Does Hebrews 1:8 state that God called Jesus, God?
But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.”
Let’s go back a bit to this verse to get some context:
“And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,”
So we can establish that God is speaking. He then speaks about angels:
“In speaking of the angels he says,”
He then talks about the Son:
“But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever’;”
So it does seem that God calls the Son, God. But is this really the case?
The truth of the matter is this. The Greek grammar here allows for differing translations. Even Trinitarian scholars like Dr. A. T. Robertson, B. F. Westcott, and Dr. William Barclay admit that ‘God is your throne’ or ‘Your throne is God’ is also grammatically correct. Other scholars that have this view include Dr. James Moffatt, Edgar Goodspeed, and Dr. C. F. D. Moule. We also see for this reason, the RSV translating Psalm 45:6 as “Your divine throne endures forever and ever.” The NRSV footnote for Psalm 45:6 reads, “Your throne is a throne of God” and the Hebrews 1:8 footnote reads, “God is your throne.” Other translations include this wording too.
Viewing Hebrews 1:8 as God calling the Son as God opens up another serious problem too when we read the following verse:
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”
First thing to note is that according to this, the Son has a God:
‘therefore God, Your God’
Wouldn’t it be problematic if God has a God? Just to be clear. If Jesus has a God and Jesus is God, then God has a God. So does this scripture really teach that Jesus is God and by extension, God has a God?
The answer is no if we interpret Hebrews 1:8 as ‘God is your throne’ or ‘Your throne is God’. It then it concurs with the rest of scripture too, such as these verses:
1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.
John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
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