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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  • #781995
    Julie
    Guest

    Well done!

    #781996
    John Serafin
    Guest

    AMEN !!!

    #811599

    More errors have been committed by individuals trying to establish doctrines by using the NIV than can be imagined. The NIV is easy reading but systematically uses phrase and words to distort the truth.
    I simply would never accept any writing that uses the NIV as its source to justify concepts, ideas, and truths the Word of God contains.
    I use the Authorized 1611 King James Version translated primarily from the Textus Receptus to find truth and I accept no other translation, period.
    From the errors I read on this site, apparently most are basing their ideas after reading other versions instead of the Authorized King James Version of 1611.
    I challenge the writer of this posting to rewrite it using only the KJV not the NIV and see if it supports what he is writing.

    #811601
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Richard,

    I do not use it.

    It blatantly ADDS the word JESUS in Jn 12.41.

    #811604
    Ed J
    Participant

    Hi Richard,

    I do not use it.

    It blatantly ADDS the word JESUS in Jn 12.41.

    Hi Nick,

    The NIV is corrupt for other reasons.
    In John 12:41 who’s “glory” is Esaias speaking of Nick?

    “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.” (John 12:41)

    ________________
    God bless
    Ed J

    #811605
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Ed ,

    The glory of the Lord God of hosts as shown in Is 6.

    This is confirmed in Rev 4.

     

     

    #811606
    kerwin
    Participant

    Richard,

    The AV of the KJV claims God has blood, a false claim that is descended from the Textus Receptus. Translation errors also abound such as translating the word Passover to Easter simply because it occurred after Jesus’ death and resurrection. In addition translation the concept of Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna to the word Hell. There are more but most are not can be interpreted to the truth no matter what the translators intended.

    For example:

    Acts 20:28Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

    28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

    Can be interpreted figuratively to mean that God has purchased the church with his Son.
    Here is the NIV that uses equivilent words as the AV of the KJV but has notes which reveals other choices could have been made that are consistent with the claim is invisible.

    Acts 20:28New International Version (NIV)

    28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood.

    Footnotes:

    Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
    Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son.

    The AV of the KJV is not the produced in 1611 but rather one updated and standardized a few centuries ago. Some claim most if not all of the changes are of little effect.

    I use it because God is living and active and it is that teach not the written code of Scripture. Scripture is a useful tool, even when the translation is flawed.

    #811607

    Nick and EdJ:
    I looked at my KJV John 12: 41 and here it is “41These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.” Guess what? No, mention of the word Jesus. What translation are you reading???
    Also, the blood mentioned was from Jesus on the Cross while He was half human half divine.
    Sure there are some words the KJV translator used in 1611 that were not in the Textus Receptus like Easter instead of Passover. Actually, I must agree that 1611 English is certainly different from the KJV language I read so there must have been some updates. Need to check this out as it has been a while since I did some research in the development of the KJV I am reading. Just remember it used mainly the Textus Receptus (TR)and not the more recent scrolls that are not as accurate as older copies of the TR. Wanted to also add that you should not be so sure their concepts of “Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna to the word Hell” are accurate or true to the Word of God if you are basing them on other translations than the AV of the KJV 1611 translation of the Textus Receptus. Of course you are going to say the same to me.
    Based on what I am reading on all the posts on various subjects, I am not sure what you all really believe on really important things.
    You guys sound like all you like to do is argue and criticize others and their views. Opps, that sounds a bit like myself. Okay, I am going to cut you guys some slack. There are reasons we have favorites and I guess that affects what we read. So, use whatever. Just pray that God will guide your mind and reasoning and have mercy where wrong and that applies to me as well.
    Love and kindness, my brothers

    #811609
    kerwin
    Participant

    Richared,

    Nick pointed out he believes it is not implied by the words.
    I believe it is an argument over words though my opinion is the passage from Isaiah is not Messianic.
    Ed uses the AV of the KJV but may believe Jesus is implied by the words.

    #811611
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Richard,

    The NIV is the version that added JESUS to Jn 12.41

    Jesus Christ is a man in dwelled by the Spirit of God.

    Half human is not of Scripture1 tim 2.5, Acts 2.22

    #811612
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Richard,

    Hades, Gehenna and Tartarus are different places defined in scripture but the KJV translates all three as HELL causing confusion.

    #811613
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Richard,

    trinitarians have believed that Jesus had his own separate throne in heaven based on their interpretation of Jn.12.41.

    But comparison with Rev 4 shows it is the throne of God.

    God alone is called the Lord of Hosts in scripture.

    #811614
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Richard,

    Jesus asks us to follow him.

    That is only possible if he was made like to us.

    Scripture assures us that this is so but those who imagine he is God or half divine have problems

    #811615
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nicl,

    Other translations than the NIV also insert either Jesus or Christ but most translate it more literally. That is not always the best thing to do as Koine Greek grammar is different than English grammar. The same is true of Hebrew grammar which is closer to Koine Greek than English is to either.

    #811618
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi KW,

    So it is Ok by God if truth is added to?

    Rev 22 disagrees

     

    #811622
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nick,

    If the result of the addition then the truth has not been added to but rather paraphrased. Be careful not to be caught in the letter.

    I do not see where there is a significant difference between Jesus or God as pertains that passage. It is speaking about God but Jesus is his chief agent.

    The only problem is that someone could use the wording as evidence that Jesus is God but then they can use the original wording just the same though it is more vague. It seems a fair some believe the passage is speaking of Jesus Christ.

    #811623
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi KW,

    Does God approve your apparently loose approach?

    #811624
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nick,

    Stop sounding like the foolish, who insist that the truth can only be taught in Latin, Hebrew, or whatever language they chose. Or for that matter those who in their foolishness insist the AV of the KJV is the one true Writings.

    God only cares that the gospel is preached and the truth taught. He regards meaningless arguments over words as vanity.

    #811625
    kerwin
    Participant

    Nick,

    Reveal where it is oppressed to the gospel of salvation but arguments over words prove nothing.

    #811626
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi KW,

    Variant translation is one thing but insertion of words not found in any manuscripts quite another.

    Fear God.

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