I agree with many things that the author, Neil Snyder, writes in his book, "His Name is Yahweh." I know for a fact and agree with Snyder that the name of YHWH (Yahweh) was removed from scripture and replaced with either LORD or GOD in all caps throughout Old Testament English Bibles. We don't know for sure every place in the New Testament where YHWH was removed, except for the quoted Old Testament scriptures that we know contained the name. I agree with Snyder -- this should never have transpired. I also agree that most Christians are clueless of these changes in the Word of God, and that they have no grasp of the significance of the name of YHWH. I've read through the book twice and made notes. I really do agree with much of what Snyder writes.
However, there are also a few significant errors that I found impossible to ignore. The first error (and perhaps the biggest one) is when Snyder announces twice in the book that God (YHWH) died. If God were to die, we'd all be gone. Snyder mentions that "YHWH died" on page 78 (last paragraph) and on page 151 (first line, third paragraph). YHWH's Christ (Yeshua, the Son of Man) died, but God, YHWH, did not die.
Another notable error may be found on page 122. In paragraph three, Snyder writes, that Yahweh the Father and Yahweh the Son walked between the animal parts that Abraham sacrificed (from Genesis, chapter 15). This statement that claims there are two Yahwehs directly contradicts Deuteronomy 6:4 -- "Hear Israel. YHWH is our God. YHWH is one." It also contradicts Isaiah 44:6 and 8 -- "This is what YHWH King of Israel and his [Israel's] Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: "I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God [verse 6]... Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don't know any other Rock" [verse 8].
Also on page 189, Snyder seems to be hinting at the Trinity doctrine in paragraph three by saying that "Yahweh refers to Himself as three distinct Beings" in Isaiah 48:16. That's quite a stretch since YHWH has always declared to Israel that He is One and there is no God besides Him. God manifests Himself in many ways. He manifested Himself in the flesh. He manifests Himself in the Spirit. He manifests Himself in His word. He manifests Himself in all of His creation. God is a Spirit (John 4:24). He is invisible (Colossians 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:17, Hebrews 11:27). No one has seen God (John 1:18) because He is invisible. However, He has manifested Himself to humanity in many different forms. That doesn't mean there are multiple Gods (multiple Yahwehs). It means that the One and Only God, at various times, has produced numerous methods to reveal himself to humanity.
The third error that I found to be unacceptable is that in chapter ten, Snyder repeatedly claims that the apostles used the name "Jesus" instead of "Yahweh" to protect themselves from death. Snyder states this theory on these pages: page 237, first paragraph; page 238, last paragraph; page 240, third paragraph; and, page 243, paragraph two. First, Snyder has no evidence to substantiate this theory. Secondly, the apostles were ready and willing to give their lives at any time for the Word of God. To say that they would speak less than 100% truth would put them in the same category as Satan, who is noted for twisting God's words. Also, that would have made the apostles guilty of denying God's name (Revelation 3:8). No way!
Now, it is possible that scribes have altered the truth in the New Testament. I could easily believe the written words have been altered since we know for a fact that YHWH was removed in other areas of scripture. But, until we have evidence in the form of ancient manuscripts, Snyder's assumption is no more than a theory. I do not believe that the apostles would have used less than 100% truth. The Holy Spirit did not tell them to water down truth (as Snyder claims on page 243, paragraph two).
Finally, I also found Snyder's assertion that Acts 4:12 refers to the name of Yahweh unsubstantiated. It's very clear from the ancient writings (that we do have) that Acts 4:12 is referring to the name of Yeshua. Here's how the scripture reads: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Yeshua is the name "under" heaven. There is a name that is "above" heaven, and that name is YHWH. "Let them praise the name of YHWH - for His name alone is excellent, His glory is above the earth and heaven" (Psalm 148:13). Peter was talking about the name "under" heaven at the time of his speech. "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Christ is subject to the Father, and in the end, He will deliver the kingdom to His Father in heaven. "Then comes the end, when He shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For HE has put all things under His feet. But when HE says all things are put under Him, it is manifest that HE is excepted, WHO did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto HIM that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). All things are under Christ until He has subdued all. He is the arm of YHWH. YHWH Almighty God reaches out to humanity through His Son, His manifestation in the flesh (and now in the Spirit in His church).
There are a few other things that I don't agree with in the book, but they are insignificant compared to the major points that I mentioned above. I also found the end notes incredibly burdensome to use. The superscripted numbers were so small, I could barely read them.
I agree with many views that Snyder presents in his book; however, some of his assertions were either too outlandish (or unsubstantiated) to be anything more than theory and/or error. (God died? Now that's a doozie.)
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