The Father’s Name

1Now the name of the Father is the Son. He is the one who first gave a name to the one who comes out from him, who was himself, and he gave birth to him as a Son. He gave him his name, which belonged to him. He is the one to whom everything around the Father belongs. The name and the Son are his. It is possible for him to be seen; the name, however, is invisible, because it alone is the mystery of the invisible that comes to ears filled completely with it by him. For indeed, the Father’s name is not spoken, but it is revealed through a Son.

2In this way, then, the name is great. Who will be able to utter a name for him, the great name, except the one alone to whom the name belongs, and the children of the name—those in whom the Father’s name rests and who, in turn, rest in his name? Since the Father is unbegotten, it is he alone who gave birth to him for himself as a name, before he made the generations, so that the Father’s name might be over their head as Lord. This is the true name, confirmed in his command in complete power. For the name does not come from words and naming; rather, the name is invisible.

3He gave a name to him alone. He alone sees him, and he alone has the power to give him a name, because whoever does not exist has no name. For what name will they give to one who does not exist? But the one who exists also exists with his name, and he alone knows it, and he has given a name to him alone. This is the Father; his name is the Son. He did not hide it within, then, but it existed. The Son alone gave a name. The name, then, belongs to the Father, just as the name of the Father is the beloved Son. Where, indeed, would he find a name except from the Father?

4But doubtless someone will ask their neighbor, “Who will give a name to the one who existed before them, as though offspring did not receive a name from those who gave them birth?” First, then, we should consider what the name is. It is the true name, the name from the Father, because it is the proper name. So he did not receive the name on loan, as others do, according to the form in which each one will be produced. This, then, is the proper name. There is no one else who gave it to him. But he is unnameable and indescribable until the time when the one who is complete spoke of him alone. And it is he who has the power to speak his name and to see him.

5So when it pleased him that his beloved name should be his Son, and he gave the name to the one who came out from the depth, he disclosed his secrets, knowing that the Father is without evil. Because of this, he brought him out so that he might speak about the place and his resting place from which he had come, and so that he might glorify the fullness, the greatness of his name, and the Father’s sweetness.