How can the criminal ‘Jesus Barabbas’ have the same name as Jesus?

Question

Some early Greek manuscripts of Matthew present Barabbas' name twice as Jesus bar Abbas: manuscripts in the
Caesarean group of texts, the Sinaitic Palimpsest, the Palestinian Syriac lectionaries and some of the manuscripts used
by Origen in the 3rd century, all support the fact that Barabbas' name was originally Jesus Barabbas, though not all
modern New Testament translations reflect this. Origen deliberately rejected the reading in the manuscript he was
working with, and left out "Iesous" deliberately, for reverential considerations, certainly a strongly motivated omission.
Early editors did not want the name Jesus associated with anyone who was a sinner.
(http://www.answers.com/topic/barabbas)

Answer 1

I'm sure there are thousands of Johns out there, good and bad, so I don't see how amazing it is that 2 people can share a name.

Answer 2

On a general appearance level, the similiarity of Jesus Barabbas' (whose last name interestingly, yet coincidentally means "son of father") name to Jesus Christ's name is no more coincidental than the fact that, when I went to elementary school, my favorite actor was Tom Cruise, while at the same time, a kid in my school was also named Tom Cruise. Or the fact that one of the most infamous murderers in American history shares his first name with my great-uncle (who is diametrically the opposite... he's quite a kind and charitable fellow) (both are named 'Charles').

Back in that day, 'Yeshua' was not a unique nor an uncommon name, just as 'Joshua' is neither unique or uncommon today. But Barabbas' first name was indeed removed for reverential reasons. Would you give enough honor to an insurrectionist and a murderer, by noting that his name was much akin to the Savior's name?

Make note of the foreshadowing here : Look back to Leviticus 16:7-10. "And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness."

Note the similarities : Both are of the same nature (that is, both are called goats, and both are called "Jesus, Son-of-Father" either as a literal or a descriptive name). Both are presented to be seen (the goats by the Lord, the people by the populace [and the Lord]). A determination is made to see who shall stay and who shall go (random lots/popular vote). The one who's Lord's lot was taken off to be sacrificed as a sin offering (one goat/Jesus Christ), while the other had been counted as atoned for, and then released (the other goat/Jesus Barabbas).

It is by no small coincidence that Barabbas bore the same name-traits as Christ. But therein lies a key foundation of the properties of salvation... that though each of us bears the same physical traits as Jesus, we are all guilty of the crime of sin, and deserve death, just as Barabbas did. *Yet*, Barabbas was released for the sake that Christ, an innocent man, was put to death... and so too are we released from sin because Christ's blood was shed for us.

Answer 3

Barabbas = Bar Abbas = Son of the Father (Abba being Father). Some conspiracy theories about it are that Jesus Barabbas was actually the one the New Test was written about. Not the man that was crucified.

Answer 4

The name of Barabbas was Barabbas,not Jesus: The name of Jesus,was Jesus not Barabbas: They are 2 separate individuals.

Answer 5

At that time there were very few last names. It was usually your first name and where you were from Jesus of Nazareth sometimes called 'the Nazerine' It's like Mike from Chicago meeting Mike from Boston and Mike from LA

Answer 6

Is that the best you can do ?

His word will not change from beginning to end.

What is your PROOF, that lesous was left out intentionally.

Or are you just quoting some theory you have no idea where it came from or for what purpose?

What proof of editors?

Answer 7

Too late for that now; LOTS of Hispanic men in prison named Jesus!

Answer 8

You found it on the internet. It must be true. Let's all throw out that book that has been gone through, persecuted, and tested time and time again without fail.

Answer 9

They were probably the same dude anyway.