I thought I heard the Master's voice. It's hard to listen while you preach. (U2, Every Breaking Wave, Helsinki version)

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Is Paul Correct That Jesus' Name Is Above The Name of Yahweh

In Phillipians 2:9, Paul taught God put Jesus' name above all names:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 

But God in the 10 Commandments in the very first command made His own name above any other name. Jesus even taught us to hallow and revere the name of God (i.e., Yahweh) in the "Our Father." 

Jesus also said the Father was "greater than I" (John 14:28), so Jesus did not claim His own name could be higher than the name Yahweh -- the name of the Father.

Hebrew Yahweh

How do Paulinists handle this contradiction of Jesus and the Original Testament? They admit Paul goes directly against Holy Scripture, but they revel in it. For example, the author of Christian History 101 comments on this verse in Paul's epistle:

Even if this confession is to the Father, the confession is about Jesus as kurios. In this text Paul has just said that God has "exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name." "Well," (I am sure Buzzard would say) "we know Paul does not mean every name, being a law abiding, first century Jew he would never think Jesus would be above YHWH." Yet, this is exactly what Paul is saying. 
http://www.churchhistory101.com/feedback/review-buzzard.php

Where Does Paul Lead Us (Or Mislead Us)?

But once you go down Paul's path, doesn't the Father fade into the background as not very important at all?

Yes. For example, take a look at Big Daddy Weave's song "Only Name" which is based upon Paul's dictum that Jesus' name is above all names. Here are the lyrics from azlyrics:

"The Only Name (Yours Will Be)"

Yours will be the only Name that matters to me
The only One Whose favor I seek
The only Name that matters to me

Yours will be
The friendship and affection I need
To feel my Father smiling on me
The only Name that matters to me

Yours is the Name the Name that has saved me
Mercy and grace the power that forgave me
And Your love is all I’ve ever needed

When I wake up in the Land of Glory
And with the saints I will tell my story
There will be one Name that I proclaim

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, just that Name

 

Nothing can prove better than this song that something is wrong in our Pauline emphasis on ONLY the name of Jesus to the total and utter neglect of God, the Father whose name is Yahweh. Big Daddy says Jesus' love is the only love he ever needs. Only the name of Jesus supposedly matters in the final verse.

But to hallow and revere God's name as Jesus taught us in the Our Father means you keep Yahweh's name above all other names. Yet, Paul influences us to make Jesus' name the only one of any importance...and seeking Jesus' friendship is the way of "feeling" the Father smiling on us. But if by our doing so, we hurt the Father's heart, then that cannot be proper.  Paul has led us into a pit.

Paul clearly leads us away from what God, Yahweh, intends:

For My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name in every place because My name will be great among the nations," says Yahweh of Hosts.  (Malachi 1:11, Holman, revealing Yahweh is in the original text.)

Do you agree Paul leads us sacrilegiously to exalt Jesus' name too far -- that His name becomes greater than the name of Yahweh? That Yahweh's name is now even forgotten due to our Love for Jesus, wrongly inspired to make that love exceed our love and proximity to Yahweh whom Jesus said dwelled "in me." (John 14:10)? Even if you could dispute Paul meant what Paul apparently says, can you deny the effect of Paul's words has contributed to the utter neglect of the true name of God -- Yahweh?

Next, compare another prophecy in Jeremiah about the lying prophets who rob attention from God's true prophets whom He sent, and then they cause people to "forget" the true name of Yahweh as they forgot it long ago:

"I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in My name have said, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' (Jeremiah 23:25, Holman Christian Standard Bible) 

How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds? (Jeremiah 23:26, Holman)

Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause My people to forget My name as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship. (Jeremiah 23:27, Holman)

How is Paul any different in effect than these prior false prophets in his EFFECT from teaching Jesus' name is "above every other name"?

Finally, Jesus in his prayer to the Father in John's Gospel says He made the Father's name known to His followers. The name Yahweh appeared in the early version of the NT, but was removed due to the non-Biblical doctrine that Yahweh's name should not be spoken for fear one might blaspheme. That is one way to suppress Yahweh's name. The other is to put Jesus' name above Yahweh's name. The net effect is those who do not even know Yahweh's name cannot possibly have "fear" of His Name, and thus arguably do not even know God in the manner God prescribes for the saved. As Revelation 11:18 reads:

The nations were angry, but Your wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear Your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.  (Rev. 11:18, Holman Christian Standard.)

Let's follow Jesus' rule to hallow and revere the name of God -- Yahweh -- the name above all names, even above the name of Yahshua-Jesus who conceded Yahweh was greater than Himself.