the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Name
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
or In the Bible expressing the nature or relation for the most part. According as man has departed more and more from the primitive truth, the connection between names and things has become more arbitrary. In Genesis on the contrary the names are nearly all significant. Adam's naming the animals implies at once his power of speech, distinguishing him above them, and his knowledge of their characteristics as enabling him to suit the name to the nature. God, in calling His people into new and close relationship with Himself, gives them a new name. Abram becomes Abraham; Sarai, Sarah; Jacob, Israel. (See ABRAM; JACOB; ISRAEL.) So the name was given the child at the time of circumcision, because then he enters into a new covenant relationship to God (Luke 1:59; Luke 2:21). So spiritually in the highest sense God's giving a new name implies His giving a new nature; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:12, Christ will give some new revelation ("new name") of Himself hereafter to His saints, which they alone are capable of receiving, when He and they with Him shall take the kingdom.
Christians receive their new name at baptism, indicating their new relation. They are "baptized into (eis onoma ) the name of (the revealed nature, 2 Peter 1:4, into living union with) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" in their manifested relations and offices toward us (Matthew 28:19). In Isaiah 65:15, "ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen, for the Lord shall call His servants by another name": instead of a "curse," as the name of Jew had been, the elect Jews shall have a new name, God's delight, "Hephzibah," and married to Him, "Beulah," instead of "forsaken" and "widow" (Isaiah 62:2-4). The "name" of Jehovah is His revealed character toward us. Exodus 34:5-7; "Jehovah proclaimed the name of Jehovah ... Jehovah Εlohim , merciful and gracious," etc. So Messiah, Jesus, Immanuel, the Word, indicate His manifested relations to us in redemption (Revelation 19:13); also Isaiah 9:6, "His name shall be called Wonderful," etc. (1 Timothy 6:1; John 17:6; John 17:26; Psalms 22:22). Also His gracious and glorious attributes revealed in creation and providence (Psalms 8:1; Psalms 20:1; Psalms 20:7). Authority (Acts 4:7). Profession of Christianity (Revelation 2:13). Manifested glory (Philippians 2:9). (See GOD; JEHOVAH.)
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Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Name'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fbd/n/name.html. 1949.
