Yeshua: Preface

PREFACE

"Yeshua: The Remembrance" is a new translation of the four known narratives ("gospels") of the B'rit Chadashah [New Covenant Scriptures]. It is harmonized as one complete and unabridged account of the life of Yeshua HaNatzeret [Jesus of Nazareth], the Mashiach [Messiah] of Israel. The narratives which are translated herein are Mattityahu [Matthew], Mark, Luke, and Yochanan [John]. This translated harmony includes every word of Yeshua and all non-repetitive text of the narratives.

The language style is one of common 20th century English usage with names, titles, some key words, phrases, and concepts in transliterated Hebrew or Aramaic. The intent of the language style is to provide a flowing, natural setting for the recorded events, which is easily understood in English, yet reflects the spiritual perspective and the Hebrew culture in which they took place.

The oldest Greek text of the four "gospel" narratives was used for most of the translation work, with available Aramaic sources used for special insights. The translation was made with the scholarly perspective that the account of Yeshua's life on earth was originally written in Hebrew and/or in Aramaic, a close relative of Hebrew. This is evidenced by the available Greek text of the New Testament, which presumes that the reader of that day already knew certain things about Hebrew/Jewish life, concepts and religion. While some of the translation is paraphrased for conceptual clarity (being careful not to add to the meaning), all key words are translated accurately.

Historical facts, parenthetical commentary, and explanatory words have been added into the flow of this new translation and are shown by curly brackets { }. Italicized words are Hebrew words which are followed with a translation within brackets [ ]. Other Hebrew transliterations are used multiple times throughout the text and their meanings are available in the Appendix. Hebrew words are given to help restore the original Jewish/Hebrew/Aramaic flavor of the narratives.

In the biblical Greek text the Holy Name of the Most High is rendered as Kurios, Lord. When Kurios appears to refer to the Holy Name in the original text, it is sometimes translated in this book using the actual Hebrew characters, but here online using the English transliteration of YHVH, which is most likely pronounced as "Yahveh." It is a conjugation of the Hebrew verb hayah= to be, and means "He who was and is and is to come," thus, the Ever-existing One, the I AM. At other instances, Kurios is translated as the Hebrew word Adonai, my Lord, which is used by Judaism today as a subsitition for YHVH. This has been done at the translators discretion, depending on the voice which is speaking, and the purpose of that voice.

It is impossible, with present knowledge, to chronologically harmonize every word of the four narratives with absolute certainty. However, every attempt has been made to do so as accurately as possible, without performing any disservice to the accounts. Since this translation is given in a biographical style, there are no verse numbers. Chapter numbers and sub-headings, which are provided by the translator, distinguish the information.

This translation may be the only one available which translates the Greek word alethia into its core meaning: not to forget or remember. Wherever this has been done, the words are in bold type. Alethia is usually translated as truth or true. By translating alethia to its original meaning as a form of to remember, this translation will show Yeshua to be the remembrance of everything which has been written in scripture. Hence, the title-- "Yeshua: the Remembrance." The translator is making the case that all things which Yeshua said and did are already presumed to be truth. The most important foundation of all of holy Scripture is to remember it is the story of Yeshua.

The intent of the translator is to do good, to restore truth, to bring forth the clearly revealed evidence of Yeshua as YHVH (Adonai) in the flesh. The translator requests that anyone who finds any part of this work to be a blessing, to give credit to the Most High alone.

Baruch HaShem [Bless the Name!]