Name
"Because the gospel is of first importance"
What's in a name?
In Shakespeare's lyrical tale, Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asks,
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
by any other name would smell as sweet."
Perhaps for these “star-crossed lovers” a name was simply an artificial and meaningless convention. However, this is not so when one considers the importance ascribed to names in the Bible.
The Biblical Significance of Names
Names were important in the Bible. For example, Hosea’s wife bears three children whom the LORD gives prophetic names depicting His relationship to Israel (Jezreel, “God will scatter”; Lo-ruhama, “No Mercy”; Lo-Ammi, “Not My People”). The name Hosea comes from the same verb as Joshua and Jesus meaning “salvation; to save or deliver,” thus anticipating the Name above all names that was to come in the future.
Ultimately, all Scripture points to the Name above all names, Jesus (Lk. 24:27, 44), which means, “the Lord is salvation.” “You will call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins,” (Matt. 1:21).
Why Paramount?
Just as names were carefully chosen in biblical times so we have sought to purposefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully choose our name to make a specific point of emphasis. What is it that we desire to emphasize? Why did we choose the name Paramount Church?
In 1 Corinthians 15:3 Paul writes to the believers in Corinth “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received…” The phrase “of first importance” comes from the Greek word proœtos, which means, “that which exceeds everything else in importance, i.e., paramount.”
In the context, Paul is speaking of the gospel. The gospel is of first importance! The name Paramount Church is intended to serve as a perpetual reminder to all peoples of the most important truth for all of life, the gospel!
So, in answer to Juliet’s question, “What’s in a name?,” we answer:
Our name is more than an artificial and meaningless convention. Our name seeks to capture and emphasize the gospel, which is the foremost truth of the Christian faith and life. Our name is intended to repeatedly point all peoples to the Name above all names, Jesus Christ!
