109 – The Names of God

SEMESTER 1

109 – The Names of God

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY I LESSON # 9
THE NAMES OF GOD

INTRODUCTION:

1. Read carefully Romans 10:10-13 and Joel 2:32.

i. Notice particularly in these verses the word name.

2. The word for Lord in Joel is Jehovah.

i. It implies a particular knowledge of His character.

3. In our society, names and naming are not intended to mean anything.

III: The little boy selling hamless ham sandwiches.

4. Not so with Bible names God gives Himself, they are designed to tell us much about God's character and government.

I. THE CONSISTENT SIGNIFICANCE OF BIBLE NAMES

In Scripture, names were given to reveal character and commemo­rate events.

1. Ichabod – The family of Eli was destroyed, the ark was taken, thus (the glory is departed).
2. Moses – (drawer out), by Pharaoh’s daughter, but in application, of Israel, thus Moses.
3. Samuel – (heard of God) Hannah, a barren woman prayed and God heard, thus Samuel’s name is to glorify God.
4. Cain – (acquired), Abel – (vapor or vanity) the applications are obvious enough.
5. Jacob – (supplanter), Israel – (Prince with God).
6. Abram – (high father), Abraham – (father of a multitude).
7. Jesus – (Jehovah saves). It is for this that every knee shall bow. (Rev. 5:9)

II. THE NAMES OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Elohim – Gen. 1:1 – translated God – plural (implying tri-unity). It means “object of worship.”

i. It is used in Scripture for both true and false objects of worship.

2. El-Shadday – translated God Almighty – (singular). (from shadad)

i. El means God, shadad means almighty.
ii. Shadday means “breasts” implying totality of God’s provision and our dependence.
iii. El is translated (God) 250 times in the Old Testament and is united with such perfections as almighty, everlasting, jealous, living, etc.
iv. Shadad is always translated almighty. Application is seen in Gen 49:25 and Isa 60:16.
v. Satan has substituted many breasted idols like Buddha and many females. Remember the term “Mother Nature?”
vi. A biblical illustration is seen of this name, by considering Rom. 4:20 in the light of God’s new revelation to Abram between Ishmael’s birth and Isaac’s. (Gen. 17:1)

3. Adoni (plural) “Master of a slave.” Consider some privileges of slaves, and Abraham’s so categorizing himself in Gen. 18:3.
4. Jehovah, usually translated “the Lord” (to be), meaning eternal­ly self-existent.

i. Rev. 1:4 best defines the meaning of this, “always was,” and is “ever to come.”
ii. The name is used only of the true God. (Ps. 83:18)
iii. Examples: Gen. 7:1, Gen. 7:16 and I Sam. 17:37-47.

III. NAMES OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

These should be seen as equated to Old Testament names (Hebrew to Greek).

1. Theos = Elohim, applied to all of Trinity, but most often to the Father.
2. Pather (Father) = Jehovah and denotes our relationship to Jehovah through Christ.
3. Kurios – Title given to Christ as Lord, Master. Much like Jehovah and Adoni combined.
4. Christos = Christ (anointed). This name applies strictly to Jesus as the Messiah.

Giving proper attention to these names will aid you greatly in basic theology.