Changing Names

[Omyo12]

Someone told me the significance in changing a name

For example,

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham
and Jacob’s name to Israel

Jesus (God) changed Simon’s name to Peter (or Simon Peter)

Ok, the argument was that changing a name signifies the bestowing of some authority.
Abraham- established the Old Covenant
Israel- fathered the 12 tribes
Peter- first pope of the Church

Mark 3:16-17

16 Simon whom he surnamed Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, whom he surnamed Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder.

Simon is Peter, yes…
But James and John are Boanerges? What does this signify?
Why is this never referred to again?

 

[JeanneH]

From the Haydock commentary

Ver. 17. And he called James, &c. The words, he called, are no addition, as they only express the literal sense: they are included in what is said, ver. 13, that he called to him whom he would. — Boanerges, the sons of thunder, or thunderers, is only to express their great zeal. (Witham) — He gave also the two sons of Zebedee the name of Boanerges, (Boanerges) from the Syriac, Benairegesch; or the Hebrew, Beni, sons, regesch, thunder, noise or tumult. In conformity to their name, we find these two apostles asking Jesus, (Luke ix. 54.) wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, to consume them? They spread the fame of the gospel through the whole world. So great was the zeal of St. James, that he incurred the resentment of king Agrippa, and was the first of the apostles to seal the doctrines of Jesus Christ with his blood. St. John also fulfilled the import of his name, as appears from his gospel, epistles, apocalypse, and the sufferings he underwent at Rome for the faith. Sts. Peter, James, and John, were the only apostles to whom our Saviour gave particular names, a mark, perhaps, of his special affection for them. (Tirinus)

Maybe calling them sons of thunder once was enough?