Is saying “in the precious name of Jesus” at the end of a prayer wrong?

Question:

Dear brother,

Recently, a brother in the congregation insisted that it is wrong and unscriptural to end one's prayer with the phrase "in the precious name of Jesus." He insisted that adding the adjective "precious" is tantamount to adding to the word of God. He has quoted a La Vista Church of Christ article on principles of silence of the scriptures by Heath Rogers.

Quote:

"In Philippians 2:9-11, Ephesians 1:20-21, and Acts 4:11-12, the term "name" (ὄνομα, onoma) is used metaphorically. These passages all emphasize Jesus Christ's exaltation, honorification, and supreme authority. They underscore that Jesus holds the highest honor and authority, and that salvation or acknowledgment of His lordship comes through Him or His authority. The central theme in these verses is the significance and power of Jesus Christ's person, transcending the label or name "Jesus." The term "precious" is not a central theme in these verses."

"According to the principle of exclusion, "When God specifies one thing and is silent towards others, that silence prohibits those other things." Therefore, the following presumptuous statement contradicts this principle: "If Christ, His blood, and faith in Him are precious, it must necessarily follow that His name is also precious."

"The phrase "in Jesus' name" primarily indicates invoking Jesus' authority or acting on his behalf. From a linguistic and semantic perspective, describing the name, which serves as an identifier for the person Jesus of Nazareth, as "precious" does not align with biblical usage or context. The preciousness attributed to Jesus in the Bible primarily relates to his person, his blood, his promises, and the faith placed in him, rather than specifically to the name used to identify him. Therefore, when considering the phrase "in Jesus' name," it is more appropriate to focus on its idiomatic meaning of invoking Jesus' authority or acting in accordance with his will, rather than attributing the adjective "precious" directly to the name itself."

Unquote

Do you subscribe to this view that it is unscriptural to use the phrase "in the precious name of Jesus" and that the principles of silence of the scriptures apply to this matter?

Answer:

The name of someone refers to their authority or reputation. Thus, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Colossians 3:17) means all that we do must fall under the authority of Christ. To call on the name of the Lord is to ask for something granted by the Lord's authority, such as calling on Him for salvation (Psalms 116:4).

That authority can be praised (Psalms 7:17), blessed (Psalms 113:2), and boasted (Psalms 20:7). We trust the authority of God (Isaiah 50:10), and we can express our love for his authority (Isaiah 56:6).

"Precious" means something is valued. Given the verses above, it is not wrong to state that you value the Lord's authority.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email