Despite the widespread use of the name ‘Jesus Christ’ today, scholars propose that this might not be the original name of the Son of God. His name, in its native Aramaic form, would have sounded very different from what we know currently. Moreover, the name ‘Jesus’ didn’t exist during the time he lived, and some of the letters used in his name today were not part of any written language until approximately 1,500 years after his death.
As the tale of Jesus spread, his name underwent a series of translations, starting from Aramaic to Hebrew, then to Greek, Latin, and eventually English in the 16th century. This indicates a long process of linguistic transformation.
But what was Jesus’ actual name?
Professor Dineke Houtman from the Protestant Theological University in the Netherlands suggests that his name was likely Yeshua, or perhaps the shorter form, Yeshu. Professor Houtman told MailOnline: “His name would probably have been in Aramaic: Yeshua. It is likely that this is also how he introduced himself. Another possibility is the shorter form Yeshu which is the form used in later rabbinic literature.”
This makes sense considering Jesus was not English, and being from the Middle East, he wouldn’t have spoken English either. Additionally, names starting with a hard ‘J’ sound, as we pronounce it today, were nonexistent at the time.
Professor Candida Moss, an early Christianity expert from the University of Birmingham, supports Houtman’s viewpoint. She stated to the publication: “Most scholars agree that his name was Yeshua or possibly Yeshu, which was one of the most common names in first-century Galilee.”
So, is the real name Yeshua Christ?
Not quite. The term Christ is derived from the Greek word ‘Christos,’ which means ‘anointed one.’ His surname would probably have been connected to his town of origin, Nazareth, making his full name likely Yeshu Nazareen.