Today’s Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 04/10/2022
Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: What’s in a Name -Podcast
What’s in a Name?
“Therefore God also has
highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…” Phil. 2:9
A substantial aspect of
language is naming. We saw in last weeks study how Adam named the
animals. Adam actually names his “helper” also; calling her woman
(ishshah) in Gen. 2:23, and Eve (Chavvah)
in Gen. 3:20 (Lit. Life or Living) although Strongs simply says,
“causatively from life-giver, the first woman”
Our title today is from
Shakespeare, “What’s in a name? “That which we call a rose by any other name
would smell as sweet.”
Spoken by Juliet in her
soliloquy; Act 2, Scene 2.
The truth is that in
ancient cultures there was great significance in a name. Last week we spoke
briefly about some names in the Bible:
In Ex. 3:13, Moses ask God His name. God replies, ‘“I AM WHO
I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I
AM has sent me to you,”’ This name is related to the Hebrew verb meaning “to
be,” and so implies the absolute existence of God.
Isaiah
1:1, The prophet’s name means, “Yahweh Is Salvation”
Daniel means: “God Is My Judge.”
Joel means: “Yahweh Is God”
Amos means: Burden-Bearer”
Ruth means “friend” whereas her sister-in-law Orpah meant
“fawn”
Samuel means, “Heard of God”
Micah means, “He Who Is Like Yahweh.”
There is a considerable
amount of name changing in the Bible.
Abram (high father) to Abraham (father of a multitude)
Hoshea (deliverer) to Joshua (Jehovah saved)
Naomi means “pleasant” but she wants to be called “Mara” meaning bitter (Ruth 1:20)
Jacob means
“heel-catcher” i.e. supplanter, deceiver; to Israel meaning: “Prince with God”, “He will rule as God” or
“He Strives with God” or
“May God Persevere”
Daniel gets his name changed to Belteshazzar
Simon gets changed, by Jesus, to Peter
Saul becomes Paul
In today’s culture
little attention is paid to naming a child beyond what is cute, stylish or
perhaps winks a gesture toward a family member.
In ancient cultures
names were pregnant with meaning, even, I dare say, prophetic, because a name
emphasizes a character.
Irving most likely grows
up very different in character than Ricky.
Our sense of identity is
very much established by our name. It is, in many cases, the second thing
spoken over us after birth!
In Jn. 14:12,12, Jesus
gives His disciples – and us – authority to use His name authoritatively; “If
you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” This is a powerful
injunction.
In Acts 19:13-16, “some
of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of
the Lord Jesus…” It went badly!
It is noteworthy to
point out that in a wedding ceremony, wherein the “two become one flesh”
(Mat. 19:5) the bride relinquishes her name.
We too, as Christ’s
bride shall be called by a new name, see Is. 62:1-5
Also see Rev. 2:17 and
3:12
Paul says of this, “This
is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Eph.
5:32
Prov. 22:1, “A good
name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.”
—–Join us for another Bible Study Next Week ——-
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