Uttering the name of Jesus and the realisation of salvation: A study of confession of faith as a speech act

Abstract

This study applied the speech act theory to investigate the theological significance of the utterance of the name of Jesus, interpreting it as a performative act that generates the reality of faith and salvation. Rather than a mere verbal expression, the invocation of Jesus’ name is analysed as a linguistic event that reconfigures the believer’s identity and fosters practical faith. Through a systematic exploration of locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary dimensions, the study elucidates how the utterance initiates a relational transformation and mediates salvific experience. The analysis demonstrates that confession of faith is not simply intellectual assent, but an embodied linguistic act that actively participates in the formation of spiritual life and practice.

Contribution: This article clarifies how the utterance of Jesus’ name functions as a performative act that forms faith identity and mediates salvation. It offers a theological perspective that recognises confession not merely as symbolic language but as an active participation in salvific reality.