THE NAMES OF GOD

NAMES OF GOD IN THE BIBLE: A DISPENSATIONAL APPROACH : PROF. M. M. NINAN
The word “God” is a statement of ignorance. It simply says that there is something beyond me which
I don’t understand. The names are a means of communication whereby more and more of the
character and nature is made known to man. It is thus an on going revelation and is extremely
personal in nature.
We use words to define and understand. The unrevealed God, is beyond expression and conception.
We in India define that God as ‘Nirguna Brahman” - the God who has no property since we cannot
know such a God who is beyond understanding. We cannot know God unless God interact with us
and we get to know him through his actions. Such a God we in India call Saguna Brahman - God
who has properties or who can be known. The ultimate level of knowing God when we fully know him
in all his dimensions through that union with God, "by which we know Him, even as we are known."
Thus a word “god’ only defines a class without specifying the nature God. Thus all religions define
their concept of God most often adding characteristic terms with the word for god in their
language. Thus the names of God expresses what mankind through the ages have experienced God
in their various dimensions of existence.
None of these words can explain the fullness of the Godhead. Even when we see God we only see
what we can and not His fullness because there is a dimension of God which creation cannot enter or
experience. The super-essential Deity is to be without Name, and above Name. Thus the names of
God are given from universal or particular Providences, which fall within the range of our
understanding.
Thus as each of us experience God we have a unique understanding of God which we express as a
name. Thus name of God is the compendium all these names and more than that. Bible try to
present these names as is revealed through history and it still goes on.
Everything originates with God; therefore, He even gives existence to the four letters...
Even though we make use of the Tetragrammaton (YHVH) and speak of it as God’s “proper name,” it
is only meant to be “for the world” so that people would be able to call Him by some name and thus
bring His providence to bear upon them. God is actually above all names.
Yet all names are but part of His creation as well as the attributes that we have ascribed to Him
THREE AGES OF HUMAN HISTORY OF REVELATION
The Historicist View
Deuteronomy 32:6 "Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your
Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?"
Isaiah 64:8 "Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work
of your hand."
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the
Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba!
Father!”
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