1. Jesus Christ Everlasting Gospel
and the
Everlasting Gospel
Lesson 5: Jesus Christ was Jehovah of the Old Testament
Flagstaff, AZ LDS Institute of Religion
Instructor: Christina G. Hibbert

2. What are some names and titles of the Savior?
Today, we will discuss an important name, or title, for Jesus Christ before His mortal ministry.

3. The God of the Old Testament
Exodus 5:2
Many today are just as ignorant of who the God of the Old Testament actually was.
“Could this be the same God as the being of love in the New Testament revealed through the mortal ministry of Jesus Christ? Others contend that the Jehovah of Old Testament times was the same as God the Father in the New Testament. Why all this confusion? Who, really, was the God of Adam, of Enoch and Abraham, of Israel and Moses?” (Old Testament SM)
“Many people today are just as ignorant of the God of the Old Testament as the pharaoh was. They regard Him as a being created by the minds of the ancients, a God of wrath and low religion who would destroy people with floods and plagues.” (Enrichment Section A: Who is the God of the Old Testament, Old Testament Student Manual Genesis 2-Samuel, (1980), 44-48)

4. Jehovah=Jesus Christ
“Although for many it seems a paradox, Jehovah of the Old Testament was none other than the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He created the world under the authority and direction of God the Father. Later, Jehovah came to earth as the Savior and Redeemer of the world. This truth is one of the most misunderstood doctrines in the history of the world, despite the fact that the Old Testament and the other standard works are filled with evidence to support it.” (Enrichment Section A: Who is the God of the Old Testament, Old Testament Student Manual Genesis 2-Samuel, (1980), 44-48)
Why is it important to know Jesus Christ was Jehovah of the Old Testament?
(God has always administered His gospel through His Son, Jesus Christ) (3 Ne 15:5)

5. We will be studying and learning from this document this year
We will be studying and learning from this document this year. I challenge you to memorize it this year, too!
Read paragraph #1.

6. “Before Abraham Was…I Am”
Read John 8:52-53, silently
What questions were the Jews asking the Savior?
What did Jesus mean by His response, “Before Abraham was, I am?”
How does this hymn describe what a testimony of Jesus Christ can do for us? Or how it affects us?

7. “I AM” Review Exodus 3:11-14; 6:2-3
According to these verses, what names did the God of the Old Testament use to identify Himself?
How do these verses clarify the significance of Jesus Christ’s statement, “Before Abraham was, I am?”
Notice the JST of Exodus 6:3, and see also Abraham 1:16
Jesus Christ WAS Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament and the Great I AM.

8. (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965-73], 1:464)
Bruce R. McConkie
“This is as blunt and pointed an affirmation of divinity as any person has or could make. ‘Before Abraham was I Jehovah.’ That is, ‘I am God Almighty, the Great I AM. I am the self-existent, Eternal One. I am the God of your fathers. My name is: I AM THAT I AM.”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [ ], 1:464)
Christ appearing to Moses.
I Am is a title for Christ. Yet, how often do we use these words to demean or belittle ourselves. “I am a failure. I am worthless…” Would Christ want us to use His name in this way? Could we not make a case that doing so is taking His name in vain? How can we better be aware of how we use “I am” and ensure we use it in Holy ways?

9. Jehovah
Jehovah is “the covenant or proper name of the God of Israel. It denotes the ‘Unchangeable One.’” (Bible Dictionary, “Jehovah”)
“Jehovah is the Anglicized rendering of the Hebrew, Yahveh or Jahveh, signifying the Self- existent One, or The Eternal. This name is generally rendered in our English version of the Old Testament as Lord printed in capitals. The Hebrew, Ehyeh, signifying I Am, is related in meaning and through derivation with the term Yahvehor Jehovah.” (James Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p.36)
**“The Jews regarded the name of Jehovah as so sacred that it could not be spoken. Instead, they substituted for Jehovah the word Adonai, which signifies ‘the Lord.’” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 37)
**The translators of the KJV of the Bible use “LORD” in all caps to replace the too-sacred “Jehovah” (in pearly post-biblical times). Modern Judaism uses Adonai.

10. Jehovah’s Titles/Names
Jehovah Elohim (Lord God)—because Jesus is “one with God and is also God”
Adonai Jehovah (Lord Lord)—use “Lord God” to avoid awkward repetition.
Jesus the Christ— “Christ” comes from the Greek word christos, which means ‘the anointed one.’ The Greeks used the title Christosto translate the word meshiach, which means ‘the anointed one.’..Jesus the Christ means ‘Jesus the Messiah.’”
Old Testament prophets sometimes call him “Jehovah Elohim,” which is translated as “Lord God.”
The King James Version of the Old Testament uses the translation “Lord or God” for Jehovah, to avoid awkward repetition.
These quotes and references were all taken from OLD TESTAMENT STUDENT MANUAL GENESIS-2SAMUEL
ENRICHMENT SECTION A: WHO IS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

11. Jehovah & Elohim
”Elohim, as understood and used in the restored Church of Jesus Christ, is the name-title of God the Eternal Father, whose firstborn in the spirit is Jehovah—the Only Begotten in the flesh, Jesus Christ.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 38)
Elohim is “a plural form of the Hebrew word for God.” Joseph Smith taught: “If we pursue the Hebrew text further, it reads…’The head of one of the Gods said, Let us make a man in our own image.’...In the very beginning the Bible shows there is a plurality of Gods beyond the power of refutation. It is a great subject I am dwelling on. The word Eloheim ought to be in the plural all the way through—Gods. The head of the Gods appointed one God for us; and when you take that view of the subject, it sets one free to see all the beauty, holiness, and perfection of the Gods.” (Teachings, p. 372)

12. Jehovah & Elohim
“It is vital to remember the place of God the Father: He is the Father of our spirits (see Hebrews 12:9) and is our God. The existence of other Gods cannot alter that fact. He is the author and sponsor of the eternal plan of salvation. It is equally essential to note, however, that the agent by whom He administers His affairs on this earth is His Firstborn Son, known as Jehovah in the Old Testament. He gave Jesus the full “Fatherly” authority to organize and govern the earth, then through the Atonement Jesus became the Father of the faithful. The Savior thus became the chief advocate of the Father’s plan.”
OLD TESTAMENT STUDENT MANUAL GENESIS-2SAMUEL; ENRICHMENT SECTION A: WHO IS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
“As we study scripture passages about the Savior, our testimony of Him will be strengthened and we will draw closer to Him.” (Teacher’s Manual)

13. Joseph Fielding Smith
“All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. … The Father [Elohim] has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son.”
(Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:27)
How does knowing this—that Christ is and has always been our advocate with the Father, and that He is unchangeable—help you have faith in Him?
(He has kept his promises to the people we read about in the scriptures, and He will keep His promises to us!)

14. Jehovah Established the Everlasting Gospel Anciently
Moses 6:51-52, 64-66—What did Jehovah teach Adam?
What do you notice about the gospel taught to Adam?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is everlasting and unchanging in each gospel dispensation.
Abrahamic Covenant—Jehovah renewed his everlasting gospel through this covenant
In v.51-52, Jehovah is speaking on behalf of the Father.
It is the same gospel as today! (2 Ne 31:10-16)
“In a later dispensation, Jehovah renewed His everlasting gospel through a covenant with Abraham known as the Abrahamic covenant.” (TM)

15. Promises Made to Abraham
Abrahamic Covenant
Promises Made to Abraham
(Gen 13:14-16; 17:2-8; Abr 1:18-19; 2:8-11)
What Was Required
Gen 17:1-5,9; Abr 1:19; 2:8-11
Land (Abr 2:6)
Posterity (Abr 2:9)
Priesthood (Abr 1:18)
Salvation and Exaltation (Abr 2:10)
To serve the Lord Jehovah (Gen 17:4-8)
**As we learn to identify lists in the scriptures, we will “be better able to recognize key points the scripture writer intended to emphasize”. (Teacher’s Manual (TM))

16. Abrahamic Covenant
“Abraham received the gospel and was ordained to the higher priesthood…entered into celestial marriage, which is the covenant of exaltation…received a promise that all of the blessings of these covenants would be offered to his mortal posterity…Together, these covenants and promises are called the Abrahamic covenant. The restoration of this covenant was the restoration of the gospel in the last days, for through it all the nations of the earth are blessed” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Abrahamic Covenant”; scriptures.lds.org).
Elder Nelson reminds us that Book of Mormon prophets knew this: “Isn’t that amazing? Some 600 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, prophets knew that the Abrahamic covenant would be finally fulfilled only in the latter days.” (Covenants, Gen Conf 2011)
**”…from the beginning, the Father covenanted with His children to gather them together through the truths, ordinances, and blessings of the everlasting gospel. The Restoration of the gospel includes the restoration of the Abrahamic covenant. That is, the Abrahamic covenant is a significant part of the new and everlasting covenant, which is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (TM)
**“All who accept the gospel become by adoption members of the family of Abraham.” (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, 399)
**How does knowing that we are descendants of Abraham and heirs to all that God promised to him influence the way you live?
**How does the availability of the blessings promised to Abraham and his posterity strengthen families and guide us in the decisions we make?
*How can we secure the promised blessings of this covenant for ourselves and our families—past, present, future?

17. Jehovah Blessed & Led Ancient Israel
Joshua 24:3-13; 1 Nephi 17:23-32
What did Jehovah do for ancient Israel?
Exodus 6:2-6
What reason did Jehovah give for doing many of the things in Joshua & Nephi? What does this tell you about the promises He has made to you?

18. (“The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 23).
If we live Faithfully, the Lord will keep the promises He has made to us.
“Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future. In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things will ‘work together for [our] good’ [D&C 90:24].”
(“The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 23).  

19. Come Unto Christ and bring others with you!
“As we gain a testimony of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost, we have a responsibility to share it.” (Teacher’s manual)
I challenge each of you to “live each day prepared to testify of Jesus Christ” through your words and actions.
Post and share what we learn here on your social media or with friends and family. Invite them to come and see what we are learning here each week. Share what you learn with your family or in class at church. Be willing to bear witness of the Savior as you come to know Him this year.
My life mission statement is simple: “Come unto Christ, and bring others with me.” May we all do so this year.
and bring others with you!

20. Search, Ponder & Pray… Additional Study:
Russell M Nelson, “Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona,Nov. 2011, 86– 89.
“The Abrahamic Covenant,” The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2000), 93–98.
Ponder the Savior’s ministry in the Old Testament. How do you feel about His work with prophets and people of old? What does it indicate for you in your life?
Pay attention to the times when you use “I am…”. How might you improve your use of this title for our Savior?
Continue working on memorizing the first two paragraphs of “The Living Christ.”

21. Next Week WEDNESDAY, Oct. 11, 10 AM
Lesson 6: Types, Shadows, & Symbols of Jesus the Christ
Readings:
2 Nephi 11:2–6; Moses 6:63.
Russell M. Nelson, “In This Holy Land,” Tambuli,Feb , 10–19.