Jehovah God and Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia

The religion of Jehovah's Witnesses originated in the 19th century in America. Young businessman Charles Russell at the age of 18, together with a small group of like-minded people, began to read the Bible, trying to understand what it really teaches. After some time, he felt obligated to share his findings with other people. Russell sold his business and devoted his life to preaching. He wrote books, published a magazine, and delivered sermons in different countries. At first, people who shared this pastor’s point of view called themselves Bible Students. Subsequently, they adopted the name Jehovah's Witnesses, by which today they are known throughout the world. This religion has not bypassed Russia.

Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia

The first attempt to find followers among Russian people was made by Bible Students back in the days of the Russian Empire. In 1881, Semion Kozlitsky, a graduate of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, met Charles Russell. What he heard from the overseas preacher delighted Kozlitsky. Therefore, after his return to his homeland, Kozlitsky began quite boldly to talk about new ideas. Without further ado, the representatives of the Moscow patriarchy accuse him of insulting the metropolitan, and Semion goes on deportation to Siberia.

In the same year, Russell came to Russia. But he was not satisfied with the trip, commenting on his impressions as follows: "Russia is not open to the truth, it is not ready for it." In subsequent years, the preaching to the Russian-speaking population continued outside the country. Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia officially appeared only in 1991, when this religion was registered. But at that time in its ranks there were already 16 thousand active members, since the preachers acted contrary to prohibitions, exile, and imprisonment.

Why such a name

In deciding to change their name, “Bible Students,” representatives of this religion wanted to stand out from thousands of different movements. Since an important requirement for each active member is to preach about Jehovah God and the Kingdom of God, they chose the name Jehovah's Witnesses to emphasize the nature of their work and to proclaim the name of God, which they consider very important.

Many criticize them for such a decision. The fact is that, despite the fact that in the sacred texts the name of God appears literally thousands of times, no one today knows how it should be pronounced - Yahweh, Jehovah, or somehow else. Indeed, in the Hebrew language (in which the first part of the Bible was written) there are no vowels. Words are written only with the help of consonants. And vowels are substituted by native speakers automatically. Something remotely similar in Russian occurs with the letter “e”. Even in those places where it is printed as “e” (for example, in the word “yet”), a Russian-speaking person, without hesitation, will read this letter correctly.

And Jews around the III century BC. e. due to superstition, they stopped saying the phrase “Jehovah God”, replacing it with “Lord God”. Gradually, the correct pronunciation was simply erased from the memory of people.

Where did the modern pronunciation come from?

Why, then, were the four consonant letters originally substituted by those who form the familiar word form - Jehovah? The fact is that in the VI century AD e. Jewish scholars began to develop and implement a vocalization system. But by then, the use of Jehovah's personal name was already taboo. And meeting the tetragrammaton (the four letters that make up the name of God), the readers on the move replaced him with the title Adonai (Lord). Therefore, when the scribes met the tetragrammaton, they put there the vowel from the word "Adonai." And later, already translators, who decided that it was a vowel for tetramathton, wrote “Jehovah God” in their translations.

Relation to the name Jehovah

The name Jehovah in Christian theology is not new or unknown. But its use is not encouraged, and in some cases even prohibited at the highest level. So, in 2008, the Vatican issued directives on the use of the name of God during Catholic services. It was said that it is forbidden to use the name of God Yahweh (or Jehovah) in prayers and chants.

Also, readers of the Synodal translation of the Bible (namely, it is the most widespread and familiar for Russian-speaking people), starting to read the Bible, may notice that in many places the words “God” and “Lord” are written in capital letters. In the early editions, the foreword indicated that this was done in those places where the name of Jehovah God is written in the Bible. However, later editions were reprinted without a preface. And soon this style of writing was simply accepted as a tradition.

The name Jehovah in the official translation of the Bible

But in the Synodal translation of the Bible you can find the name Jehovah. Translators saved it in several cases. All of them are in the Old Testament. The first mention is related to the story of Abraham. After the test, during which Abraham showed that he fully trusts God, he decided to give the name of the mountain on which this test passed. He called the mountain Jehovah Ira. In the footnote to these words, an explanation is given that it means "the Lord will provide."

The next five times, the name Jehovah appears in the second book of the Bible, Exodus. It tells how God led the people of Israel out of Egypt. With the help of miracles, God freed the Israelites from hard slavery and led them through the desert to the Promised Land.

Another reference is in the book of Judges. This is the part of history when the Israelis conquered the land. And the last time in the Synodal translation, the name Jehovah appears in the book of the prophet Hosea.

Contribution of Professor Pavsky

It is interesting that the Synodal translation (so named because it was recognized and consecrated by the Church Synod) is largely based on the works and translation of Gerasim Pavsky. He was a professor of the Jewish language. The textbooks compiled by Pavsky were used in the study of this language. His translation of part of the Bible was in great demand and popularity. It has been reprinted 12 times. It is worth noting that in his work, Professor Pavsky used the name of God Jehovah. In total, 100,000 copies of his translation were printed.

However, representatives of the church did not like such popularity. In 1843, the Synod decided to seize and destroy all copies of this translation. Several decades passed, and in 1876 the official translation finally approved by the Orthodox Church finally appeared. Working on it, the translators relied on the work of Pavsky and Archimandrite Makarii.

New World Translation

Jehovah's Witnesses decided to restore the name of God in those places where it is written in the ancient manuscripts of the Bible. Therefore, a team of translators for 12 years worked on a new, modern and accurate translation that would be easy to read. The basis for the translation was the ancient manuscripts available in the original languages ​​available by this time. And the translation itself, it was decided to call "Holy Scripture - Translation of a new world."

According to the scriptures of the New World, Jehovah God is not only the Creator, but also a loving Father who wants his children to know his name and use it. In their teachings, Jehovah's Witnesses generally give great importance to the name of God. They believe that by using a personal name, a closer and trusting relationship can be developed with God.

Jehovah's Witnesses Ban

However, at the moment, “Holy Scripture - Translation of a New World” does not apply to the territory of the Russian Federation. By the decision of the city court of Vyborg, he was classified as extremist literature and banned.

The Supreme Court also banned the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses on April 20, 2017. The organization’s real estate is confiscated in favor of the state, and individual members of the organization who continue to worship God according to their convictions are detained. As of June 2018, several members of this religion were already awaiting trial in various regions of Russia.

The name of Jehovah God in world literature

Because of the missionary and preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses in modern society, it seems that the name Jehovah is just some kind of newfangled trend of a young religion. However, many internationally recognized writers freely and naturally used the personal name of God in their works.

Here are some examples:

“Woe to your daughter if she forgot about your gray hair, looking at the golden curls of youth! Is it not for that that Jehovah punished the unworthy daughter, who thinks more about her captive stranger than about her father ”(Walter Scott,“ Ivanhoe ”).

“Jehovah's anthropomorphism was expressed in the fact that he could appear to the Jews only in a form that was accessible to their perception” (Jack London, “Sea Wolf”).

“And if Jehovah is truly all-seeing in his high office, then Otoo, the only pagan from the island of Bora Bora (Jack London,“ Pagan ”) will not be the last in his kingdom.

“Belshazzar would have remained an ordinary foodie if Jehovah had not intervened. A gourmet and a wicked - it seemed unthinkable to God ”(Alexander Dumas,“ Great Culinary Dictionary ”).

What people’s god?

It is generally accepted that Jehovah is the Jewish God. And in a way, this is true. After all, Jehovah God in the Old Testament acts as the protector and patron of the Jewish people. According to the Bible, this people appeared due to the intervention of God. And the purpose of his existence is to fulfill the will of the Creator, expressed in the Law (a set of decrees passed to Moses on Mount Sinai).

But at the same time, the Bible says that Jehovah God is the creator and master of the whole earth and all that is on it. This means that all people are accountable to him. And the only question is for what people Jehovah God himself decides to be a patron. At least that was what the Bible writers were sure of.

Jehovah. What are its distinguishing features?

Jehovah's Witnesses pay a lot of attention to reflecting on the personality of God, which he revealed in the Bible. They seek to share their knowledge with all those around them. Often, individual members of this religion even change their place of residence just to be able to talk about their faith where Jehovah's Witnesses rarely preach. What do they teach about God?

According to Jehovah's Witnesses, the main quality of God is love. It was she who prompted him to begin to create the spiritual world, the material universe and everything that fills it. However, this love, although comprehensive, but not all-forgiving. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the day will come when all who refuse to obey the Creator will be destroyed.

Based on the fact that God is love, Jehovah's Witnesses reject the doctrine of fiery hell. They are convinced that a loving God cannot condemn his creatures to eternal torment. Thus, in their opinion, the love of God is perfectly balanced by justice and wisdom.

What future awaits religion in Russia?

What can Jehovah's Witnesses expect in the future? In the Russian Federation, this religion is outlawed. Some have already been taken into custody. It is possible that the number of such people will grow. History knows many examples. Indeed, under the Soviet regime in our country, this organization was also banned. Time will tell whether the attitude of the authorities on this issue will change. So far, all courts have opposed Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Bible itself has an interesting example of such a situation. The Sanhedrin (the supreme religious court of the Jews) perceived the early Christians as sectarians and the threat to the official religion of that time. During the hearing, one of the respected members of the Sanhedrin, teacher Gamaliel said:

“And now I tell you, leave behind these people and leave them: for if this enterprise and this business are from people, then it will be destroyed, and if from God, then you cannot destroy it; beware that you do not end up as divine opponents as well ”

(Bible, Acts of the Apostles, chapter 5, verses 38, 39). This approach will probably work with Jehovah's Witnesses.