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Can I get baptized and change my name?

Paul not the apostle

Paul not the apostle

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Can I get baptised and change my name? Is there any scriptural basis for a name change or calling yourself by another thing?

Some of our brothers from overseas have got some cool and " be careful not to covet" type of names.

Innocent so and so
Happiness so and so

Why not me?

I am open to hearing suggestions based on anything you all know about me. I like "unending thankfulness".

BTW, no I have never been baptised, but I am considering it, thus the name change as well.
 
Names were and should be very important. In the scriptures names often reflect the character of the individual. For example Abraham means "Father of many nations", and Nabal means "Fool".

My personal thought is that there is nothing wrong with changing your first name if you wish, picking a name that you believe reflects your character or destiny, but I would recommend that you keep your last name because it represents your father's lineage and in keeping his name you honor him.

How about in Hebrew? From what I can gather, לעד – forever – pronounced - la'ad and מכיר תודה – thankful – pronounced - Jadon (spelled Jaden) would produce the name you are looking for... "la'ad Jadon not the apostle" : )
 
I'm not sure that Biblically name changes were associated with baptism, were they? More like traumatic run-ins with Divinity! Jacob wrested an angel and was lamed, Saul got knocked off his horse and blinded.

You DO seem to have the injury in your right paw or thereabouts. So go for it. Perhaps from Paul NTA (Not the Apostle) to Paul ANA (a new Apostle)?

But whether tied together or not, I highly recommend the baptism. It's worthwhile. Got re-baptized myself this year.
 
Baptism and name change are two separate issues as I see it.

1.
Historical examples of people getting their name changes and baptism going close or simultaneous in time would not necessarily mean that name change goes with being baptized.

2.
There are historical examples in which God personally giving a name change and baptism were not mentioned directly together for instance God changing Abram's name to Abraham. God changing Abram's name or any other historical example would not necessarily mean you should change your name.

3.
I know of no scriptural prohibition or command to change your name (that you refer to yourself as when talking to people, as opposed to a title like God calling you redeemed or forgiven or what not or giving you a new name that no one else knows [Revelation 2:17], etc.) that applies to all people universally (unless perhaps you have a name like **** God or **** Jesus in which it would be perhaps unethical to say your name and it is a way to avoid using God's name in vein and or blasphemy.)

4. If God personally told you to change your name you should because that would be an individual command for you specifically. By the way a lot of times people mistake God for telling them something when he did not.

5. I know people who have certain new "Christian names", but they do not use those names in place of employment, it can be very inconvenient and confusing. Let's say you change your name to Barnabas for instance but everyone knew you as Paul earlier, and on top of that they had other people they knew as Barnabas, and you introduce yourself to new people as Barnabas, but later you run into other people who know you as Paul and they both meet each other and they are not Christian (or perhaps they are Christian) and think it is weird you changed your name.... it can be very confusing.

6. Name changes work really well if your name is a foreign name to the country they are in and your new Biblical name is easier for them to pronounce. Name changes also work well in foreign countries that are just learning English and look on English with honor, you can use your Bible name and they will think it is your cool new English nickname even if they do not believe the Bible but think English is cool to learn.

7. Some people feel God has given them a new name when they became a Christian or in association with a spiritual teaching that they are learning or learned and hold dear or that their instructors want them to learn. Sometimes baptisms are associated with a conversion, this might have something to do with the custom of linking the two as well as numerous other reasons (including some involving cultural assimilation for good or bad perhaps.)
 
Scarecrow said:
Names were and should be very important. In the scriptures names often reflect the character of the individual. For example Abraham means "Father of many nations", and Nabal means "Fool".

My personal thought is that there is nothing wrong with changing your first name if you wish, picking a name that you believe reflects your character or destiny, but I would recommend that you keep your last name because it represents your father's lineage and in keeping his name you honor him.

How about in Hebrew? From what I can gather, לעד – forever – pronounced - la'ad and מכיר תודה – thankful – pronounced - Jadon (spelled Jaden) would produce the name you are looking for... "la'ad Jadon not the apostle" : )
Click to expand...

If your parents are a line of sinners why not change your last name also?
 
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