The Names of God

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God uses many names for Himself and many are given Him.  How do we know which is the right name for Christians to use?

Let’s examine just a few here:

But, wait, you say… most of those aren’t names, right?  Yes, they are.  

Webster’s New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, ã 1986, gives this definition of the word “name”.  “A word or phrase by which a person, thing or class of things is known, called or spoken to or of.”  But, look a little further down the same grouping of definitions and you also find this, “fame, reputation, or character [a good name]; a good reputation.”  

What does scripture say about the word “name”?  

“Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.”  Psalm 135:13

“The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.”  Proverbs 10:7  

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

Not only is the definition of a name something that we call someone, like ‘her name is Sue’, but also, ‘she has made a name for herself around here’.  God’s many names are much the same way.

Which Name Do We Declare?

In Exodus 3:14, 15, God told Moses what the people (the Jews) were to call Him when Moses was asked.  He said, “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’  And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’’  Moreover God said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel:  ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.  This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’” 

NOTE:  The “Lord God” is used to represent the Tetragrammaton (The Four Letters) YHWH.  The accepted pronunciation among many scholars is Yahweh.  However, a Spanish monk in the 400’s used a hybrid of the name, forming the name Jehovah.

Remarkably, this name is used close to 7000 times throughout the Old Testament.  Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain that because God told Moses this was the name to be used for Him, that we should declare this name only.  That is where they get their own name, as they take the scripture Isaiah 43:10 and apply it to themselves.

However, is this the name that Christians are to call God?  Are we on a name basis with God or do we move into a different relationship with Him through our faith in Christ?

Yes!  Jesus showed us that we can call God, Father!  Matthew 6:9, “In this manner, therefore, pray:  ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed by Your name.”

Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’.”  

So, then, who are we witnesses of?  What name do we declare?

Jesus, Name Above All Names

There is no other name like His on the earth or in heaven. 

Believers are to baptized in the name of Jesus.  “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”  Acts 2:38

People are healed in Jesus name.  “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know.  Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”  Acts 3:16  

Believers suffer for Jesus name.  “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”  Acts 5:41

Believers preach in His name.  “And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.”  Acts 9:29  

We are in subjection to Jesus name.  “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.”  Philippians 2:9, 10