For over 60 years I've been taught The Scriptures by my parents, various religious leaders, pastors, teachers, and other Christians. In all that time the topic of God's personal name has never really been addressed. No one ever taught the fact that English Bible translations are essentially wrong when it comes to the personal name of God.
As it turns out, His name is virtually absent from most English Bible translations. His name has been replaced by a series of other terms, thousands of times, that are not names at all. They are titles, or perhaps descriptions of His nature or character. Further, the personal name of The Messiah has also been altered to a form that greatly distorts and conceals God's intentions in connection with that name. What's worse is that I've discovered these errors in "The Word of God" are intentional. This is most disturbing! Millions of people have been deceived. But even worse, I discovered I've both allowed, and participated in, this deception! Therefore, I'm as guilty as anyone for failing to recognize and address this problem.
At this point in my life, I am humbled, and ashamed. I've allowed others to teach me what amounts to lies, and I never seriously questioned them. Shame on me! I'm embarrassed. I'm overwhelmed with my own guilt. I've allowed the traditions of men to shape my thinking and believing, instead of The Word of God. This is most unfortunate. Now, right at this very point, I need to change my terminology for your sake, as well as for His. I can, and will, no longer perpetuate these lies and deceptions. Rather, I will now seek to expose this astounding deception and do what I can to help correct it.
God's personal name is YAHWEH. His Son's name is YAHUSHUA.
To expose the details of this deception I've created several pages on this site that explain, to some extent at least, how we got here. Please read The Personal Name of God and The Personal Name of The Messiah and the associated pages listed to the right of this page under The Really Important Stuff.
I'm not sure how you arrived at this page, or this website, but I'm very glad you're here. I can only hope and pray that YAHWEH will open your eyes, your ears, your heart, and your mind, as He has begun to do for me. I feel like I'm starting over at the very beginning - like I'm just now beginning to learn His Truth.
Please don't misunderstand. There's much I do understand already. I've studied and contemplated The Scriptures for many years. It certainly was not all wasted, even amidst the deception that was perpetrated by the traditions of men. But I have much to learn, and re-learn. And YAHWEH's Word is now coming alive for me in ways i could not have comprehended before. I pray it will be so for you as well.
I'm not here to tell you YAHWEH has not heard your prayers or acted on your behalf in the days gone by. I'm not here to tell you He's abandoned you because you've not known and/or used His personal name, or the personal name of His Son. I don't believe in the legalism of such an approach. He hears us in our ignorance. He helps us in our ignorance. But He also longs to have us know His Truth. For He knows that when we do come to know His Truth it will generate a whole new and far deeper appreciation of Him.
The following passage of Scripture gives us insight into how YAHWEH sees us in our ignorance.
1Timothy. 1:12 And I thank Him who enabled me, The Messiah, YAHUSHUA, our Sovereign, because He counted me faithful, appointing me to service 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 The grace of our Sovereign abounded exceedingly, with faith and love which is in The Messiah, YAHUSHUA. 5 The saying is faithful and worthy of complete acceptance, that The Messiah, YAHUSHUA, came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
YAHUSHUA (commonly known as Jesus, The Christ, The Messiah, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, etc.) wants to have a relationship with you as well. He wants to be your personal Savior and Redeemer. He came to earth to reveal The Truth. While He was here on earth the one issue against which He spoke most vehemently was the traditions of men. He chastised the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the priests for their failure to teach The Truth - The Word of YAHWEH. They had made up their own rules and regulations. They taught them as if they were "the truth". But they were not. And they still are not. They were alterations of The Truth. If you want to read about YAHUSHUA's treatment of these things please review carefully Matthew 23. It's at least a starting point.
Here's a sample of what's available to us:
Mark 7:6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. (7) And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ (8) For laying aside the commandment of YAHWEH, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” (9) He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of YAHWEH, that you may keep your tradition.”
Col. 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to The Messiah.
Matt. 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
Luke 11:9 “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. (World English Bible)
After stumbling along somewhat blindly, I decided to attempt a thorough study of Genesis. I found some good bible software and several reference books to help me as I attempted to discover the real meaning of the text. I knew only a little about Greek – most of which I had forgotten since I attended seminary. I knew nothing about Hebrew. So I determined I would seek the guidance and direction of The Holy Spirit (The Spirit of YAHWEH) as I sought to understand the text. I was astounded at what I uncovered.
I studied each verse word by word. As I got into the lexicons, the English, Hebrew, and Greek dictionaries and commentaries, etc. I discovered new insights into the meaning of the text. Many words were translated into English with completely different meanings than those given in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, or in the other lexicons and dictionaries I checked. The English didn’t match the Hebrew at all. In other places the wording was very vague and unclear. The “translations” (See Definitions) used for some words made no sense whatsoever.
Even worse, I discovered the personal name of God had been REMOVED from the text! In its place were terms that could not possibly be accurately "translated" from the Hebrew text. I was astounded by the sheer number of errors! No one had ever told me this reality existed in virtually every English Bible translation. Read more...
As many of the words took on new significance, I began to discover the real meaning of the Hebrew text. I began to comprehend a richness the English versions did not properly convey. Some of the words only came to life as I read certain word definitions from an English dictionary. New insights flooded my spirit. The Word took on a whole new dimension – a truly spiritual dimension. Things I had once thought were “mundane” proved to be anything but mundane. The Word became "The Living Word".
As a result of these wondrous discoveries I’ve now resolved to try to make a difference in the lives of others who really want to know The Truth. I sincerely hope you’re one of them. These pages offer my humble attempt at proclaiming The Truth of YAHWEH and His Son YAHUSHUA. It is my sincere desire to honor Him, and His precious name in all I do. Please understand that I don't pretend to have all the answers yet. I only ask you to read what I've presented and then test it against The Scriptures for yourself.
If you long for the Truth, then you'll certainly want to read more at the links on the right side of this page. May YAHWEH truly bless you with the knowledge of The Truth. And may He lift you out of "the traditions of men" and the grievous errors found there. May you believe, first and foremost, in His Word, and not the mere words of another human being. His Word triumphs over all, for His Word really is The Truth.
Psalms. 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your
lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your Word, above all Your name.