It is a wonderful blessing to work side by side with my wife Shelley in the ministry of 3ABN. One of the joys of serving the Lord together is that we continually learn from each other’s ministry experiences. Sometimes a question from a sincere seeker leads us into a deeper appreciation of the beautiful truths in God’s Word.
Recently, Shelley received an email from a woman who had been studying the Hebrew name of our precious Savior. She had discovered that His Hebrew name was Yeshua and sincerely wondered whether Christians should use that name rather than Jesus. Her letter reflected a heartfelt desire to honor the Lord and remain faithful to biblical truth.
When Shelley read me her response, I knew I wanted to share those thoughts with you.
Our 3ABN Pastoral Department receives similar questions from people who deeply love the Lord. Some have heard teachings suggesting that calling our Savior Jesus instead of Yeshua is displeasing to God, and naturally, they want to know what Scripture says. I appreciate that sincerity! Shouldn’t every Christian desire to follow biblical truth wherever it leads?
This question opens the door to something beautiful: a deeper understanding of our Savior’s Name, His saving mission, and the blessed assurance that He knows those who belong to Him.
1. A Beautiful Name With a Powerful Meaning
There is something wonderfully meaningful about our Savior’s Hebrew Name. Yeshua is a form of the Hebrew Name Yehoshua, meaning “The Lord saves” or “The Lord is salvation.” Isn’t that beautiful? His very Name points to the purpose of His coming!
In Matthew 1:21, the angel announced to Joseph: “… You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” And Matthew 1:23 identifies another Name associated with our Savior: Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”
Think about those magnificent truths! In Jesus, God came to dwell among us with the express purpose of saving us from our sins. His Name reveals His mission. His mission reveals His character. And His character reveals the heart of our heavenly Father.
But here’s an important question: Does the saving power of our Savior depend upon how we pronounce His Name—or upon who He is?
2. Different Languages, but the Same Savior
The New Testament was written in Greek, and its inspired writers used the Greek form Iēsous when referring to Jesus. The apostles called people to salvation using the Greek form of His Name.
Consider Peter’s powerful declaration in Acts 4:12: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter’s emphasis was not upon a particular pronunciation, but upon the exclusive saving authority of Jesus Christ!
As Christianity spread, the Savior’s Name was naturally expressed in different languages. The Greek Iēsous became Iesus in Latin and eventually Jesus in English. Interestingly, the original 1611 King James Bible generally used the spelling Iesus, reflecting English conventions of that time.
The development of the English name Jesus was not a conspiracy to conceal His identity. It was simply part of the natural development of language. Today, believers from every nation refer to Him using pronunciations according to their languages. Are these people worshiping different saviors? Absolutely not!
Languages change. Pronunciations differ. But the identity, character, authority, and saving power of Jesus Christ never change! Hebrews 13:8 assures us: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” What a reassuring truth!
3. God Knows the Hearts of Those Who Call Upon Him
God understands every language, and He knows every heart that sincerely reaches out to Him.
Romans 10:13 promises: “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
What an extraordinary invitation! The promise is not limited to those who speak Hebrew. It extends to whoever calls upon the Lord.
Remember Pentecost in Acts 2? People from many nations heard the wonderful works of God proclaimed in their own languages. Why did the Holy Spirit perform that miracle? Because God wanted people everywhere to understand His message of salvation!
Our heavenly Father is not restricted by human language. He does not require us to speak Hebrew or Greek before approaching His throne of grace.
Philippians 2:9–11 declares that God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the Name above every name, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. What a glorious picture! People from every nation and culture acknowledging the same wonderful Savior in “every tongue.”
Revelation 7:9 describes a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue standing before God’s throne and before the Lamb. Surely, the God who welcomes people from every language understands the Name by which they call upon His beloved Son!
4. Biblical Truth Must Be Established by Scripture
As Seventh-day Adventists, we deeply value the authority of Scripture. We believe God calls His people to keep His commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath. But we must be careful not to establish requirements God Himself has not commanded.
Exodus 20:8 specifically tells us to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Yet nowhere does Scripture command Christians of every nation to pronounce the Savior’s Name exclusively in Hebrew. We should never confuse a biblical commandment with a linguistic preference.
There is certainly nothing wrong with calling our Savior Yeshua. It’s a beautiful Name filled with spiritual meaning! Those who prefer to use it in worship or prayer deserve our respect. But neither should we condemn sincere Christians who call Him Jesus.
Our calling is to lead people into a saving relationship with Christ, not to burden their consciences with requirements that Scripture does not impose.
The Most Important Question
Let me leave you with a thought that touches my heart. In John 10:14, Jesus declares: “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
What a precious assurance! Our Good Shepherd knows His sheep. He recognizes their voices, understands their prayers, and knows those who have surrendered their hearts to Him. When Jesus returns, He will not be confused because someone called upon Him in English rather than Hebrew!
The greater concern is not whether we pronounce His Name correctly, but whether we truly know the One whose Name we speak. Have we accepted His sacrifice and surrendered our hearts to Him? Are we following Him in loving obedience to His Word?
Salvation is not found in mastering the pronunciation of a name. Salvation is found in the living Savior whom that name identifies!
Whether you call Him Yeshua or Jesus, I pray you know Him personally as your Redeemer, your Lord, and your soon-coming King.
And may we never forget His wonderful promise: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
What matters most is not the language in which we call His Name, but that we recognize His voice, respond to His love, and faithfully follow Him until He comes.
