Names of God

[Archaea]

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Nam.../esoteric.html

[Solon]

Originally Posted by Archaea

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Nam.../esoteric.html

Names were words of power in the ancient world - and gods/goddesses often had "secret" names that were not supposed to be spoken aloud except when you were invoking its power. Knowing a god's true name gave a person a degree of power over that god. Correspondingly, not knowing its true name let the god off the hook for any prayers or dedications it might not want to fulfill. So, ancient Roman prayer, for instance, invoked a particular god by all the names they could think of "and any other name you wish to be called by." Just to be sure, I guess, that all their bases were covered. In this vein, Acts 17 tells of an altar dedicated to an unknown god - set up by the Athenians to placate a god whose name was unknown or secret, in an effort to appease, placate, and maybe even appeal to it..

In the New Testament, miracles are often (but not always) performed "by the name" of Jesus Christ - not by the power, or authority, etc. The name brought the power. (E.g. Acts 3.6-7). Arde'et, an Ethiopian book with gnostic roots claims to record the many secret names of Jesus that he taught his disciples. Among these names was the greatest name, "Bersabehelyos." In the book, Jesus instructs his disciples to write these names and wear them and invoke them to do good. In a more relevant context, LDS are taught that the "name of Jesus Christ" can overpower Satan.

Saying a god's name was serious business, not to be taken lightly. Like playing with handguns, there's a time and a place to use great power, and the power was not to be used idly.

Hence, Saying "Oh my god" is not taking the Lord's name in vain . . . that's not the Lord's name. It's more of a title. I understand LDS cultural norms today make this phrase taboo, but it's not a transgression of the third commandment, at least in the sense that Moses would have understood.

LDS scripture suggests that two of God's names are "Ahman" (D&C 78.20; 95.17) and "man of holiness" (Moses 6.57). Elohim is more of a descriptive title (plural, but can act as a singular with extra oomph), but in LDS parlance has come to denote God-Father as opposed to Jehovah-Jesus. In the Egyptian Book of the Dead and in later Gnostic Christian belief, secret names and magic formulas also acted as passwords or tokens of recognition in the afterlife, and provide the initiate with special powers and the keys to defeat the powers of darkness.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Solon

Names were words of power in the ancient world - and gods/goddesses often had "secret" names that were not supposed to be spoken aloud except when you were invoking its power. Knowing a god's true name gave a person a degree of power over that god. Correspondingly, not knowing its true name let the god off the hook for any prayers or dedications it might not want to fulfill. So, ancient Roman prayer, for instance, invoked a particular god by all the names they could think of "and any other name you wish to be called by." Just to be sure, I guess, that all their bases were covered. In this vein, Acts 17 tells of an altar dedicated to an unknown god - set up by the Athenians to placate a god whose name was unknown or secret, in an effort to appease, placate, and maybe even appeal to it..

I love that story. "Just in case we left anyone out ..."

Originally Posted by Solon

In the New Testament, miracles are often (but not always) performed "by the name" of Jesus Christ - not by the power, or authority, etc. The name brought the power. (E.g. Acts 3.6-7). Arde'et, an Ethiopian book with gnostic roots claims to record the many secret names of Jesus that he taught his disciples. Among these names was the greatest name, "Bersabehelyos." In the book, Jesus instructs his disciples to write these names and wear them and invoke them to do good. In a more relevant context, LDS are taught that the "name of Jesus Christ" can overpower Satan.

Saying a god's name was serious business, not to be taken lightly. Like playing with handguns, there's a time and a place to use great power, and the power was not to be used idly.

We see this reflected in the naming of Melchizedek priesthood, no? D&C 107:4.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/107#4

Originally Posted by Solon

Hence, Saying "Oh my god" is not taking the Lord's name in vain . . . that's not the Lord's name. It's more of a title. I understand LDS cultural norms today make this phrase taboo, but it's not a transgression of the third commandment, at least in the sense that Moses would have understood.

Would, "Oh my Jehovah!" do it? (Ignoring the Anglicization issues) I know some Jews who wouldn't like it.

Originally Posted by Solon

LDS scripture suggests that two of God's names are "Ahman" (D&C 78.20; 95.17) and "man of holiness" (Moses 6.57). Elohim is more of a descriptive title (plural, but can act as a singular with extra oomph), but in LDS parlance has come to denote God-Father as opposed to Jehovah-Jesus. In the Egyptian Book of the Dead and in later Gnostic Christian belief, secret names and magic formulas also acted as passwords or tokens of recognition in the afterlife, and provide the initiate with special powers and the keys to defeat the powers of darkness.

Interesting comments. Thanks, Solon.

[Solon]

Originally Posted by Tex

We see this reflected in the naming of Melchizedek priesthood, no? D&C 107:4.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/107#4

This is a perfect example. Good thinking, Tex.