What's in a name? A...
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What's in a name? "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It would seem that Shakespeare was a General Semanticist! The General Semanticist's view is: "The word is not the thing for which it stands" and they back up that statement by pointing out that we have named things in this world, and by pointing out that we don't always mean the same things by those names.
But to the biblical writers, the name, especially the name of a person, held the meaning, the power of that person. To know the name is to hold some of the power. Hence, when Jacob wrestled with the angel, he asked, "What is your name?" And the angel in turn blessed Jacob by giving him a new name: "Israel." Thus, the biblical writers would not accept "any other name" for a person, they wanted the name.
Paul, writing to the Philippians, speaks of God exalting Christ, and "giving him the name which is above every other name." That would be an important name, a powerful name. Power to bow not only our knees but our proud spirit. Powerful enough to unlock our tongues in the confession of his Lordship over heaven and earth.
Not just any name: His name!
But to the biblical writers, the name, especially the name of a person, held the meaning, the power of that person. To know the name is to hold some of the power. Hence, when Jacob wrestled with the angel, he asked, "What is your name?" And the angel in turn blessed Jacob by giving him a new name: "Israel." Thus, the biblical writers would not accept "any other name" for a person, they wanted the name.
Paul, writing to the Philippians, speaks of God exalting Christ, and "giving him the name which is above every other name." That would be an important name, a powerful name. Power to bow not only our knees but our proud spirit. Powerful enough to unlock our tongues in the confession of his Lordship over heaven and earth.
Not just any name: His name!
