On a Christian’s Name

“In the first place, I ask that men make no reference to my name; let them call themselves Christians, not Lutherans. What is Luther? After all, the teaching is not mine (John 7:16). Neither was I crucified for anyone (1 Cor. 1:13). St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3, would not allow the Christians to call…

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Names for God’s People

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Names-for-Gods-People.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 62:1-5   I.             Names hold a particular significance in the Bible                 A.           When a child is born in this country, parents agonize on picking out just the right name.                                  1.             Often the name is selected because it has a nice “ring” to it                                  2.             Because a favorite relative has the…

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You should get your facts straight

Question: You mentioned (in Is “Christian” supposed to be “natsarim”?) that the New Testament wasn’t written in Hebrew. That’s partially true, as Epiphanius and others have documented there was a Hebrew Matthew. Then you mentioned that Christian was a valid term based on the assumption that the New Testament wasn’t written in Hebrew.  Uhm, the…

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Names Names Names (Ezra 2)

by Jarrod M. Jacobs Interspersed in the Bible are lists of names. Sometimes, these are genealogies of certain families (Genesis 5, 10, etc.). Often, these genealogies focus on Judah’s descendants leading to Christ (Ruth 4; Matthew 1; Luke 3). At other times, these names teach us about faith (Hebrews 11; Romans 16). There are also…

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Is it a sin not to use the right name to address God or Jesus?

Question: Hello Sir, Will God or Jesus condemn us or punish us for not knowing the right name to call Him? I’ve seen some say that it’s a form of idolatry or worshiping someone else if you don’t know the correct name to call God or Jesus. Some say his name is Yahweh or Yeshua…

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I’m confused by the names of Esau’s wives

Question: Hi, I have a question regarding the question asked to you: “Was Mahaleth a Canaanite and did Esau marry her to get back at his father Isaac?” Part of your reply mentioned Genesis 28:9, “so Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael.” In my Bible, it says that Esau took…

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Is “Christian” supposed to be “natsarim”?

Question: Hello, brethren in Christ, I hope you are well and my greetings to you and the church. I have been going on your website for many answers to questions that I study and I get provided many concrete answers. I wanted to get some clarification on the word “natsarim”. I have been having some…

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Why is the church both the body of Christ and the bride of Christ?

Question: Please, why is the church called the body of Christ and at the same time called the bride of Christ? Thanks. Answer: People are known by a variety of names and titles because one name doesn’t completely describe a person or his relationship with other people. I’m known as “Jeff” to friends, but in…

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Why don’t we use Yeshua instead of Jesus?

Question: Someone asked me why Yeshua, which is believed to be the real name of Christ, is never used today because of the English translation. Jesus is believed to be a corruption of Yeshua. What is your view on this? Answer: We use “Jesus” because that is the English transliteration of the Greek spelling of…

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Does God select our true names?

Question: I have been reading through your website and I find a lot of answers to my questions. I have also shared the link to it in our group. I thank God, first of all for the wisdom He’s given you. Thank you for your time using it. I really appreciate it. Please let me know…

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Why did Paul refer to the saints and faithful brethren in Colossians 1:2?

Question: In Colossians 1:2, Paul speaks to the ‘saints and the faithful’.  Why does he make a distinction between the two? Answer: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God…

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Why do the churches of Christ insist that their name is scriptural?

Question: Why does the “Church of Christ” insist that their name is scriptural when it cannot be found anywhere in the Bible? The church is referred to as the “church of God” eight times in the Bible, but never is it called the “church of Christ.” The verse they use is Romans 16:16, but it doesn’t…

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Can you give me more insight into Mary’s sister?

Question: The Bible talks about Mary having a sister who is the wife of Clopas whose name is also Mary. The Bible states that this Mary had kids and in an article that you wrote you stated her kids were James and Joses. But when we look at Matthew 13:55, it says that James and Joses…

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When did people start calling God, “Abba Daddy” or “Papa?”

Question: What are your thoughts on calling God “Abba Daddy” or “Papa?” In reading the thoughts of others and their reason for using this phrase, I was wondering when this came about. Answer: The phrase “Abba, Father” came about when Jesus called out to God in an hour of need before his crucifixion. “And He…

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Why do you use a capital “C” in “church”?

Question: I noticed your website and church sign used a capital C on “church.”  This practice is opposed by every church of Christ I have ever known.  Why is it OK or not OK? Answer: Yes, there has been a fad among Christians to use a lowercase “c” in the names of churches. However, it…

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Is a church right because it calls itself a church of Christ?

Question: How do you know if a church is the right church? Is it because they bear the name “church of Christ”? Isn’t it possible that a church might also be a Bible-believing church but might not have a “church of Christ” attached to their church? Or is the name “church of Christ” the only…

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The Divine Name

by Keith Sharp If you consider what the Oklahoma bomber Timothy McViegh, the family at Ruby Ridge, the Abilene, Texas dooms-day leader Yisryal Hawkins, and the branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas, have in common, you will arrive at a surprising answer. They all know the creator’s true and original names (Warren). The Scriptures is…

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What are the differences between the three names of God in Psalms 136:1-3?

Question: What are the differences between the three names of God in Psalms 136:1-3? Answer: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalms 136:1-3).…

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Despising His Name

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/DespisingHisName.mp3 by Alan Feaster

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What is the proper thing to say as you are baptizing someone?

Question: Hi Jeff, I read an article that asks what does someone says before they baptize someone else. It almost answered my question but not completely. I have always been taught that it is not a proper baptism unless the proper things were said. After taking their confession and then preparing them for baptism, it…

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Was the term “Christian” originally a derogatory reference?

Question: By your teaching the disciples were first called “Christians” at Antioch of Syria, which is true; however, who at Antioch was calling them this term and why? It was a derogatory term toward them, my friend. Then again by King Agrippa, another pagan. Then one other time this name is mentioned by Peter only…

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What is the Christian’s new name?

Question: When we accepted Christ we were given a new name and identity. What is our now or name? Answer: The phrase “new name” is only stated three times in the Bible: “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of…

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Is it wrong to use “Allah” for God in Malaysian Bibles?

Question: Greetings, With the general election just around the corner here in Malaysia, many issues are being used as fodder including the issue of the use of the Arabic word for God in Malay translation of the Bible being used among native congregations. While this is not prohibited by any existing laws, the same issue…

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Does God give us our names?

Question: Does God give us our names? Answer: Depends on which name you are referring to. If you mean the designations like Christian, disciple, or child of God, then, yes, those come from God. If you mean your birth name then, no, that was the name your parents picked out for you. There are times…

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Thank you so much for placing Ethan Longhenry’s article on your website

Question: Dear sir, Thank you so much for placing Ethan Longhenry’s article, Understanding the Tetragrammaton: How Is It Pronounced? on your website. It is an incredible blessing to me! I am trying to make the reasoning my own as it will be great to share with others the name of our God. His name is Wonderful!…

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What syllable should be stressed in the name Jeshua?

Question: I have a pronunciation question for you.  I did read “Understanding the  Tetragrammaton: How is it Pronounced” on La Vista’s web site, but it does not answer this question. Whether Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek, the name “Jeshua,” is the accent on the first or second syllable? In the film “The Passion of the Christ” the accent was on the…

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Why would kings name their children after other kings?

Question: One thing I still don’t understand is how the kings intertwined and started naming their children after relatives, which is very confusing.  Why would kings do that when the entire pride of a king rests on the fact of all they have accomplished in their reign and in the hope that their lineage will…

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Is only Yahweh God’s name?

Question: In “The Divine Name,” you did not explain the name YAHWEH/YHWH and how it was taken out of the Scriptures.  God, Lord, Father are all titles(mother, daughter, son, worker), but not His true name.  Please explain verse Psalm 68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;  Extol Him who rides on the clouds,…

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What is the meaning of Hephzibah and Beulah?

Question: What is the meaning of Hephzibah and the meaning of Beulah? Answer: “You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married” (Isaiah 62:4). Hephzibah means…

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God’s Name

by Netagene Kirkpatrick I call the name of Jesus, or Lord God when I pray. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not by-words to say! It bothers me to hear someone who takes God’s Name in vain. If I ever slip and do that, I know I’ll be ashamed. Some things are often cut,…

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What does Laodicea mean?

Question: What does Laodicea mean? Answer: Laodicea is the name of a city in Asia Minor that wasn’t too far from Colosse. The name of the city is a compound Greek word: laos means people, nation, or crowd; dike means custom, law, judgment, penalty, or punishment, depending on the context. From that, most conclude that the founders of Laodicea…

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Why are prayers ended with “In Jesus’ name, Amen”?

Question: Why, when we pray, should we close the prayer with, “In Jesus name, amen”? Answer: The word “amen” is a transliterated word from the Hebrew language. Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies defines it as meaning, “Let it be granted, let it be done, and unalterably confirmed.” It can be seen in Numbers 5:22 where…

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Is it wrong to refer to God as Jehovah in a prayer?

Question: Is it wrong or scripturally incorrect to refer to God as Jehovah?  For instance, when you pray to Him, to address Him as Jehovah. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus is showing the disciples how to pray. He starts with “Our Father in Heaven.” Since Jesus never refers to God as Jehovah and when instructing His disciples how to pray…

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Which is the better way to pronounce Jesus’ name: Yahsua or Yeshua?

Question: Thank you very much for your article on “Understanding the  Tetragrammaton: How is it Pronounced.” I am in total agreement with your research and conclusion as to the Tetragrammaton yhwh being pronounced as yahweh. Can you share your thoughts and opinion as to the pronunciation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus? Which is more correct in your research and examination: yahsua or yeshua? Please…

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How did the children of Israel get their name?

Question: How did the children of Israel get their name? Answer: They were descendants of Jacob who was a son of Isaac who was a son of Abraham (Exodus 19:3). Jacob, when concerned about his brother Esau’s possible approach to kill him, stayed behind to pray all night. There he was visited by an angel.…

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Do you have other material on YHWH?

Question: I enjoyed and agree with your article on   “Understanding  the  Tetragrammaton.”  Thank you very much for your research and study on this important issue of the Divine Name,  Yahweh (Exodus 3:15; Psalm 83:18). Can you send me any additional information on the YHWH? Do you have any more articles related to the sacred name? Answer:…

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