003A - Meaning of Immanuel. (Matthew 1:23)

 


Reacting, to your Remark on Sabbath Meeting Day of 04th July 2020 from the widely & generally accepted English literal translation of, “God with us” for the Greek word of, “Immanuel” μμανουήλ (Emmanouēl)”. You have come to the strong and determined conclusion that this scripture teaches us that Elohim Yahweh is Elohim Yahshua in Flesh.

This above topic of the Meaning of Immanuel leading to the conclusion that Yahweh is Yahshua in Flesh on Earth, I have personally discussed, deliberated and debated with many Missionaries, Pastors and Elders with life time of service dedicated in their own respective ministries over the past 3 decades.

I approach this above topic freshly and would like to approach for a conclusion on SOLA SRCIPTURA meaning, “Scripture Alone” OR in simpler words, let “Scripture Interpret Scripture”.

As a Serious Student of Scripture, I prefer to practice good EXEGEGIS practices. The above statement of yours is an example of EISEGESIS. (Further explained below)

EXEGEGIS

Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text or scripture of God’s word.

EISEGESIS

The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text or scripture or word of God, making it mean whatever he/she wants too.

Strong’s Greek Dictionary

Immanuel”
Ἐμμανουήλ (Emmanouēl)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 1694: Of Hebrew origin; God with us; Emmanuel, a name of Christ.

FIRST POINT TO CLEAR BEFORE ADVANCING DEEPER

Please we need to understand and agree that there is great difference between a PERSONAL NAME and TITLES or to be clearer, TITLE-NAMES.

In English language while referring to many descriptive titles given to some individual, many a times by general habit or practice we even call these titles as names. But are they Personal or Private or Authoritative Legal names given to that person at the time of birth. No. They are descriptive titles expounding on some Quality of that individual.

With respect to the above point, is Yahshua the one and only name of our Messiah given under heaven (Acts 4:12) or do we create a Contradiction by saying that he has many names, and one of them is Immanuel quoting Mathew 1:23 ?
BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL
, which being interpreted is, EL WITH US. – Mathew 1:23 (Restoration Study Bible Edition 3rd)

Now majority of all English translations DO NOT use the word, Name and just say will call him. Let’s see some few examples for understanding: 

New International Version
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

New Living Translation
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Berean Study Bible
“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,
and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

Contemporary English Version
"A virgin will have a baby boy,
and he will be called Immanuel," which means "God is with us."

Good News Translation
"A virgin will become pregnant and have a son,
and he will be called Immanuel" (which means, "God is with us").

Holman Christian Standard Bible
See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated "God is with us."

NET Bible
"Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son,
and they will call him Emmanuel," which means "God with us."

they will call
καλέσουσιν (kalesousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

If Mathew 1:23 can be used to say that Jesus/Yahshua is God Yahweh because of the words, “God with Us”, then the same rule should be applied to Luke 1:28.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured; Yahweh/LORD/GOD is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Luke 1:28 (RSB 3rd Edition)

God with us = Yahweh becomes Yahshua. Then.....

God is with thee = Angel Gabriel becomes Elohim Yahweh. 

Absolutely not, then why this double standard of Interpretation?  Because we are interpreting or adding something that is not existing in scripture but it is coming from our minds, or our training or our upbringing that this is true, without it ever being scripturally challenged. (This is an example of EISEGESIS)

Should Jesus/Yahshua really be considered to be Almighty God Yahweh because he was symbolically or prophetically, “named” or “titled” or “called” Immanuel (Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:23) which means “God is with us”? No more so than Gabriel was calling himself God when he visited Mary and declared: “The Lord is with thee” - Luke 1:28. Nor did Zacharias mean that John the Baptizer (his new son) was actually God when he was asked, “I wonder what this child [John] will turn out to be?”, and he answered, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to visit his people and has redeemed them.” - Luke 1:66-68, LB. 

Gabriel and Zacharias (Zechariah) meant exactly what Israelites have meant throughout thousands of years when saying “God is with us” and similar statements. They meant “God has favoured us” or “God is helping us”! - Joshua 1:17; 1 Samuel 10:7; 2 Chron. 15:2-4, 9 (cf., Jer. 1:8; Haggai 1:13). But if we insist on Trinitarian-type “proof,” then Gabriel must have meant that he (Gabriel) is God! And Zacharias (whose own name means “God has remembered.”) must have meant that John the Baptizer is God! – Also see 1 Sam. 17:37; 2 Sam. 14:17; 1 Kings. 8:57; 1 Chronicles. 17:2; 22:18; 2 Chronicles. 1:1; 35:21; 36:23; Ezra 1:3; Is. 8:8, 10; Is. 41:10; Amos 5:14; Zech 8:23.  

The widely acclaimed Trinitarian Bible dictionary, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, 1986, Vol. 2, pp. 86, 87, states:

“The name Emmanuel [or Immanuel] which occurs in Isa. 7:14 and 8:8 means lit. ‘God [is] with us’.... In the context of the times of Isaiah and King Ahaz the name is given to a child as yet not conceived with the promise that the danger now threatening Israel from Syria and Samaria will pass ‘before the child knows how to refuse evil and choose the good.’ Thus, the child and its name is a sign of God’s gracious saving presence among his people.... [The name Emmanuel] could be a general statement that the birth and naming of the special child will indicate that the good hand of God is upon us.” - p. 86. And, “The point of the present passage [Matt. 1:23] is to see in the birth of Jesus a saving act of God, comparable with the birth of the first Emmanuel. Both births signify God’s presence with his people through a child.” - p. 87.