of the Names of God in Scripture by Dr. Robert Lightner Visiting Professor of Theology, Tyndale Theological Seminary In our twentieth century Western culture, personal names are little more than labels to distinguish one person from another. Sometimes nicknames are chosen which tell something about a person, but even this is a poor reflection of the significance of names in the Bible. Unfortunately, to many the names God or Lord convey little more than designations of a supreme being. It says little to them about God's character, His ways, and what God means to each of us as human beings. But in Scripture, the names of God are like miniature portraits and promises. In Scripture, a person's name identified them and stood for something specific. This is especially true of God. Naming carried special significance. It was a sign of authority and power. This is evident in the fact that God revealed His names to His people rather than allowing them to choose their names for Him. This is also seen in the fact that God often changed the names of His people: Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel. Note also how this concept of authority and power is seen when Nebuchadnezzar changed the names of Daniel and his three friends. The Name of God in General There are a number of instances where no name of God is employed, but where simply the term "name" in reference to God is used as the point of focus:
When we turn to the New Testament we find the same. The name Jesus is used in a similar way to the name of God in the Old Testament:
"The God of the Bible, An Introduction to the Doctrine of God" Copyright © 1973, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan |