Understanding the Godhead
A request, in some circles considered a dividing line from cults, a necessity to face some errors, and certainly a help in understanding the scriptures.
I. Defining Our Terms - 1st step in understanding
A. Crosswalk.com/KJV dictionary/800 words changed since 1611
1. Godhead is not one of them, should be, not in new version
2. Merriam-Webster – origin: 13th cent., middle English - god-hood
a. God’s essence, deity, divinity, “characteristics”
B. ...hood describes the characteristics of person/group, i.e.
1. Facial hair, Adam’s apple, size, strength... manhood
2. Smooth skin, rounded figure, soft voice... womanhood
3. Impatient, trusting, forgiving, small stature... childhood
4. Brave, loyal, just, sworn w/an oath... knighthood
5. Omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal...Godhood
C. Newer versions use different terminology
1. Acts 17:29 - divine nature, Romans 1:20; 2 Peter 1:4
2. Colossians 2:9 - Deity
D. There are three persons that possess these characteristics
1. Holy Spirit is God - Acts 5:3-4
2. Jesus is God - John 1:1, 18; 8:57-58
3. Deuteronomy 4:35, 39 - The LORD is God, and here’s the problem
a. God is one, yet he is three. Note Deuteronomy 6:4
II. More Terms to Define
A. 2 Hebrew words for “one,” O.T.
1. Yachead - mathematical one, Genesis 22:2; Zechariah 12:10
2. Echad - collective one, Genesis 2:24; Ezra 3:1
B. 2 Greek words for “one”, N.T.
1. Monos - solitary, alone, numerical one - Hebrews 11:17
2. Heis - union, compound unity - 1 Corinthians 12:12; John 17:21
III. Putting It Together
A. The Bible teaches that three persons possess Deity
1. The characteristics of God
B. These three are described as one. Deuteronomy 6:4; 4:35
C. Their oneness describes their relationship, purpose, efforts
1. Just like husbands & wives - Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5
2. From the beginning - Genesis 1:2, John 1:2-3
a. Genesis 1:26 - “us” make man in “our” image
3. In the work of redeeming man
a. John 5:30; 6:38, 44, 57 - Father did the sending
b. John 17-18, Phil. 2:4 - The Son gave Himself
c. 2 Timothy 3:16 - The Spirit reveals, teaches, & explains
IV. Monotheism is about One God (with three persons)
A. Not three Gods (different characteristics, like the Greeks)
B. Oneness Pentecostalism denies 3 persons
C. Jehovah’s Witnesses deny Jesus’ Deity, Spirit as person
D. Islam/Judaism deny Deity of Jesus
E. Mormonism denies these 3 as the only God
F. Romans 1:20 - the Bible teaches no excuse for us not to recognize that Deity is at work in our world...
1. 2 Peter 1:3-4 - And you can share in it
Understanding the Godhead
A request lesson, in some circles considered a dividing line from cults, a necessity to face some errors, and certainly a help in understanding the scriptures.
I. Defining Our Terms - The 1st step in understanding
A. Merriam-Webster – originally - 13th Century, middle English - ______
B. ...hood describes the characteristics of person/group, i.e.
1. Facial hair, Adam’s apple, size, strength... ______
2. Smooth skin, rounded figure, soft voice... ______
3. Impatient, trusting, forgiving, small stature... ______
4. Brave, loyal, just, sworn w/an oath... ______
5. Omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal... ______
C. Newer versions use different terminology
1. Acts 17:29 - ______, Romans 1:20; 2 Peter 1:4; Colossians 2:9 - ______
D. There are ______persons that possess these characteristics
1. Acts 5:3-4 - ______is God,
2. John 1:1, 18 - ______is God; 8:57-58
3. Deuteronomy 4:35, 39 - The ______is God. God is ____, yet he is ______.
Note Deuteronomy 6:4
II. More Terms to Define
A. O.T., Hebrew - Yachead - ______one, Genesis 22:2; Zechariah 12:10
1. Echad - ______one, Genesis 2:24; Ezra 3:1
B. N.T., Greek – Monos - solitary, alone, ______one - Hebrews 11:17
1. Heis - union, ______unity - 1 Corinthians 12:12; John 17:21
III. Putting It Together
A. The Bible teaches that three persons possess ______
B. These three are described as ______. Deuteronomy 6:4; 4:35
C. Their oneness describes their ______, purpose, efforts
1. Just like ______& ______- Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5
2. From the beginning - Genesis 1:2, John 1:2-3
a. Genesis 1:26 - “_____” make man in “______” image
3. In the work of redeeming man
a. John 5:30; 6:38, 44, 57 - ______did the sending
b. John 17-18, Phil. 2:4 - The ______gave Himself
c. 2 Timothy 3:16 - The ______reveals, teaches, & explains
IV. Monotheism is about One God (with three persons)
A. Romans 1:20 - the Bible teaches no excuse for us not to recognize that Deity is at work