A question about the name of God

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YehoiakhinEx232

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Is it OK to address God as “HE WHO IS” (the english translation of His name) in prayer? I know that the Church now forbids the use of His holy name YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah ect.) now and advices use the LORD instead but is it appropriate for me to use the translation or should I stick to “God, Lord, Father” like I usually do?
 
In Jesus, the name of God is revealed and given to us in the flesh. At the end of His Passover, the Father gives Christ the name that is above every name, “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
Is it OK to address God as “HE WHO IS” (the english translation of His name) in prayer? I know that the Church now forbids the use of His holy name YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah ect.) now and advices use the LORD instead but is it appropriate for me to use the translation or should I stick to “God, Lord, Father” like I usually do?
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The translation is I AM.
We cannot say YHWH in Mass or hymns, no.
Academically, I believe we can speak of it.
Someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
Pray to God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) or the Holy Spirit.
Lord is an acceptable title, yes.
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
Is it OK to address God as “HE WHO IS” (the english translation of His name) in prayer? I know that the Church now forbids the use of His holy name YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah ect.) now and advices use the LORD instead but is it appropriate for me to use the translation or should I stick to “God, Lord, Father” like I usually do?
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The Church does not ban the use of God’s name outside Mass.
 
Actually, we’re not quite sure what the translation is, as the proper pronunciation has been lost over time. Hebrew doesn’t have vowels, and the diacretics were only added to the text during the Middle Ages. By then the pronunciation was long gone (remember that only the High Priest was allowed to speak the name, so it wouldn’t have been common knowledge). The most common theory is that it’s a combination of the verbs was, is and will be, but that’s only just a theory, and even if it’s correct, you can tell by a glance how extremely insufficient the English language is to translate such a word properly.
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
Is it OK to address God as “HE WHO IS” (the english translation of His name) in prayer? I know that the Church now forbids the use of His holy name YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah ect.) now and advices use the LORD instead but is it appropriate for me to use the translation or should I stick to “God, Lord, Father” like I usually do?
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Stick to LORD, as per ancient custom.
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
Is it OK to address God as “HE WHO IS” (the english translation of His name) in prayer? I know that the Church now forbids the use of His holy name YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah ect.) now and advices use the LORD instead but is it appropriate for me to use the translation or should I stick to “God, Lord, Father” like I usually do?
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pianistclare said:
The translation is I AM.
We cannot say YHWH in Mass or hymns, no.
Academically, I believe we can speak of it.
Someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
Pray to God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) or the Holy Spirit.
Lord is an acceptable title, yes.
Click to expand...
Whoa, I did not get the memo on this one. When did we stop using the YHWH? I just noticed the other day that ‘‘YHWH I Know You Are Near’’ was changed to ‘‘Lord God I Know You Are Near.’’
:whistle:
 
Antegin said:
Whoa, I did not get the memo on this one. When did we stop using the YHWH? I just noticed the other day that ‘‘YHWH I Know You Are Near’’ was changed to ‘‘Lord God I Know You Are Near.’’
:whistle:
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It’s always been like that. In the Septuagint, YHWH was translated as “Kyrios”, literally " Lord" or “Master”, as Jews as that time would still have been forbidden to say the name of God. It stuck, and it’s been like that ever since. Perhaps you were using the NJB? I believe that they use the tetragrammaton there.
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
I know that the Church now forbids the use of His holy name YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah ect.) now and advices use the LORD instead?
Click to expand...
I did not know this about catholicism. Can you explain the teaching behind this?
Sorry I know this is not the main point of the thread but it is something I have never heard of and I am just interested. Thanks.

Edit: It seems it is kinda semi answered in the previous post.
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
Is it OK to address God as “HE WHO IS” (the english translation of His name) in prayer? I know that the Church now forbids the use of His holy name YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah ect.) now and advices use the LORD instead but is it appropriate for me to use the translation or should I stick to “God, Lord, Father” like I usually do?
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I personally address God as God, Lord, Father, Savior, Papa, Jesus, or Holy Spirit in prayer.
 
QuestLove said:
I did not know this about catholicism. Can you explain the teaching behind this?
Sorry I know this is not the main point of the thread but it is something I have never heard of and I am just interested. Thanks.

Edit: It seems it is kinda semi answered in the previous post.
Click to expand...
What was articulated is not a correct explication of the directive to not use YHWH officially in the liturgy.

That is NOT the same as saying Catholics are “forbidden” to say Yahweh.

As an expression of the infinite greatness and majesty of God, it was held to be unpronounceable and hence was replaced during the reading of sacred Scripture by means of the use of an alternate name: ‘Adonai,’ which means ‘Lord,’" catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804119.htm

In other words, speaking the name “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” has never been part of Jewish or Christian tradition; it is a recent innovation and this directive is simply a return to tradition.
 
PRmerger said:
What was articulated is not a correct explication of the directive to not use YHWH officially in the liturgy.

That is NOT the same as saying Catholics are “forbidden” to say Yahweh.

As an expression of the infinite greatness and majesty of God, it was held to be unpronounceable and hence was replaced during the reading of sacred Scripture by means of the use of an alternate name: ‘Adonai,’ which means ‘Lord,’" catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804119.htm

In other words, speaking the name “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” has never been part of Jewish or Christian tradition; it is a recent innovation and this directive is simply a return to tradition.
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Oh Ok. So it’s not like it’s a sin…it’s just a tradition of the church that they are returning to.
 
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