THE BALANCE OF THE

NAMES OF GOD
Glenn Villegas
Come now, and let us
reason together. Isaiah 1:18

Thou art weighed in the

balances, and art found
wanting. Daniel 5:27
 The Lord would educate
the leading men to reason
from cause to effect.
21MR 29.3
That we [henceforth] be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,
[and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in
love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, [even] Christ:
Ephesians 4:11-15
They will go at the work, making a raid
upon the people. Picking out some
things in the testimonies they drive
them upon every one, and disgust
rather than win souls. They make
divisions when they might and should
make peace.

{ 3SM 285.4}
Must Pass Scrutiny

a.) It is important that in defending the doctrines which we

consider fundamental articles of faith, we should never allow
ourselves to employ arguments that are not wholly sound.
{ CW 40.3}

b.) These may avail to silence an opposer, but they do not honor
the truth. We should present sound arguments, that will not only
silence our opponents, but will bear the closest and most
searching scrutiny....
{ CW 40.3}
Oversimplification- Exaggeration

You call the world an atom

and you call an atom
the world. 1SAT 175.2
JEHOVAH
YAHUWA
LORD
GOD
DIOS
GINOO
YAHWEH
“Ber 4:26 And to Sheth, to him also there was born a
son and he called his name Enowsh. And men began
to call upon the name of Yahuwah”
RESTORED NAMES VERSION
“Is this the only name Christians should use for God? In the Bible
the Deity has many names and titles, each one describing a
different aspect of His character. No one term can encompass the
incomprehensible One.”
- Frank Holbrook
Knowledge of God

The many theories attempting to explain God, and the many

arguments for and against His existence, show that human wisdom
cannot penetrate the divine. Depending on human wisdom alone
to learn about God is like using a magnifying glass to study the
constellations.
The God of the Scriptures

The God of the Scriptures The Bible reveals God's essential qualities
through His names, activities, and attributes.
God's Names.
a.) At the time the Scriptures were written, names were important,
as they still are in the Near East and Orient. There a name is
considered to reveal the character of the bearer, his true nature
and identity.
b.) The importance of God's names, disclosing His nature,
character, and qualities, are revealed in His command "'You shall
not take the name of the Lord your God in vain'" (Ex. 20:7). David
sang: "Praise to the name of the Lord Most High" (Ps. 7:17). "Holy
and awesome is His name" (Ps. 111:9). "Let them praise the name
of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted" (Ps. 148:13).
- 27 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists., A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines. pp. 20,21
"'You shall not take the name of the Lord your God
in vain'" (Ex. 20:7).
God's Names.
c.) The Hebrew names El and Elohim ("God") reveal God's divine
power. They depict God as the strong and mighty One, the God of
Creation (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:2; Dan. 9:4).
d.) Elyon ("Most High") and El Elyon ("God Most High") focus on His
exalted status (Gen. 14:18-20; Isa. 14:14).
e.) Adonai ("Lord") pictures God as Almighty Ruler (Isa. 6:1; Ps.
35:23). These names emphasize the majestic and transcendent
character of God.
- 27 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists., A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines. pp. 20,21
God's Names
f.) Other names reveal God's willingness to enter into a
relationship with people. Shaddai ("Almighty") and El
Shaddai ("God Almighty") portray the Almighty God, the
source of blessing and comfort (Ex. 6:3; Ps. 91:1).
g.) The name Yahweh , translated Jehovah or LORD, stresses
God's covenant faithfulness and grace (Ex. 15:2, 3; Hosea
12:5, 6). In Exodus 3:14, Yahweh describes Himself as "I am
who I am," or "I shall be what I shall be," indicating His
unchangeable relation to His people. On occasions God even
revealed Himself more intimately as "Father" (Deut. 32:6;
Isa. 63:16; Jer. 31:9; Mal. 2:10), calling Israel "My Son, and
My firstborn" (Ex. 4:22; cf. Deut. 32:19).
- 27 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists., A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines. pp. 20,21
God's Names

h.) Except for Father, the New Testament names for

God carry equivalent meanings to those of the Old
Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus used Father to
bring us into a close and personal relationship with God
(Matt. 6:9; Mark 14:36; cf. Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).
- 27 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists., A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines. pp. 20,21
Names of God
a.) Jehovah Raah - The Lord Our Shepherd Raah is also translated
“companion” or “friend.” Psalm 23 Ezekiel 34:14-15 John 10:11, 27-28
Isaiah 40:11 Matthew 18:12-13 Revelation 7:17
b.) Jehovah Nissi - The Lord Our Banner Nissi is also translated “ensign”
or “standard” and represents His cause, His victory. Exodus 17:15-16a
Psalm 60:4 Isaiah 11:10 Psalm 20:5-8 Song of Solomon 2:4 1 Corinthians
15:56-57
c.) Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts Commander of all the armies of
heaven Deuteronomy 20:1-4 Nehemiah 9:5b-6 Zechariah 14:9 1 Samuel
17:42-47 Psalm 103:19-22 Revelation 11:15
d.) El - The God of Power and Might Exodus 15:1-3, 11 2 Chronicles 20:6
Psalm 89:5-8 Deuteronomy 3:24 Psalm 18:2-3 Isaiah 43:10-13
Names of God
e.) Elohim - The Triune God, Creator Genesis 1:1 Psalm 146:5-6 Isaiah 54:5
Psalm 95:1-7a Isaiah 40:25-29 Colossians 1:15-19
f.) El Elyon - The God Most High Genesis 14:17-20 Psalm 47 Psalm 97:9 Psalm
7:17 Psalm 92:1-5 Psalm 148
g.) El Shaddai - The Almighty, All-Sufficient God Genesis 17:1 2 Corinthians 12:9
Hebrews 1:2-3 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 Ephesians 1:19-21 Revelation 1:8
h.) El Olam - The Everlasting God Genesis 21:33 Psalm 102:11-12 Hebrews 13:8
Psalm 90:2 Psalm 136 Revelation 1:17-18
i.) Adonai - The Lord and Master Deuteronomy 10:17 Isaiah 45:22 1 Corinthians
6:19-20 Psalm 16:2 Romans 14:7-9 Revelation 5:9-10
j.) Father Distinguished title of the New Testament Matthew 6:9-10 John 14:6-
11 2 Corinthians 6:18 John 10:27-30 Romans 8:15-16 1 John 3:1-3
Tetragrammaton – A Greek word meaning “four
letters” used to refer to the four consonants of the
Divine Name, Y-H-W-H.
Masoretes – A group of Jewish scholars from the 6th
to the 9th century CE devoted to the copy and
preservation of the Hebrew Bible. They developed a
system of markings for pronunciation of the text.
 WHEN DID YAHWEH TERM BEGINS?
Yahweh is "a conjectural transliteration" of the sacred name of
God in the Old Testament (Ex. 3:14, 15; 6:3). The original Hebrew
contained the four consonants YHWH. In time, out of fear of
profaning God's name, the Jews refused to read this name aloud.
Instead, wherever YHWH appeared they would read the word
Adonai. In the seventh or eighth century A.D., when vowels were
added to the Hebrew words, the Masoretes supplied the vowels of
Adonai to the consonants YHWH. The combination produced the
word Jehovah, which is used in the KJV. Other translations prefer
the word Yahweh (Jerusalem Bible) or LORD (RSV, NIV, NKJV).
(See Siegfried H. Horn, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, Don F. Neufeld,
ed., rev. ed., [Washington, D. C.: Review and Herald, 1979] pp. 1192, 1193)
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
a.) If it is wrong to refer to the Saviour as Jesus, then all the
apostolic writers of the New Testament stand indicted. None of
them ever use Yeshûa’, Yahweh ( or Yahshûa’ as some choose to
spell the name). On the contrary, they preached and wrote in the
name of the Lord Jesus (Kurios lēsous) or some variation of that
expression (see Acts 16:31; 1 Thess.1:1;Phil. 3:8).
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
b.) The Jewish translators of the Hebrew Bible into Greek (the
Septuagint version, third to second centuries B.C.) rendered these
terms with the Greek word Theos, and the four-letter name YHWH
with Kurios, terms they viewed as suitable equivalents in that
language. English translators use the name God for ’Elohîm and its
related forms, and Lord for YHWH.
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
c.) The term Yahweh appears to have been derived from the
Hebrew verb to be, describing God as "the Eternal One," "the Self-
existing One," "the One who lives eternally," or possibly "the Self-
sufficient One."
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
d.) Furthermore, these names and titles are often used
interchangeably in Scripture. Although Yahweh is one of the more
commonly used names in the Old Testament (appearing more than
6,800 times), even the Deity refers to Himself by other names: for
example, ’El Shaddai ("Almighty God," Gen. 17:1), or simply ’El or
’Elohîm ("God," chap. 31:13; Isa. 46:9; Ps. 46:10).
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
e.) The Israelites used a variety of names for God in their prayers
without any fear of divine condemnation. For example, in Psalm
59 David addresses the Deity as ’Elohîm ("God," verses 1, 5, 9, 10,
13, 17), as Yahweh ("Lord," verses 3, 8), and as Yahweh ’Elohîm
("Lord God," verse 5).
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
f.) In the New Testament the apostles follow the custom adopted by
the Jewish translators of the Septuagint and use Kurios as the
equivalent of Yahweh.

g.) They make no attempt to "correct" the Septuagint by

substituting Yahweh for the translator's Kurios. For example, when
Paul cites Psalm 117:1 ("O praise the Lord [YHWH], all ye nations")
for his Christian friends in Rome, he writes, "Praise the Lord
[Kurios], all ye Gentiles" (Rom.15:11).
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
h.) Jesus, our example, did not think it inappropriate to address the
Deity by names other than Yahweh. His cry on the cross, "Eloi, Eloi,
lama sabachthani? . . . My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
me?" (Mark 15:34), was in Aramaic. Eloi is a Greek transliteration of
the Aramaic ’Elahî, the equivalent of the Hebrew Eli of Psalm 22:1,
which His despairing words reflected. The Saviour could have
cried, "Yahweh, Yahweh "—but He did not.
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
i.) Jesus commonly referred to God as His Father. For this
designation He apparently used the Aramaic word Abba ("Father,"
Mark 14:36). In addition to His own reverent practice, Christ taught
His followers for all time how to address God: "After this manner
therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy
name" (Matt. 6:9).
IS IT WRONG TO USE OTHER NAME OF GOD
EXCEPT “YAHWEH” ?
j.) ELLEN G. WHITE mentioned the name “Jehovah” 2050 times,
however, she categorized the name “Lord, Jehovah” as one of the
appellative names of God. --see EGW Topical Index under “God--
appellation of.”
Honor God with our Heart

On one occasion Jesus cited the prophet Isaiah: "this people

draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with
their lips; but their heart is far from me" (chap. 15:8). Evidently
when we approach God, the specific syllable on our lips is not
nearly as important as the humble, teachable attitude of our heart.
He will prepare men for the times. They will be humble, God-fearing
men, not conservative, not policy men; but men who have moral
independence and will move forward in the fear of the Lord. They will
be kind, noble, courteous, yet they will not be swayed from the right
path, but will proclaim the truth in righteousness whether men will hear
or whether they will forbear.—Testimonies for the Church 5:262-263.
MISSION

The object of our mission is the same as the object of Christ’s

mission. Why did God send His Son to the fallen world? To make known
and to demonstrate to mankind His love for them. Christ came as a
Redeemer. Throughout His ministry He was to keep prominent His
mission to save sinners.... MM 24.4
SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD…