For it is not we who call God by these names. We do not…
““For it is not we who call God by these names. We do not invent them. On the contrary, if it depended on us, we would be silent about him, try to forget him, and disown all his names. We take no delight in the knowledge of his ways. We tend continually to oppose his names: his independence, sovereignty, righteousness, and love, and resist him in all his perfections. But it is God himself who reveals all his perfections and puts his names on our lips. It is he who gives himself these names and who, despite our opposition, maintains them. It is of little use to us to deny his righteousness: every day he demonstrates this quality in history. And so it is with all his attributes. He brings them out despite us. The final goal of all his ways is that his name will shine out in all his works and be written on everyone’s forehead (Rev. 22:4). For that reason we have no choice but to name him with the many names his revelation furnishes us.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Humans cannot create God's names; they are revealed by God and persist despite human resistance.
In simple terms: God's names are given, not invented.
Key Takeaway
Recognize divine revelation over personal labeling.
Themes
theology
humility
revelation
Mood
reverent
reflective
Type
scriptural
theological
When to use this quote
- Worship
- theological study
- personal meditation
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Divine sovereignty
human limitation
spiritual naming
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance reverence for divine mystery with the need for understanding?
- What role does language play in experiencing the sacred?
A Different Perspective
Human attempts to define the divine are limited and often misguided.