Revelation 3:4 OLIGA ONOMATA

Jonathan Robie (jwrobie@mindspring.com)
Tue, 26 Aug 1997 16:23:32 -0400

Rev 3:4 ALLA EChEIS OLIGA *ONOMATA* EN SARDESIN hA OUK EMOLUNAN TA IMATIA AUTWN
But you have a few "names" en Sardis who have not soiled their clothing.

This caught my attention. ONOMATA, meaning literally "names", is used to
refer to people here. This usage also shows up in Acts 1:15:

Acts 1:15 HN TE OChLOS *ONOMATWN* EPI TO AUTO hWSEI hEKATON EIKOSI
And the crowd of "names" gathered together were about 120.

In each of these verses, "name" is used as a synonym for a person. How
common is this usage? Does this have ramifications for our understanding of
the phrase "in the name of Jesus"? If we believe in the name of Jesus, is
this the same as believing in Jesus?

Jonathan

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