Understanding the GodHead.

[Hobie]

The core belief of the GodHead holds there is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He has always been and is infinite and beyond our human comprehension and is forever worthy of worship by all of creation.

So how can we understand the incomprehensible that is God, how can our minds grasp what is beyond human thinking. In our human existence, the concept that God is One God, yet exists as three distinct persons, is foreign to us. However, the doctrine of the Godhead is without questions laid out in God's word.

The biblical term "Godhead" is used three times in Scripture: Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9.

Acts 17:29
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Romans 1:20
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Colossians 2:9
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The scripture gives us that the Godhead, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, consists of three distinct Persons, yet these three are One. There are many arguments put forward against the GodHead, but the first and foremost is how can God be One God and at the same time be three Persons?

But this question is based in ignorance and lack of understanding of what God has said about Himself. The Bible plainly lays out the plurality of God and that God is One God. We see the Father and Son at Creation:

Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

And the Spirit:
Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

We see from the words of Christ that He confirms the GodHead as He gave His disciples the Great Commission, stating that they were to teach and baptize in the names of the Godhead:

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

And we see from Colossians that in Christ is the fullness of the GodHead bodily:

Colossians 2:6-9
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And the Holy Spirit is declare as part of the GodHead by scripture showing a clear understanding and by Christ Himself in :

John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Mark 1:10
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

So the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are clearly declared in scripture, the GodHead is taught throughout the Bible, it may not be fully comprehended but it cannot be denied.

 

[Hobie]

We see in the scripture that it clearly shows us the Father and Christ Himself declares Him:

Matthew 5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6:1
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Matthew 7:11
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Mark 8:38
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 11:25
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:26
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Mark 14:36
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

And many more verses in which Christ declares the Father....

Notice Christ is on earth at this time and Christ states the Father is in heaven, distinct and separate and yet:

John 10:30
I and my Father are one.

 

[Hobie]

Here is a great presentation on the GodHead which I have tried to outline...

Matthew 12:31-32
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

All manner of blasphemy is forgiven if against Jesus, but not the Holy Spirit. You can chose not to believe in Christ but you will have a problem if you do it against the Holy Ghost. Two beings.

Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me and He has anointed Me... Jesus could not anoint Himself, a priest could not anoint himself. Moses used oil which represents the Holy Spirit to anoint Aaron, here the Spirit anoints Christ. Two beings.

Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Here is says God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost. So we have God the Father and is says anointed Jesus by the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 5:1
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Every High Priest taken from a man is ordained for man, not by himself. No man taketh this manner of himself
but he that is chosen by God, Christ (who came as fully man/fully God) did not make Himself High Priest ordained for men, the Holy Spirit is the anointing power .

John 13:16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Here we see and declaration where Christ says a servant is not greater(authority) than the master (lord), but then says neither He that is sent(clearly a reference to Himself) greater (authority) than He(God the Father) that sent Him.

John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

And this is life eternal, to know the only true God(Father) and Jesus Christ(Son) who thou(Father) has sent. Life eternal is knowing God and Jesus Christ, they are equated in what can only be the same standing.

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Comforter(Holy Ghost), who the Father(God) will send in My(Jesus) name, it is representing Christ sent by the Father. Now we begin to understand what Christ was saying when He declares one is not greater than the one who sent him.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

But the Spirit of Truth which Jesus sends (He is God)..

1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Eye has not seen or ear heard as God has revealed through the Spirit which searches all the deep things of God, (which we see was sent by God), and knows all the deep things of God has to be at the same level. (He who can only search and/or know the deep things of God, is only God)

Matthew 11:27
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

All things have been delivered to Jesus (He is saying I know the Father and the Father knows me, so He knows everything. They have different responsibility in the GodHead. The Holy Ghost does not have the same responsibility as the God the Father or the Son.)

Luke 3:22
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Jesus is coming out of being baptized by john in the water, and we see the Holy Ghost as a dove and a voice from heaven, (God the Father) claims Him as 'beloved Son'. Three separate personalities but One substance.

John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

I (Jesus) will pray to the Father and He will send another Comforter (The Holy Ghost). Three separate personalities and different responsibilities in the GodHead, but yet one.

 

[Hobie]

Now I was telling one of my friends who is very strong in his faith and in Gods truth, about the various discussions online, and he said something that left me thinking. He told me that some truths have not been fully unveiled and we have to wait till we see Him or it is unveiled and shown to us as God sees fit in the last days. One was the understanding of the Godhead, and the nature of Christ, and how the Holy Spirit works in this, etc.. as he felt it might cause unnecessary confusion, agnst, or maybe frustration in new Christians. I think we seeing the truth being unveiled as the Holy Spirit is being poured out as scripture says..

Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

 

[Bob Estey]

The core belief of the GodHead holds there is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He has always been and is infinite and beyond our human comprehension and is forever worthy of worship by all of creation.

So how can we understand the incomprehensible that is God, how can our minds grasp what is beyond human thinking. In our human existence, the concept that God is One God, yet exists as three distinct persons, is foreign to us. However, the doctrine of the Godhead is without questions laid out in God's word.

The biblical term "Godhead" is used three times in Scripture: Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9.

Acts 17:29
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Romans 1:20
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Colossians 2:9
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The scripture gives us that the Godhead, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, consists of three distinct Persons, yet these three are One. There are many arguments put forward against the GodHead, but the first and foremost is how can God be One God and at the same time be three Persons?

But this question is based in ignorance and lack of understanding of what God has said about Himself. The Bible plainly lays out the plurality of God and that God is One God. We see the Father and Son at Creation:

Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

And the Spirit:
Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

We see from the words of Christ that He confirms the GodHead as He gave His disciples the Great Commission, stating that they were to teach and baptize in the names of the Godhead:

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

And we see from Colossians that in Christ is the fullness of the GodHead bodily:

Colossians 2:6-9
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And the Holy Spirit is declare as part of the GodHead by scripture showing a clear understanding and by Christ Himself in :

John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Mark 1:10
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

So the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are clearly declared in scripture, the GodHead is taught throughout the Bible, it may not be fully comprehended but it cannot be denied.

The idea of dividing God into parts, such as "Godhead," makes me uncomfortable.

 

[Lambano]

Acts 17:29
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Romans 1:20
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Colossians 2:9
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The use of the word "Godhead" here is basically the KJV translators trying to read 1500 years of theological development back into the text. The Acts reference uses the Greek word theios, an adjective referring to divinity, something all "gods" have. In context, Paul is arguing that objects made of metal or stone (Paul was perturbed at all the idols iaround Athens; see verse 16) do not have god-like properties; if they did, what would that say about us who are God's children? The Romans citation is theiotes, the divine nature. In context, Paul is saying that God's divine nature should have been obvious (especially when contrasted with images of men and animals and other critters in verse 23). And, in fact, NASB translates both theios and teiotes as "divine nature". Godhood, not Godhead.

The Colossians reference is more what you're looking for. Theotēs means "the state of being God". NASB translates it as "Deity". Whatever that means, Paul is saying Jesus has it.

 

[Lambano]

The idea of dividing God into parts, such as "Godhead," makes me a uncomfortable.

Other way around. "Godhead" unites them into one. "Personhood" divides it into three.

 

[Bob Estey]

Other way around. "Godhead" unites them into one. "Personhood" divides it into three.

Who is "them"?

 

[PGS11]

The only one who will call it a God head is a LDS member.The Godhead in the LDS is different God the father has a body.Christians call it the Trinity.Godhead is not used in Christian churches only in the LDS.

 

[Lambano]

The only one who will call it a God head is a LDS member.The Godhead in the LDS is different God the father has a body.Christians call it the Trinity.Godhead is not used in Christian churches only in the LDS.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity
(Chuck Wesley)

I suspect that this hymn referencing the Godhead was sung in almost every Christian church last December. At least the Protestant ones.

 

[Lambano]

Who is "them"?

And the three men I admire most,
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They all caught the last train for the coast....
(Don McLean)

My own issue is that Personhood is relational, and I relate to different persons differently. When I think of a corporate entity, I think of Google or Samsung or Microsoft, though God is more powerful and hopefully more benevolent. But I don't relate personally with corporations, though I might relate to them as a customer. Or as a complainant.

 

[Bob Estey]

And the three men I admire most,
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They all caught the last train for the coast....
(Don McLean)

My own issue is that Personhood is relational, and I relate to different persons differently. When I think of a corporate entity, I think of Google or Samsung or Microsoft, though God is more powerful and hopefully more benevolent. But I don't relate personally with corporations, though I might relate to them as a customer. Or as a complainant.

I think God is one person, though I don't want to get into a huge debate with a multitude of people about the Trinity.

 

[Lambano]

I think God is one person, though I don't want to get into a huge debate with a multitude of people about the Trinity.

I tend to relate to the person of the Father as "God". And I understand that the concept of Trinity was historically necessary to resolve the fact that the NT writers (reflecting church tradition back to the apostles) attributed to Jesus attributes that rightly belonged to God in the OT.

What I do find uncomfortable is when people conflate the different Persons of the Trinity, which is not what the Bible or the doctrine says. "The Father is not the Son is not the Spirit."

 

[Lambano]

This book explains it all.

(Ducks and runs for cover.)

 

[Bob Estey]

I tend to relate to the person of the Father as "God". And I understand that the concept of Trinity was historically necessary to resolve the fact that the NT writers (reflecting church tradition back to the apostles) attributed to Jesus attributes that rightly belonged to God in the OT.

What I do find uncomfortable is when people conflate the different Persons of the Trinity, which is not what the Bible or the doctrine says. "The Father is not the Son is not the Spirit."

The way I look at it, and again, I don't want to get into a huge debate with a multitude of people about the Trinity, is that God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, like my dad was a father, son, husband, lawyer, and whatever else.

 

[AW Bowman]

First, a thank you to Kilroy for pointing out: "The Romans citation is theiotes, the divine nature."

The three KJV passages that contain the term Godhead were the translators attempting to express three different Greek words into a single term and, should more appropriately be translated as follows:

Acts 17:29 For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead [divinity, deity, the divine nature of, and/or providence] is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
G2304 [Theios]
-------------------
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead [the divinity or divine nature of God]; so that they are without excuse: (so…: or, that they may be)
G2305 [Theiotes]
-----------------
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [the state of being God, i.e. the (full) essence of God’s deity expressed] bodily.
G2320 [Theotes]

Results: We might safely discard the notion of the mistranslated Greek terms and study with a little more clarity.

For a study of the "Godhead" I would suggest starting with setting aside what you have held, and starting with a fresh mind and performing a word study of Gen 1:26 (in context) and Thess 5:23 and see what ideas, theories, conclusions, and identifying additional scriptures that might provide more insights, and see what we might come up with.

 

[PGS11]

The Trinity of traditional Christianity is referred to as the Godhead by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like other Christians, Latter-day Saints believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost). Yet, Church teachings about the Godhead differ from those of traditional Christianity. For example, while some believe the three members of the Trinity are of one substance, Latter-day Saints believe they are three physically separate beings, but fully one in love, purpose and will.

 

[AW Bowman]

PGS11 - Thank you for your reply!

I recognize that there are many different "Christian" denominations in the world today, about 41,000 as of 1995(?), I think that was the number the PEW Research folks came up with. That is a bunch! Some denominations (and individual believers) hold to the singularity (oneness) of God while the majority hold to some form of Trinitarianism.

What I am interested in is how different individuals on this forum understand what the "Godhead" actually is. As Kilroy and I pointed out, the term Godhead is a collection of attributes attributed to God, not necessarily a definition/explanation of how God exists, as Hobie presented the term in his opening post, which illustrates how many Christians view the Godhead. The question then is not what are God's attributes, rather "how" does God exist?

The question of God's mode of existence leads us to a more primary question, why is the "correct" answer important, to whom, and is there a definitive answer? Or, are we even meant (allowed) to know and understand God's complex mode(s) of existence, other than His revelations (manifestations} to mankind as the singular God and also as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as noted in Scripture?

An interesting thread.

 

[Hobie]

The idea of dividing God into parts, such as "Godhead," makes me a uncomfortable.

And the use of 'Trinity' which is not in scripture, is better? What we have to do is study the mystery of God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us on this truth.

 

[APAK]

The idea of dividing God into parts, such as "Godhead," makes me a uncomfortable.

They call this Partialism, that Trinitarianism denies of doing, of course