THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/GOD'S NAME

What is God's Name?

WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY

Many professed Christians believe that God's name is Jesus.  Others claim that since there is only one Almighty God, using a personal name for him is unnecessary.  Still other argue that using a proper name for God is inappropriate.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Almighty God's name is not Jesus, since Jesus is not God Almighty.   In fact, Jesus taught fellow worshippers to pray to God saying:  "Father, let they name be sanctified." (Luke 11:2) Jesus himself prayed to God:  "Father, glorify your name. -John 12:28.

In the Bible, God declares:  "I am Jehovah. That is my name; I give my glory to no one else.: (Isaiah 42:8) "Jehovah" is an English translation of the four Hebrew consonants YHWH, which constitute the divine name.  That name appears more than any title, such as "God," the Almighty," or "Lord," and more frequently than any other name, such as Abraham, Moses, or David. 

Nowhere in the Bible does Jehovah prohibit the respectful use of his name. Instead, the Scriptures reveal that the divine name was freely used by God's servants.  They included it in the names they gave their children, such as Elijah," and Zechariah, which means Jehovah Has Remembered."  And they did not hesitate to use God's name in daily conversations. -Ruth 2:4.

God wants us to use his name.  We are encouraged to "give thanks to Jehovah, call on his name."  (Psalm 105:1)  He even takes favorable note of those "meditating on his name." -Malachi 3:16. 

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/GOD'S NAME -What Does God's Name Mean? 

From the jw.org publication