THE NAMES OF GOD

NAMES OF GOD IN THE BIBLE: A DISPENSATIONAL APPROACH : PROF. M. M. NINAN
It is true that some of these Bene Elohim because of their free will fell from grace and lost the powers
of Elohim to varying degrees. But yet a large portion of the creation still remain unfallen and takes
part in the continued creative process. Thus we see the wider view of race of Elohim which can be
shown as below.
Elohim comes from a root that means "strength, might, power." In that sense it includes all that has
power. Thus it can also be translated as "gods." Exodus 12:12 refers to "all the elohim (gods) of
Egypt."
Thus if we are to identify the Elohim additonal descriptions are to be appended.
Elohim occurs consistently in the creation account of Gen. 1:1-2:42 and in the genealogies of Genesis.
It obviously implies that creation was not an instant act of some supra God. It involved all the Elohim
who cooperated in the process and the process of creation still goes on. It is the function of the
creation to cooperate with God in the ongoing process of creation.
He fixed the boundaries of the nations (Deut. 32:8). He effects changes in the creation (Ps.
18:13). Bible speaks of Watchers and Rulers, Principalities, Powers etc with whom God supreme
has willingly shared his powers.
Thus the appellative Elohim connotes all beings who partake of divinity. As God he is sovereign, and
that sovereignty extends beyond Israel into the arena of the nations (Deut. 2:30, 33; 3:22; Isa. 52:10).
As God to his people he is loving and merciful (Deut. 1:31; 2:7; 23:5; Isa. 41:10, 13, 17; 49:5; Jer.
3:23). He establishes standards of obedience (Deut. 4:2; Jer. 11:3) and sovereignly punishes
disobedience (Deut. 23:21). As God, there is no one like him (Isa. 44:7; 45:5-21). These ongoing
process is shared by other beings including man.
The same connotations obtain in the use of the shorter form el. He is the God who sees (El Roi; as in
Gen. 16:13) and he is El the God of Israel (Gen. 33:20).
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