The Oneness of God

Lesson 2 - The Name of God

In most English translations, the various words that refer to God are simply translated as “God” or “Lord.” The main reason that the names of God were translated this way is that a name today does not carry the same meaning that it did in Biblical times. Today we name our children anything that comes to mind, but in Bible times the name actually had a meaning referring to the path of life that the child would take. There has been a resurgence lately of finding out the meaning of one’s name, but it really has no bearing upon our lives. To God, however, the name was everything to the extent that God repeatedly changed people’s names when blessing them or revealing His plan for their life. Some examples of people’s name changes are Abram (high father) to Abraham (father of a multitude), Jacob (supplanter, deceiver) to Israel (He will rule as God), and even the New Testament example, Simon (hearing) to Peter (a rock). The reasons for this name change was that the name represented the character and qualities of that person. When people were introduced to “Jacob,” they immediately knew to watch their wallets and not believe anything that he told them because his name revealed the essence of who he was: a deceiver. That is why when Jacob had a life-changing experience and devoted his life to God, God changed his name to reveal his new character.

There are many names for God that appear in the Old Testament. Remember that the Old Testament was written in the language of Hebrew except for parts of Daniel which are written in the ancient Jewish language of Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. As most Jews of the time, Jesus Christ spoke at least three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. By this time the Old Testament had been translated into Greek (called the Septuagint) and this was the translation used when Jesus quoted Old Testament scriptures. The scriptural names for God are then from three languages: Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek.

Before discussing each revealed name of God, we will review a few scriptures that show how important it is to know the name of God.

Exod 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The third commandment of the 10 Commandments is that the Lord’s name is to not be taken in vain! How many Christians break this rule today?

Deut 28:58-60 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; 59 Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

Here God demanded fear (which means respect in Old English) for His name and lists many things that would happen to the people if they did not respect and revere His name. The reason for the laws was so that the people would know HOW to respect God’s name. Why? Remember that the name of God represented the attributes (his abilities and traits) that He had revealed to them, so by doing things that went against what God stood for, the people were “going against His Name.”

Ps 44:20-21 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Notice that the psalmist equates forgetting the name of God to worshipping other Gods.

Jer 23:26-27 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

God got mad because the people had forgotten His name! Knowing the correct name of God is important! The people had turned from God, and once again, God’s Name represented who He really was!

Ps 91:14-16 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Look at all God promises to those that know His name! Answered prayers, deliverance, honor, long life, and salvation are all dependent upon knowing the correct revealed name of God for our dispensation!

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Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The Word for God in this verse is ELOHIM and is the most common word used for “God” in the Old Testament. Elohim is the plural form of ELOAH which also means “God.” Eloah is poetic and rare and is not used in normal Hebrew conversation to this day. Some people have taught that because Elohim is a plural noun, then more than one God must be implied. However, plurality has another function in the Hebrew language: to denote majesty or greatness. If a Hebrew wanted to show respect to a God or ruler then it was proper to refer to them in the plural. Even today the German language still has a similar rule. If a low ranking “grunt” in the German army speaks to a higher ranking officer, he addresses the higher rank as “Sirs,” even though there may be only one officer present. The plurality does NOT mean that the officer is three people but shows that the “grunt” realizes the rank, position, and many abilities of the higher rank. ELOHIM can then either represent one god or many gods depending upon the context of the sentence. We have words similar to this in modern English today: words like “sheep” or “moose.” I can have “one sheep,” or I can have “twelve sheep.” We probably once actually had a word for just “one sheep,” but it has been lost through time and lack of use. In this way Elohim is still used by Hebrews today to represent their ONE God and it’s singular form Eloah is rarely spoken. Virtually all Trinitarian scholars agree that Elohim is a “plural of majesty” and does not necessarily represent three (or more) gods.

Gen 1:26a-27a And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: . . .

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; . . .

This scripture is a favorite of many Trinitarians to “prove” that there is a trinity. The often asked question is “to whom is God speaking to?” Since the Bible does not say, it is important to view this scripture according to all of the other scriptures in the Bible. There are several reasons that this scripture CANNOT be talking about a “Trinity of persons.” First, we have seen in Lesson 1 that the only number associated with God’s person and essence is ONE. Second, we have read scripture after scripture that show that there was not another god or person WITH God when He created the earth, and there is no God BESIDE Him (See multitudes of scriptures in Lesson 1). Third, the Jews, who have mastered the Hebrew Old Testament and whose teachers must memorize the first five books of the Bible, have never interpreted this scripture to mean anything but the ONE God creating man. Fourth, if man was created in the image of three persons, then where are my other two? Fifth, verse 27 goes on to say that God created man in HIS own image, so if there were more than one persons there, which God was it and why is God referred to again as singular?

There are several possibilities of what the “us” in Genesis 1:26 refers to. The most logical is derived from the realization that ELOHIM is the Hebrew word for “God,” in both verses mentioned above. Moses, the writer of Genesis, simply allowed the pronoun “us” to agree in plurality to “Elohim” to allow it to also represent the greatness and majesty of plurality. Moses did not believe in three gods or persons and was the giver of the Jewish Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and the Ten Commandments (Remember the first three commandments). Another possibility for the “us” is that God was talking to the angels. Most Jews believe this interpretation. Yet another scriptural possibility was that God was talking to Himself. We as Human beings were created in God’s image and certainly talk to ourselves sometimes. Maybe we picked that trait up from our Creator. Paul mentions in Ephesians 1:11 that God takes “counsel with His own will.” One way that God could have done this is to consult with His wisdom during the Creation process (Proverbs 8). That does not mean that “wisdom” is another person in the Godhead, however, any more than we making an “every day” decision based upon our “will,” makes us two persons. Another way that God could have “taken counsel with His own will,” would be for Adam to be created in the form of the only earthly body that God ever became: Jesus Christ. The Scriptures certainly seem to indicate that Adam was created to look like the future body of Jesus (Romans 5:14, 8:3 Colossians 1:15 I Corinthians 15:45). This would explain that “deep” theological question “Did Adam have a belly button?” because Jesus Christ was born of a woman (umbilical cord thus He had a belly button) and if Adam was made in the image of someone with a belly button, then he also had a belly button even though he did not have an earthly mother! The awesome revelation in all of this is that God planned from the creation of man to redeem man through coming in flesh, but we will talk about that a little later.

Another proof that ELOHIM cannot prove that there is a plurality of gods is found in other uses of the word throughout the Scriptures. Many other times (remember that Elohim is the most frequently used word for God in the Old Testament) Elohim is used in referring to the oneness of God. Another good example why Elohim cannot automatically mean that there is a trinity is found in the following scripture:

Exod 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

This scripture means that the Lord caused Pharaoh to view Moses as someone having mighty power. The word for “god” here is the plural word ELOHIM. The important point is that Elohim here refers to Moses. If Elohim being a plural word automatically causes Genesis 1:26 to represent a trinity then where is Moses’ other two!?!

The Singular form of Elohim, ELOAH -- although rare -- is used in several scriptures to denote God (Nehemiah 9:17). ELAH is the Aramaic version of Eloah and is used in Daniel 2:18. EL means almighty and is the root word of Eloah and Elohim. One example of El being used by itself to denote God is in Genesis 14:18. ELOHIM is the “generic” Hebrew word for God and can be used for false gods (Judges 8:33), spirit beings (I Samuel 28:13), and human judges (Psalm 82). All of these words for God are translated as “God” in the English translations.

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Another word used for God are ADON and it’s plural, ADONAI. Adon means a ruler or master. Adonai, the plural of majesty, means God as a ruler or master. Once again the plurality of the word represents the majesty and mightiness of God and never refers to there being more gods in number or persons. An example of Adon is found in Joshua 3:11. An example of Adonai is found in Genesis 15:2. Both are translated in the English versions as “Lord” (not all capitals).

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Even though EL and it’s derivatives described God in earlier times, they obviously did not reveal all of God’s character because compound names were eventually formed by adding whatever attribute that God had recently revealed unto man. One example of this is found in the following scripture:

Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

God had already revealed Himself in various roles to Abraham (covenant maker, guide, etc...), but now He revealed Himself as “the Almighty God.” The Hebrew word used for “the Almighty God,” is El-Shaddai. In other words, EL was not enough by itself to represent all of God’s character, so He had to add descriptive words that portrayed the exact attribute of God that was being revealed. Other compound names of God formed with El is El-Elyon (Most High God) in Genesis 14:18, El-Roiy (The God of Sight) in Genesis 16:13, and El-Olam (Everlasting God) in Genesis 21:33.

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Exod 6:3-4 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

The key to understanding the importance of the various names of God is to realize that the names were progressive in nature. In other words, each new name that God revealed to man, also revealed more of His attributes and more promises to mankind. God had created the heaven and the earth in Genesis chapter 1 as ELOHIM. Through each dispensation of time, as God revealed more of His perfect will to mankind, God also revealed a name that matched His revealed attributes. The Lord used other names such as ADONAI, and then revealed even more of His attributes in the Compound EL names we just discussed. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, God established a newer, more exact covenant with them and gave them His law. This is the setting that God revealed to man the name JEHOVAH. It is important to notice that Abraham did hear the name “Jehovah” but the revelation of what it meant was not revealed until the giving of the law here in Exodus. In other words, each name given more accurately described God as man now knew Him.

JEHOVAH is the redemptive name of God in the Old Testament under the Law. With the revelation of a new way to better please God (blood sacrifice, temple, priests, laws and statues, etc...), came the name of God that revealed this new knowledge about how God was working in the affairs of men. JEHOVAH is the English form of YAHWEH which is Hebrew. In other words, Jehovah and Yahweh are the exact same name but are the English translation and the original Hebrew word respectively. It was by Jehovah/Yahweh that God distinguished Himself from all other gods under law (Isaiah 42:8). Yahweh in the Hebrew is the third person of the verb “to be,” and Yahweh/Jehovah literally means “He is.” If I am talking about myself, then I do not say “I is,” I say “I am.” When God referred to himself as “I AM,” and “I AM that I AM” to Moses (Exodus 3:14), then God was calling Himself Yahweh/Jehovah and using correct grammar to do so! In other words, YAHWEH, JEHOVAH, I AM, and I AM that I AM all mean the same thing: literally “Self-Existing and Eternal One” and was the redemptive name of God under the Law.

The Jews were very careful to never take the Lord’s name in vain so they began the practice of using LORD to substitute for anytime JEHOVAH/YAHWEH was written in scripture. In other words, if the scripture said that “Jehovah said this,” the Jew would read out loud “the LORD said this.” The Jews also eventually decided that to them the revealed name of God was even too sacred to write so they began abbreviating YAHWEH as YHWH (JHVH in English). This is known as the Tetragrammaton. Over time, the Jews forgot the correct vowels of YHWH because it was never spoken or written and today nobody really knows the correct pronunciation or spelling of YHWH or JHVH. “Yahweh” and “Jehovah” are probably fairly close, but we cannot be sure. Of course, it does not matter as we are no longer under the Law but under Grace and have a much more accurate name of God to call upon!

This revealed name of Jehovah under the law did not reveal all of God’s glory, either, because we find compound names formed of it similar to the ones formed with EL. Below is a list of all of the compound names formed with Jehovah and it’s meaning and scripture reference. God was still revealing more of Himself to mankind even throughout the Dispensation of Law!

Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will see and provide, Genesis 22:14.

Jehovah-rapha, the Lord that heals, Exodus 15:26.

Jehovah-nissi, the Lord our banner (ie... He’ll fight our battles), Exodus 17:15.

Jehovah-m’kaddesh, the Lord that sanctifies, Exodus 31:13.

Jehovah-shalom, the Lord our peace, Judges 6:24.

Jehovah-saboath, the Lord of Hosts, I Samuel 1:3.

Jehovah-elyon, the Lord most High, Psalm 7:17.

Jehovah-raah, the Lord my shepherd, Psalm 23:1.

Jehovah-hoseenu, the Lord our maker, Psalm 95:6.

Jehovah-tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness, Jeremiah 23:6.

Jehovah-shammah, the Lord is present, Ezekiel 48:35.

These are given in the order that they were revealed unto man. When Israel needed a victory, God revealed himself as Jehovah-nissi. When Israel needed peace, God revealed himself as Jehovah-shalom. But none of the names revealed EVERYTHING that God was and is, and many Jewish people realized this. When Jacob was wrestling with the man at Peniel, he asked “Tell me, I pray thee, thy name” (Genesis 32:29). Manoah, the father of Samson, asked the angel of the Lord his name, and the angel replied that it was a secret (Judges 13:18). The prophet Agur realized that God was going to come in flesh one day and asked what the name of the Son of God would be (Proverbs 30:4). Despite knowing many names for God, Zechariah prophesied of a day when God’s name would be one (Zechariah 14:9). All of these Old Testament people (and many more) realized that the true name of God that represented all of His attributes and promises had not yet been revealed under the Dispensation of Law.

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Hearing the cry of His people, God did satisfy the longings of His people and revealed a name that represented all of His power and glory! The prophet Isaiah prophesied about this future revelation in the following scripture:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

A child was to be born, and the Son’s name would be the revealed name of “the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!” So whatever the name of the Son to be born was, that would be the revealed name of God for the Dispensation of Grace: the name that would represent everything that God is and was! No more compound names would be needed, for the name of the Son would be the long awaited name of God!

Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The Angel told Joseph that his wife-to-be was with Child by the Holy Spirit and that the Son’s name would be called JESUS! The revealed name of God that represents all of His glory and power is the name of JESUS! Refer back to Isaiah 9:6 for a moment and realize what this means: when you call upon the name of Jesus, you are calling upon the Wonderful God, the Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Not only is there only one God, but His name is JESUS!

The name Jesus literally means Jehovah has become salvation or “Salvation has become Salvation.” Remember that Jehovah was the redemptive or saving name of the Old Testament. Jesus is the revealed redemptive name of the New Testament but when we also realize that every attribute of God is realized and represented by JESUS, then when you call upon the name of Jesus you are calling upon everything that God is and can be!

Matt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Having already told Joseph in verse 21 that the son must be called Jesus because of His redemptive nature, the angel also gave Joseph some additional information. His name would be called Emmanuel which meant “God with us.” Jesus is the redemptive name of the New Testament of Grace, but Jesus was so much more than that. Jesus literally was “God with us.” Every attribute that God is, was, and can be was in the body of Jesus and thus represented by the name of Jesus! JESUS was not only the name of the Son, but the name of the everlasting Father, and the name of the Mighty God (see Isaiah 9:6 above)!

The Apostolic Church of the New Testament was and is to be identified by the name of Jesus. Let’s look at a few examples of the importance and emphasis placed upon the name of Jesus in the New Testament:

Matt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Jesus said that we would be hated and persecuted because of the name of Jesus! We find repeated incidences in scripture where the early church was persecuted because of teaching and preaching about the name of Jesus (Acts 5:28, 9:21, 15:26). The disciples and early believers also considered it to be a privilege to be persecuted for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41).

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Peter and John had just healed the lame man outside the temple “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:10). Peter then went on to explain that not only was the name of Jesus the name by which this miracle had been done, but it was also the ONLY name given under heaven by which men could be saved! The name of Jesus is the only name that will save you. A Trinitarian formula will not save you, and calling upon the titles of God will not save you. The only way to be saved is by the name of Jesus!

Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Many churches today baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” with out ever actually using that name! Referring to three titles of God will not save us, though, only the name of God: Jesus Christ! The emphasis of this scripture was not the titles but the singular “name.” Since baptism is essential for salvation (Mark 16:16), and Jesus is the only name that will bring salvation (Acts 4:12), then we realize that a person must have “the name of Jesus” called out over them in water baptism! The disciples obeyed this command by baptizing people ONLY “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:3-5, 22:16). Furthermore the scriptures explicitly teach that the name of the Father (John 5:43), the name of the Son (Matthew 1:21), and the name of the Holy Ghost (John 14:26), is the one name Jesus! Moreover, the churches in Rome (Romans 6:3-4) the churches in Galatia (Galations 3:27), the church in Corinth (I Corinthians 6:11), and the church in Colossia (Colossians 2:11-12) were all baptized in the name of Jesus. The scripture is clear: there is only one name of Matthew 28:19 and that is the lovely name of Jesus!

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Everything that we do by speaking and action, we are commanded to do it in the name of Jesus! Scripture further teaches us to teach and preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18; 5:28), to pray and make requests in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14, 16:23), and to gather together in the name of Jesus (Matthew 18:20). If we do or see any signs or wonders it is all done by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:30). Furthermore, we cast out devils, speak in tongues, receive supernatural power and divine protection, and pray for the sick all by the power in the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17-18, James 5:14)!

The name of Jesus is not a magic potion for we must have faith in the name for it to work (Acts 3:16). We must also have faith in the One God represented by that name (Acts 19:13:17). The name of Jesus represents everything that God is and has revealed unto us in the Grace dispensation. This is why studying the Oneness of God and the true identity of God is important to understand! Paul put it this way:

Phil 2:9-10 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

The name of Jesus is above every other name ever given for God! This is why the New Testament is so emphatic about the name of Jesus! When we realize the importance that God placed upon the names of individuals, then we must realize that when we call upon the name of Jesus we are calling upon every power, attribute, and ability that God has! The Old Testament records the gradual revelation of more and more of God’s glory and power. As God revealed more of His glory to mankind, He also revealed a new name to represent the new revelation!

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Jesus Christ will never change! All of the progressiveness of the attributes of God were revealed in the precious name of Jesus! There is only one God, and His revealed name is Jesus! When you call upon the name of Jesus you call upon everything that God was, is, and can be, and there are no need for any other names!

In the next lesson we will see how that Jesus Christ was the one Jehovah God of the Old Testament. There is only one God and His name is Jesus!