Program Transcript
Episode 15: What’s in a Name?
Heather M R Olsen

Welcome back to Illumination. We are going to take a sidestep and do some fun facts podcasts before we dig into our next unit. I love this one as there are so many westernized names that, in the church, one doesn’t know the etymology.

Consequently, much of this podcast circles around translations. The average churchgoer would be surprised at the translations of some names. This will reveal a few – not faith changers, but head scratchers!

Consequently, the title: What’s in a Name?

I will review a couple, then unpack 4, going from the easiest explanation to more complicated head scratchers. I could have talked a long time on each, but this should get you thinking and hopefully digging! The perfect activity for a Bible study!

First, a review—Mary and Joseph are Miriam and Yosef. We talked about them in our Christmas podcasts. Jesus is Yeshua, meaning “Salvation” or “God’s salvation.” The Land of Israel is “Yisrael.” We can read in Genesis 32 that Jacob wrestled with God and when they finished, God renamed Jacob. Remember “El” is often a prefix or suffix attached to a Hebrew word meaning, “God?” Yisrael is defined as “struggles with God,” per Genesis 32:28.

The four people I want illuminate are:

• Mary Magdalene
• Judas Iscariot
• James
• Saul of Tarsus

Let’s begin with Mary Magdalene, remembering with all of these, the Bible is our Source.

Some facts about Mary:

• Jesus cast 7 demons out of her. Luke 8:2
  • She travelled with Jesus as a disciple.
  • She was an eyewitness to the crucifixion.
  • She was one of Jesus’ financial benefactors.
  • Mary Magdalene was the 1^st to the tomb at the resurrection. Mark 16:9
  • She subsequently ran and told the disciples about Jesus’ resurrection.

There is nothing scriptural about her being portrayed as a prostitute or a heavy drinker.

Many of us know that Magdalene is not her last name but more likely she hailed from the town of Magdala (which is Aramaic) also known as the region of Magadan or Migdal, which is Hebrew meaning “tower.”[i] The reason for the tower name could be because it originally contained a large tower.

Here is an important passage depicting some facts about Mary Magdalene:

Luke 8:1-3

8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

We won’t take an aside and unpack the women traveling with and supporting Jesus’ mission out of their own means today, but it’s an important verse depicting Jesus’ validation of women in a culture that considered them “less than”s.

Back to this town of Magdala. It was recently “discovered” in 2009 when a Brazilian hotel was beginning a new build. Like any construction projects in Israel, excavation could commence unless ruins were found. This was no exception, so there was a pause in digging to ascertain if these were important artifacts. Israel has layer upon layer of artifacts. It turns out this site was deemed important; you see, archaeologists believed this was the town of Magdala, or Magadan, which had been long searched for. Consequently, the hotel was constructed further north of the archaeological site. In a beautiful homage to Mary Magdalene and her hometown, a gorgeous church was built on Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee, and dedicated to women.

According to first century Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, he reported about Magdala that it was a prosperous fishing village, high in commerce.[ii]

Magdala is located at the intersection of the Via Maris’ exit into Galilee. The Via Maris, meaning “way of the sea,” was a main travel road that ran north/south along the Mediterranean, a major route for travelers travelling up or down the coast, then heading east/west, many from Egypt across northern Israel to areas such as Syria, or straight north to Lebanon.

This prosperous fishing village of Magdala would have been an easy stopping point for such travelers to purchase food from the lake or stopping for the night.

Some theologians also believe that Mary Magdalene was a prosperous widow. As we just read, she is biblically included as one of the many women who helped fund Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus would have been in the area of Magdala as we can read in

Matthew 15:39

³⁹ After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

This would also have been the region where Gospel writers record that Jesus preached in the synagogues up through Bethsaida on the western and northwestern side of the Sea of Galilee.[iii]

Last, Jesus did denounce these towns in Matthew 11:20-24, all of which lie in ruins today.

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

That was just a bit about a beautiful site in the region of Galilee, with the reminder that this is where Mary hailed from.

Let’s move onto our next person, Judas Iscariot. This is a quick translation, but interesting!

Facts we know about Judas Iscariot:

• 1 of 2 Judas’s of the 12 disciples.
• He has been labelled biblically as a traitor or betrayer, often his moniker.
• He sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, the typical average price of a first century slave.[iv]
• He was the treasurer for Jesus’ mission.
• He was the son of Simon Iscariot.
• Many believe he was a Jewish Nationalist, perhaps a Zealot.
• His Name appears last consistently in the names of the 12.[v]

But, like Mary of Magdala, Judas’ last name was not Iscariot.

Let’s parse his name.

The Hebrew word for man is אישׁ “ish.”

Keriot is a town in south Judea; (see Joshua 15:25)[vi] a plural name for “city,” the singular being קִרְיָה “qiryah” which is “city or town.”[vii]

Though Judas Iscariot, or Judas ish Keriot is in the New Testament, which is written in Greek rather than Hebrew, there is not a Greek equivalent translation for Keriot. His name is subsequently transliterated, like many Hebrew words are in the New Testament, into Greek, meaning, they are phonetically spelled out.

Hence, Judas is a man from Keriot.

This was a fun fact, not a salvation breaker.

One other possible translation regarding Judas.

“Iscariot” could mean “of the Sicarrii.” Sicarii were assassins, who carried daggers or siccas. In Spanish, sicario means “assassin.”

If this were the translation, it would mean that Judas would have been a Zealot, possible that he wanted to accelerate Jesus’ execution simply as a rebel trying to force his messianic hand. Jesus as the Messiah was confused by many of the time as the warrior Messiah, come to set the people physically free from Roman occupation.[ix]

In fact the Land had been occupied for hundreds of years by the Arameans, Babylonians, Assyrians, Seleucids, Ptolemies, Greeks, then the Romans. I personally maintain this is the most contested Land in all of history.

This assassin translation is the lesser likely, but food for thought! Or it could be both?

But let’s move onto our next name, James.

You may hear James and wonder, which James? There are 3 known James’ in the Bible – there is actually a tiny mention of a fourth.

1st: James the Greater: Son of Zebedee with his brother, John, the Apostle and Gospel writer. James and John were nicknamed the “Sons of Thunder.” This James was one of the 12 disciples and one of the three in Jesus’ inner circle. According to Acts 12:2, he was the first of the Twelve to be martyred, put to death by the sword for faith in Yeshua.

2nd: James the Younger/Lesser: He was Small James, Son of Alphaeus and also one of the 12.

3rd: James, the author of the New Testament Letter of James, who was Jesus’ brother. He became a believer late in Jesus’ life, perhaps after the resurrection, when Jesus specifically revealed himself to James per 1 Corinthians 15:7. James, the brother of Jesus, became the leader of the Church in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension.

4th: There is a fourth James, but merely a mention, as the father of the 2nd Judas’s of the 12. This Judas was the son of James.

The Hebrew Scriptures in antiquity were translated into different languages, the original being Hebrew with some Aramaic interspersed. These alternative translations are Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. They are entitled, respectively:

Targums: Aramaic

Septuagint: Greek
Vulgate: Latin

Listen to James’ name in three of these translations: Greek, Hebrew and Latin.

• Iákōbos (Ἰακώβου) = Greek
• Ya’akov (יעקב) = Hebrew
• Iacobus = Latin

What does his name sound like?

• The Book of James = The Book of Jacob
• James the brother of Jesus = Jacob
• The 2 James disciples = Jacobs
• The Father of the second Judas = Jacob

There is an urban legend for this.

King James VI (Scotland) and I (England) “sponsored”[x] (not commissioned) the Bible’s translation, of the King James Version. Yet we can read that, “Despite royal patronage and encouragement, there was never any overt mandate to use the new translation.”[xi]

In 1604 it had been commissioned, and in 1611 the King James Version was published as the third English translation of the Bible[xii] entitled the “Authorized Version.”[xiii]

Here is the urban legend:

King James wanted his name in the Bible, so translators indulged since he sponsored it. This version morphed into the “King James Only movement,” entitled King James Onlyism. One can find a definition of Onlyism in Wikipedia, that the King James version is really the most accurate and superior to all other translations.[xiv]

The urban legend about King James wanting his name in the Bible clashes with the fact that in the 14th century Wycliffe had already translated Iakovos into James in the New Testament though kept the Patriarch name, Jacob, Ya’acov, in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bibles.

Speculation?

What do you think so far?

Some denominations believe there is a loss of Jewish identity and lineage in the New Testament. Further speculation is that the New Testament had been “Gentilized” and Jewish culture diminished.[xv] In fact, scholars consider the letter of James the most “Jewish” book in the New Testament.[xvi] Why not keep it Ya’acov or Jacob?

Give it some thought?

Ponder why this unique translation?

In Matthew’s genealogy chapter 1 – Joseph, Jesus’ earthly dad’s father was Jacob (Matthew 1:16). Jacob, the patriarch was in Jesus’ family tree. (Matthew 1:2) James, Jesus’ brother, would have been the third recorded Jacob in the ancestry of Jesus, indicating a proud patriarchal lineage.

So question:

Should biblical scholars, publishers, and churches make an effort at a change it back?

It’s been done in the past:

“Bombay was changed back to Mumbai, Peking to Beijing, Burma to Myanmar, and Rhodesia to Zimbabwe.” [xx]

Why not James to Jacob?

Interestingly, these translations are mainly in English speaking Bibles.

Bibles in the Netherlands, Iran, Mexico, Moldova, and Cameroon already translated into their native tongues, kept Jacob in their New Testaments.[xxi]

I’ll leave you pondering that as I catapult us into our fourth name, and for me the most striking.

Saul of Tarsus, or the man we know as the Apostle Paul.

Let’s begin:

There are 2 Saul’s in our Scriptures.

Sha’ul, Hebrew for Saul, was the first king of Israel. We can find this in 1 Samuel 9.

We aren’t talking about him right now.

The second one Saul or Sha’ul is found in the New Testament. This Saul was first a persecutor of The Way, HaDerekh. It was a newer group at the time, considered a Jewish sect, but Jewish believers in Yeshua. We first can read about Saul or Sha’ul in Acts 7:54-58.

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

This passage depicts the first martyr of Yeshua believers, Stephen (Stephanos). We just read that Saul oversaw the stoning.

Let’s outline who Saul is, all facts found in the book of Acts and Saul’s Letters in the New Testament. He was:

• A Jew
• An Israelite
• Of the Tribe of Benjamin
• A Pharisee
• Descended from Pharisees
• BORN a Roman citizen (he didn’t purchase it like some had)
• A student of the prestigious Gamaliel
• Thoroughly trained in the Torah of his ancestors
• Hence, highly educated
• A descendant of Abraham
• Of the Remnant of Israel
• Circumcised on the 8^th day
• A Hebrew of Hebrews

We can read on in Acts 8:1-3, pertaining to the stoning of Stephen.

8 And Saul approved of their killing him.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ² Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Going on in Acts 9:1-2,

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 

We have a highly educated, zealous Jewish Pharisee who vehemently persecuted Yeshua believers, in what they called themselves, The Way. The Way was considered a branch of Judaism at the time, so also believed to be adulterous against the LORD, and idolatrous as well, hence the murderous zeal.

Setting the background, I want to review the next section of Saul, but the Sunday School version. I recently heard a pastor say this from the pulpit, so it is still current thought.

Here is the short version:

“Saul was traveling to Damascus and met Jesus on the way in the form of a bright light. He was blinded for a couple days, then converted to Christianity, and renamed Paul.”

Or more succinctly, “You know, Saul/Paul whose name was changed after his conversion on the road to Damascus.”

Does that sound somewhat consistent with what you were taught in Sunday School?

Let’s continue reading from Acts 9 starting in verse 3.

Acts 9:3-9

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Here is my challenge to all of us, as we dig into the Bible. We need to read and understand the Bible for what it actually says.  Simple misinterpretations, like Paul’s name change, can be commonplace but do not make for accurate renditions of Scripture.

What did Yeshua call him? Saul.

Let’s unpack this.
1 – Jews born in Greek or Roman cities commonly had more than one name: a Jewish and one Greek or Latin. Paul was no different, Saul, Sha’ul, being his Hebrew name and Paulos, Paul, his Greek name[xxii], derived from the Latin “Paulus.”^[xxiii]

If you’ve read the gospels, you know that several of the disciples had more than one name. Peter was also Simon and renamed Cephas by Jesus, Bartholomew/Nathaniel (from Cana), Thomas/Didymus (twin), Judas son of James/Jude/Thaddeus, Matthew/Levi. [xxiv]

2 – Jesus called Saul by his Hebrew name as recorded in Acts 9:4.

3 – It is not until Acts 13:9 that Saul’s Greek name is mentioned and explained, “Then Saul, who was also called Paul…” This is several chapters in Acts after meeting Yeshua on the road to Damascus.

So, in Acts 13, where, physically, is Saul then Paul at this point in Scripture?

He is in Antioch (Syria), then heads to Cyprus (an island off the Syrian/Turkish coast in the Mediterranean), then to Pisidian Antioch (Turkey). If you have a good study Bible, you should be able to find a map of Paul’s missionary journeys. The outline of cities and island I just gave you are locations of stops on Paul’s first missionary journey!

So, the question stands, do you notice anything in the progression of Saul’s name and his mission?

Saul/Paul’s dual identity as a well-educated Jew and Roman citizen perfectly positioned him to bridge the chasm between Jew and Gentile, culturally aiding in the spread of the Gospel message of Yeshua throughout the Roman Empire.[xxv] By chapter 13, Saul is preaching to Gentiles outside of Israel.

Translation:

God repurposed Saul in his zealous defense of God’s message in the Tanakh to hearing and realizing the Messiah status in Yeshua, hereby God’s Story and Rescue Mission continuing. Paul was that zealous missionary now for the messianic message to be brought to the Gentiles, as God had prophesied throughout the Hebrew Bible and Gospels.

Hence, this introduction of Paul’s Greek name in Acts 13 is introduced as Luke, the author of Acts, recorded Paul’s missions to the Gentiles. This first missionary journey culminated in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:13).

Reiteration:

As Saul is taking the Gospel message from Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, he branches out to the ends of the earth, preaching to the Gentile nations. Keep in mind this was Yeshua’s command to his disciples in Acts 1:8,

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Author Luke begins using Paul’s Greek name as he entered his Gentile missionary journeys.

This is literary genius!

So why the discrepancy in what is taught in the church?

One MJ rabbi posed a question out of Jewish hurt.

Does this make Saul, who was Jewish, bad, the one issuing murderous threats and jailing those who believed in Yeshua, the persecutor, the Pharisee, and Jew?

Then Paul, became a “Christian”, therefore good?^[xxvi]

That is the progression of the old Sunday School teachings.

What are your thoughts about this rabbi’s question?

Another thought-provoking question:

Did Paul denounce his Jewishness and become a Christian?

I have a long list of Scriptures you can follow and see if Saul/Paul stopped being Jewish.

It’s also on my website, so you can find the written versions:

Illuminationhebrewinsights.com

Look up:

Acts 13:14 on the Sabbath Shabbat, went to synagogue and sat down

Acts 13:16-ff Addressed the people as fellow Israelites, fellow children of Abraham, what God promised our ancestorsHe has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. Then as Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. This is followed by, “on the next Sabbath.”

Paul and Barnabas speaking to Jewish listeners in,

Acts 13:46 We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue

Acts 16:1-3 Paul addresses a disciple named Timothy, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.

Acts 16:3 Circumcised him [Timothy] because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Acts 17:1-3 [Paul and companions] came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. 

Acts 17:10 Paul and Silas in Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Bereans were amazing, rather than debate with Paul, in verse 11 examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 18:5 Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

Acts 18:6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Acts 18:19 He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Acts 19:8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

Acts 20:16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost, which is one of the 7 Jewish Feasts commanded by God for Jews to celebrate, named Shavuot, meaning “Weeks.” In fact, Shavuot was also one of three commanded pilgrimage Feasts where, if possible, Jews were to travel and celebrate in Jerusalem. (Exodus 23:17, Exodus 34:23, Deuteronomy 16:16-17).

Acts 21:18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present.

(Remember from earlier in this podcast, James [Jacob] was Jesus’ brother and the leader of Yeshua community of believers.)

Acts 21:26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end, and the offering would be made for each of them.

Acts 21:27 Some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple.

Acts 21:30. Paul was seized and dragged from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.

Acts 21:40/22:2 Spoke Aramaic to the people, the vernacular of the time.

Acts 21:39. Paul says to the people, “I AM a Jew”

This is in the present tense and Paul spoke to them in the Hebrew Language.

Acts 23:6 I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees.

Present tense again.

Acts 25:8 Then Paul made his defense, “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Acts 27:9 Per his travels, time had been lost and sailing dangerous, after the Day of Atonement.

This Day of Atonement was again, one of the 7 Feasts and celebrated by anyone Jewish.

Acts 28:17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors.”

Acts 28:23 He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.

Acts 28:25 “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:”

Paul never gave up on preaching to his Jewish brethren, though he had taken Jesus’ message to the Gentiles as commanded by Jesus.

He was always Jewish, though we would call him Messianic Jewish today.

There are three mentions of the moniker “Christian” in the New Testament, the Greek is “Christianos.”

Acts 11:26 The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Syria)

• Antioch is often called the first church. There is a church in our city named Antioch.
• The community of believers in Jerusalem were called The Way.
• The new name (Christians) was probably because of the influx of Gentiles coming to know the LORD and the dominant membership of believers was no longer Jews.

Second mention of, “Christianos:”

Acts 26:28. Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Then the third:

1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Some theologians believe that being called a Christian was derogatory originally, yet the title was adopted permanently by followers and is biblical!

The definition of “Christian” is being a follower of Christ, adhering to the teachings and lifestyle of the Messiah.

So, as believers in the Messiah let us also be called by a name worthy of adhering to Jesus’ teachings and lifestyle.

Let’s wrap this up:

• Mary was from the Galilean town of Magdala or Magadan. It was a thriving fishing village, and most likely at a busy intersection where travelers would stop on the way up and down the Via Maris.
• Judas was a man from Keriot… “ish Keriot”… or “of the sicarii” or both!
• All the James’ in the New Testament are really Jacobs/Ya’akov!
• Sha’ul/Paulos or Saul/Paul did have 2 names; one was his Jewish name, one his Greek name.
• As Luke wrote the book of Acts, he introduced Sha’ul as Paulos when Paul was deep into his missionary journeys to the Gentiles.
• Consequently, Sha’ul’s name was not changed to Paulos after his conversion on the way to Damascus.
• Paul was Jewish through and through, a Yeshua believing Jew, or in today’s vernacular, a Messianic Jew.
• But as Paul became the missionary to the Gentiles, he never gave up on his Jewish brethren and wrote many letters we appreciate in our Bible today!
• Remember Jesus’ words about Sha’ul in Acts 9:15, “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” 

Shalom my friends. I look forward to the next time!

**Heather!

©2025 Heather M R Olsen, Illumination: Hebrew Insights. All rights reserved. 

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[i]https://www.holylandsite.com/magdala#:~:text=Magdala%2C%20also%20known%20as%20Migdal,Africa%20with%20Asia%20and%20Europe).

[ii] Josephus quote

[iii] https://biblemapper.com/blog/index.php/2020/01/31/sea-of-galilee/

[iv] James Girdlestone, lecture 5, Life of Jesus in Historical Context, The Kings University, 2022.

[v] James Girdlestone, lecture 5, Life of Jesus in Historical Context, The Kings University, 2022.

[vi]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerioth#:~:text=Kerioth%20(Hebrew%3A%20%D7%A7%D6%B0%D7%A8%D6%B4%D7%99%D6%BC%D7%95%D6%B9%D7%AA%2C%20Q%C7%9Dr%C4%AByy%C5%8D%E1%B9%AF,(Joshua%2015%3A25).

[vii] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7152.htm (Strong’s concordance through biblehub.com).

[ix] James Girdlestone, lecture 5 – Life of Jesus in Historical Context, The Kings University, 2022.

[x] https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/james-or-jacob-in-the-bible/

[xi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version#Influence

[xii] Ibid.

[xiii] https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/james-or-jacob-in-the-bible/

[xiv] Wikipedia. King James Onlyism definition.

[xv] https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/james-or-jacob-in-the-bible/

[xvi] https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/james-or-jacob-in-the- bible/

[xviii] https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/james-or-jacob-in-the- bible/

[xix] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onomastics

[xx] https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/james-or-jacob-in-the-bible/

[xxii] Michael L. Brown, The Real Kosher Jesus, (Lake Mary, FL: Frontline, 2012), 113.

[xxiii] Strong’s concordance, https://biblehub.com/greek/3972.htm.

[xxiv] With help from, https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/who-were-the-12-disciples-and-what-should-we-know-about-them.html

[xxv] https://biblehub.com/greek/3972.htm

[xxvi] Brown, The Real Kosher Jesus, 113.

[xxvii] Christianos, https://biblehub.com/greek/5546.htm.