J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics discusses the great problems and divisions that tend to erupt over matters involving the names of the Father and the Son.
Hebrew
I heard a Messianic teaching that dealt with “jots and tittles” in the Hebrew text of the Bible. It claimed that these markings were written by Moses, and that Yeshua actually referred to them in Matthew 5:17-19. Is there any validity to this teaching?
Is there any academic validity with Hebrew letter pictures, i.e., interpreting various Hebrew words through the representations of each letter in its spelling?
I heard a Messianic teacher say that the Divine Name YHWH was spelled out on the writing above Yeshua’s cross. Is this true?
Can you recommend any specific Hebrew and Greek dictionaries or lexicons I can use in my Bible studies?
Why does your ministry use the terms “God” and “Lord” for YHWH, when these are well documented terms used in ancient paganism?
What are some important Hebrew lexicons you need to be considering adding to your library?
The claim that the New Testament was originally written in Hebrew is something that must be substantiated by those who believe it with historical references, textual support, and most of all extant manuscripts in Hebrew. These references must be credible, the textual claims must be supported within a relatively conservative framework of exposition, and the manuscripts must be verified as authentic by organizations such as United Bible Societies or the American Bible Society. Thus far, no one in the Messianic community has been able to prove a written Hebrew origin for the entirety of the New Testament on the basis of these factors.
