What is God's Name and what does it do?

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joshrp

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Hi,

I had a question about God’s Name. I am not sure how to word it and it might sound awkward. Is God His Name? Is God’s Name not only something that shows Who He Is, but actually What He Is? Does this make any sense? The Bible focused immensely on names, especially the Name of Jesus, and the power in the utterance of a name. I’ve worded this really awkwardly but I am hoping someone else can straighten me out on this. I was almost going to post this in the Philosophy forums, but decided to put it here, because Sacred Scripture focused on the “Word of God”, and my question and confusion has to do with what a Word or Name is and what it does. Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can understand this?

May God bless each of us for all eternity,
Joshua
 
Joshua

Hebrew names for God is a subject you may want to seek out.
For example; “Elohim” is Hebrew for Creator and Judge a name of God, referred to in the first chapter in Gen. And in the second chapter you might note that it say the Lord God. Which when the scripture in this case says Lord it is to say YHWH (Yahweh).

So Hebrew, and what is ment in Hebrew, is the way on that. As far as we know though, the Name of Jesus Christ the Beloved Son of God, is the Power of Salvation.
 
joshrp said:
Hi,

I had a question about God’s Name. I am not sure how to word it and it might sound awkward. Is God His Name? Is God’s Name not only something that shows Who He Is, but actually What He Is? Does this make any sense? The Bible focused immensely on names, especially the Name of Jesus, and the power in the utterance of a name. I’ve worded this really awkwardly but I am hoping someone else can straighten me out on this. I was almost going to post this in the Philosophy forums, but decided to put it here, because Sacred Scripture focused on the “Word of God”, and my question and confusion has to do with what a Word or Name is and what it does. Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can understand this?

May God bless each of us for all eternity,
Joshua
Click to expand...
Joshua, have Jehovah’s Witnesses been speaking to you, telling you that you must know and understand God’s name?

-Tim-
 
DPMartin said:
Joshua

Hebrew names for God is a subject you may want to seek out.
For example; “Elohim” is Hebrew for Creator and Judge a name of God, referred to in the first chapter in Gen. And in the second chapter you might note that it say the Lord God. Which when the scripture in this case says Lord it is to say YHWH (Yahweh).

So Hebrew, and what is ment in Hebrew, is the way on that. As far as we know though, the Name of Jesus Christ the Beloved Son of God, is the Power of Salvation.
Click to expand...
Just want to add that YHWH means “I AM WHO AM” or “I AM WHO IS”.

But like what DPMartin said: “And salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12.
 
The God of Abraham has many names.
Yahweh, Jehova, Allah, Elohim, etc. They aren’t really important though, unless you feel like you would rather call him by a name because it feels more personal? Sometimes I call Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Peter by the names they went by(Yeshua, Yosef, Maryam, Kephas). I think we call him “God” in modern language simply because he is THE God, not a god that needs a name in order to be distinguished.
 
TimothyH said:
Joshua, have Jehovah’s Witnesses been speaking to you, telling you that you must know and understand God’s name?

-Tim-
Click to expand...
Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been spoken to by a Jehovah’s Witness in my life. But no one has told me that I have to know and understand God’s name. I guess I am trying to understand the relationship between a name and the being which the name refers to.
 
His name is “I am” as he spoke to Moses when he asked for a name to tell the people - other than that I’ve never read where the name has been revealed in the old testament.
 
joshrp said:
Hi,

I had a question about God’s Name. I am not sure how to word it and it might sound awkward. Is God His Name? Is God’s Name not only something that shows Who He Is, but actually What He Is? Does this make any sense? The Bible focused immensely on names, especially the Name of Jesus, and the power in the utterance of a name. I’ve worded this really awkwardly but I am hoping someone else can straighten me out on this. I was almost going to post this in the Philosophy forums, but decided to put it here, because Sacred Scripture focused on the “Word of God”, and my question and confusion has to do with what a Word or Name is and what it does. Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can understand this?

May God bless each of us for all eternity,
Joshua
Click to expand...
God is not the name of God which is why I find it really strange when some people will write G-d. Makes no sense.
 
thistle said:
That is the custom when talking about the name of God. God is not his name so it makes no sense.
Click to expand...
Well, it may make no sense to you. However, if you read that linked site it answers your question, whether it makes sense to you or not. I was just trying to help 😛
 
joshrp said:
Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been spoken to by a Jehovah’s Witness in my life. But no one has told me that I have to know and understand God’s name. I guess I am trying to understand the relationship between a name and the being which the name refers to.
Click to expand...
OK. That’s good to hear. It is a standard line of the Jehova’s Witness, “Do you know God’s name?”

Just wanted to make sure thay hadn’t hooked you into something you were unaware of.

-Tim-
 
In many cultures the “name” of something carries with it it’s “nature”. To invoke a god using the god’s particular name was thought to somehow “bind” that god to the task being requested.

In Kabbalah, the “mystic name of God” is sought…to know the Name of God was to have a connection to God.

In High Magic/Ceremonial Magic, much is made of being able to call upon certain angels and deities for their aid.

Even among some “orthodox” faiths…to be able to cast out a demon, one must know his name to do so…to know a persons ‘true name’ is to have “power” over them.

Such is the case with “God’s Name” in ancient thought.
 
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