Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
INNER CIRCLE: The Name Of The Father Is The Son

INNER CIRCLE: The Name Of The Father Is The Son

Last updated on: October 11, 2024 at 7:09 pm by Keith Giles

0 Comments

INNER CIRCLE: The Name Of The Father Is The Son 2024-10-11T19:09:49+00:00 Keith Giles

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

IMAGE: Keith Giles

“And the name of the Father is the Son.” [23:1]

Long before any concept of the Trinity entered the human consciousness, Valentinus reflects on the mystery of the relationship between the Father and Son and deftly explores the paradoxical nature of how they can be One and yet, somehow, distinct persons that exist symbiotically together as God.

“It is he who, in the beginning, gave a name to the one who came forth from him, who was himself. And he birthed him as a son. He gave him his name which belonged to him. All that exists with him belongs to the Father. The name belongs to him; the child belongs to him. It is possible to see the son, but the name is invisible, for it alone is the mystery of the invisible which comes to ears completely filled with him. For they do not speak the Father’s name, but it is revealed through a child. In this way, the name is great.” [23:2-9]

The Father, the Son, and the Name are the Triune elements at play here. “In the beginning,” the Father gives a name to the Son, who both “came forth from him,” and “who was himself,” at the same time. The Father births the Son – without mention of a Mother’s help – and gives him “his name which belonged to him [because] all that exists with [within] him belongs to the Father.” Both, the name, and the child belong to him. So, the name of the Son is the Father.

We can see the Son, but we cannot see the Name. The Name of the Son is the Father, and this “alone is the mystery of the invisible which comes to [our] ears [which are] completely filled with him.”

In other words, this mystery which cannot be seen fills everything in every way. Our ears are filled with this Name, even if we cannot see it, or know it, or speak it.

This mystery is everything and everywhere. It is unseeable but not yet unknowable. It is unspeakable, but still on the tip of every human tongue.

The Name is a mystery that we cannot fathom even though we are all immersed in it. It is the very fabric of reality itself. It is the Logos that was spoken into the darkness before light was formed.

This Name has no composition of letters or sounds, but it resonates throughout the fiber of every living thing in the universe.

We know the Name as we know ourselves. We are the reflection of the image of this great mystery that is mirrored in the glass, darkly seen and blurred by the distance between atoms and molecules that are forever in proximity but never quite touching.

“Who, then, has been able to pronounce a name for him, this great name, except him alone to whom the name belongs and the children of the name in whom the name of the Father is at rest, and who themselves are at rest in his name? Since the Father has no beginning, it is he alone who birthed him to himself as a name before he set the generations in order, so that the name of the Father might have authority. This is the real name which is secure by his perfect power. For the name is not simply words, or name-making, but his name is invisible.” [23:10-13]

The Father rests in the completion of the Name; the Name which gives rest to everything. The One without beginning or end has given birth to One who is before all generations and to whom and for whom and from whom all creation was created.

Even if we cannot know how, or why, we know this: The Name of the Son is the Father, and the Name of the Father is the Son, and we are all at rest in this mystery of the Name that we – and all things – are made of.

The newest book from Keith Giles, “The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas” is available now on Amazon. Order HERE>

Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has appeared on CNN, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.”

He co-hosts The God Squad podcast, and the Heretic Happy Hour Podcast.

Previous Post

October 4, 2024

INNER CIRCLE: Anointed by the Anointed One

Next Post

October 18, 2024 INNER CIRCLE: He Alone

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Googled: “In psychology and everyday language, intelligence is the capacity to learn, understand, reason, think ..."

Herm

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"It's so weird to me how anyone thinks that getting basic income is in any ..."

Scott Santens

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"Sounds very much like what Pope Leo wrote in Magnifica Humanitas - a lot of ..."

ffeineandsugar

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"As it is written in the canonical Gospels:But as many as received Him, to them ..."

Herm

INNER CIRCLE: God’s Transcending Love

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Biblicism Christian Politics Cosmic Christ Deconstruction Discipleship Dispensationalism Divine Unity Ekklesia End Time Stuff Eschatology Evergreen Following Jesus Gender General Christian Topics Gnostics God's Love Gospel of Judas Gospel of Mary Gospel of Philip Gospel of the Kingdom Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Truth Hell Historical Jesus Inner Circle Investigative Reporting Islam LGBTQ Issues Marriage Mental/Emotional Health Mystery Non-Duality Philosophy Podcast Poetry Politics Poverty Preemptive Love Prophecy Psychology Quantum Theology Racism Reconstruction Satire Sex Technology Theology Uncategorized Universalism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the occupation of Lydia, the first European convert in Acts?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Baker Fisherwoman Seller of purple cloth Tentmaker

Books by This Author Books by Keith Giles

See All Titles »