Why is the christian bible still censored?

Question

Stick with me here,
Jesus prayed: "Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified." Matthew 6:9
Another scripture reads "Let all flesh bless [God's] holy name to time indefinite, even forever."—Psalm 145:21.

Obviously the writers of the bible believed that god's name was important. Despite this, many years after the scriptures were compiled, the almost 7000 instances of god's name "YHWH" were replaced with the title "LORD." Alright fair enough..we know that the people who took the name out were superstitious and didn't want to speak god's name despite the bible's clear message of everyone knowing it. The question is, why is bible still censored and not written as it originally was meant to be? I'm not religious but it seems that if one really believed in the bible being the holy word of god they'd want it to be as close to the original as possible. What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

Very Good point.

I cite Scriptures many times using the Biblegateway.com because of the use of the Divine Name originally being there.

Many people do not understand that the name God chose for himself distinguishes and differentiates himself from all the other gods (small "g") that are listed *by name* in his own word.

Everything that we can see and sometimes *not* see has a name, does it not? You can't see air, but yet there it is.

Here is some information that you may know as well, but most importantly the Divine Name means something.
It is more than a Name it is a Promise that he will bring all the things including all the promises and prophecies through to completion.

Je·ho′vah
[the causative form, the imperfect state, of the Heb. verb ha·wah′ (become); meaning “He Causes to Become”].

The personal name of God. (Isa 42:8; 54:5) Though Scripturally designated by such descriptive titles as “God,” “Sovereign Lord,” “Creator,” “Father,” “the Almighty,” and “the Most High,” his personality and attributes—who and what he is—are fully summed up and expressed only in this personal name.—Ps 83:18.

What is the proper pronunciation of God’s name?

In the second half of the first millennium C.E., Jewish scholars introduced a system of points to represent the missing vowels in the consonantal Hebrew text. When it came to God’s name, instead of inserting the proper vowel signs for it, they put other vowel signs to remind the reader that he should say ’Adho·nai′ (meaning “Sovereign Lord”) or ’Elo·him′ (meaning “God”).

The Codex Leningrad B 19A, of the 11th century C.E., vowel points the Tetragrammaton to read Yehwah′, Yehwih′, and Yeho·wah′. Ginsburg’s edition of the Masoretic text vowel points the divine name to read Yeho·wah′. (Ge 3:14, ftn) Hebrew scholars generally favor “Yahweh” as the most likely pronunciation. They point out that the abbreviated form of the name is Yah (Jah in the Latinized form), as at Psalm 89:8 and in the expression Ha·lelu-Yah′ (meaning “Praise Jah, you people!”). (Ps 104:35; 150:1, 6) Also, the forms Yehoh′, Yoh, Yah, and Ya′hu, found in the Hebrew spelling of the names Jehoshaphat, Joshaphat, Shephatiah, and others, can all be derived from Yahweh. Greek transliterations of the name by early Christian writers point in a somewhat similar direction with spellings such as I·a·be′ and I·a·ou·e′, which, as pronounced in Greek, resemble Yahweh. Still, there is by no means unanimity among scholars on the subject, some favoring yet other pronunciations, such as “Yahuwa,” “Yahuah,” or “Yehuah.”

Since certainty of pronunciation is not now attainable, there seems to be no reason for abandoning in English the well-known form “Jehovah” in favor of some other suggested pronunciation. If such a change were made, then, to be consistent, changes should be made in the spelling and pronunciation of a host of other names found in the Scriptures: Jeremiah would be changed to Yir·meyah′, Isaiah would become Yesha‛·ya′hu, and Jesus would be either Yehoh·shu′a‛ (as in Hebrew) or I·e·sous′ (as in Greek). The purpose of words is to transmit thoughts; in English the name Jehovah identifies the true God, transmitting this thought more satisfactorily today than any of the suggested substitutes.

Answer 2

To make the changes you are suggesting wouldn't accurately reflect what is written by the original authors. The writers of the Old Testament were not comfortable with using the term and didn't. YHWH is missing the vowels and the rabbis can only make an educated guess as to how to say it correctly. Your idea is what a modern world would do with the text.

You do bring up a good point though. Not every time Lord is used does it refer to the same word. Most Bibles have a section in the front that explains their use of the term LORD and LORD GOD. These terms are thought of pretty much the same in English, but should be read more carefully to get a more accurate understanding.

If a person wants to see what the world has that is closest to the original they learn Hebrew. That is what I am doing. No translation is going to express entirely all that the original writing has to say. And with an ancient text like the Old Testament, even the best scholars in the world still have debates.

I know this because my Hebrew teacher is Dr. Charles Isabell at LSU and he explains alot that I totally would not get. He is also a rabbi and believe me when I tell you that besides the language, he has taught me a great deal about the Bible.

PS He wrote his own text book. Look it on Amazon.com under Charles Isabell.

Don't mean to sound preachy, It is just that I got a bunch out of going to Hebrew class that I didn't get from Sunday School.

Answer 3

Hello and lets get some more information on that name first in Hebrews 13:8 we find Jesus Christ has always been with The Father, in Hebrews 1:5-9 The Father Himself address Jesus as God, in John 8:58 Jesus is called The I AM of Exodus 3, Moses and the burning bush, in John 1 we understand Jesus was the active member of The Godhead that was in on creation, in Isaiah 9:6 we find that the same names that in that verse which are verses applying to the Messiah, Jesus calls Him Mighty God, Father, the name YAWH, Lord is names interchangeable within The Godhead and do you understand that the same person who created mankind in the begining, was the same person who took on human flesh instead of His divine body to show us what Jesus is like and came Here to "IF" we will live up to the conditions upon which life is offered Live forever, He took our death so we can have His life, and when He returned to Heaven He did NOT take once again His divine body but kept His human one FOREVER Just for you, WOW what love, and Jesus said in John 14:15 "IF" you love me [then] keep my commandments find out more free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org talk to me also [e-mail] God bless

Answer 4

"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord:" (Mark 12:29)

"And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God." (Mark 10:18).
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Christian Scholars always want to play with 'YHWH' words in order to apply their trinity. Jesus says 'O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord' . Today's Christians says 'no three God(s)'. Whome should we belive... Jesus Christ or the other. Jesus Christ was no more than Messenger of God just like many messengers that came before Him.

Answer 5

I see your point, but to me Lord and YHWH are the same thing. So the translation is fine.

We don't call Jesus IXOYE (icthuse) but that was his name in his day, but we call him Jesus, I don't think the translation is screwed up.

Answer 6

maybe cause the original pronunciation is unknown and Lord is easier to say? I dunno...I always heard that Yahweh was the secret name of God. So shhhh gotta keep it a secret!

Answer 7

You are entitled to your comments whether bad or good comments. Go on. It is not us to suffer the penalty of it but you yourself.

I just want to let you know that the Holy Bible which we are reading is the basis in our belief to God. It is not censored. It is open to everybody who wanted to read it. You too can read it if you like.
jtm

Answer 8

I feel your wrong cause God, didn't wan't his name known for the longest time. You can say those blessings and God knows his name, just doen't want you to know it.

Answer 9

i agree with you , someone should write out the real deal , not only for our beliefs but for history and knowledge

Answer 10

You sound like a JW.