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NAME

In biblical usage, not only the title by which a person is called but the term by which the person is identified. The expressions: to profane (Amos 2:7), sanctify (Isaiah 29:23), praise (Isaiah 25:1), and love (Psalm 5:12), the name Yahweh, all refer to God himself. In the New Testament this concept is further deepened and refined. The name of Jesus identifies his mission (Matthew 1:21), which is to redeem (Acts 10:43), to save (Acts 4:12), to confer the fullness of supernatural life (Colossians 3:17). Prayer in the name of Jesus, according to his intentions, is always heard (John 15:16), those who invoke his name will be saved (Romans 10:13), those who believe in his name form the Church (I Corinthians 1:2), so that they can be called Christians (Acts 11:26). They are consequently to pray that the name of God, who became man in the person of Christ, be sanctified (Matthew 6:9), which means honored and glorified.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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