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May 14, '12, 3:44 pm
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Regular Member
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Join Date: August 17, 2010
Posts: 1,658
Religion: Roman Catholic
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What is God's Name and what does it do?
Hi,
I had a question about God's Name. I am not sure how to word it and it might sound awkward. Is God His Name? Is God's Name not only something that shows Who He Is, but actually What He Is? Does this make any sense? The Bible focused immensely on names, especially the Name of Jesus, and the power in the utterance of a name. I've worded this really awkwardly but I am hoping someone else can straighten me out on this. I was almost going to post this in the Philosophy forums, but decided to put it here, because Sacred Scripture focused on the "Word of God", and my question and confusion has to do with what a Word or Name is and what it does. Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can understand this?
May God bless each of us for all eternity,
Joshua
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May 14, '12, 4:27 pm
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Banned
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Join Date: November 17, 2009
Posts: 795
Religion: Christian
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Joshua
Hebrew names for God is a subject you may want to seek out.
For example; "Elohim" is Hebrew for Creator and Judge a name of God, referred to in the first chapter in Gen. And in the second chapter you might note that it say the Lord God. Which when the scripture in this case says Lord it is to say YHWH (Yahweh).
So Hebrew, and what is ment in Hebrew, is the way on that. As far as we know though, the Name of Jesus Christ the Beloved Son of God, is the Power of Salvation.
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May 14, '12, 5:20 pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: March 26, 2010
Posts: 6,330
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by joshrp
Hi,
I had a question about God's Name. I am not sure how to word it and it might sound awkward. Is God His Name? Is God's Name not only something that shows Who He Is, but actually What He Is? Does this make any sense? The Bible focused immensely on names, especially the Name of Jesus, and the power in the utterance of a name. I've worded this really awkwardly but I am hoping someone else can straighten me out on this. I was almost going to post this in the Philosophy forums, but decided to put it here, because Sacred Scripture focused on the "Word of God", and my question and confusion has to do with what a Word or Name is and what it does. Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can understand this?
May God bless each of us for all eternity,
Joshua
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Joshua, have Jehovah's Witnesses been speaking to you, telling you that you must know and understand God's name?
-Tim-
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May 14, '12, 5:29 pm
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Regular Member
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Join Date: October 23, 2008
Posts: 662
Religion: Catholic
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DPMartin
Joshua
Hebrew names for God is a subject you may want to seek out.
For example; "Elohim" is Hebrew for Creator and Judge a name of God, referred to in the first chapter in Gen. And in the second chapter you might note that it say the Lord God. Which when the scripture in this case says Lord it is to say YHWH (Yahweh).
So Hebrew, and what is ment in Hebrew, is the way on that. As far as we know though, the Name of Jesus Christ the Beloved Son of God, is the Power of Salvation.
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Just want to add that YHWH means "I AM WHO AM" or "I AM WHO IS".
But like what DPMartin said: "And salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12.
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May 14, '12, 5:35 pm
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Junior Member
Prayer Warrior
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Join Date: September 20, 2010
Posts: 483
Religion: Catholic Convert
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
The God of Abraham has many names.
Yahweh, Jehova, Allah, Elohim, etc. They aren't really important though, unless you feel like you would rather call him by a name because it feels more personal? Sometimes I call Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Peter by the names they went by(Yeshua, Yosef, Maryam, Kephas). I think we call him "God" in modern language simply because he is THE God, not a god that needs a name in order to be distinguished.
__________________
If you whine to God's mom, the possibilities are endless.
"There are two kinds of men, the rightious who sees himself as a sinner, and the sinner, who sees himself as rightious"
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
"And may the odds, be ever in your favor!" 
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May 14, '12, 6:48 pm
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Regular Member
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Join Date: August 17, 2010
Posts: 1,658
Religion: Roman Catholic
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimothyH
Joshua, have Jehovah's Witnesses been speaking to you, telling you that you must know and understand God's name?
-Tim-
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Actually, I don't think I've ever been spoken to by a Jehovah's Witness in my life. But no one has told me that I have to know and understand God's name. I guess I am trying to understand the relationship between a name and the being which the name refers to.
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May 15, '12, 8:16 pm
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Junior Member
Prayer Warrior
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Join Date: May 5, 2012
Posts: 189
Religion: Catholic
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
This site has a pretty exhaustive list of the names & titles of God:
http://www.christiananswers.net/dict...amesofgod.html
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May 15, '12, 9:26 pm
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Forum Elder
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Join Date: August 23, 2005
Posts: 16,946
Religion: Catholic
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by joshrp
Hi,
I had a question about God's Name. I am not sure how to word it and it might sound awkward. Is God His Name? Is God's Name not only something that shows Who He Is, but actually What He Is? Does this make any sense? The Bible focused immensely on names, especially the Name of Jesus, and the power in the utterance of a name. I've worded this really awkwardly but I am hoping someone else can straighten me out on this. I was almost going to post this in the Philosophy forums, but decided to put it here, because Sacred Scripture focused on the "Word of God", and my question and confusion has to do with what a Word or Name is and what it does. Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can understand this?
May God bless each of us for all eternity,
Joshua
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God is not the name of God which is why I find it really strange when some people will write G-d. Makes no sense.
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May 15, '12, 9:37 pm
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Junior Member
Prayer Warrior
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Join Date: May 5, 2012
Posts: 189
Religion: Catholic
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thistle
God is not the name of God which is why I find it really strange when some people will write G-d. Makes no sense.
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It is a Jewish custom of reverence (that has been adopted by some Christians):
http://www.jewfaq.org/name.htm#Writing
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May 16, '12, 1:04 am
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Forum Elder
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Join Date: August 23, 2005
Posts: 16,946
Religion: Catholic
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justice_Mercy
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That is the custom when talking about the name of God. God is not his name so it makes no sense.
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May 16, '12, 9:07 am
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Junior Member
Prayer Warrior
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Join Date: May 5, 2012
Posts: 189
Religion: Catholic
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thistle
That is the custom when talking about the name of God. God is not his name so it makes no sense.
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Well, it may make no sense to you. However, if you read that linked site it answers your question, whether it makes sense to you or not. I was just trying to help 
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May 16, '12, 9:11 am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: March 26, 2010
Posts: 6,330
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by joshrp
Actually, I don't think I've ever been spoken to by a Jehovah's Witness in my life. But no one has told me that I have to know and understand God's name. I guess I am trying to understand the relationship between a name and the being which the name refers to.
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OK. That's good to hear. It is a standard line of the Jehova's Witness, "Do you know God's name?"
Just wanted to make sure thay hadn't hooked you into something you were unaware of.
-Tim-
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May 16, '12, 9:36 am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: January 31, 2007
Posts: 6,439
Religion: Quaker
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Re: What is God's Name and what does it do?
In many cultures the "name" of something carries with it it's "nature". To invoke a god using the god's particular name was thought to somehow "bind" that god to the task being requested.
In Kabbalah, the "mystic name of God" is sought....to know the Name of God was to have a connection to God.
In High Magic/Ceremonial Magic, much is made of being able to call upon certain angels and deities for their aid.
Even among some "orthodox" faiths...to be able to cast out a demon, one must know his name to do so....to know a persons 'true name' is to have "power" over them.
Such is the case with "God's Name" in ancient thought.
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