If we do not understand the purpose of revelation, we will never understand revelation itself. Much less will we understand the names of God. Firstly and foremostly, God’s revelation is creaturely in the sense that God’s revelation is not God Himself or God in Himself—it is revelation about God. It is not infinite, it is not incomprehensible, it came into being at creation, and it has progressed throughout time, according to the will of God. Though it most certainly reveals Someone who is infinite, incomprehensible, eternal, and unchangeable, God’s revelation is accommodated and addressed to those who are finite, comprehensible, and changeable.
We should not, therefore, make the mistake of seeing revelation as God itself. It is the revelation of God, and should be distinguished from the divine essence as such. To put it simply: The Bible itself is not God. It is the revelation of God.
Why is this important? It is important because it helps us to situate the Scriptures correctly. This revelation was revealed for a reason, for a purpose. It was revealed for someone. There is an object upon which this revelation acts. It’s not God. God does not need His own revelation—though it most certainly reveals His glory. The very purpose of revelation is to reveal. But God knows all. Everything is revealed to Him in a single, eternal instant. Therefore, revelation is purposed to reveal something—God Himself among other things—to creatures, to us.
Creatures are the ones who are in need of revelation. There are a great many things we do not know. And there are a great many things we must know if we are to have any hope whatsoever of salvation. Creatures are the recipients of the revelation of God. Paul writes to Timothy:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Revelation is for us, that is, for our good; and as such, it is accommodated to us. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deut. 29:29).”
Everything, therefore, that has been revealed in or by the Word of God is for us. It belongs to us, or has been given to us by the Lord. And this means it is fitted or adjusted to us. That is, God has revealed Himself in ways creatures are able to understand. Remember, we are finite and are, therefore, severely limited in capacity. God is infinite.
So, to state the problem: How does an infinite God reveal Himself to finite men? He cannot do so directly. The very purpose Christ assumed human nature was in order to condescend to our humiliated level, to our understanding, to our experience, etc., for the sake of relating to us. It is impossible for something finite to perceive something that is infinite. If a finite human could perceive an infinite God, then that God would not be infinite. It would be defined, limited to certain parameters that allow us to comprehend it—not infinite.
God must, therefore, accommodate Himself to a human, finite understanding. And that is what the Scriptures are—accommodated revelation; infinite truths described on creaturely, finite terms. For this reason, theologians refer to God’s revelation as analogical. It delivers similitudes of God, but not God Himself in all His infinite glory. It would be contradictory to suggest infinity might be circumscribed to, defined or limited by creaturely language!
So, to sum up this section: What God reveals of Himself and His plan is designed for man. He has given it to us. And because of this, it is accommodated to our understanding. What God reveals, we can understand, not because we are so able or prone to understand, but because God has adjusted His revelation to our level.
All of this to say: God’s names are attributed to God either by Himself or by the biblical authors in order that we might know Him better. But no matter how well we know God, we will always know Him in a creaturely way.
Victory Baptist Church | A Sovereign Grace Church in Kansas City 