my email. Okay Oldhermit John 1:1, is a very controversial scripture with much debate about it. If you look to verse 14 please tell me your interpretation. You can use your king James, byington, or your standard version, they will all say the same thing. The 'Word' mentioned there is the same one being spoken of in verse 1. The verse is pretty self explanitory. So let me know what you think.

 

[lleonard88]

Actually, there is an excuse. YHWH has no known pronunciation. You calling YHWH "Jehovah" could be like me calling Jesus "Ron".

It would be much better to call God my King and Master (LORD), then call Him what could be a completely false name.

Also, I'd just like to point out that the Holy Name of YHWH is differentiated in any Christian Bible from the title "Lord".

Anytime you read "LORD" (all capitals), it is where YHWH was written in the original scriptures. Anytime you read "Lord", it is referring to a title.

And how can you have a personal relationship with Him? EASY. You don't need to address someone by their name every 5 seconds to have a conversation with them.

If I never knew my wife's name I believe our relationship would still be pretty fantastic. Do you disagree?

Hey, I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. I dont get notifications of forum replies, apparently only messages. When I made my original post, I wasn't singling you out, in general it seems many on this forum don't have a lot of accurate information on Jehovah's Witnesses. But I digress, this post above that you made I would have to disagree with you about.

Your first paragraph talking about Jesus being called Ron is an interesting point, especially considering that the way we pronounce his name today is most likey not the way it was pronounced when he was on the earth. "Jesus’ first-century disciples said his name quite differently from the way most Christians do today. To Jewish Christians, the name Jesus was probably pronounced Ye·shuʹa‛. And the title “Christ” was Ma·shiʹach, or “Messiah.” Greek-speaking Christians called him I·e·sousʹ Khri·stosʹ, and Latin-speaking Christians Ieʹsus Chriʹstus. Under inspiration, the Greek translation of his name was recorded in the Bible, showing that first-century Christians followed the sensible course of using the form of the name common in their language. Similarly, the New World Bible Translation Committee feels that it is reasonable to use the form “Jehovah,” even though that rendering is not exactly the way the divine name would have been pronounced in ancient Hebrew."- Appendix of the New World Translation

And I do disagree about having a personal relationship with someone if you don't know their name. A person's name is the most basic piece of information you learn about a person. If someone were telling you about this amazing best friend they have had for years and how much they've changed your life, and you ask them for their name, and they don't know it? I find it hard to believe you wouldn't think that was weird or, you might be moved to not believe them. A personal name is a basic necessity to get to know Jehovah. Especially when you learn what that name represents.

 

[lleonard88]

Very well. There is one topic I will discuss with you and only one, because if you do not get this correct it matters not whatever else you may get correct. Tell me who Jesus is according to John 1.

Sorry for the repost, Im new to this forum and I didn't know how to "tag" a person so to speak, I just wanted to make sure Oldhermit got this. Anyway lol...

Okay Oldhermit John 1:1, is a very controversial scripture with much debate about it. If you look to verse 14 please tell me your interpretation. You can use your king James, byington, or your standard version, they will all say the same thing. The 'Word' mentioned there is the same one being spoken of in verse 1. The verse is pretty self explanitory. So let me know what you think.

 

[kohelet]

I see your point but i have to ask, when people pray to God which God are they praying to?, the ancient egyptians had many gods with names. I'm not saying the JW's are right nor am i saying they are wrong, the point is that surely to have a close relationship with someone (especially a God) i think it makes sense to call them by a personal name, God is not a personal name it is just God but which God?, i'm just curious, i'm not here to change anyone's mind on their chosen belief system or which God an individual chooses to call on.

Kedge, when I pray and fail to call God by name, I don't imagine the various gods of the pantheon scratching their heads and asking each other, "Do you think he means me?"

I had a close personal relationship with my earthly father and never called him by his name. I called him "Dad", and Christians identify with their heavenly Father in a similar way. Paul writes, "The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship and by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (Romans 8:15), "Abba", of course, being the Aramaic for "Daddy".