The Case Against Replacing "Jesus" with "Yeshua" in Contemporary Christian Practice: A Historical and Linguistic Analysis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Recent years have witnessed a growing movement among certain Christian denominations to replace the traditional English name "Jesus" with "Yeshua," reflecting a perceived return to the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith. This paper argues against this shift, drawing on historical, linguistic, and theological evidence, including the analysis of the Deir Ali Marcionite inscription (318 CE). It contends that "Jesus" is the historically validated English transliteration of the Koine Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) and was adapted to the linguistic and cultural contexts of early Christianity. The use of "Yeshua" risks anachronism, theological misalignment, and a misrepresentation of early Christian identity, particularly in light of sectarian variations like the Marcionites.
Author: Kelama, Darren
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7083625678
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