God the Father

Introduction

God is often called the "Father" in Scripture because He, like earthly fathers, is creator, law giver, and protector. God "fathered" the world and protects and maintains it. He is the world's protector and ultimate judge. He gives His law both through the prohets and through conscience (Rom. 2).

Names of God

Although much of what we know about God's attributes is covered in the article on "God", it is instructive to look at how thethree eprsons who are that one God differ from one another. "God the Father" is the name of the first person of the Trinity. "God" is a title, not a name, often used in the NT in a more generic sense. Although God is by His very nature unknowable in the absolute sense, indescribable in His totality, and transcendent above and beyond our thoughts, we still have an obligation to apprehend what we cannot fully comprehend. God has shown us what we can know of Him, and though we see through a glass darkened...still we can know if what we see is truth.

The names used to describe God tell us much about His character and being. This is why we can call on God's name (Ps 18:49). A name is used synonymous with the one it is attached to. This is why we are not to take it in vain (Ex 20:7). (Note the similarity of the first three commandments.) The names used to describe God tell us much about His character and being. This is why we can call on God's name (Ps 18:49). A name is used synonymous with the one it is attached to. This is why we are not to take it in vain (Ex 20:7). (Note the similarity of the first three commandments.)

  • Adonai "Lord": (Gen 19:2) meaning master or owner, authority and supremacy. This is why "lord" is also used as a title of men (John 4:11 "sir").
  • Kurios is the New Testament Greek equivalent of Adonai.
  • Elohim "God(s)": (Gen 1:1) The source of all creation, the powerful one. It is a plural Hebrew word . . . a plural of majesty that could not be expressed in the singular (which also has interesting Trinitarian interpretations). This became a generic word for deity but could also be used for angels, men, idols and false gods.
  • Theos (Jn 1:1) is roughly the New Testament Greek equivalent of Elohim but is never used for any being other than God Himself.
  • El "God" plus some descriptive term is often used:
  • El Shaddai: (Gen 17:1) pictures the Almighty standing on a mountain for comfort or chastening.
  • El Elyon: (Gen 14:19) the Most High God.
  • El Olam: (Gen 21:33) the Everlasting God.
  • El Roi: (Gen 16:13) the God who sees.
  • Yahweh "the Lord": (Gen 4:1) God's self existence presence. "I am who I am" (Jn 3:14). From the word YHWH with the vowels supplied from the substitute word Adonai.
  • Yahweh Jireh: (Gen 22:14) the Lord will Provide.
  • Yahweh Nissi: (Ex 17:15) the Lord is my Banner.
  • Yahweh Shalom: (Jud. 6:24) the Lord is Peace.
  • Yahweh Sabbaoth: (1 Sam 1:3) The Lord of Hosts (the armies of Heaven).
  • Yahweh Maccaddeschcem: (Ex. 31:13) the Lord your Sanctifier.
  • Yahweh Roi: (Ps. 23:1) the Lord my Shepherd.
  • Yahweh Tsidkenu: (Jer 23:6) the Lord our Righteousness.
  • Yahweh Shammah: (Ezek 48:35) the Lord is There.
  • Yahweh Elohim Israel: (Jud 5:3) The Lord God of Israel.

Who Is Jehovah?

The name Yahweh (Heb. YHWH) was considered so sacred to the Jewish people that it was not to be said out loud for fear of blasphemy. In practice, the word would often be written or read as "Adonai" to avoid any possible slip-ups. Eventually the vowels were inserted (which would be Yahowah). The word "Jehovah" is actually impossible in Hebrew - for their is no character that makes a "J" sound. This is just a Latinized version of Yahveh, or Yahweh, Yehovah, etc. Scholars will tell you that they are simply not sure which vowels are "really" correct. When we speak of God's name we are speaking of Him . . . whichever (Biblical) name we choose. "Jehovah" is not found in any Greek manuscripts nor did Jesus (also a latinized word from Yeshua) ever refer to God using this particular name. Anytime the Bible speaks of God's name it refers to the person of God Himself. Differences in meaning do not follow from differences in pronunciation.

Much of what we know of God the Father is found in the Old Testament as He was the primary (although certinaly not only!) person involved with Israel. Although descriptions of God the Father in the OT are often pitted against those in the NT, they are one and the same. In the OT we see that the Father is:

  • merciful (Ex.s 34:6,7)
  • trustworthy (Gen. 9:1;12:1-3; Ex.19.5,6)
  • redemptiver (Ps. 8:3,4; 18:1,2; Isa. 44)
  • protective (Ps. 27:5; 36:5-9; 46:1; 62:8)
  • a forgiver (Ps. 51:1,11; 3:11-14)
  • good (Psa. 146:7-9 )
  • faithful (Isa. 41:9,10; 44:21,22; 45:22)
  • a savior and avenger (Isa. 35:4)

In the NT the Father is said to have an only son: Jesus Christ. This relationship is exclusive (Mt. 11:27). While God is creator and in a sense "the father of all" God the Father has a specialfatherly relationship with believers. Christians can be called children of God because they are adopted into God's family (Jn. 1). Unbelievers, although children of God in a general sense, are ultimately children of His wrath (Eph. 2:3).