Christians Known by God Like Sheep by Name
The concept of Christians being known by God like sheep by name is rooted in biblical imagery, particularly in Jesus' declaration that He is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep by name (John 10:14) [4]. This metaphor draws on the ancient Near Eastern context where shepherds were intimately acquainted with their flocks, recognizing each sheep individually.
In John 10:14, Jesus states, "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine" [4]. According to John Gill, this knowledge is not just general but specific, implying an "universal, special, distinct, and exact knowledge of all his sheep" [4]. This understanding is echoed in the Baptist/Reformed tradition, emphasizing the personal and intimate relationship between Christ and His followers.
The biblical basis for this concept extends beyond John's Gospel. In Psalm 44:22, the psalmist writes, "For thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter" [9]. Augustine interprets this passage as highlighting God's intimate knowledge of His people, even when their circumstances are not immediately clear to others [9].
The shepherd-sheep imagery is also present in Isaiah 44:5, where it is written, "One shall say, I am the Lord's..." [6]. John Gill comments that this passage signifies the success of the apostles' ministry, particularly among the Gentiles, who come to identify themselves as belonging to the Lord [6].
The patristic tradition further develops this theme. Origen, for instance, views Christ as both the Door and the Shepherd, guiding believers toward the Father [7]. This understanding underscores the role of Christ in knowing and guiding His followers.
In the Reformed tradition, John Calvin's Institutes touch on the theme of God's knowledge and election, though not directly addressing the shepherd-sheep metaphor [5]. However, the idea of God's intimate knowledge of His people is implicit in discussions of election and salvation.
The Catholic (Scholastic) tradition, as represented by Aquinas, discusses the manifestation of Christ's birth to various individuals, highlighting the universal scope of salvation [8]. While not directly addressing the shepherd-sheep imagery, Aquinas' discussion underscores the theme of God's knowledge and recognition of His people.
The biblical names related to sheep or shepherding, such as Rachel ("sheep") and Reuel or Raguel ("shepherd" or "friend of God"), further enrich this imagery [3, 1, 2]. These names symbolize the relationship between God and His people, reinforcing the idea that God knows His followers intimately.
The concept of Christians being known by God like sheep by name thus represents a rich biblical and theological theme, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of God's relationship with His people. This understanding is developed across various Christian traditions, from the patristic era through the Reformation and beyond.
Sources
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Reuel — the shepherd or friend of God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Raguel — shepherd, or friend of God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Rachel — sheep”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 10:14: I am the good shepherd,.... See Gill on Joh 10:11. And know my sheep; so as to call them all by their names: Christ has an universal, special, distinct, and exact knowledge of all his sheep, as they are the choice of his Father, as his Father's gift to him; and as his own purchase; he bears an affectionate love to them, and takes special care of them; indulges them with intimate communion with himself; and owns and acknowledges them as his, both here and hereafter: and I am known of mine; not in a general way, as devils and external professors may know him, but wit”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 79: the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”? ( 1 Cor. 6:9-11 ). Again he says to the Romans, “As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?” ( Rom. 6:19-21 ). 11. Say, then, what seed of election germinated in those who, contaminated in various ways during their whole liv”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 44:5: One shall say, I am the Lord's,.... This expresses the success of the apostles' ministry, not only among the Jews, but more especially among the Gentiles, who were not called by the name of Jacob and Israel; but now should call themselves by those names, as the following clauses show, being called by grace and converted; when they should openly profess their faith in Christ, claim their interest in him, and acknowledge his property in them, and not be ashamed of the name of Christians; and this one, and another, even many should do. The Lord has a people who are his s”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 29. CHRIST AS THE DOOR AND AS THE SHEPHERD.: But as one cannot be in the Father or with the Father except by ascending from below upwards and coming first to the divinity of the Son, through which one may be led by the hand and brought to the blessedness of the Father Himself, so the Saviour has the inscription "The Door." And as He is a lover of men, and approves the impulse of human souls to better things, even of those who do not hasten to reason (the Logos), but like sheep have a weakness and gentleness apart from all accurac”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Manifestation of the Newly Born Christ, Art. 3: Article: Whether those to whom Christ's birth was made known were suitably chosen? I answer that, Salvation, which was to be accomplished by Christ, concerns all sorts and conditions of men: because, as it is written (Col. 3:11), in Christ "there is neither male nor female, [*These words are in reality from Gal. 3:28] neither Gentile nor Jew . . . bond nor free," and so forth. And in order that this might be foreshadowed in Christ's birth, He was made known to men of all conditions. Beca”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM XLIV.[16] (part 10): it out?" 17. "For, for Thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter" (ver. 22). For you may see a man being put to death; you do not know why he is being put to death. God knoweth this. The thing in itself is hid. But some one will say to me, "See, he is detained in prison for the name of Christ, he is a confessor for the name of Christ." Why do not[10] heretics also confess the name of Christ, and yet they do not die for His sake? Nay more; let me say it, in the Catholic Church its”