TIP OF THE DAY 17: Name > Theological import

MJ. Smith
MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,108
edited November 20 in English Forum

link to next post TIP OF THE DAY 18: Name > Meaning - Logos Forums

TOPIC:Name.Theological import

QUESTION: How do I identify theological topics associated with names/titles?

SOFTWARE: Search Ward, Mark, Jessica Parks, Brannon Ellis, and Todd Hains, eds. Lexham Survey of Theology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018 for topics with “name” or “title” in the topic title.

  1. Open a Search panel.
  2. Select Book search
  3. Set to search Lexham Survey of Theology.
  4. Set to search Heading Text and Large Text.
  5. Set the search argument to name OR title.
  6. Run the query.

The results of interest are:

  • The Divine Names
  • God’s Personal Name
  • God’s Titles
  • God’s Metaphorical Names
  • Jesus’ Names
  • Jesus’ Personal Names
  • Jesus’ Titles
  • Jesus’ Metaphorical Names

Yes, it appears the Holy Spirit is neglected.

 

QUESTION: How do I search for one of the theological topics identified?

SOFTWARE: The theological topic search takes the form of a datatype search.

  1. Open a Search panel
  2. Set the search to All, Bible, or Books
  3. Enter the search argument LSTO:"The Divine Names" or whichever of the theological topics listed above.

 

QUESTION: How do I search for the theological discussions on a specific name of God/Jesus?

SOFTWARE: The theological topic search takes the form of a datatype search.

  1. Open a Search panel
  2. Set the search to All, Bible, or Books
  3. Enter the search argument Yahweh INTERSECTS LSTO:"The Divine Names" or whichever name and theological topic is of interest.

 

QUESTION: What does the Factbook offer related to these Theological topics?

SOFTWARE: You may open the Factbook directly and enter the theological topic in the Navigation box OR you may open the Context Menu (right click) within the topic, select the topic/theological topic tab on the left and the Factbook action on the right. You have your choice of four lenses: All, Biblical, Library, Theological. The data offered may include:

  • Key article: which is generally from the Lexham Survey of Theology except for the Biblical lens.
  • Key Biblical passages on the topic.
  • A list of dictionaries that have related information visible in a popup preview.
  • A list of systematic theology books that have related information visible in a popup preview.
  • A list of journal articles that have related information visible in a popup preview.
  • A list of sermons that have related information visible in a popup preview.
  • A list of recommended readings that have related information and are not limited to Logos/Verbum books.
  • A list of books in your library related to the topic.
  • A list of books to which the topical Factbook theological topic have been added by users or by Logos/Verbum. A snippet of the text is shown.
  • A list of books related to the topic which Logos/Verbum would happily sell you
  • In Dig Deeper, the related section provides a variety of entities and concepts that are related. It provides a starting point for a Concept Map.

 

QUESTION: What does the Theology guide offer related to these Theological topics?

ANSWER: The Theology guide provides a subset of the data carried by the Factbook page.

  • the Lexham Survey of Theology is the Topic section (key article of Factbook).
  • Recommended reading.
  • Systematic theology books.
  • Key Biblical passages on the topic.

 

QUESTION: What do the early church fathers say about names and titles for the casually interested?

SOFTWARE: For those with only a passing interest in what was written by the early Church, there are two anthologies that do a very good job of providing key passages and indexing them well:

Instructions:

  1. Open Bercot.
  2. Open Jurgens.
  3. Open a search panel.
  4. Set to a Book search.
  5. Set to open books.
  6. Enter the search argument name OR title OR “metaphorical name” i.e. the key words that the Lexham Survey of Theology offered me.
  7. Five results were returned for me to examine.

 

QUESTION: What resources does the Catholic Topical Index point to?

ANSWER: There appear to be no related entries.

QUESTION: What biblical interpreters make the most theological use of names?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Biblical interpreters who make significant theological use of names include:

1. Jewish rabbinical tradition - Rabbis have long emphasized the importance and meaning of biblical names, seeing them as conveying spiritual truths about a person's character or destiny. The midrashic literature contains extensive commentary on the significance of names.

2. Typological interpreters - Those who look for types and foreshadowing in the Old Testament often find meaning in names that point to Christ or aspects of salvation history. For example, seeing Joshua (Hebrew form of "Jesus") as a type of Christ.

3. Allegorical interpreters - Early church fathers like Origen often found spiritual meanings in names, sometimes stretching their interpretations quite far.

4. Covenant theologians - Reformed theologians emphasize God's covenantal names (like Yahweh) and their significance in redemptive history.

5. Charismatic/Pentecostal teachers - Some in these traditions place great emphasis on the power of names, especially the name of Jesus, and finding personal meaning in biblical names.

6. Biblical theologians - Scholars tracing themes through Scripture often note the theological significance of names and name changes (e.g. Abram to Abraham).

7. Literary-rhetorical critics - Those who focus on literary features of the text often highlight wordplay and meaning in names as literary devices.

8. Ancient Near Eastern specialists - Scholars familiar with naming practices in the broader ANE cultural context can shed light on the theological significance of biblical names.

9. Hebrew language scholars - Those with expertise in Hebrew etymology and wordplay can unpack layers of meaning in names that English readers might miss.

10. Narrative critics - Interpreters focused on storytelling techniques in Scripture often note how names contribute to characterization and plot development.

While these various interpreters may sometimes overstate the theological significance of names, many have made valuable contributions to understanding this important aspect of biblical literature and theology. The key is balancing linguistic and cultural insights with sound hermeneutical principles.

Citations:

[1] https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/names.htm 

[2] https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/why-are-names-so-important-in-the-bible.html 

[3] https://crucis.ac.edu.au/gods-name/ 

[4] https://davidschrock.com/2020/01/16/whats-in-a-name-how-names-in-the-bible-reveal-meaning-and-lead-us-to-trust-in-the-name-above-all-names/ 

[5] https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/names-reveal-value-and-meaning 

Devilhttps://pastordaveonline.org/2014/05/07/a-biblical-theology-of-name-part-1/ 

Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

Comments

  • Renold Burke
    Renold Burke Member Posts: 74 ✭✭

    Thank you!

    Titles impress people, obedience impresses God.

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