As documented by historians and attested to in films such as “The Passion of the Christ”, a variant of Hebrew called Eastern Aramaic was the commonly spoken language in Galilee at the time of Yahshua. The late native Aramaic speaker, Dr. George M. Lamsa, writes:

“Greek was never the language of Palestine. Josephus' book on the Jewish Wars was written in Aramaic. Josephus states that even though a number of Jews had tried to learn the language of the Greeks, hardly any of them succeeded. Indeed, the teaching of Greek was forbidden by Jewish rabbis.” – Holy Bible From The Ancient Easter Text, Introduction

Over nineteen independent witnesses, including church fathers and historians such as Epiphanius, Eusebius, Origen, Clement, and Jerome, furthermore testify that it was in this common language of the day that the Apostolic Scriptures were originally written in Hebrew letters.

Aramaic manuscripts of all but several books of the Apostolic Scriptures have been preserved by the Church of the East in what is known as the “Aramaic Peshitta”; and ongoing linguistic research by leading Messianic Aramaic scholars such as Andrew Gabriel Roth <www.AramaicNTTruth.org>, Paul Younan <www.Peshitta.org>, Christopher Lancaster <www.AramaicPeshitta.com>, and others, attests to the fact that these Aramaic manuscripts comprise “ the original New Testament as it would have been set down by the apostles themselves or, at a minimum, the closest to those original sources that has survived into modern times.” 1

In the Greek translation of the Apostolic Scriptures, KYRIOS or “Lord” was substituted for both the Hebrew word, ADONAI/Master/Lord, and the Divine Name, YAHWEH. Therefore, when Yahshua is called “KYRIOS“ or “Lord” in the Greek New Testament, it does not necessarily prove His deity, as the word “KYRIOS” may simply be referring to a human master. In the Aramaic Peshitta, however, the Divine Name, Yahweh, is faithfully rendered as MARYAH or Master Yah, and as a result, we now have objective manuscript evidence to support the restoration of Yahweh’s Name and IRREFUTABLE Elohim-ness (or Deity) of the Messiah into the Apostolic texts.

“ In the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible, completed more than 2000 years ago, MARYAH (Master YAH) replaces Yahweh almost 7,000 times.” ²

“ MAR became the word of choice over [the Hebrew word] ADON (Master) [which, in turn, was translated to KYRIOS]. ADON [and KYRIOS], however, have a dual usage, whereas MAR conjugated itself in certain ways that told us what kind of ‘ master’ we were dealing with.... Yahshua ’s humanity is [therefore] referenced as MARI (my master) or MARAN (our master).... whereas MARYAH always refers to Yahweh . No human, other than Yahshua , is ever called MARYAH, and this is due to his unique role as the only begotten YACHID (exclusively singular) Son (Zech. 12:10).” 3 –Andrew Gabriel Roth

ARAMAIC IDENTIFIES YAHSHUA AS “I AM / ENA-NA”

Jhn. 4:25 (A woman of Samaria) said to Him, “ I know that Messiah is coming, the One who is called ‘ Anointed’. When that One comes, He shall announce to us all.” [26] Yahshua said unto her, “ I AM (Aramaic, ENA-NA) who speaks to you.”.... [39] And many of the Samaritans of that city believed.

Jhn. 8:14 Yahshua said, “ Even if I bear witness concerning Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going.... [18] I AM (ENA-NA) that testifies concerning Myself, yet My Father who sent Me testifies concerning Me.... [19b] If only Me you had known, you would have also known My Father [24] Therefore said I unto you that you shall die in your sins unless you believe that I AM (ENA-NA). [28] When you have lifted up the Son of Adam, then shall you know that I AM (ENA-NA).... [58] Verily, verily I say unto you, ‘ Before Abraham, I existed.’” —Younan Peshitta Interlinear & Institute For Scripture Research (adapted )

    “ In Semitic thought, the phrase ‘ ENA-NA’ (I Am) conveys a thought of eternal existence reserved only for Elohim / Deity.”⁴   —Paul Younan, www.Peshitta.org

    “Normally when an Aramaic speaker wished to refer to himself he would simply say ‘ ENA’ (or ‘ I’). However, when it came to addressing the speech of the Almighty doing the same thing, the [Hebrew] phrase, EHYAH ASHER EHYAH (“I Am Who I Am”, as spoken by Yahweh in Exod. 3:14) became ENA-NA. Therefore, by Yahshua saying ‘ ENA-NA’ rather than the conventional truncated ‘ I’, He was deliberately claiming for Himself a title exclusive to Yahweh .” 5 —Andrew Roth 6

 

ARAMAIC IDENTIFIES YAHSHUA AS “MASTER YAHWEH” AND “ELOAH / DEITY”

Jhn. 1:1 In the beginning was the MILTHA (word, substance, essence, manifestation) and that MILTHA was with Elohim and Elohim was that MILTHA . [2] This was in the beginning with Elohim. [3] Everything through His hands existed and without Him not even one existed (of) the things which have existed. —Younan Peshitta Interlinear (YPIV) 7

1Cor. 8:6 For to ourselves, (there) is one Eloah (ALAHA), the Father, from whom (are) all (things) and by whom we are, and one Yahweh (MARYAH) Yahshua the Messiah ; by His hand (are) all (things) and by His hand we are also. –Hebraic Roots Version ⁸

Notice in this passage that all things are from Eloah the Father, and that we exist because of Him. And notice that because of Him, there is also one Yahweh, Yahshua the Messiah, the aspect of Yahweh which was Creator, and which appeared in the Tanakh to men.

Jhn. 1:4 In Him was the Life / Occurrence of Divine Nature (QNOMA), and the Occurrence of Divine Nature was the Light of men [5] and that Light in the darkness shines, and the darkness did not overtake it. —YPIV and Peshito Syriac Interlinear (PSIV ) ⁹

Gen. 1:3 And He is saying, Elohim He shall become Light and He is becoming Light, and He is seeing Elohim ALEPH TAW (i.e. Yahshua ), the Light that is good, and He is separating Elohim between the Light and between the darkness. —BHS Interlinear ¹⁰

Jhn. 1:14 And the MILTHA (Word, Essence, Substance, Manifestation) became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His esteem, the esteem as the Only Begotten who is from the Father who is full of favor and truth. [15] John witnessed concerning Him and cried out and said, “ This is He whom I said after me would come and yet be before me because earlier He was than me...” [18] Man has not seen Elohim ever, the Only-Begotten Eloah, He who is in the bosom of His Father, He has declared Him. [19] And this is the witness of John when sent to him the Jews from Jerusalem priests and Levites to inquire of Him, (saying) Who are you? [20] And he confessed, and did not deny, but said, “ I am not the Messiah”... [23] He said, “ I am the voice of the crying in the wilderness, ‘ Make straight the way of Yahweh (MARYAH)’ as Isaiah the prophet has said.... [25] And they said unto him, “ Why then do you immerse if you are not the Messiah, nor Eliyah, nor the Prophet?” [26] John answered, “ I immerse in water, but in your midst stands One whom you do not know — [27] The One coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loosen....” [30] This is He whom I spoke concerning that after me will come a Man, yet before me He was because earlier He (is) than me.” —YPIV

Mat. 3:3 This is He, of whom Isaiah spoke saying, “ A voice crying in the wilderness, ‘ Prepare you the way of Yahweh (MARYAH), make straight in the desert, a path for our Elohim’” —HRV

Who is John the Immerser going before in this passage: Yahweh, Yahshua, or both? Number one is evident, for both the apostolic writings and the Tanakh passage which they quote read “Prepare you the way of Yahweh”. Number two is necessary, as seen from the surrounding context. Number two and three are only possible if Yahshua is an aspect or dimension of Yahweh, which the apostle Luke confirms to be the case in the Aramaic of Luke 2:11 .

Luk. 2:11 There is born to you today, in the city of David, the Savior who is Yahweh (MARYAH) the Messiah . —HRV

Acts 2:22. Yahshua of Nazareth, a Man from Elohim, having been pointed out to you by mighty words, and miracles, and signs which ELOHIM DID THROUGH HIM in your midst.... [36] Let all the house of Israel know for certain that Elohim has made this Yahshua whom you have impaled both Yahweh (MARYAH) and Messiah.

1Cor. 11:27 Therefore whosoever shall eat of Yahweh’s (MARYAH’s) bread and drink of his cup unworthily shall be guilty of the blood and body of Yahweh (MARYAH)... [29] For he who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks to his condemnation; for he does not discern Yahweh’s (MARYAH’s) body. —Lamsa and PSIV

Rom. 14:8. Because if we live, we live to our Master (MARAN), and if we die, we die to our Master (MARAN). And whether we live therefore or whether we die, we belong to our Master (MARAN). [9] Because of this also the Messiah died and is alive and is raised that He might be Yahweh (MARYAH) to the dead and to the living.... [11] As it is written, I live, says Yahweh (MARYAH). Every knee will bow to Me and every tongue will confess Me. [12] Therefore every man from us will give an account for his life to Eloah.... [14] (And of this) I know and am persuaded by the Master Yahweh (MARYAH) Yahshua . —HRV

A SALVATION ISSUE?

Some time ago I came across a claiming-messianic, counter-missionary website (wolves in sheep’s clothing outfit) which issued a challenge to provide evidence from the Scriptures that Yahshua is Yahweh, and their website stated that if anyone should win this challenge, the writer of the article would then convert to that persons beliefs and bless them with all that they owned. Their rules which I was to abide by when answering this challenge were as follows:

Rule 1. Find an Apostle that teaches in the Bible, that Yahshua taught we must believe he is Yahweh, or we go to hell.

Rule 2. If Yahshua at any time taught we must Believe he is Yahweh, or we go to hell, then you must find an apostle that understood his teaching to be this. So if in John 8:24 Yahshua was teaching he is Yahweh and we must believe it, then you should be able to find an apostle that taught this is what Yahshua meant.

Both of these rules had some serious flaws, because wrong is wrong, even if everybody is doing it, and right is right, even if nobody is doing it. So to elevate the teachings of the apostles above the teachings of Yahshua is grossly in error. Nevertheless, I decided to abide by these rules for the sake of the challenge, which brought me to rule number three.

Rule 3. It cannot be a verse where you think an apostle teaches Yahshua is Yahweh, but rather must be a verse that an apostle teaches, believe Yahshua is Yahweh or be damned.

This third stipulation also had some major flaws, for by it, one would determine that any sin is permissible, save those which warrant the penalty of eternal death! Nevertheless, I decided to abide by this rule also for the sake of the challenge, keeping in mind that ONLY ONE SIN warrants absolute eternal death without the possibility of forgiveness.

The first Scripture I presented this individual with was 1 Corinthians 12:3 from the Peshitta, another prime example of objective manuscript evidence for the placement of Yahweh’s Name.

1Cor. 12:3 Because of this, I make known to you that there is no one by the spirit of Eloah that says that Yahshua is accursed. And neither is a man able to say that Yahweh is Yahshua except by the Set-Apart Spirit . —HRV

Shaul clearly teaches that it is the Set-Apart Spirit which allows us to say that Yahshua is Yahweh. This means that we should beware if we are not teaching this, and greatly alarmed if we are denying it!

1Jhn. 5:16 If any man sees his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin which is unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

Now the question is—what is the sin which is unto death? Or what sin brings the command into effect, “Do such and such or be damned?”

2Tim. 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, BLASPHEMERS .... [5] Having a form of being SET-APART , but DENYING THE POWER THEREIN ....”

Wisdom of Solomon 1:6. Wisdom is a kindly Spirit, but will not free blasphemers from the guilt of their words; because Elohim is a witness of their inmost feelings, and a true observer of their hearts. (Apocrypha)

Mat. 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you that all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Set-Apart Spirit shall not be forgiven men. [32] And whoever speaketh a word against the Son of Adam, it shall be forgiven him, but whosoever speaks against the Set-Apart Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or the age to come.

Based on the teachings of Messiah Yahshua we therefore see that there is a sin which causes you to be eternally damned—blasphemy—defiantly speaking a word against the Set-Apart Spirit or “denying the POWER thereof”. The apostles clearly understood Yahshua as teaching this, for they were the ones who recorded it for us to read today, and this brings us back to our original Scripture.

1Cor. 12:3 Because of this, I make known to you that there is no one by the spirit of Eloah that says that Yahshua is accursed. And neither is a man able to say that Yahweh is Yahshua except by the Set-Apart Spirit .

The Set-Apart Spirit is what reveals to us that Yahshua is Eloah - that He is Yahweh - and to adamantly deny or teach against this once you come in contact with the truth is to blaspheme the Set-Apart Spirit, which, according to the words of Yahshua and the apostles, warrants damnation or eternal death.

Acts 2:38 Then Simon said to them, “ Repent and be immersed, every one of you in the name of the Master Yahweh (MARYAH) Yahshua for the remission of sins, so that you may receive the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit. —Lamsa ¹¹ & PSIV

Needless to say, this answered the challenge in spite of the flaws in the rules which went along, and yet at the time of this printing, the man who issued the challenge still has not changed his beliefs, but instead, added another fourteen-hour-long CD to his website which supposedly “proves” that Yahshua was not Yahweh in the flesh.

Gal. 1:6 I marvel that you are so readily turning away from Him who called you in the favor of Messiah, TO A DIFFERENT GOSPEL, [7] which is not another; only there are some who are troubling you and wishing to PERVERT THE EVANGEL OF MESSIAH. [8] However, even if we, or a messenger out of heaven, bring an evangel to you besides what we announced to you, let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, and now I say again, If anyone brings an evangel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed .

Jude 1:4 For certain men have obtained entrance, who from the beginning were proscribed in this condemnation; depraved men, who the favor of Eloah (ALAHA) turn unto lasciviousness, and Him who is the only Yahweh Eloah (MARYAH ALAHA), our Master Yahshua the Messiah (MARI ESHOA MESHIHA), deny.” —Etheridge Translation & PSIV

Phlp. 2:5. Reason thus within you which Yahshua the Messiah also reasoned, [6] who being in very nature, Eloah, did not consider it robbery to be equal with Eloah, [7] Yet He made Himself of no reputation and took upon Himself the form of a servant and was in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in the form of a Man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. [9] Therefore Eloah also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name, [10] that at the name of Yahshua every knee will bow, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and those under the earth, [11] And every tongue shall confess that Yahshua the Messiah is Yahweh (MARYAH) to the esteem of Eloah His Father. —Lamsa & PSIV

1Cor. 15:45 So it is also written, Adam, the first man, became a living soul; and the last Adam, a quickening spirit. [46] But the spiritual was not first but the natural and then the spiritual. [47] The first son of man ¹² was dust that was from the earth. The second Man was Yahweh from heaven. —HRV

Rom. 9:5 And from among them (Israel / humanity) is seen/revealed the Messiah in the flesh, who is Eloah (ALAHA). —Lamsa & PSV

Jam. 5:7. But my brothers, be patient until the coming of Yahweh , as the husbandman who waits for the precious fruit of his ground and is patient for them until he receives the early and latter rain. Thus also be patient and establish your hearts, for the coming of our Master (MARAN) draws nigh. —HRV

1Pe. 3:15 And SET-APART Yahweh THE MESSIAH , in your hearts and be ready to make a defense to all who ask you a word concerning the hope of your faith, with meekness and fear. —HRV

Endnotes:

¹ Roth, Andrew Gabriel; Ruach Qadim : Aramaic Origins Of The New Testament, p.31, Tushiyah Press <www.tushiyah.org> Also see Christopher Lancaster's book, "Was the New Testament Really Written In Greek" at <www.aramaicpeshitta.com/online_version.htm>.

2 Roth, Ruach Qadim, p . 267

³ Roth <andrewgabriel77@hotmail.com> personal correspondence 5/29/04

⁴ Younan, Paul; fn . on Jn. 8:13 <www.peshitta.org/ pdf /Yukhnch8.pdf>

⁵ This is also reflected in the Greek phrase, Ego Eimi (#G1473+1510), which even scholars not supporting a Hebrew / Aramaic original concede is a clear Hebraisim.

⁶ Roth; The Path To Life, p . 104 <http://aramaicnttruth.org/downloads/ThePathtoLife.pdf>

⁷ <www.peshitta.org>

⁸ Hebraic Roots Version (SANJ; PO Box 471; Hurst, TX 76053; Ph. (817) 284-7039, <www.hebraicrootsversion.com>)

⁹ Peshito Syriac Version <http://www.peshitta.com/ aramaic /books/>

¹⁰ Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Interlinear <www.scripture4all.org>

¹¹ Lamsa, George M.; Holy Bible From The Ancient Eastern Text

¹² Literally "son of Adam" — an Aramaic idiom meaning that He was flesh or a "son of the earth ( adamah )". Likewise, when Yahweh is called the "second Man" in the next sentence, it does not limit Him to human capabilities, but means that He took upon himself the form of a man, or human flesh.