Thank you for the response Lynn. I have met more groups than just JWs that are a bit obsessed with the name of God and other magic words. The only “magic” is in the heart and faith of the speaker. I spent about a month of meetings at a Kingdom Hall several years ago. Finally one day I asked this fellow, “so isn’t the real meaning of the name of God ‘He that is’. I think I might have even pointed out that JWs own bible translation online mentioned this as a possibility—if my memory serves.
The man agreed with my argument…it was the last time I attended there.
So, yes, there is a course which covered my question here after all! I thought I had gone thru everything here that might cover this topic. I even went thru all the course titles in case a missed something, so as not to waste peoples time. Alas! I was doing a study group for this course on Matthew and so it is going much slower than I study alone. The next week after asking the current question I read the very chapter that aligned closely with my thoughts. Praise God!
I was picking a name for my first baby boy—thank you Lord— which spurred my wondering why the topic of God’s name was never touched on here. I was very astonished after posting this question that the very next time I picked up a book my inclinations were affirmed. I was overjoyed! I have been very busy with our new baby, sorry for the slow responses.
From “Matthew, Volume I, Chapters 1-13: by David Bercot. p187.” When we pray, for God‘s name to be hallowed, we are not talking about a personal name, like Yahweh, or Jehovah, or titles, like Elohim, or Adonai. As Origin explains, “let us understand what the Father’s “name“ is, and then what the “hallowing“ of it means. The name is a summation or designation descriptive of the peculiar character of the thing named.
…But in the case of God, and as much as He is himself ever unchangeable and unutterable, the proper name which even He may be said to bear is ever one (that mentioned in Exodus), “He that is,” or something similar.“
The early Christian writers are unanimous in declaring the same thing – that God has no name, just descriptive appellations. For names apply to created things. Justin Martyr writes, “to the father of all, who is unbegotten, there is no given name. … these words – Father, God, Creator, Lord, and Master – are not names. Rather, they are descriptions derived from his good deeds and functions.“ Mark Meniscus, Felix, writes, “neither must you ask for the name of God. God is his name.
We have need of names only when a multitude of people are to be separated into individuals. … to God, who is alone, the name “God” is the whole.
