Perspective

   By L. Jim Tuck

   March 2, 2023

“What’s in a Name?”

Greetings from Phoenix,

            Expecting parents often struggle to come up with a unique name for their newborn child. Sometimes parents name their children after their parents or themselves. Other parents opt to start with characters in the Bible to find names for their children. Usually, names are chosen because of an admiration or love children may hold for the person who is the namesake.

            Some characters in the Bible invoke feelings of inspiration while others bring forth the opposite. Many parents would rather name their children after Elijah or Deborah, but few if any would want to name their children after Ahab or Jezebel. 

            As we survey current world leaders there are some which are building a bad name for themselves. Several names come to mind, and one would be the Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, and another would be the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who is legally considered "inviolable." Iranians are routinely punished for questioning or insulting him.

            Russian President Vladimir Putin is quickly developing a bad persona in the Western world, which is growing worse with the continuing conflict in Ukraine. There are nations which loudly support Putin’s invasion, but nations like Cuba, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela have their own tarnished image issues which isolate them from most of the world.

            What is in a name? Names mean things, and this is why we choose them. A common name for boys, Stephen, is derived from the Greek, stéphanos. It means wreath, crown, and by extension reward, honor, renown, or fame.

            Who was the Stephen of the Bible? The first time we read about Stephen in the Bible is in Acts 6. He was selected along with six other men to be deacons by the apostles to aid in the needs of the neglected widows of the church. Stephen was chosen first (Acts 6:5). He was chosen because of his good reputation, wisdom, and being filled with God’s Spirit and full of faith.

            At his trial before Jewish leaders, he preached and witnessed with fervor about the true history of Israel, and he condemned them for not keeping God’s law and killing the prophets and Jesus. Then Jewish leaders condemned him, and he was stoned to death, remaining faithful to the end. Stephen was the first martyr of the church. Stephen died with a good name, and a crown of life awaits him in the Kingdom of God.

            A young Pharisee, Saul, who became the great luminary, Paul, was there consenting to Stephen’s death. Through God’s great mercy the Apostle Paul was redeemed. Interestingly, the name Saul means “prayed for” and the name “Paul” means “small,” and when he became small in his own eyes, God made him great through much sacrifice.

            The prophet Samuel told a rebellious King Saul, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?” (I Samuel 15:17)

            In the Proverbs we are instructed to be aware “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). As we strive to achieve in our lives, developing a good name by being honest, faithful, and trustworthy can be a special valued asset worth more than the great riches of the world. 

            A good name happens when we allow the mind of Jesus Christ to be formed in us. Jesus gave this message to those who strive to maintain a good name of faithfulness, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” (Revelation 3:11-12)

            Have a beautiful and enlightening Sabbath.