Jehovah, LORD and Lord
Jehovah is a personal name of God that no-one else may use.
“Let them know that you alone are the LORD – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”
In the Old Testament the word יְהֹוָה which is translated‘Jehovah’, comes 6114 times and, following Tyndale, is translated with capital letters, ‘LORD’. Occasionally the Hebrew name יְהֹוָה (Jehovah) is translated ‘GOD’, also in capitals. Thus we read,
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
This name ‘Jehovah’ is exclusively used in the Old Testament but never in the New Testament. However the word ‘Lord’ is applied to Jesus over six hundred times in the New Testament – the apostles wanted everyone to Know that Jesus is the Lord, Jehovah. In the book of Acts the phrase the ‘Lord Jesus’ come twenty-six times. .Thus:
“Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,” Acts 1:21
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 4:33
“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:59
This repeated use of the word ‘Lord’ when referring to jesus was deliberate.
Translations of the Old Testament in the New Testament
Whenever New Teastament writers quote from the Old Testament instead of using the Hebrew word יְהֹוָה ‘Jehovah’ they use the Greek word κύριος (kurios) which also means ‘Lord’ or occasionally θεός (theos) meaning God. Here are some examples:
1. Isaiah wrote:
“A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3
Matthew quotes this passage, applying it to John the Baptist, but it has been translated:
“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepeare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Matthew 3:3
Here Matthew, who wrote his gospel originally in Hebrew, has had the word Jehovah translated as κύριος. They are clearly synonymous.
2. Jesus quoted from the Old Terstament when he was tempted in the wilderness by Satan:
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Greek θεός).”’” Matthew 4:4
This original quotation in our Bible reads:
“ . . . that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 8:3
Jehovah and theos are again equivalent.
3. Isaiah is quoting the Lord God when he writes:
“Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none but me. “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” Isaiah 45:21-23
Paul quotes this passage about Jehovah but applies it to the Lord Jesus:
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
Salvation isonly given to those who acknowledge that Jesus Christ has the standing of Jehovah, the Lord God who entered his world to save who recognise his right to rule them.
A day will come when everybody will see that this is true, when we stand before the Lord Jesus in judgment, but unfortunately for many it will then be too late.
There can be no doubt that Paul is placing Jesus on the same level as Jehovah himself. As we have seen in his letter to the Clossians, Paul undoubtedly equates Jehovah with the Lord Jesus.
“He is the image of the invisible God . . . For by him all things were created . . .For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things . . .” Colossians 1:19
4. The LORD God, Jehovah, said in Isaiah,
“This is what the Lord says - Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6
The apostle John repeatedly applies these words to the Lord Jesus:
“Behold, I am coming soon . . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13
Jesus is again equated with Jehovah, the First and the Last. In the first chapter of this book the same words are used about The Lord Jesus at his second coming.
““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8
‘Coming with the clouds’ is meant to equate Jesus with the man in Daniel’s prophecy who would will enter God’s presence and will be treated as the equal of Jehovah - he will be worshipped:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
In his vision John then see the glorified Lord Jesus and also bows at his feet in worship.
“Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18
Again in a later chapter John hears these words of God:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. . . . He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:3-6
John has no doubt who the Lord Jesus is. Jesus is again identifying himself as Jehovah
The apostle John wrote at the beginning of his gospel,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1 and 14
Explanation
How can anyone miss what the apostles have made so clear.The New Testament writers were certain that Jesus was of the very nature of God as well as being a normal human being. They wanted to demonstrate that Jesus was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. This is why they repeated called him ‘the Lord Jesus’.
BVP
