The Watchtower claims that using the name “Jehovah” is a salvation issue. In fact, its Bible translation renders Romans 10:13 as follows: “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.’”

It notes that this verse is quoting from Joel 2:32, an Old Testament verse in which the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) appears in the Hebrew when referring to God.

The Watchtower has stated, “The evidence from God’s Word is therefore conclusive that God indeed has a name and that it is important for life seekers to know it and to use it. Doubting that God has a name is much more foolish than doubting that you have a name.” (The Watchtower, “What Is the Name?” 7/15/64, p. 422)

In response, ask the Witnesses to look up Romans 10:13 in the Watchtower’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation.

That translation displays the original Greek New Testament text interlined with the English equivalents.

When they look up Romans 10:13, they will discover that although that verse quotes an Old Testament verse where the Tetragrammaton appears (Joel 2:32), the Tetragrammaton does not appear in the Greek text, nor does the name “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” appear in the English equivalents.

Instead, the Greek word kyrios (which means “Lord”) is used.

Thus, the Watchtower’s own Kingdom Interlinear Translation agrees with the renderings in Young’s Literal Translation:

  • Joel 2:32: “And it hath come to pass, Every one who calleth in the name of Jehovah is delivered, For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there is an escape, As Jehovah hath said, And among the remnants whom Jehovah is calling!’ (YLT, emphasis added)
  • Romans 10:13: “for every one — whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved.’” (YLT, emphasis added)

Given that the Tetragrammaton doesn’t appear anywhere in the Greek New Testament text, how important can it be to our salvation?

Point out to the Witnesses that Romans 10:13 appears in the middle of a passage about the importance of Jesus.

For example, the first verse of the passage—Romans 10:9—says, “For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved.” (Watchtower translation, emphasis added)

The last verse of the passage—Romans 10:17—says, “So faith follows the thing heard. In turn, what is heard is through the word about Christ.” (Watchtower translation, emphasis added)

Then ask one of the Witnesses to read aloud the Watchtower version of Acts 4:10-12, paying particular attention to what verse 12 says regarding the name of Jesus:

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you executed on a stake but whom God raised up from the dead, by means of him this man stands here healthy in front of you. 11 This is “the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the chief cornerstone.” 12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved. (emphasis added)

The Watchtower interprets these verses to mean that Jesus is the only way to God, but your point is that it’s the name of Jesus, not Jehovah, that the Bible emphasizes as the key to salvation.

So how is this passage compatible with the Watchtower’s insistence that Romans 10:13 makes calling on the name of Jehovah the key to our salvation?

Ask the Witnesses to read aloud Acts 22:16 in their translation, where Paul relates that after his Damascus road encounter with Jesus: “Ananias said to him: “And now why are you delaying? Rise, get baptized, and wash your sins away by your calling on his name.’” (emphasis added)

 Ask, “According to that verse, on whose name do we need to call in order to be saved?”

The answer is clearly “Jesus.”

Summarizing

We want to make sure we aren’t being legalistic in our approach to all this.

In fact, it’s Watchtower legalism that we are opposing.

Salvation is not a matter of uttering the right words.

We do not have to use the name “Jehovah” in order to be saved.

The Father and the Son are not in some sort of competition.

The Father is honored whenever the Son is honored. (John 5:22-23)