The Last Pope and the Name of the Lord

Introduction

“I think the media have to be very clear, very transparent, and not fall into – no offence intended – the sickness of coprophilia, that is, always wanting to cover scandals, covering nasty things, even if they are true" ~ Pope Francis, December 2016

This idea is reminiscent of Paul's endorsement of the "powers that be":

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1

Paul also speaks of his lie.

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
Romans 3:7

When did Paul lie?

The book of Acts, written by Luke, gives three accounts of the events on the road to Damascus concerning Paul (also known as Saul). The first is Luke's account of the events, and the second and third are Luke's record of Paul's account.

The First Account.

Here Paul is only told to go to Damascus, and Anannias is told that Paul is to bear the name of the Lord before the Gentiles. Also there is no mention of Paul being appointed as a witness.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Acts 9:6

But the Lord said unto [Ananias], Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Acts 9:15

The Second Account.

Here Paul says that at Damascus he was told by Ananias that he would be a witness of what he had seen and heard. Again there is no mention of Paul being appointed as a witness while he was still on the road to Damascus.

And [Ananias] said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Acts 22:14-15

The Third Account:

Here Paul says that he was directly appointed as a witness while he was still on the road to Damascus:

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:16-18

If Luke has recorded accurately (and there's no reason to think that he hasn't) the it follows that Paul must have lied about his appointment as a witness, since he contradicted himself about how came to know of it, and both of his accounts are contradicted by Luke's version of events.

The Exsultset

The problem with bearing the name of the Lord is compounded by the Catholic Exultset, where the purpose of the candle is to honour the name of the Lord, but only the name of Lucifer is mentioned.

Orámus ergo te, Dómine,
Therefore, O Lord,

ut céreus iste in honórem tui nóminis consecrátus,
we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honour of your name,

ad noctis huius calíginem destruéndam, indefíciens persevéret.
may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night.

Flammas eius lúcifer matutínus invéniat:
May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star:

ille, inquam, lúcifer, qui nescit occásum.
the one Morning Star who never sets,

http://www.ccwatershed.org/blog/2012/feb/23/video-recording-paschal-proclamation-exsultet-plus/

What Name?

This theme of misrepresentation continues with Paul's rendition of the name of the Lord as Jesus

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Romans 14:11

But this is not the name used by the prophet Isaiah. English translations typically render the proper name of YHWH as "the LORD".

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I YHWH? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isaiah 45:21-23

The Common Law

The concluding point is that Paul refers to confession when Isaiah refers to the act of swearing, i.e. the making of an oath. The significance of this is that making oath is the most significant aspect of the common law, although this aspect of the common law is typically misrepresented by "official" sources.

Lex terre: The law of the land. The common law, or the due course of the common law; the general law of the land. Equivalent to "due process of law". In the strictest sense, trial by oath; the privilege of making oath.

http://infogalactic.com/info/lex_terre
http://infogalactic.com/info/common_law