On Prayer 24.2

A “name,” then, is a summary designation that presents the individual quality of the one named. For example, there is an individual quality of Paul the apostle: one of his soul, by which it is of a certain kind; one of his mind, by which it contemplates certain things; and one of his body, by which it is of a certain kind. What is individual in these qualities and not shared with another (for there is no one else among existing things indistinguishable from Paul) is shown by the name “Paul.” But in the case of human beings, whose individual qualities as it were change, their names too are soundly changed according to Scripture; for when the quality of “Abram” changed, he was called “Abraham”; and when that of Simon changed, he was named “Peter”; and when that of “Saul,” who persecuted Jesus, changed, he was called “Paul.” But in the case of God, who is himself unchangeable and ever unalterable, there is always one name, so to speak, even for him, “He who is,” spoken in Exodus, or something that might be so spoken. Since, then, all of us have some conception of God, thinking whatever things about him, but not all of us conceive what he is (for rare, and, if one must say it, rarer than the rare, are those who grasp his holiness in all things), we are reasonably taught that the conception of God in us should become holy, so that we may see his holiness as he creates, provides, judges, chooses and abandons, accepts and rejects, and honors and punishes each according to his worth.