Word & Table Names
Mar 3, 2026
Fr. Stephen Gauthier, Canon Theologian and formation director, explores how names signal authority, identity, and role in Scripture. Short takes cover naming as dominion, royal and political renaming, divine name changes (Abram→Abraham, Jacob→Israel), cultural assimilation of names, and Christian naming rites. The conversation traces names from power plays to spiritual transformation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Roman Renaming After The Bar Kokhba Revolt
- The Romans renamed Judea and Jerusalem after crushing revolts to erase Jewish identity.
- Fr. Stephen recounts the Bar Kokhba revolt where Jerusalem became Aelia Capitolina and Judea became Palestina as ethnic-cleansing renaming.
Name Changes Mark New Vocation
- Biblical name changes mark role or vocation upgrades, not cosmetic edits.
- Examples: Abram (exalted father) becomes Abraham (father of nations) and Sarai becomes Sarah to reflect covenantal status shift.
Jacob To Israel As Identity Reformation
- Jacob's renaming to Israel reframes his identity from supplanter to one who strives with God and prevails.
- Fr. Stephen cites Genesis 32 where God declares Jacob's new name Yisrael because he has striven with God and men.