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 - 61 through 80 (of 351 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #812084
    kerwin
    Participant

    Ed,

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

    Scripture flat out disagree with you and since I have been told it since I was small child I was a small I am going to thing you know it if you stop and consider.

    2 Corinthians 3:3-6Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

    3 forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

    If you go by the Letter of Scripture then you reject the Spirit as you are then living the Law.

    #812085
    kerwin
    Participant

    Ed,

    My words are voiced from a caring and saddened heart. If you desire to call them dark then that is on you.

    #812086
    Ed J
    Participant

    Ed,

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

    Scripture flat out disagree with you

    Hi Kerwin, NOT SO!

    “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit” (John 6:63)

    __________________
    God bless
    Ed J

    #812087
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi KW,

    Why should you be sad that your apparent claims to be the sole arbiter of truth are found to be false?

    #812089
    Ed J
    Participant

    since I have been told it since I was small child

    Yes, the traditions of men are hard to give up.

    #812090
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nick,

    Those words speak of a trap the Devil sets for each and every person that studies Scriptures.

    I believe you do at times fall into that trap. Terraricca is probably speaking of other times. In short it does not mean much except you disagree with the person who addressed it to you.

    It is always a good warning whether it is misused by another or not.

    It can also be used to sidetrack a conversation.

    #812114
    terraricca
    Participant

    Ed

    the words cannot be the spirit for words do produce a spirit (meaning an idea) and so your view is false at best

    #812122
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi T,

    So you deny the words of Jesus and add your personal interpretations?

    #812123
    terraricca
    Participant

    Nick

    show me in scriptures that I am wrong for you cannot be trusted ,I wait and see

    #812126
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t,

    “The words that I speak to you; they are spirit and they are life”

    jn 6.63

    #812131
    Ed J
    Participant

    “the words cannot be the spirit”

    the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit” (John 6:63)

    Sorry Pierre, but I got to go with “Scripture” over ‘your opinion’…

    __________________
    God bless
    Ed J

    #812143
    terraricca
    Participant

    Ed

    you have a problem ,read those words in that verse without your mind setting the agenda

    #812149
    Ed J
    Participant

    Hi Pierre,

    No matter how many times I read it, I just don’t see your understanding written in there.

    __________________
    God bless
    Ed J

    #812156
    terraricca
    Participant

    ED

    at the least your are recognizing your blindness so there is hope for you

    #812160
    Ed J
    Participant

    Hi Pierre,

    No matter how many times I read it, I just don’t see your understanding written in there.

    __________________
    God bless
    Ed J

    ED

    at the least your are recognizing your blindness so there is hope for you

    “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.” (John 9:41)

    #812167
    terraricca
    Participant

    ED

    yes you got it

    #812175
    Ed J
    Participant

    Hi Pierre,

    Then you agree “I” have no sin

    #812213
    terraricca
    Participant

    Ed

    you are a twister and a dreamer ,and a fake, and a charlatan ,but not a truthful honest person ,

    take care

    #812214
    kerwin
    Participant

    Ed,

    You implied the words of 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 are the traditions of man.

    Were you instead attempting to intimate Jesus and make a statement that was separate from the context those based on the words within?

    If so then aware of that the traditions of mere humans are flawed.

    In this case I was actually taught the truth for Scripture supports the idea the letter of Scripture is death but the Spirit is eternal life.

    It is worded different in other places for Scripture is a rock that was placed in Zion, as is Jesus.

    #812215
    kerwin
    Participant

    Ed,

    “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit” (John 6:63)

    Yes, they are Spiritual, i.e. they have the qualities of spirit. That is Terrarica’s point.

    Here is another one.

    Romans 7:14Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

    14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

    Romans 7:6Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

    6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

    You are still attempting to serve in the oldness of the letter though you have added the NT to the OT.

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