The Godhead

 

Romans 1:20

We are living in a time when opinions are a "dime a dozen". Varied opinions and philosophies in theology are not phenomena of the twentieth century. Men have discussed the deity of God since the very beginning of time. Job is considered to be one of the oldest characters of the Bible, he lived before the writing of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and probably before the time of the Prophets, he declares in exasperation:

Job 23:3 - Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

Many are confused today by the numerous questions as to who God is. Where can God be found? What is His name? How many gods are there? It is important that we study the scripture until we know the truth. Man’s opinion or the traditions of a denomination will not suffice if you are hungry for truth. Truth can be found in the book of truth �?the Word of God.

Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

So, we are going to look ONLY to the Bible for answers to who God is where He can be found and what His name is.

Elohim

Genesis 1:1 �?In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The word GOD in this verse is from the Hebrew word "ELOHIM".

Many have incorrectly interpreted the Hebrew word to mean "more that one God". The word ELOHIM refers to the "plurality of attributes of God", not a "plurality of gods" or a plurality of persons".

Smith’s Bible Dictionary, page 212-213 says of ELOHIM; "The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it refers to a TRINITY of persons in the Godhead hardly finds support among scholars. It is referred to as the plurality of majesty, or the sum of all powers displayed by God, or it denotes the fullness of His divine strength. The name is never applied to a false god, or to any other being except the one true God, Jehovah who is therefore marked as one with God, and who appears in the New Testament as one God, manifest in the flesh.

I Timothy 3:16 �?And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The Names and Titles of God in the Scripture

There are 248 names, titles, and offices for God in the scripture, such as:

God Lord God The Redeemer

God of all flesh Most High God God of Judgment

Everlasting God The Great Healer God of Heaven

God of Patience God of Earth God of Hope

The Mighty God God of Peace The I Am

God of Comfort The God of Gods God of Love

The Eternal God King of Kings The Living God

Lord of Lords God My Rock The Great God

My Strength My Buckler The Only Lord God

Lord God Almighty High Tower The Horn of Salvation

Strong Tower God of Salvation Lord God Omnipotent

Just to name a few.

There are six Hebrew words and one Greek word used for God:

1. ELOHIM �?Plurality of majesties.

   Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God…�?

   Genesis 1:2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters�?.

   Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light�?

   Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good:……�?/P>

   Genesis 1:5 And God called the light day…�?

   Genesis 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water�?.

   Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament…�?

2. JEHOVAH �?The LORD; the self-existent or eternal one. (This is the Jewish national name for God.)

   Exodus 6:3 �?And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

3. EL �?Strength; The Mighty One; Almighty; The Most High God.

   Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God…�?/P>

   Genesis 14:22 …the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth�?.

4. ELOAH �?Deity, God the Divine One.

   Job 22:12 �?Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

5. ELAHH �?God the Strong One.

   Ezra 6:12 �?And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

6. TSUR �?Rock; Refuge.

   Habakkuk 1:12 �?Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O might God, thou hast established them for correction.

7. THEOS �?(Greek) �?Deity, The Supreme God.

Matthew 4:4 �?But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 19:26 �?But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

 

The Jehovah (compound) Titles

There are 18 "JEHOVAH" titles in the Bible:

1. Jehovah Adonai �?The Lord our Sovereign Master. (Genesis 15:2,8)
2. Jehovah Elohay �?The Lord My God (Psalms 7:1)
3. Jehovah Eloheenu �?The Lord our God (Psalms 99:5, 8, 9)
4. Jehovah Eloheka �?The Lord Thy God. (Exodus 20:2, 5, 7)
5. Jehovah Elohim �?The Lord our Eternal Creator (Genesis 1:1-7, 2:4-25)
6. Jehovah Elyon �?the Lord our Most High God (Psalms 7:17)
7. Jehovah Gmolah �?The Lord our Recompense (Jeremiah 51:56)
8. Jehovah Hoseenu �?The Lord our Maker (Psalms 95:6)
9. Jehovah Jireh �?The Lord our Provider (Genesis 22:8-14)
10. Jehovah Makkeh �?The Lord that Smites (Ezekiel 7:9)
11. Jehovah M’Kaddesh �?The Lord that doth Sanctify You (Leviticus 20:26)
12. Jehovah Nissi �?The Lord our Victory Banner (Exodus 17:15)
13. Jehovah Rohi �?The Lord is my Shepherd (Psalms 23:1)
14. Jehovah Rophe �?The Lord that Healeth thee (Exodus 15:26)
15. Jehovah Saboath �?The Lord of Hosts (I Samuel 1:3; Psalms 24:10)
16. Jehovah Shalom �?The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:23, 24)
17. Jehovah Shammah �?The Lord is There (Ezekiel 48:35)
18. Jehovah Tsidkenu �?The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16)

The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New!

According to Wilson’s book �?Old Testament Word Studies, Page 233, JEHOVAH; "A name applied to GOD and rendered LORD in our version (KJV)�? The promise that the "seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head" led to the expectation that a Redeemer would come. Eve gave expression to her faith at the birth of her first-born saying , "I have gotten a man Jehovah." Using the future tense of the verb, to be, Jahveh, or Jehovah; which term became the name used by the church in future ages of their hope in the promised Savior. Jehovah of the Old Testament�?the title subsequently used of Christ in the New Testament".

 

The One True God

There are many verses that declare the power and authority of God. Anyone must agree that there can only be ONE…�?.

ALMIGHTY

God is the Almighty One �?Genesis 17:1 �?And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Jesus, the Lamb is the Lord God Almighty �?Revelation 15:3 �?And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

SAVIOR

God is the savior �?Isaiah 43:11 �?I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.

Jesus is the Savior of the world �?Luke 2:11 �?For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

The Lord created all things by Himself �?Isaiah 44:24 - Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

Paul tells us that all things were created by Jesus �?Colossians 1:16 �?For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

ALL POWER

God has all power �?I Chronicles 29:12 �?Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Jesus has all power �?Matthew 28:18 �?And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

I AM

God is the I Am �?Exodus 3:14 �?And God said unto 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.

Jesus is the I Am He �?John 18:6 �?As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (Notice: The Jews fell to the ground when Jesus said "I am He�?" They understood clearly that He was saying He was God, the same as in Exodus 3:14.)

FIRST AND LAST

God the first and last �?Isaiah 44:6 �?Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Jesus the first and last �?Revelation 1:17 �?And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

 

 

How many Gods?

In this session we have provided you with many scriptures declaring who God is and clearly pointing out that there is not a God of the Old Testament, another God of the New Testament, and yet another God of the Church Age (Holy Spirit). The Lord God of the Old is the Christ of the New and the Spirit in use today. They are all one and the same. He is not three gods, or three persons in a godhead, each one representing one-third of a whole god.

WHAT THEN?! Simply, three manifestations of ONE GOD.

1. He is Father in creation.

2. He is Son in redemption.

3. He is the Holy Ghost in the regeneration of the believer today.

The scripture declares over 300 times that there is but ONE GOD. Yet some preachers will preach that there are three �?without one single verse in the Bible declaring three Gods, three persons. etc.

Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Isaiah 43:11 - I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Isaiah 54:5 - For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Mark 12:32 - And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

Romans 3:30 - Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

I Corinthians 8:4 - As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

I Corinthians 8:6 - But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Ephesians 4:5 - One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6: One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

James 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

 

 

Man or God?

One of the hurdles you must get over in your walk with God is who you will believe �?man or God? Man’s philosophies have confused the masses for centuries. We, as new Christians earnestly desiring to please God and know God, should examine the scripture carefully to find out what it says to us about who God is and how many gods exist.

In this lesson you find no words like�?."it’s our opinion" or, "our Church organization, or denomination, or assembly teaches" or, "we feel this way", etc. We have given you over 100 scriptures and references (there are many, many more!). Check it out for yourself. God is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4)