The true meaning of the word ‘God’ – The Trinity Doctrine

Part 01 – The Trinity Doctrine
Part 02 – Who is the Most High God?
Part 03 – Who and what is Jesus?
Part 04 – The true meaning of ‘God’
Part 05 – Supporting the Trinity
Part 06 – Pre-Nicene writings
Part 07 – Development of the Trinity
Part 08 – Why challenge the Trinity
Part 09 – Trinity Doctrine conclusion
Part 10 – An Apostasy
Part 11 – 100 indisputable proof verses
Part 12 – What is your confession?
Part 13 – The Roman Catholic faith
Part 14 – Trinity Doctrine resources

An important but much overlooked fact when understanding the word ‘God ‘in the bible is that both the Old and New Testament are translated from a number of different words and each original Hebrew or Greek word for ‘God’ have a wide range of uses.

Theos

Theos {theh’-os} is by far the most common Greek word that we translate as God or god. Below are the possible meanings of the word ‘theos’.

1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
3) spoken of the only and true God
3a) refers to the things of God
3b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
4a) God’s representative or viceregent
4a1) of magistrates and judges

So the Father is God because of his authority. However God the author also sends messengers with his authority, so when our Father anoints someone to speak His words, that person is can be given the title ‘god’ whether he be an angel or a man. Also, someone or something that takes takes the place of God is also called a god, in particular a false god. In addition, the word god can be used when describing something great, like a great earthquake.

Let’s now look at some biblical verses that apply the word God (Theos) to denote different identities or as a description.

Below we see a verse where the word ‘theos’ is used when referring to the Father.

The Father

Ephesians 1:3 (English-NIV)
Praise be to the God (theos) and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Satan

The word ‘theos’ in the next verse is used to describe Satan / The Devil as he is the god of this world/age.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (English-NIV)
The god (theos) of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (theos).

Man

The word (theos) is also used to describe man / judges.

John 10:34 (English-NIV)
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, `I have said you are gods (theos)’

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and again we see that the word “God” can apply to our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, Angelic & Demonic powers, mankind, idols, and even things or events.

El

The NIV & NASB translate the following 3 words as God “el” “eloah” & “elohim”
Each is a generic term, meaning “God” or “mighty one”.
Normally when one of these words occur in the OT, it designates either the true God or something that the pagan nations viewed as a god. In a few instances these words are also used of angels and human beings.

The Father

Below is a scripture that shows that the Father is God.

Malachi 2:10 (English-NIV)
Have we not all one Father ? Did not one God (El) create us?
Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?

Jesus Christ

The next verse uses the Hebrew word “eloah” which used to describe Jesus.
We will be looking at this scripture in more depth in Part 5 (Scriptures used to support the Trinity Doctrine).

Isaiah 9:6 (English-NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (El), Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Idols

The following verse uses ‘Elohim’ to denote idols.

Exodus 20:23 (English-NIV)
Do not make any gods (Elohim) to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods (Elohim) of silver or gods (Elohim) of gold.

Elohim

The word “Elohim” is the most common word that is translated God in the Old Testament.

The Father

Genesis 1:1 (English-NIV) says:
In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.

Man / Judges

“Elohim” can also be ascribed to Man. See next the verse.

Psalms 82:6 (English-NIV)
“I said, `You are “gods” (Elohim); you are all sons of the Most High.’

When Jesus said “you are gods (theos)”, as quoted previously on this page, he was actually quoting the above Psalm.

Angels

And, angels are called gods in Psalm 97:7. This verse is actually quoted in the Hebrews 1:6 and it is referring to the Angels.

Psalm 97:7
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols; worship him, all you gods (Elohim)!

Earthquake or City

Finally the word elohim can be used to describe something that was exceedingly great like an earthquake or a city.

1 Samuel 14:15
And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great (elohim) trembling.

Jonah 3:3
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly (elohim) great city, a three days’ walk.

Conclusion

These scriptures clearly show us the wide usage of the word that we know as God/god. It is a term or title that is used to identify God but is not always used in that sense. Rather it is a term that can apply to many types of authority, to idols, and even to things that are very great.

When the word God is being used to identify an authority, it is important to read the context because The Most High God is completely different to the god of this age and saying that God is always the one true God of Heaven and Earth, then we can mistakenly make Satan the one true God. In other words the type of God that is being referred to is determined by the adjective or context of the sentence. It is incorrect to read the word ‘God’ as the Most High God in every case. In fact the very term ‘Most High God’ leads us to conclude that there must be lesser gods.

We know that the word ‘Elohim’ is a term or title and not a name, but does God have a name? Yes he does. ‘YHWH’ which is called the “tetragrammaton,” meaning “the four letters,” is the revealed name of God, which scholars translate as Yahweh, Jehovah, Yahvah amongst others. Knowing that there is no such letter in Hebrew that makes the sound of a ‘J’, there are many Hebrew names that contain an emphasis on the *Yah* sound. Even Jesus name in Hebrew has this sound. ‘Yahshua’ is Jesus name in Hebrew and it is where we get the English name Joshua. But the word Yahweh is not actually a translation of the tetragrammaton, it is a transliteration meaning the sounds of those original Hebrew letters have been reproduced into another language. Other biblical names that have been transliterated include: Abraham, which in Hebrew is pronounced Abrawhawm and Sarah is pronounced Sawraw. Today if the president of the USA goes to Germany they will pronounce his name rather than change it into a German word of the same meaning. In the same way ‘Yahweh’ should be pronounced exactly the same in all languages.

God first reveals his name in Exodus.3:15 and Psalm 135:13
And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH, Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

God’s response to Moses, shows us clearly that ‘God’ (Elohim) is not a name, but a title and we saw earlier how this particular title can refer to others including men, angels, and false gods.

Understanding the usage of the word theos and elohim in scripture clearly shows that these words are ascribed to more than God Almighty, especially when there is mentions of another person or thing. And the assumption that all who are called theos that are not the Almighty are by reason of that, a false theos, is not true either. Scripture applies theos and elohim in a positive way to men and angels. And can an earthquake be a false God?

Knowing that the Father is predominately the one being referred to when we see the word God, as pointed out, it is not always exclusively the Father. How many times is Jesus called God? Well let’s put it into perspective. Overwhelmingly it is the Father. Secondly, the term is used of false gods. Finally Jesus, angels, men, and Satan are mentioned only once  to a few times.


Discussion

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Viewing 20 posts - 41 through 60 (of 351 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #811985
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi KW,

    Dig deeper.

    #811986
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nick,

    Since I gave you good advice it follows that is another way you strive to derail a conversation. Instead, a man of God will seek to be wise.

    #811994
    terraricca
    Participant

    kerwin /Nick

    Ecc 11:7 Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
    Ecc 11:8 However many years a man may live,
    let him enjoy them all.
    But let him remember the days of darkness,
    for they will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

    Ecc 11:9 Be happy, young man, while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
    Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
    but know that for all these things
    God will bring you to judgment.
    Ecc 11:10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
    and cast off the troubles of your body,
    for youth and vigor are meaningless.

    Ecc 12:1 Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
    before the days of trouble come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
    Ecc 12:2 before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
    Ecc 12:3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
    and the strong men stoop,
    when the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows grow dim;
    Ecc 12:4 when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
    when men rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;
    Ecc 12:5 when men are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
    when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags himself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
    Then man goes to his eternal home
    and mourners go about the streets.

    Ecc 12:6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    or the golden bowl is broken;
    before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    or the wheel broken at the well,
    Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

    Ecc 12:8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
    “Everything is meaningless!”

    Ecc 12:10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

    try to be like THE TEACHER

    #811997
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi KW,

    You offer just the wisdom of men.

    Scripture is the wisdom of God

    #812013
    terraricca
    Participant

    Nick
    Hi KW,

    You offer just the wisdom of men.

    Scripture is the wisdom of God
    ==================================================

    this too you have wrong it is the spirit of the scriptures that is the word of God ,

    #812016
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t,

    Lk 11.49

    why be an expert in negativity?

    #812018
    terraricca
    Participant

    Nick

    this verse suits you best ;Lk 11:52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

    for why are you telling lies ?

    #812024
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t,

    I do not think your own position is strong enough to throw stones at others.

    #812025
    terraricca
    Participant

    hi Nick

    I did not throw stones Jesus did read the verse ,each time you do not accept the scriptures without adding to it ,you take away the key

    #812029
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t,

    You offer confusion.

    God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

    #812030
    terraricca
    Participant

    Hi Nick

    you are right ,but only with his believers not with his enemy

    you sure you know the scriptures ?

    #812035
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi T,

    You think you know the scriptures.

    And you claim to hear the Spirit in them.

    So why do you offer confusion?

    #812053
    terraricca
    Participant

    hi Nick

    confusion is always seen in the mind of the unbelievers ,but it will go away when they really see the truth has it has been written ,but until then they are confused this is your case Nick

    #812067
    kerwin
    Participant

    Terrarica,

    Thank you. I was considering that passage night or so ago.

    #812068
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nick,

    Why do you choose the role of the false witness whom chooses to lodge accusations without evidence.

    You appear as a bully and not a man of God. Men of God seek wisdom.

    #812069
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nick,

    In this case terraricca is revealing wisdom.

    #812074
    terraricca
    Participant

    Kerwin
    In this case terraricca is revealing wisdom.

    ===============================================================================
    JN 3:21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

    #812077
    Ed J
    Participant

    Nick
    Hi KW,

    You offer just the wisdom of men.

    Scripture is the wisdom of God
    ==================================================

    this too you have wrong it is the spirit of the scriptures that is the word of God ,

    Hi Pierre,

    The spirit is the word – too bad you do not believe this

    ________________
    God bless
    Ed J

    #812078
    NickHassan
    Participant

     

    Hi KW,

    You agree with this false accusation of t’s?

    Lk 11:52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

    Interesting.

    #812079
    Ed J
    Participant

    Nick,

    Why do you choose the role of the false witness whom chooses to lodge accusations without evidence.

    You appear as a bully and not a man of God. Men of God seek wisdom.

    Hi Kerwin,

    So your actions are lily white and Nicks actions are dark. Your dark words
    show more about what’s in your heart than anything you say about Nick.
    Maybe you do not appreciate Nick, but I for one are glad that he’s back.

    __________________
    God bless
    Ed J

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