God

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
Unlike the Old Testament, where there are several names of God in His essential Being, the New Testament has only one name, the translation of the Greek word, Theos. There are various names of God in the New Testament, but designating some relative position, such as the Father, who is relative to the Son. God is a Spirit. God is the living God. God is the true God. God is able. God is faithful. God is the God of hope, of peace, of all comfort, the God of patience and consolation, and above all "God is love." (1 John 4:1616And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)). "To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.' (Jude 2525To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 25)).
This name of God occurs over 1,200 times in the New Testament. Eight times it is employed to designate the gods of the heathen world, or distinguished people as in John 10:34,34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? (John 10:34) where it speaks of " gods," quoting from Psa. 82:6,7,6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. (Psalm 82:6‑7) where God is seen among the mighty, but telling them they would die like men, for they were but men. Otherwise God (Theos) is invariably translated God. He is presented in two ways, either acting in grace, " the acceptable YEAR of the LORD (Isa. 61:22To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; (Isaiah 61:2)); or of acting in government, " the DAY of vengeance of our God " (Isa. 61:22To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; (Isaiah 61:2)). Note the acceptable year of the LORD, the long stretched-out 365 days of gracious waiting on man for his blessing, as compared with "the day of vengeance of our God," the short sharp 24 hours in which judgment shall be rendered to every man. "The acceptable year of our Lord" has already lasted nigh two thousand years, and still God lingers in grace over a godless world. But the day of judgment must come, and signs are telling us that day is not far off. "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy." (Psalm 145:88The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. (Psalm 145:8)).