WHAT IS GOD'S NAME? (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Does God DEMAND we refer to him using a special or "sacred" name - or does he even care? Do people sin when they refer to our Creator as GOD? Do requests and pleas for help go UNHEARD if a particular Hebrew word referencing the Almighty is NOT used in prayer? Is it sinful and disrespectful to call the Savior of the world Jesus or Jesus Christ?
b) There are many arguments supporting the doctrine that, like a unique key, God is reachable only through a SPECIAL name whose spelling or pronunciation is correct. One of the most popular set of names used to refer to God revolves around what is known as the Tetragammaton. The Tetragammaton is composed of four consonants, usually YHVH or YHWH, that are used in the Hebrew language to refer to God. When ancient Hebrew was written it was done so without any vowels. Those who read the consonants referring to God were forced to supply the vowel sounds that were missing.
1. Pagan references
a) One of the many arguments touted for using a 'sacred name' is that since the English word "God" was used to also reference pagan gods, it can never be used to refer to the one true Creator. One fact this claim ignores, however, is that one of the Hebrew words used to refer to the Creator, Elohim (Genesis 1:26, etc.), is ALSO used in the Bible to refer to false gods time and time again. In the Old Testament "Elohim" is used at least 240 times to refer to pagan gods. Variations of Elohim are also used in reference to false gods, such as "El" (15 times) and "Eloah" (five times). By the same reasoning used to reject the English designation for the Supreme Deity the Hebrew words Elohim, El and Eloah should not have been used to refer to the Supreme Being by the inspired writers of the Old Testament!
b) What is often overlooked is the fact that the root word "El" was used by pagans to refer to their gods about the SAME TIME Moses completed writing the first five books of the Bible. This is one proof that shows our Father does NOT prohibit the use of words in other languages to refer to him.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) Does God DEMAND we refer to him using a special or "sacred" name - or does he even care? Do people sin when they refer to our Creator as GOD? Do requests and pleas for help go UNHEARD if a particular Hebrew word referencing the Almighty is NOT used in prayer? Is it sinful and disrespectful to call the Savior of the world Jesus or Jesus Christ?
b) There are many arguments supporting the doctrine that, like a unique key, God is reachable only through a SPECIAL name whose spelling or pronunciation is correct. One of the most popular set of names used to refer to God revolves around what is known as the Tetragammaton. The Tetragammaton is composed of four consonants, usually YHVH or YHWH, that are used in the Hebrew language to refer to God. When ancient Hebrew was written it was done so without any vowels. Those who read the consonants referring to God were forced to supply the vowel sounds that were missing.
1. Pagan references
a) One of the many arguments touted for using a 'sacred name' is that since the English word "God" was used to also reference pagan gods, it can never be used to refer to the one true Creator. One fact this claim ignores, however, is that one of the Hebrew words used to refer to the Creator, Elohim (Genesis 1:26, etc.), is ALSO used in the Bible to refer to false gods time and time again. In the Old Testament "Elohim" is used at least 240 times to refer to pagan gods. Variations of Elohim are also used in reference to false gods, such as "El" (15 times) and "Eloah" (five times). By the same reasoning used to reject the English designation for the Supreme Deity the Hebrew words Elohim, El and Eloah should not have been used to refer to the Supreme Being by the inspired writers of the Old Testament!
b) What is often overlooked is the fact that the root word "El" was used by pagans to refer to their gods about the SAME TIME Moses completed writing the first five books of the Bible. This is one proof that shows our Father does NOT prohibit the use of words in other languages to refer to him.
Comments
Post a Comment