Message: "Re: Names of the apostles..."

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

Re: Names of the apostles...

by Anneza (guest)

8/30/2004, 1:00 AM

As a Jew, he had a Hebrew name - Saul. As a Roman (a citizen of no mean city ...) he had a Latin name - Paul. They look and no doubt sounded pretty similar so would have been an easy choice.

Paul could equally have been a nickname, based on his Hebrew name and very relevant for a physically small man.

My Jewish friends today usually go for a Hebrew name with the same initial as their English names - Denis is David for liturgical purposes, Jackie is Yael, Penny is Pnina. But, Anne and Myrna are Chana and Miriam, using the original forms! It seems to be a pleasantly relaxed system.

Replies

- FloydWright (guest)

9/2/2004, 10:41 PM

Hey, I just read this...

I'm not sure what custom is with taking a second name...what exactly is it, and is that normal in the Jewish community? Please pardon my ignorance; I've just never looked into this before.

Would it have been a custom in the Apostles' time?

- Miss Claire

8/30/2004, 9:32 AM

Yup. The Jewish name can also be a name with the same meaning (Benedict -> Asher), or the name of a grandparent with no relation with the first name, like me (Claire -> Rahel).

- Andy (guest)

8/30/2004, 3:31 AM

Thank you for the nice examples you give!

PAUL, I believe, was his "real name" (besides Saulos / Sha'ul), not a nickname. But obviously Paul was small and probably his name was chosen, because he was a small baby, too.

What would the Hebrew equivalent to Andreas be? Geber? Gabriel?

Andy ;—)

View Message

Replies