God's Name

The Current Teaching Of The Watchtower Society:

The Society believes that those who do not use God's name, which they understand to be JEHOVAH, cannot be identified as His people. (Acts 15:14)

The use of a special word as a way to identify with a particular God or religion is an ancient pagan practice dating back centuries. A word is itself has no more power than any of the "mantras" or mystical words of the eastern religions. The word "Jehovah" carries with it no unusual or mystical significance. Confirmation of this can be see in the fact that "Jehovah" as a designation for God the Father does not appear even once in the New Testament. The many appearances of this in the New World Translation of the New Testament (produced by the Society) has no historical or manuscript basis whatsoever. It is absolutely and completely an invention by the Society.

Furthermore, the use of the word "Jehovah" is a genuine embarrassment to the Watchtower Society in that it represents a linguistic mistake: the word is a result of a mistransliteration of the word "Yahweh" (that is, "the eternally existing One") plus the word the ancient Hebrews used in its place, "Adonai" or Lord. The ancient Hebrew scribes were concerned that they might somehow misuse the name of God and thus even inadvertently violate the Third Commandment. As a precaution, they placed the four consonants for the name of God (YHWH) in the text of the Scripture as they copied it but included the vowels of word for "Lord" which they would speak in its place. This jumble of consonants of one word and the vowels of the other led to the appearance and use of the word "Jehovah."

Consider also the many other names and titles for God found in the Scriptures. (See below and also consult Names of God, by N. J. Stone and The Names of Christ, by F. H. Derk for a list of these and a discussion concerning their frequency of use and their significance.)

The Bible does NOT teach that we can be identified with God because of the use of any particular word or name. We are identified with God when we are reconciled to Him through the death of His Son. John 1:12, Revelation 3:20 (see Born-Again).