Messianic terminology: Dictionary to aid communication
TL;DR:
Messianic Judaism is a modern movement among Jewish people who follow Yeshua (the Hebrew form of the name rendered "Jesus" in English) as Messiah while continuing to observe many historic Jewish traditions and worship practices. Messianic Jewish terminology — words and phrases that express faith in a culturally Jewish way — can help overcome barriers created by centuries of antisemitism. Non-Jewish Christians will find a list of these alternative terms helpful for cross-cultural conversations about their faith.
Pontificating or Communicating? How Are We Talking About Jesus?
A study in contextualization [
more ]
Language can both help and hamper us in cross-cultural communication. If we insist on using language "our way," then we may not be very effective cross-cultural communicators. If, however, we can focus on communicating rather than pontificating about the "right way" (a.k.a. "our way"), then language can be a powerful tool for us.
The following material is written in Messianic Jewish
terminology and style. It shows us the challenges we "Christians" [ more ] face in cross-cultural communication with Jews.
This material is based on Return of the Remnant: The Rebirth of
Messianic Judaism by Michael Schiffman. © 1992, Messianic Jewish Publishers.
Used by permission. Available through Messianic
Jewish Resources.
Messianic terminology is used to express biblically based faith in the Messiah because such
terminology was how the New Covenant faith was expressed in its earliest stages. Messianic
believers prefer to speak about their faith in the Messiah in a manner consistent with Jewish heritage
and culture. Belief in the Messiah is consistent with being Jewish. He is the fulfillment of God's
promises to Israel.
Using Messianic terminology will stimulate faith in Messiah in children, friends, and family
in a manner consistent with Jewish heritage. Messianic terms communicate biblical truth without
the negative baggage of historical antisemitism.
Terms to use
- Yeshua
- Yeshua is the Messiah's name. Yeshua is a Hebrew word that
has the root meaning salvation. "You shall call His name Yeshua
[salvation]," a heavenly messenger said to Joseph, "because He shall save His people
from their sins."
Transliterated into Greek as Iesous,
(Ιησουσ) this word was spelled
Jesus when it was imported into English. Messianic Jews use Yeshua
instead of Jesus because Yeshua is how His name was pronounced when He walked
the earth.
Through the centuries, Jewish people have suffered persecution "in the name of Jesus." Because of that, the name "Jesus" brings to their minds hatred and antisemitism. On the
other hand, the name Yeshua proclaims Messiah as a Jewish option for Jewish people, as well as for non-Jews.
- Messiah
- Messiah is used instead of Christ. The English word
Messiah is derived from the Hebrew word Mashiach (which means
"anointed one"). Christ is the English equivalent of the Greek word
christos (which, like "Messiah," means "anointed one"). Jumping back over the Greek word to the original Hebrew term hammers home the fact that the Messiah is for Jewish people and not exclusively for Gentiles.
- A second reason for using this term is that -- as with the name Jesus -- thousands and
thousands (perhaps millions) of Jewish people have been persecuted and killed by those claiming
to act on behalf of Christ. To many Jews, the word Christ is not simply a non-Jewish word
derived from Greek. "Christ" is a word that has carried anti-Jewish connotations.
- Believer
- Instead of "Christian," Messianic Jews use "believer." To many Jews, the word "Christian"
brings up memories of people who have bullied, hated, and persecuted Jews for two millennia.
While it can be argued that the word Christian is a biblical one, it is actually used only three
times in the New Covenant Scriptures (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). An earlier term used for
Yeshua's followers is "believer." The word "believer" can be used for those in
Messianic circles, as well as for those in traditional churches who believe in Yeshua
and truly seek to follow Him. By using the word believer, the focus is placed on a
person's commitment to follow the Lord without the distraction of the negative baggage of those
who used the label "Christian" but who did not walk as our Lord walked.
- Messianic
- Messianic refers to believers involved in Messianic congregations, Jewish or Gentile. Messianic Jews are those of Jewish descent in Messianic congregations. Messianic refers to that expression of the biblical faith which articulates itself in a Jewish manner.
- Congregation
- Messianic congregations are not called churches. Jewish people often associate churches
with antisemitism. In the past, and in some places today, antisemitism has come from those
who profess to be believers, from both clergy and laity. Ecclesia refers to people and
not to buildings. The term congregation has the same reference point. James 2:2 uses the Greek
word commonly translated "synagogue" to refer to an assembly. For this reason, the term
congregation, or even synagogue, is the most appropriate one to describe organized gatherings of Messianic believers.
- Covenant
- This term refers to a testament in the sense of an agreement or covenant. Instead of saying Old
Testament and New Testament, Messianic believers refer to the two halves of the Bible as Older
Covenant, or Tanakh (its Hebrew name), and Newer Covenant, or Brit
Chadasha (Hebrew for New Covenant).
- Tradition
- Jewish cultural and religious practices, whether in their original forms or adapted to reflect Messianic beliefs.
- Liturgy
- Jewish liturgical elements in Hebrew, English, or both, which may be part of a Messianic
worship service.
In addition to the above terms, some Messianic believers
substitute "-" for "o" in God and Lord, writing them as G-d and L-rd. This is a sign of respect in Jewish culture, just as many
Gentile believers capitalize the initial letters of references to God and Lord, even though there are no such
capitalizations in the original texts of the Old and New Covenants.
Words and phrases to avoid
The following terms bring to mind historic antisemitic images rather than reflecting a Jewish cultural expression. Therefore, most Messianic Jews do not use them.
- Christian
- According to Acts 11:26, the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Although the word Christian is used only three times
in the New Testament, it eventually wound up being the commonly used title for Gentile
believers. As the early communities of Jewish followers of Jesus diminished, Christian emerged
as the primary title for members of believing congregations. Over the centuries, the term also
became associated with those who hate Jewish people and who have rejected everything Jewish.
Since Christian was (1) never directly used of Jewish believers in Scripture, and (2)
carries a negative historical reminder of antisemitism, the term Messianic is used
instead. This word identifies Jewish believers as followers of the Messiah without the negative
overtones that "Christian" has accumulated. [ See Believer ]
- Conversion
- To most Jewish people, conversion means turning away from being Jewish to become a Gentile (see above). Biblically, of course, conversion refers to repentance (i.e., turning to God). To communicate this same idea, in Messianic circles, a person is said to have
become a believer or to have become Messianic.
- Baptism
Messianic Jews speak of believer's immersion. That's because the word baptism brings to mind memories
of the forced conversions and baptisms perpetrated against Jewish people by antisemites.
Horrible things, including forced baptisms, were done in the name of Jesus. Sadly, people have
profaned the name of the Messiah by deeds contrary to His teaching.
Baptism is a symbol of joining a Christian — that is, non-Jewish — church. So, when Messianic
Jews talk about the immersion of new believers in Jesus as the Messiah, they call it Messianic Mikvah, an act with origins in
ancient Jewish practice. Calling it Mikvah avoids having the ritual linked to acts of antisemitism or other negative issues associated with the Christian Church. Saying Mikvah calls attention to the true Jewish roots of the Christian faith.
- Cross
- For Jewish people, the cross can evoke memories of persecution inflicted on them by people
invoking Jesus' name and waving small crosses. Jewish believers prefer to focus on the real
meaning of that cross and what happened because of it. That's why they often call the place where the Messiah was sacrificed an altar or an
execution stake.
- Years as A.D. and B.C.
- Dates are cited with the initials C.E. for "Common Era" or B.C.E. for "Before the Common
Era." Jewish people prefer these neutral phrases instead of B.C. and A.D. which stand for "Before
Christ" and "In the year of our Lord."
— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
Afterword: What Is Messianic Judaism?
The Messianic Jewish movement emerged in the late 20th
century. It is made up of people who identify as Jewish but who also believe that Jesus of
Nazareth is the long-awaited Messiah. Combining elements of Judaism and Christianity,
Messianic Jews uphold Jewish traditions, observe Jewish holidays, and celebrate Jewish rituals
while embracing the teachings of Jesus Christ recorded in the New Testament.
Messianic Jews often gather in congregations known as Messianic synagogues. Their
meetings blend Hebrew liturgy with Christian worship. The movement's theology varies widely.
Some adherents emphasize their Jewish heritage. Others focus more on the practices and worship forms of evangelical Christianity. Despite controversy within both the Jewish and Christian communities, the Messianic Jewish movement continues to grow as a unique and complex expression of biblical faith.
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