Endnote 17 – Parallel Paths to Heaven

Philippians 2:11 can be translated “Jesus Messiah is YHWH.” The Greek version of the Bible used by Paul routinely translates the sacred Tetragrammaton (the divine name YHWH) as ho kyrios, “the Lord,” reflecting the standard Jewish practice of pronouncing the divine name as adonai, “the Lord.” Hence my translation, “Jesus Messiah is YHWH.” “Every knee should bow” in Philippians 2:10 reflects Isaiah 45:23. Aramaic-speaking believers in Jesus referred to him as mara, “the lord, master.” Compare the transliterated acclamation marana tha (“our Lord, come!”) in 1 Corinthians 16:22.