Theological Term of the Week

Elohim
The Hebrew word for God, and one of the names of God revealed in scripture, used first in Genesis 1:1. Scholars debate Elohim’s exact origin and meaning.

• In scripture: 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… . And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:1, 3 ESV)

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. (Genesis 17:7 ESV)

• From Blue Letter Bible’s The Names of God in the Old Testament:

Elohim is translated as “God.” The derivation of the name Elohim is debatable to most scholars. Some believe it derived from ‘êlwhich, in turn, originates from the root word, ‘wl (which means “strong”). Others think that Elohim is derived from another two roots: ‘lh (which means “god”) in conjunction with ‘elôah (which means “fear”). And still others presume that both ‘êland Elohim come from ‘eloah.

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Heidelberg Catechism

Question 75. How does the Lord’s Supper remind you and assure you that you share in Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross and in all his gifts?

Answer: In this way: Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat this broken bread, and to drink this cup in remembrance of him. With this command he gave these promises: (a)

First, as surely as I see with my eyes the bread the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup given to me, so surely was his body offered and broken for me, and his blood poured out for me on the cross.

Second, as surely as I receive from the hand of the one who serves, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, given to me as sure signs of Christ’s body and blood, so surely he nourishes and refreshes my soul for everlasting life with his crucified body and poured-out blood.

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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Sunday's Hymn: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down;
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss till now was thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call thee mine.

What thou, my Lord, hast suffered
Was all for sinners’ gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!
‘Tis I deserve thy place;
Look on me with thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow
To thank thee, dearest Friend,
For this thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me thine for ever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to thee.

Be near when I am dying,
O show thy cross to me;
And for my succor flying,
Come, Lord, to set me free:
These eyes, new faith receiving,
From Jesus shall not move;
For he who dies believing,
Dies safely, through thy love.

—Bernard of Clairvaux

Fernando Ortega

Piano and cello

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• The Love of God at The Happy Wonderer
• O Lord, I Will Praise Thee! at The Upward Call
• The Love of God at Theology for Girls
• Thank You for Blessing Unkown to Me from Trevin Wax
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: What we are at Pyromaniacs
• To Him be glory at Tried With Fire

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.