Theme · theological
Name of God
When Moses asks God's name, the answer is 'I AM WHO I AM' — YHWH, the self-existent one. Throughout Scripture, God reveals different facets of his character through his names: El Shaddai (God Almighty), Adonai (Lord), YHWH Jireh (the LORD provides), YHWH Rapha (the LORD heals). The prophets promise one called 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace' and 'Emmanuel — God with us.' Jesus reveals the Father by name and says, 'I have come in my Father's name.' Philippians declares that God gave Jesus the name above every name, at which every knee will bow.
Related doctrines
Passages expressing this theme
- 1Cor 1:2 — Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and
- 1John 5:7 — For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
- 1John 5:13 — These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
- 1Kgs 9:3 — And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes
- 1Kgs 10:1 — And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
- 2Sam 7:22 — Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
- Acts 3:6 — Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
- Acts 3:16 — And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
- 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.
- Acts 9:16 — For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
- Amos 5:8 — Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon
- Deut 4:35 — Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
- Deut 6:4 — Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
- Deut 10:17 — For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
- Deut 10:20 — Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
- Deut 12:5 — But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
- Deut 28:58 — 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;
- Exod 3:6 — Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
- Exod 3:14 — And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
- Exod 3:15 — And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this
- Exod 6:3 — 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.
- 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.
- Exod 23:21 — Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
- Exod 33:19 — And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will she
- Exod 34:5 — And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
The Church Fathers on Name of God
For the name of Divinity is given for the highest honor in the world, and with whomsoever God is well pleased, he applies it to him. But however, the names of God are many and are venerable, as he delivered his names to Moses, saying to him, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and…
We find the name of God in the holy Scriptures, as many as now come to mind, spoken of in four ways. For God is spoken of according to the truth of [his divine] nature, that the holy Trinity is one, true and unchangeable God, who says, "See now that I, even I, am he; there is no God besides me." And concerning whom…
God's other titles fall into two distinct groups. The first group belongs to his power, the second to his providential ordering of the world, a twofold providential ordering—involving, and not involving, incarnation. Clear cases of titles that belong to his power are "Almighty" and "King"—whether it be of "glory,"…
Now this is the most manifest and perfect name of God, for all things depending upon God are comprised within this name: "I am who am." This name is properly His, and it was said of it in what manner all things represent Him by way of order, origin and fulfillment, or immediate relationship. This name written in the…
After two names, therefore [child and son], he will be called by another six names: wonderful, counselor, God, mighty, father of the coming age, prince of peace. For the names are not to be joined into couplets as many think, such that we would read "wonderful counselor" and "mighty God." Instead "wonderful," which…
This discourse respecting God is most difficult to handle. For since the first principle of everything is difficult to find out, the absolutely first and oldest principle, which is the cause of all other things being and having been, is difficult to exhibit. For how can that be expressed which is neither genus, nor…