So why do we call this time, season in the church year Easter? Would it not better to use the correct biblical word 'pascha' as it was original Greek. In Greek, the word 'pascha' translates the word meaning Passover. In the passage from Acts cited above, the word Easter is not the pagan feast, where the word Easter derives it's name, but the commanded feast of Yahweh. Pesach. Passover.
As a side note, in case you didn't know, the springtime feasts consist of four feasts. People are most familiar with Passover, but that's only one. Passover starts on the 14th day of the first biblical month. The next feast is called Unleavened Bread, and starts on the 15th day of the same month. Followed by the Feast of First Fruits and then the Feast of Weeks (counting of the omer). The Feast of Weeks comes to a conclusion at Shavuot (Pentecost). These spring feasts are sometimes collectively grouped as Passover.
If the word Easter is most likely derived from name of the ancient lunar moon goddess Eostre's, why would one who worships the Creator of the universe want to renamed a festival or holiday after her? I am keenly aware of what 'Easter' in the Christian church represents, the Lamb of God sacrificed and resurrected but why must we call it by a pagan goddesses name. (I would also argue here, that this is what these biblical feasts are about too! Remember Yeshua said he came to fill full the Law. He was the first fruits from the grave...etc) Kind of a slap in the face of a Holy God, who repeatedly told His children not to worship him like the pagan's worshiped their gods. He is HOLY! HOLY! Not to be mocked.
Just to be fair to those out there who argue that the word 'Easter' is correctly translated in the King James version, I've included their view. The argument is that word 'Easter' is correct as Herod would have been celebrating the pagan festival of this lunar goddess. He would have wanted to wait until his worship of Eostre or Ishtar was over. According to their reasoning, during at this time in Acts, both Passover and the pagan festival celebrating Eostre where days apart. Since he was in the middle of celebration himself, their view is that he was waiting until 'Easter' in the pagan sense, was over.
I don't believe the word 'Easter' means the pagan celebration in the Acts text, and either way you look at the translated word 'Easter', it is not a word connected to the God of Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. It is a word connected to the pagan roots of our civilizations. It is not a biblical word.
Happy Pascha Everyone!
Happy Pesach!!
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