Why didn't God give Jesus a name that was entirely unique in history?

[centurionguard]

So what? The Jews are very keen on theophoric names after all.

For me: the fact that Jesus had a common, ordinary name brings to mind what Paul wrote slightly before the quote you provided.

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

One of the greatest ironies of Christianity is that it believes in a God who ‘emptied Himself out’ and became a rather unremarkable, ordinary human being.

One of the greatest ironies of Christianity is that it believes in a God who ‘emptied Himself out’ and became a rather unremarkable, ordinary human being

He (Jesus) was an ordinary being. The Divinity of Jesus stripped from His being to become human like us in every way except sin. Its “almost” unfathomable to comprehend this mystery.

Prophecy Of Isaias (Isaiah) Chapter 53: Verses 1-12
drbo.org/chapter/27053.htm

A prophecy of the passion of Christ.

[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? [2] And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him: [3] Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.

[6] All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth. [8] He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him. [9] And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth. [10] And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a long-lived seed, and the will of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand.

[11] Because his soul hath laboured, he shall see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.

They Will Look Upon The One They Have Pierced

 

[centurionguard]

What’s in a name?

With the Holy Name of Jesus far much more than You and I realize.

olrl.org/pray/wonders.shtml

catholictradition.org/Christ/holy-name.htm

 

[John7]

Why didn’t God (as in, God the Father) give Jesus a name that was entirely unique in human history?

You mean the earthly birth name, Jesus, that was given to him.
On the other hand, though I don’t really understand the following verses,
as it stands now the risen Christ, ‘the first-born of the dead’, seems
to have something new and unique about his name.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh
down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Rev 19:12 His [risen Christ’s] eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were
many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rev 19:13 And he [Christ] was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:
and his name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:16 And he [Christ] hath on his vesture and on his thigh
a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
So Jesus now (reigning in heaven) has a ‘new name’, that no one knows ‘but he himself’.
The new name having (?) to do with ‘The Word of God’, and ‘KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS’, in contrast to his earthly name (Iesous/Yeshua) which has
to do with ‘God saves’. Although he in John’s vision uses his earthly birth name
to address John:
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches…
maybe the names Word of God and King of Kings Lord of Lords
are more like titles incorporated into name Jesus??
Anyway seems now in heaven there is something new and unique
about his name.

 

[TheGreatestLove]

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

His Name that is above every name- The Son of God- Our Saviour- Our Redeemer…
We must not analyse the words of God…But Pray for understanding of his words as they are Read.(As the bible instructs us to do beforehand) Within that prayer we are instructed by Gods most Holy Spirit…The Guide to wisdom and knowledge of His words. For it is within the Spirit of Christ that we Gain True Understanding.

You mentioned why God didn’t just make it so no one can use the name of Jesus?

Although As Sister Augustine said as she hired painter after painter after she saw a vision of Jesus …and was asked by Jesus to paint what she saw. She was so sorrowful…as she exclaimed ‘Dear Jesus …No one can paint you as beautiful as you are’ This was clarified to her by Gods words…that stated it was not important…but that the painting portrayed his Divine Mercy…The Rays of Mercy that Drew From His Heart. ( The Divine Mercy-Sister Augustine)

As it is not in a name …but what that name represents!

 

[AmbroseSJ]

From: wikipedia

It is often translated as “He saves,” to conform with Matthew 1:21: “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”

The name first appears in the Torah, where Moses assigns Joshua (an alternate form of Yeshua, or Jesus) to lead the Israelites across the Jordan to the Promised Land. Therefore this name in its first appearance is associated with someone (a high priest) who will lead his people to the promised land.

Therefore the name is introduced to the world as a sign and prefigurement of the Only One who was to bear this name to perfection. The Angel Gabriel reveals this Truth to the Virgin Mary.

So the name is exalted from the days of Moses until now, and into eternity. Therefore even in a very literal sense the OP’s passage is true. The name of Jesus has ALWAYS been a name above all others. A name that was known before time began.

 

[TimothyH]

What’s in a name?

Much is made of names in the Bible.

God renames Abram to Abraham and his wife Sari to Sarah. This shows that their identity comes from who they are in relation to God. Jesus renames Simon to Cephas/Peter/Rock, giving him a new identity, which is relative not to the world, but to who he is in relation to Christ.

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth.” The LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the people had built. 6Then the LORD said: If now, while they are one people and all have the same language, they have started to do this, nothing they presume to do will be out of their reach. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that no one will understand the speech of another. (Genesis 11:4)

The people of Babel wanted to make a name for themselves, rather than getting a name from God. They thought much of themselves and wanted to build a tower to heaven of their own ingenuity and skill. They thought they could get to Heaven themselves. Their identity was based on their own image of their own acomplishments. Instead they should have taken their identity and name from who they were in relation to God. Because of this, God confused their langage, rendering them unable to communicate.

But the angel said to him, "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. … Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words,(Luke 1:13, 18-20)*

God named John the Baptist, and his father Zechariah was struck dumb and couldn’t communicate for questioning his right to name his son, for wanting his son to take an identity based on his earthly family and earthly father rather than his Heavenly Father. And Zechariah was rendered unable to communicate, just like the people in Babel who wanted to make their own name and identity.

So the LORD God formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each living creature was then its name. The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; (Genesis 2:19-20)

Most interesting is how God allows man to name the beasts and the animals. This shows God’s intent with regard to the animals, that the animals have an identity which is based on their relationship with man, that they exist to serve man. Man gets his identity and name from God and is here to serve God but the animals get their identity and name from man and are here - as a gift from God to man - to serve man.

Most of the people in Mathew’s Gospel are unable to understand the identity of Jesus saying, ***“Is this not Jesus of Nazareth, who’s mother and father we know?” ***The demons however, know exactly who he is saying, "What have you to do with us, Son of God?" Our names give us identity. Our names indicate who we serve. And names are very important in the Bible. We have to pay very close attention to names when we read them in the Bible.

Remember the show Sanford and Son? Fred used to say things like, “My name is Fred G. Sandford, and the G stands for good looking.” He named himself, and the name he gave himself showed who he served. He served only himself.

I read somewhere that in one language or another, the name Timothy means “To honor God.” I fear I often fall short.

-Tim-

 

[Barbkw]

Why didn’t God (as in, God the Father) give Jesus a name that was entirely unique in human history? Most historians believe that Jesus’ name was quite common for his time, and hence the need by others to differentiate him by his location.

Our Suffering Servant gave that entirely unique name to Peter.

 

[Barbkw]

Bohm Bawerk,

I’m gone for a few months and you’re an atheist now?

What’s up with that?

 

[ThereWasADream]

Why didn’t God (as in, God the Father) give Jesus a name that was entirely unique in human history? Most historians believe that Jesus’ name was quite common for his time, and hence the need by others to differentiate him by his location.

God gave him the name Emmanuel. (Matthew 1:23) Jesus appears to be the name given to him by Joseph (Matthew 1:25)

Besides, I don’t think Jesus’ name really matters to salvation. If his name was Billy Bob Jo Bob Jebediah I’d still worship him. We’d just have to be sure to give him a nice nickname.

 

[TimothyH]

Jesus appears to be the name given to him by Joseph (Matthew 1:25)

Besides, I don’t think Jesus’ name really matters to salvation. If his name was Billy Bob Jo Bob Jebediah I’d still worship him. We’d just have to be sure to give him a nice nickname. /

God himself commanded that his name would be Jesus.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. (Luke 1:31)

The Angel Gabriel communicated to Mary God’s wish that he be named Jesus. God doesn’t do things that are unimportant.

The actual naming of the child by Joseph for public record keeping would have been done at the time of the child’s circumcision on the 8th day after his birth. I think that is what Matthew 1:25 is referring to.

-Tim-

 

[patrick457]

Bohm Bawerk,

I’m gone for a few months and you’re an atheist now?

What’s up with that?

I’m not Bohm Bawerk, but well, that’s just how people are: stay away from contact with someome for a period of time and there’ll be certain changes once you meet with them again.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Bohm Bawerk,

I’m gone for a few months and you’re an atheist now?

What’s up with that?

Perhaps it is not his or her responsibility to check in with you or ask your permission to do so?
Let’s hope it is not a result of you being absent for a few months that triggered this event.

 

[TheGreatestLove]

Maybe the focus shall be on The Life Of Christ and how we all are asked to walk this earth as he has! His Name is Jesus-Why no one will ever know-That is his Name.
Are there not more trying issues in the world to attend to; rather than deciphering or trying to decipher why God is named Jesus??? There are many mysteries to his divinity-in which we will never beable to comprehend-Because we are not divine! we are human. God said it is a waste of time to attempt to understand the mysteries of his divinity-For as humans we will never comprehend such. Thats just the way it is.

In the name of ‘Jesus’ we pray…Demons were cast out of the possessed In the name of Jesus! His Name is nothing short of Glory and Majesty…He came upon the earth as a human in all humility , love forgiveness…He came as an average looking , average in height he did not put himself above nor below the human race-but walked their walk because he so loved the world…But Jesus’s walk was so much more trying-His great love kindness ect…was spat upon…by so many…then so many nailed him upon a cross- and still he said ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’

Is is not time…to begin to know what we are doing in this world today???
Is is not time…to reach out to others in need as he has done for so long…
Is it not time…To praise him and worship him for all that he is and all that he has given to us?
Is it not time…For the world to humble themselves before him…To spread his word his love to all …

I find this world as far as governments-churches christian catholic- are becoming lost by their personal need for power and control…such foolishness- As God said I will hold the leaders far more responsible than the followers -when they mislead my people.

The Name of Jesus is unique and blessed- when did he ever draw a congregation by power and control??? Never…Leaders of catholic churches and other christian churches in order to prevail against evil----You must heed to the words of God-and must not manipulate the people to increase the congregation -But to draw in a Congregation-By walking and teaching the word as Jesus commanded!

Blessed be the name of Jesus

 

[Nelka]

Why didn’t God (as in, God the Father) give Jesus a name that was entirely unique in human history? Most historians believe that Jesus’ name was quite common for his time, and hence the need by others to differentiate him by his location.

You would expect that the Messiah of Mankind would have a name that was entirely unique and was not given to anyone else. This would conform to Scripture:

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Had Jesus had a really unique name (let’s just say “zuriogoid”), then the verse would be really meaningful. But when you consider that there were many other Jesus’ during Jesus’ time and even before him, it becomes less so.

Does anyone know why God gave Jesus a common name? Do the Church fathers/St. Thomas Aquinas/etc discuss this?

Thanks.

It’s unique to me!

I do not know anybody else called Jesus Christ.

Who are these historians anyway?

 

[patrick457]

It’s unique to me!

I do not know anybody else called Jesus Christ.

You must keep in mind though that ‘Christ’ is not a name, but a title: “Jesus the Anointed,” i.e. the Messiah. This compound name was not used for Jesus when He walked the earth yet (no one directly called Jesus “Jesus Christ” when He was still around), but was applied to Him later.

Many people did not have surnames in those days as we recognize it. Instead they are known by things such as their parent’s names, usually that of their fathers (“son of so-and-so”), their hometowns ( “of so-and-so”), or their occupations. In fact, these elements form the basis of our modern-day naming conventions. Take for example Stevenson (patronymic), York (habitational name), or Smith (occupation). In the case of Jesus, since His (foster) father is Joseph and because He hails from Nazareth in the Galilee, He would have been called “Jesus son of Joseph” or “Jesus of Nazareth.” We can see this in John’s Gospel:

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Who are these historians anyway?

From the New Testament itself, we can already see two other people distinct from Jesus of Nazareth who are also named ‘Jesus’: Jesus Barabbas (Yeshua bar-Abba ‘Yeshua son of Abba’; cf. Matthew 27:16-17), and the father of the Jewish magician Elymas, aka Bar-Jesus (bar-Yeshua ‘son of Yeshua’; cf. Acts 13:6-12).

Turning over to the Jewish historian Josephus, we find more people named ‘Jesus’ (Yeshua/Yehoshua). Some of them are:

Jesus son of Damneus: (Antiquities 20.203) The high priest appointed after the previous high priest, Ananus son of Ananus, was removed from his position for (illegally) executing James “the brother of Jesus called Christ” around AD 63.

Jesus son of Gamaliel / Gamalas: (Antiquities 20.213-223; War 4.160; Life 204-205) Successor to Jesus son of Damneus to the high priesthood (reigned AD 63-4); a protégé of Ananus son of Ananus and personal friend of Josephus. Some consider Jesus son of Gamaliel and Jesus son of Gamalas to be actually two distinct personages.

Jesus son of Ananias: (War 6.288-309) A prophet who went around Jerusalem prophesying the city’s destruction four years before the Jewish War against Rome began in AD 66. Was arrested by Jewish authorities, who turned him over to the Romans, who eventually set him free as a madman after torturing him. Eventually killed by a stone from a catapult during the Roman siege of Jerusalem.

Jesus son of Sapphias: (Life 66-88, 134, 278-9, 294-5) The chief magistrate of the city council of Tiberias, founder of a seditious band of mariners, and Josephus’ bitter enemy. When the young Josephus convinced the not-so-enthusiastic council and leading men of Tiberias to demolish the Tiberian palace of Herod Antipas, filled as it was with graven images, it was Jesus son of Sapphias who beat them to it by setting the palace on fire. The same also set himself up as a spokesman for the revolutionary party and Josephus’ opponents, who cast doubt on the latter’s revolutionary commitment.

Jesus (aka Jason) son of Simon, brother of Onias: (Antiquities 12.238-40; 15.41; cf. 2 Maccabees 4:7-11, 23-6; 5:5-10) High priest (175-172 BC) under Antiochus Epiphanes.

Jesus son of Thebuthi: (War 6.387-9) A priest who handed the Temple treasure to Titus.

We now go over to archaeological evidence. Rachel Hachlili has estimated, after examining inscriptions from across early Roman Palestine, that the rate of occurrence for the name Yeshua at 9% of the total of Jewish male names in this region and period (the rate of Yosef = ‘Joseph’ meanwhile is 14%). Tal Ilan’s lexicon of Second Temple period names on inscriptions in Palestine (Lexicon of Jewish Names in Late Antiquity, 2002) includes 85 examples of Hebrew Yeshua, 15 of Yehoshua, and 48 examples of Iesous (with one variant Iesoua) in Greek inscriptions.