I’ve decided not to change my name to Lord Jesus. (As usual, Ember, your instincts are spot on!) I feel so silly. It turns out that “name” is one of those pesky words with lots of different layers of meaning. Sometimes when we are talking about “name” we are talking about a word. Other times were talking about the thing behind the word.
So, for instance, when I talk about your name, I might be referring to:
So, for instance, when I talk about your name, I might be referring to:
- your given name -- what people call you to your face,
- your reputation or image -- what people call you when you’re not around,
- your personality, temperament, nature, or disposition -- the way you go about doing things, or what you're like.
When we do something “in the name of another,” that person becomes our boss. We do things on their behalf, the way they'd like us to do them, according to that person's nature and reputation instead of our own.
So now when I look at that Bible verse I quoted in my last post,
...whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus...Col 3:17
I’m thinking that “in the name of the Lord Jesus” could mean “in the way that Jesus does things," or "with the disposition of Jesus.," and that St. Paul might be telling us something like:
“Whenever you say anything or do anything, say what Jesus would say and do what Jesus would do.”
That sure makes a lot more sense to me.
Hmmm. So sometimes in the in the Bible the word "name" might mean "given name," but it can also, and often does, have a deeper meaning, such as:
Hmmm. So sometimes in the in the Bible the word "name" might mean "given name," but it can also, and often does, have a deeper meaning, such as:
- reputation,
- identity,
- image,
- personality,
- temperament,
- likeness,
- essence, or
- "the way someone says things and does things." (CCC #203)
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
ReplyDelete[203] God revealed himself to his people Israel by making his name known to them. A name expresses a person's essence and identity and the meaning of this person's life. God has a name; he is not an anonymous force. To disclose one's name is to make oneself known to others; in a way it is to hand oneself over by becoming accessible, capable of being known more intimately and addressed personally.
I had a reader bring to my attention that my intense focus on one passage of scripture, Colossians 3:17, taken out of context, seemed odd and perhaps unscholarly. I hope to clear things up a bit.
ReplyDeleteFirst, rest assured, I do not intend to focus on just this one line of scripture. I am starting with this one line because I thought it was a good representative passage for the point I wanted to make: that name often has a deeper meaning in the Bible. Furthermore, it is not an anomalous passage in scripture. There are other passages I could have used in it’s place, but I thought readers would get bored of more quotes when one would suffice. In my opinion the interpretation is contextually accurate: it is not contraindicated by the original Greek word “onomati,” nor with the surrounding verses in Colossians (he’s talking about how we ought to behave), and is supported by the other Bible passages as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The “big picture” I want to present is multi-faceted, spiritual in nature, and therefore difficult to express in worldly terms. The approach I’ve decided to take is to explore this bigger picture once facet at a time. Is my writing unscholarly? Maybe. Probably. I’m not a scholar. But then again it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.” So that doesn’t bother me much. I do apologize if the voice of my writing seems sassy. I actually hate writing and am trying to make it more fun for myself. I ask interested readers to bear with me.
I'm with you, Querci, if something doesn't make sense to you, you should explore it. Jesus didn't say, "leave your brain at the door, better men than you are your teachers." If you are coming from a place of love and sincere desire to know the truth, I want to take you seriously regardless of your other qualifications. No stone should be left unturned when seeking the truth.
ReplyDelete"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement." (Jn 7:24)
Querci, the saying, "your name is mud" comes to mind. I agree with your ideas about what it means to do things "in Jesus' name."
ReplyDeleteEmber, like what you have to say about using our own discretion in regards to religion. I think that's what God wants us to do too, but of course always submit our will to Him before everything else.
Yes, of course, TStupar.
ReplyDelete