THE TITLES EL & ELOHIM
Good or Bad?
By Voy Wilks
Are the titles El and Elohim acceptable in referring to Yahweh, the Most High? I respectfully call to your attention the following thoughts:
The most ancient manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, dating to the first or second century before Yahshua’s birth, refer to the Supreme Being by the titles EL and Elohim. Therefore to claim that late scholars (Jewish or Gentile), added these titles is unfounded.
Thousands of times throughout the Sacred Writings (the Bible) Yahweh is referred to by the titles El and Elohim; by the Fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), by the judges, by the Prophets, by the Apostles, by Yahshua the Messiah and, of more importance, by Yahweh Himself. This indicates these titles are wholesome and, by using them we bestow greater honor upon Yahweh the Most High.
True, there was a Canaanite g-d by the NAME OF El. But this was after the fact. Yahweh, the Most High El claimed this TITLE (NOT A NAME) 1700 YEARS BEFORE THERE WERE ANY Canaanites. These titles were Yahweh’s choice, therefore we must not alter them (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18).
Yahweh commanded Jacob to go to Beth-El, and there worship EL (Genesis 35:1).
Take the prophet – one of Yahweh’s greatest, yet his name was EL-iyah. Did the Most High Yahweh demand that the prophet change his name? No. Instead, Yahweh performed wonderful deeds through El-iyah the prophet. The same is true of Dani-EL, the prophet. Yahweh did not demand, or even request, that he change his name.
Yahshua the Messiah honored EL-iyah (by that name) as a great prophet (Matthew 11:14).
When asked about the commandments of Yahweh, Yahshua the Messiah quoted the Shema, speaking of Yahweh as “our Elohim” (Mark 12:29, Deuteronomy 6:4). Since Yahweh was Yahshua’s Elohim, why not join good company, and make Yahweh our Elohim as well. To claim EL-ohim is a vile title is to imply that Yahshua Himself was a vile person (a sinner). If Yahshua sinned, then He could not have been the Messiah.
On that certain day of Pentecost long ago the Apostles were filled with the Holy [set apart] Spirit and did astonishing things (Acts 2). This included the Apostle Peter. A few days later, still filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 3:1-13), the Apostle Peter spoke favorably of the Prophet Samu-EL, calling him by name (Acts 3:24). He did not substitute for the prophet Samu-EL some name of his own choosing, as some do today.
The Apostle Paul also wrote in a favorable way about the prophet, calling him by name, Samu-EL (Heb. 11:32). Samu-EL is honored as a prophet and judge in Israel.
The name Israel – Yahweh himself gave this name (Isra-EL) to Jacob, as a more fitting name (Genesis 32:28). Who are we to disagree with the most High?
Summary
It is a misguided devotion, trying to separate Yahweh from the titles El and Elohim; titles He chose for Himself in the very beginning; 1,700 years before there were any Canaanites, therefore 1,700 years before there existed a Canaanite g-d by the name of EL (Genesis 1:1, 2:4, 10:18).
In quoting the Shema, Yahshua declared Yahweh to be our Elohim (Mark 12:29).
Yahweh himself commanded Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar to EL (Genesis 35:1).
The titles El and Elohim were good enough for Yahweh, so they should be good enough for us.