Guide to the Names of God

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

PART I:

HEBREW NAMES of GOD

PART II: OVER-ARCHING

ATTRIBUTE TITLES

PART III: PROVISION TITLE

CLUSTERS

PART IV: REDEMPTION TITLE CLUSTERS

PART V: OTHER TITLES OF –

GOD THE FATHER

PART VI: OTHER TITLES OF

GOD THE SON

PART VII:

OTHER TITLES of

GOD the HOLY SPIRIT

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to all those who contributed thoughts, ideas, and materials to this extensive project; it could not have been completed without your contributions…

Sally Ann Deitmar Joiner, a college friend, who so capably created the cover of this treatiste.

Rev. Darrell Joiner for his passionate support and encouragement as well as writing the Foreword.

Paul Puffe, Professor at Concordia University-TX-Austin, for his expertise and assistance with Hebrew words constructions as well as his encouragement that this is a worthwhile project to benefit many.

Dr. Roger Cotton, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield MO, for extensive clarification of Hebrew and encouragement on project.

Dr. William Griffin, Evangel College, Springfield MO, for sharing his expertise with Hebrew names.

Evelyn Rowe Nelson, a well-seasoned, former Global Director and Editor from Thomson Heinle publishing company of Boston MA, for editing this oft-revised manuscript.

AuthorHouse and all the staff who facilitated the publishing of this treatise.

Many thanks to all those who prayed for me and lovingly encouraged me throughout this challenging study.

Last, but-not-least, thanks to my husband John, our daughter Julie, and our grandson Ty for all their loving support and encouragement over many months of putting up with Omi in her office working on her book all hours of the day and night.

Dedication

In 1968, I had a life-after-life experience initiating my life as a survivor of the dreadful disease of cancer. Therefore, Guide to the Names of God is dedicated to the following family and friends who are or will be healed survivors of cancer:

My beloved mother, Dorothy Johnson Myers — lost a brief fight to lung cancer, 2001.

My aunt, Genevieve Johnson Waters, who lost a fight with breast cancer in1956.

My half-brother, Dr. Roger Wallentine MD, who lost a brief battle with Leukemia in 1990.

My cousin, Linda Waters Manna, a victorious healed survivor since 1991, and her grand-daughter, Emma Holmes (now aged 9), a healed survivor since 2004.

My cousin, Sharon Pierce Roberts, a healed survivor who still fights by faith in God’s power to overrule stage 4 cancer– fighting since 2007.

A close TX friend, Janet Hutchison Glenn — lost her fight to uterine cancer in 1999.

Long-time friend, Kathy Law, fought and successfully won (through surgery) during 1999.

Long-time friend, Netta Putnam, Physician’s Assistant, fought and successfully won (through surgery) during 2003.

College friends: Bob Wolfe, who lost his fight in 2006; and Cathy Black, who lost her fight in 2006.

Long-time friend and missionary, Darrell Delozier, who lost his brief, but well-fought, battle with pancreatic cancer in 2006.

Faithful Shoreline Church friends: JoAnn Lucero, healed since 2002; Pastor Cheryl Luke, healed since 2000; and Judy Kassis, healed since 2009.

Long-time friend from NY, Sharon Zuraw Pierson, in healed remission since October, 2008.

Friend from Texas and Colorado, Bob Snead, PhD, a healed survivor since early 2009.

Friend, retired Pastor, Foreword writer, from Maine, Darrell Joiner, a healed survivor since 2009.

College friend, Nyla Forney Marks, fighting a hard fight and trusting God for total healing in 2010.

College friend, Bob Ledbetter, trusting God and declared healed Sept 2010. God answered!

In the process of fighting cancer, we all learned more about God — Who He is and what He desires to do on our behalf. We developed a more intimate relationship with our Savior and LORD. May you be similarly enlightened and encouraged to pursue God in His fullness without having to battle cancer or some other challenging disease or debilitating disability.

Foreword

By Rev. Darrell Joiner

A senior pastor in the United Church of Christ for well over forty years, I strongly believe in the importance of serious Bible study and to "rightly divide the word of truth" in our teaching, preaching and discussions in parish ministry. Equally important is for us all to study the Scriptures on both a personal level and to increase an understanding and accuracy in correctly interpreting the Scriptures.  Only careful study and research can prevent the misguided interpretations which have become so prevalent in churches today throughout the world.

Quest for solid truth is aided and abetted by a range of resources.  Dr. Haneke has provided a much needed research tool to further enhance our understanding of who God is, and what God is all about as can be known through His self-revelation in the variety of names which God uses for Himself, and which others have applied to Him.  The research and dedication to detail required to research out the multiplicity of these names and the subtle nuances that arise from the context of the revelation is mind-boggling to say the least.  She set an elevated goal for this significant and scholarly work and has accomplished this project masterfully, with great skill, much perseverance, and focus.

There are other directories of the names of God found in the Bible, but this work is different and compelling on three key points…  1) Its unique organization of the names for God and its multilevel, scholastic presentation makes it equally useful for both the average lay person and the seasoned professional teacher. 2) She successfully bridges the oft-times foreboding chasm between the interests of Biblical scholarship and its application by real-world people in the pews. 3) Personal application suggestions and devotional use of the various names of God in prayer life will be insightful for all.  Intended to be a reference resource, one can easily use it as an enriching guide and personal daily devotional tool to research a different name or title… a great Bible companion. This book will be a worthy source of knowledge and blessing to all who use it.

Rev. Darrell R. Joiner, M.A., Wheaton College; M.Div., Garrett-Evangelical Seminary.

Additional Endorsements

Dianne brings together resources to benefit individuals in their personal devotional life and in Bible study groups. I am drawn to the concepts she develops of God’s names as provisional and redemptive, categories speaking to where I live - God’s provision in my life as well as His redemption in ongoing ways. Her integration demonstrates particular insight — where names of God are most often treated in a stand-alone manner. I look forward to using it in my own life as well as in small groups in our church. Robert Bayley, graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary; Minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA); interim pastor of John Knox Presbyterian Church, Seattle WA.

Wish I had this material when I was a professor in Bible college. This is a textbook for knowing what kind of God we serve.Every religion and worshipper of God should read this book, and lost souls may find the Kingdom of God. Pastor Bill Dropko, Greenacres Christian Fellowship, Greenacres WA.

"I highly recommend this book. Valuable resource for all – from the lesser educated to the theologian.  It helps a person to ‘know’ God as He said we should, offering new ways of communicating with Him. You’ll say, ‘Why didn’t I have this earlier?’ Rev. John Morgan, B.A., M.A., Pastor, Counselor, Author, Pastor of Port Susan Chapel of Marysville WA.

A common question asked by Jewish people is, ‘Who is your Father?’ This book provides insight into who God is and explains in His names why Jesus was like He was on earth. God chose to reveal Himself to mankind through His name. In this reference, there is a wealth of revelation. Cleddie Keith, Senior Pastor, Heritage Fellowship, Florence KY

Dr. Dianne Haneke has, with grace and precision, taken a massive topic and broken it down to palatable, bite-size chunks.  Those desiring to know more about God will enjoy this book. Earl McClellan, Pastor, Shoreline Christian Center, Austin TX.

Once again Dr. Haneke compiled a thoughtful, detailied and intriguing collection of facts and highly useful information for the serious believer in Christ… A useful tool in my study library.

Pastor David Scott, Family of Hope Church, Saugerties NY.

Preface

When impressed to write this book on the names of God, I had no working title. One morning I awoke thinking about how so many people close a prayer with, In Jesus’ Name, Amen — using it almost as a rubber stamp. They assume God will answer their prayer because, after all, We prayed in Jesus’ name, didn’t we? But, what does that mean? Praying in Jesus’ name is much more than a rubber stamp approval. In Jesus’ name, really means, In light of all of who God is and all of what God says He will do, may that be your portion. Amen! Now, that’s powerful!

The original working title, In Jesus’ Name, Amen! took on a narrower focus with In Jesus’ Name, Amen! A Brief Guide to the Names of God, and finally became Guide to the Names of God.

Just as the title underwent revisions, so have the contents. Much Bible study, prayer, research, and some study of Hebrew and Greek went into this project, prompting many rewrites as revelations and insights arrived. New names stimulated new headings and subheadings, and the manuscript grew. During the process, the names and titles of God fluctuated between 100 and 300+. Numeric deviations seem rooted in language, spelling, and meaning variations.

After extensive work on this project, I felt inspired with a new paradigm — an open umbrella: the handle being basic names of God; the umbrella displays the over-arching attributes of God covering the other five clusters on who God is and what He does.

So, who is God anyway? God said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14 [ASV, KJV] I AM WHO I AM. [Exodus 3:14, NKJV, RSV, Power Bible CD]. According to this verse in Exodus, I AM encapsulates all aspects of God’s names and titles… who He is, and what He does for His children.

Studying the specific names of I AM, we get to know God more personally as well as thoroughly. Knowledge fosters trust. Trust engenders faith. Faith is the basis of living the Christian life minute by minute, hour by hour, day-by-day. Studying the names of God is crucial to walking in the fullness of God. Thus, the I AM… watermark which reflects God’s desire for us to know He is all of what these names and titles represent.

Once you know some of these various names of God, you will find an additional benefit… praying using the names and titles of God. For example, when someone asks for prayer for healing, I pray, Jehovah Jireh, You are the LORD our Provider. El Shaddai, All-Sufficient God, You are totally able to supply this need. Jehovah Rapha, LORD the Healer, show Yourself strong of behalf of ___. Bring your divine health to___. In the fullness of Your names I pray, Amen. Whatever the need, God is the answer. I know God is faithful to honor his names just as He is faithful to honor His Word. Praying using the names and titles of God is a powerful way to pray! Try it. You’ll like it!

This has been a challenging, joy-filled experience for me as a writer — probably the most exciting book I have written to date. It is my sincerest prayer that you, the reader, will increasingly come to know our true and living God more personally and intimately as you read and study the names of God. May being aware of His various titles deepen your trust and faith in God to be all He desires to be for you in your life.

With pleasure, I commend to you, Guide to the Names of God.

Sincerely and lovingly,

Dianne

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This work is in no-wise intended to present a scholarly Hebrew or Greek work. It is to inspire and help Pastors, Bible teachers, and average Christians thoroughly know God.

Introduction

Some Church History

To help you better understand why consider Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, I would like to review some church history in brief. The Old Testament is a record of the history of Judaism and the Jewish people. It is the basis for the New Testament, and Judaism continues into present-day faiths.

The New Testament is a record of the life of Christ and the early Christian Church. The Christian faith was carried by the Christian Church. The early Catholic faith split into the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church about AD1054.

In AD1517, Martin Luther, disagreed with some practices of the Roman Catholic Church and nailed his 95 theses to the door of a chapel in Wittenberg, Germany to invite a debate. Ultimately, this led to the Reformation and the beginning of the Protestant Christian faith. There’s much more, but this recap should suffice for this occasion.

The Old Testament laid the foundation and gives us most of the names of God in Hebrew. The New Testament builds upon the Old Testament and gives us more names in Greek. Together, they build our faith.

The number of names and titles depends upon language variations and translations. In my research, I encountered well over 400 names, titles, and variations, but I will try to be brief. How might a book of so many names be organized to facilitate making sense of and remembering?

Most importantly, consultation with Hebrew scholars clarified that most of which we consider to be the names of God are in fact Titles of God… a) reflecting places where someone met Him (El Bethel), b) actions or functions God performed (Y@hovah Yireh), or relationship (Abba). So, most of this book contains Titles of God.

Organization of this Volume

In this reference volume, I opted to display the information, names, and titles in seven sections:

This is designed to be a reference work, not discourse. Titles of God follow the basic Hebrew names of God.

Layers of Information

Several layers of information are subtly imbedded for your consideration as you study each title as a revelation of God and His desires for His children.

1. Background

Names are rooted in the language in which they were originally recorded. Names and titles tell us some thing about a person: lineage, physical, mental, and spiritual traits. More time spent together, yields more about a friend’s likes, dislikes, character, talents, and abilities. Time spent interacting helps us ascribe titles based on Background.

2. Revelation

With God, too, the more time we spend with Him, study His Word (the Bible), and walk in His ways, the more we get to know Him — names, titles, and attributes. There is always more to be learned, more opportunity for the intimacy to deepen. This volume presents the names and titles of God, their meanings, and stories behind God’s Revelation of each.

3. Knowledge

A third benefit of this book is the Knowledge. One may assent to Christian concepts, "God said it so I