Our Divine Messiah

[civic]

William (Bill) Schlegel, author of The Satellite Bible Atlas and former professor at The Master’s University extension program in Israel (IBEX), now argues for unitarianism. Several years ago, Schlegel came to reject the deity of Christ (and the doctrine of the Trinity) and now believes that the Bible teaches that God is one Person and that Jesusis God’s human Messiah. Over the last few years, Schlegel has written numerous blog posts on why he believes Jesus is not God. In one of his blog posts, Schlegel rejects that he has become part of a cult and gives several responses as to why he thinks Jesus is just human:

I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. The God of Jesus the Messiah, like your God and my God, is the God whose name has been revealed to us in the Bible, spelled with the four Hebrew consonants יהוה.2

Like other unitarians, Schlegel reduces the concept of Jesus’ Messiahship to that of a mere human.

The Old Testament, however, does not speak of the Messiah as merely a human, but as God (Psalm 45:6; cf. Hebrews 1:8), God with us (Isaiah 7:14), mighty God (Isaiah 9:6; cf. 10:21), the Lord (Psalm 110:13), and the Lord (יהוה) is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6). The New Testament authors also speak of Jesus (the Son) being active in the Old Testament (1 Corinthians 10:4, 9; Hebrews 1:2–3, 8–10; Jude 54). Moreover, the New Testament authors apply the divine name יהוה (YHWH) to Jesus (Hebrews 1:10; cf. Psalm 102:25–27). Israel’s belief in one God was firmly grounded in the introductory words of the Shema, the Hebrew confession that includes the central tenets of their faith: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). In the first century, the early churches’ belief in one God set them apart from the polytheistic practices of the Greco-Roman pantheon (made up of many gods).

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he was writing to Greek-speaking people who had come out of Greco-Roman culture. The Scriptures the Corinthians would have been familiar with was the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint, LXX). In 1 Corinthians 8, the Apostle Paul rejects the many “gods” and “lords” of Greco-Roman culture (1 Corinthians 8:4–5; cf. Deuteronomy 10:17) and affirms there is but one God (1 Corinthians 8:6). Paul does this by referring to Deuteronomy 6:4from the LXX. In 1 Corinthians 8:6 when Paul refers to the Father, he uses the Greek word θεὸς (theos), which is a translation of the Hebrew word אֱלֹהֵינוּ (ʾĕlōhênû), but when he refers to Jesus, he uses the Greek word κύριος (kyrios),5 which is a translation of the Hebrew word יהוה (YHWH).AIG.

hope this helps !!!

 

[Aeliana]

I watch a video recently about the word YHWH that was very interesting.

I found this that explains it in more detail

t has been said that the Jewish sages associated the covenant name of God, Yahweh, with breath. The idea is that the name itself, when pronounced, is the sound of breathing: the two syllables of the name correspond to the intake and outtake of a single breath. In this way, the theory goes, our breaths evoke the name of God. A naturally voiced inhalation sounds like “Yah,” and a voiced exhalation sounds like “Weh.” Thus, with every breath we take, we are speaking God’s name. He breathed into us the breath of life (Genesis 2:7), and we still retain that breath.

According to the view that with every breath we say the name of Yahweh, we constantly have God’s name on our lips. Consciously or unconsciously, speaking the name of God is the one thing we do every minute of our lives. “In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10). “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

When the natural act of breathing is viewed in this light, the name of God is everywhere. Atheists and agnostics acknowledge Him constantly. A baby’s first cry is a calling out to God. The sighs of a sufferer are wordless appeals to the God who hears. And when we cease speaking God’s name, we die.

The breath that Yahweh breathed into Adam’s nostrils gave him life and set the course for the whole human race to speak of God when respiring (Genesis 2:7). When Jesus breathed on His disciples, imparting peace, forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit all at once, He was, in effect, speaking God’s name (John 20:21–23). In our quietest moments, in the ease and constancy of breathing, we are reminded of God’s life and presence.

While it is an interesting thought, the idea that every breath forms the name Yahweh is not found in the Bible. The theory is the domain of Jewish mysticism. However, it is true that life is a gift from God. Every moment we live should be dedicated to the glory of God, and we should constantly acknowledge our dependence on Him. Yahweh deserves to be praised with our every breath. Got?

YHWH: His Breath in Our Lungs

God’s name sounds like breathing: YH (inhale), WH (exhale).

chrislacy1990.medium.com