Name Change

[Faith]

Why were some of Jesus’ disciples names changed, like Simon was called Peter?

 

[Stephen]

Why were some of Jesus’ disciples names changed, like Simon was called Peter?

When God changed someones name it was significant. The new name meant something

Simon's name was chaged to Kepas (Aramiac) transliterated to Cephas & translated into Greek as Petros - from where we get Peter..
Kephas means a rock - a big one.
The significance comes later when Jesus tells Peter he is the rock on which Jesus will build his church (Mt 16:18).

Other name changes are often just the name in a different language.

 

[Josiah]

The only ones who had official, legal names were Roman citizens.

Our idea of a universal, legal name is very new.... especially for commoners.

People usually went by a variety of names. Perhaps one given by a parent at birth, but perhaps also by names given by others (often in response to some characteristic or attribute).

God on very rare occasion "changed" a person's name. Usually because the person had changed.



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[tango]