Good Morning Everyone,

Today marks a beginning of a new subject of study: *The Names of God*. As I asked for some participation in what to cover next, I also want to ask for participation on this theme of discussions. I want to pose more questions to generate some feedback this time around. So, your responses will help make this discussion more engaging and hopefully stir you to consider our great and awesome God who loves us! Okay then…

So far we’ve learned that God is real. God is active. God is holy. God is loving and wants us to know Him. As the 10 Commandments taught us, we are guilty of sins and God holds us accountable too.

We’ve also learned the Bible is God’s word and it contains His revelation of Himself to mankind. The Bible tells us all about God… how He created the heavens and the earth, how He interacted in the world in times past, how He came to earth in the form of man, (Jesus) to make a way for sinners to be reconciled to Him, how He built His church and how God expects His redeemed to live in the world during their short stay before He takes them home to Heaven. And lastly God reveals His plans for the future too!

You should consider the Bible as THE SOURCE for the truth of God, His nature, His plan, His requirements for Kingdom living, etc. Knowing the various names God is identified as throughout the Bible helps us to know Him better. One of life’s greatest privileges is knowing God more and more! And what better place to begin than the 1st verse in the Bible?

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Old Testament (OT) was written in Hebrew. For us English speaking people, the Hebrew language has been translated into English. So anytime we see the word “God” or “Lord”, we will need to look at the Hebrew to get a better sense/ idea/ understanding of what is being said.

“God” in Genesis 1:1 is translated *ELOHIM*

“EL” means God. But watch this, “IM” is plural in Hebrew! So “ELOHIM” is “Gods”, meaning in the beginning God (singular yet plural) created. Wow! This is a reference to the Trinity nature of God; One yet three. One God as Father-Son-Holy Spirit. Right-off the bat, the humanly incomprehensible and divine nature of God is revealed as He creates everything at the beginning. Awesome!

The name “ELOHIM” refers to God as Creator and God as powerful and transcendent. I looked at an online lexicon and read that ELOHIM is used over 2000 times in the OT. I also read that the word comes from the Hebrew root meaning of power and strength.

Questions:

   1. What comes to your mind as you think of God as ELOHIM?
   2. What is your personal favorite name for God?

Peace,
Jim