KNOWING THE NAME IS KNOWING THE COALITION - A THEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EXEGESIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/armv1n6-021Keywords:
Divine Names, Spiritual Identity, Biblical Hebrew, Relational TheologyAbstract
The present study, entitled "Knowing the name is knowing the alliance", investigates the theological, cultural, and liturgical significance of the Divine Names within the Hebraic-Christian tradition as foundational elements of spiritual and communal identity. Grounded in biblical sources, Hebrew philology, and socio-cultural analysis, the research assumes that the Divine Names—such as Elohim, YHWH, El Shaddai, and Adonai Tzva’ot—are not merely titular designations, but revelatory constructs that mediate relational intimacy between God and His people. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study incorporated participant observation in ecclesial settings, informal interviews, content analysis, and the application of a diagnostic questionnaire. The findings reveal a marked disparity between the increasing interest of believers in the deeper meanings of the Divine Names and the insufficient pedagogical response from religious leadership. Furthermore, the research highlights a widespread liturgical shallowness and a theological deficit resulting from the neglect of teaching the original linguistic and covenantal dimensions of God's Name. The theoretical framework, supported by scholars such as Clifford Geertz, Stuart Hall, and Maurice Halbwachs, affirms that within the biblical worldview, the Name (shem) encapsulates essence, character, and covenantal presence. The study concludes that reclaiming the pedagogical and theological significance of the Divine Names is both urgent and strategic for the spiritual revitalization of Christian communities, particularly regarding biblical literacy, authentic worship, and covenantal identity with the God of Israel.
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