Joel 3:5 LXX in Paul's Letters

In the earliest New Testament texts (Paul's letters), Jesus is identified as the Old Testament (OT) ''Lord''. Paul applies Joel 3:5 LXX (EN: Joel 2:32) to Jesus in Romans 10:13 and 1 Corinthians 1:2. 

Joel 2:32 New Revised Standard Version  

32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Romans 10:9-13 New Revised Standard Version  

9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

1 Corinthians 1:2 New Revised Standard Version 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

  

Analysis of Joel 2:32

Joel 2:32 New Revised Standard Version  

32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

 Israelites call upon the name of their god (YHWH). Others call upon the name of their god (e.g. Baal). In the Greek text, they call on the name of kurios (the LORD/Lord)

 1 Kings 18:24-26 (NRSV) Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.” All the people answered, “Well spoken!” Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. 

Note

The Tetragrammaton (the four letter name) יהוה (YHWH) does not exist in extant Greek New Testament manuscripts.  The Jews even prior to the advent of Jesus Christ already used substitutes for the divine name (אדני [adonai] in Hebrew, κυριος in Greek) in Hebrew Bible and Jewish writings. אדני is used in the Isaiah scrolls (120 B.C.E.) found in Qumran. The Elephantine Papyri (5th century B.C.E.) had the Aramaic יהו and the Greek copies of the Hebrew Bible (e.g. Leviticus) such as those found in Qumran (c. 2nd–1st century B.C.E) rendered the divine name phonetically ΙΑΩ ( = יה) as well as in Paleo-Hebrew 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

Analysis of Romans 10:9-11 

Isaiah 28:16 Brenton Septuagint Translation

Therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.

In Romans 10:11, Paul cites Isaiah 28:16. The ''him'' in Isaiah 28:16 does not refer to the Father but to the Lord Jesus, who is the ''corner-stone''. 

Isaiah 28:16 refers to the Father who lays in Zion (the church) a precious cornerstone for a foundation (Jesus himself) based on New Testament texts: Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; Ephesians 2:20; and 1 Peter 2:6-8. 

In Romans 10:11, Paul identifies Jesus as the corner-stone of Isaiah 28:16 (LXX). In Romans 10:13, Paul identifies Jesus as the Lord of Joel 2:32 (LXX). 

Romans 10:9 New Revised Standard Version  

because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Here, the referents God and Jesus are identified, and they are two separate identities. Jesus isn't the God who raised him from the dead. This God was identified by Paul as the God of Jesus and Father of Jesus in the same letter (Romans):

Romans 15:6 New Revised Standard Version

6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, Jesus' title ''Lord'' is indicative of deity. Paul identifies Jesus as the ''Lord'' mentioned in Joel 2:32 in Romans 10:13.

Joel 2:32 New Revised Standard Version  

32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Romans 10:9-13 New Revised Standard Version  

9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The Greek conjunction ''gar'' (''for'') occurring in the statements in vv. 10, 12, and 13 all refer back to the statement in v. 9. 

HELPS Word-studies

1063 gár (a conjunction) – for. While "for" is usually the best translation of 1063 (gár), its sense is shaped by the preceding statement – the "A" statement which precedes the 1063 (gár) statement in the "A-B" unit.

verse 9 with 10-11

9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”

verse 9 with 12

9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.

Note.

 Jesus is called ''Lord of all'' in Acts 10:36

verse 9 with 13

9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Note.

 Paul also applied Joel 2:32 to Jesus in 1 Corinthians 1:2. 

Analysis of 1 Corinthians 1:2

Joel 2:32 New Revised Standard Version  

32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

1 Corinthians 1:2 New Revised Standard Version 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

 The Tetragrammaton (the four letter name) ''YHWH'' (Hebrew:  יהוה) is the personal name of the god of Israel. This is the divine name which is being called upon by the Israelites in the Hebrew Bible. It's absent in virtually every extant NT MSS we have in possession today. 

Hebrew: 

            כל שרא יכרא בשם יהוה: 

(all who call upon the name of YHWH)

LXX: 

πας ος αν επικαλεσηται το ονομα κυριου

(all who call upon the name of [the] LORD).  

NT: 

παριν τοις επικαλουμενοις του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

(all who call upon the name of the Lord of us, Jesus Christ). 

Paul was well aware that ''lord'' in both Joel 2:32 and 1 Corinthians 1:2 refers to ''YHWH'' in the phrase ''calling on the name of the lord''.

In 1 Corinthians 1:2, kurios has the article, indicating that it's being used as a title for Jesus (''lord Jesus'') and since kurios in Joel 3:5 LXX is the written substitute for YHWH, the rendering ''LORD Jesus/Lord Jesus'' would accurately translate the Greek into English. 

kyrios iesous in Hebrew would be: Yahweh Yahoshua (which would be ''Jehovah [who is] Jesus'' in English). 

Note

In English, ''LORD'' and ''Lord'' mean the same thing. They refer to God. This is following an age-old tradition of the Jews who used Adonai (literally, ''My Lords'', when ascribed to YHWH, it becomes ''My Lord'' or simply ''Lord'') as oral/verbal substitute for the Tetragrammaton. In Greek, kurios is the oral/verbal substitute. It's also the written substitute for the divine name in the Greek OT (LXX). In the LXX copies (dating circa 3rd cen. A.D.), kurios is anarthrous (without the definite article). This indicates that kurios is being used as a name, not as a proper noun. 

 The distinction between ''LORD'', ''Lord'' and 'lord'' in English is that ''LORD'' is often used as written substitute for the Tetragrammaton YHWH in the Old Testament English translations. On the other hand, ''Lord'' is often the written substitute for the divine name in English translations of the New Testament and ''lord'' simply refers to any superior, or one who has authority over another/others (master/ruler/husband (Abraham)/angel etc.). As far as i know, all English NT bibles have Jesus as ''Lord'', affirming his being true God.

1. Paul did not write "call on the name of יהוה (YHWH) in 1 Corinthians 1:2 or in any other epistles of his. In our "extant" G.N.T. copies, the divine name יהוה (YHWH) is absent.
2. The word κυριος  (''lord'') was used to Abraham, a land-lord, an angel and many other persons in the Bible. But specifically, the Greek New Testament used the word κυριος (''lord'') as the substitute for the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH) and in English, ''lord'' becomes ''LORD''/''Lord'' to indicate that it's being used as the written substitute for the divine name. 
3. The Hebrew Bible warned about calling upon the name of other gods. Jesus was not another god because the name he possesses was the name of the god of Israel, YHWH: Exodus 23:13 (NRSV): Be attentive to all that I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.
4. Philippians 2:9-11 teaches the same thing. The latter was worshiped the way YHWH is worshiped. κυριος is anarthrous in Philippians 2:11. In Philippians 2:9-11, κυριος clearly refers to the Tetragrammaton (יהוה) because (1) it is anarthrous and (2) it is the name above all names (3) Paul alluded to Isaiah 45:23 in Romans 14:11. And then, Paul alluded  to Romans 14:11 in Philippians 2:10-11. This showed that Paul was applying Isaiah 45:23 to Jesus in Philippians 2:10-11 through Romans 14:11.  The angel in the Old Testament did have the name of YHWH for the name of YHWH is ''in him''. The difference between this angel and Jesus is that the former was not worshiped the way YHWH is worshiped. 
5. κυριος ιησους ("Lord Jesus").  "Jesus" is the personal name of Jesus and the honorific title κυριος (''lord'') represents divine name יהוה (YHWH) in the phrase "call upon the name of the LORD" (e.g. Genesis 4:26, 1 Kings 18:24, Psalm 116:4, Joel 2:32, Zephania 3:9 etc.) and when it represents the divine name, it is capitalised (either as Lord or LORD). 
6.  How was it (i.e. the phrase ''calling upon the name of the Lord'' when applied to Jesus) used in the N.T.? It is used in baptisms, exorcisms, healings, for salvation and for corporate religious worship, as evident in the book of Acts.
7. Peter said he had nothing but in the name of Jesus, he healed the sick (Peter invoked the name of Jesus, calling upon Jesus himself to heal the sick). So the disciples did not do them through their own abilities, as they merely invoking the name of Jesus (i,e. praying to Jesus), as the gospel said, ''ask Jesus and Jesus will do it' (John 14:13-14)'. "Calling upon the name of the Lord ( = YHWH) is to pray to the Lord ( =YHWH) in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus is the Lord ( =YHWH) who is being called upon.
8. Everyone call on the name of the Lord Jesus/ Jesus Christ'' means ''everyone praying to the Lord Jesus/Jesus Christ, to ask help from Jesus. ''ask Jesus and Jesus will do it'' (John 14:13-14).  "name" is Hebraism pertaining to the person himself.

LXX: All call on the name of [the] Lord = all pray to the Lord

NT: All call on the name of the Lord Jesus = all pray to the Lord Jesus 

 

      11. Why would God give his own name to another person? In the Old Testament, God's name was placed in the Angel of the Lord. It's all to do with authority. However, did the angel of the Lord receive corporate worship? Was he also made the Lord whose name everyone calls upon? ( cf. Acts 2:21, 2:36).

Questions: 

1. What is the difference between the two? 

Everyone will call upon the Name of the Lord 

Everyone will call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus

2. Romans 14:11 alluded to Isaiah 45:23. Philippians 2:10-11 is also alluding that OT YHWH text. The kurios in the Greek of Isaiah 45 refers to YHWH, then, why is it that suddenly kurios in Philippians 2:9-11 isn't the name above all names (YHWH)?

3. What disqualifies 1 Cor 1:2 and Philippians 2:9-10 for being YHWH texts? They are both YHWH texts through its allusions of the O.T. YHWH texts which speaks of YHWH (represented by κυριος). Other N.T. texts alluded O.T. (did not quote them, yet it's understood that they refer to YHWH, but why when its comes to Jesus, the YHWH texts lose its meaning? For instance, "all calling upon the name of the Lord" in the O.T. refers to prayers to YHWH, then, the N.T. only added the name "Jesus" to it ("all calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus") ,then, suddenly, the sentence no longer refers to the Lord ( = YHWH) ?

Notes:

1. Even if the tetragrammaton is in the autographa, it still would show Jesus is YHWH. The study ''Rendering the Divine Name in Romans 10:13'' (A. Tim Span, et al., 2020) shows exactly that this is the case.

The point is that because a lot of OT YHWH texts were clearly applied to Jesus and obviously if the Tetragrammaton was in it, it would refer to the subject (ie. Jesus). The divine name in the NT would only strengthen the OT YHWH texts applied to Jesus, that Jesus is being referred to as יהוה (YHWH).