Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
Is not GODHEAD simply supposed to mean GODHOOD?
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Mike, I sure do love your contributions to the discussions on this forum!
Yes! That is one of the meanings that the term Godhead was designed to cover.
Of course, this is another translation exercise of mine that was lost in the evaporation process of my computer and backup files earlier this year. But, I did find this translation ‘overview’. The phrase in brackets [xxx], indicates what should have been the included English translations.
One of the major problems with the term Godhead is that it is often used in arguments over the correct mode and manner of conducting the rite of baptisms within the different Christian denominations. Anyway, the term Godhead was simply an expedient way of handling three different Greek terms denoting three different aspects of God’s deity that I
assume was to difficult to handle at the time the KJV of the scriptures was being developed.
So, this is a quick overview of the translations of the three words, and still covers almost nothing concerning the interpretations of the three words within the context within which they are found.
While I have lost the translation worksheets (another task that requires redoing), the following is the general results of a word study in reference to the three different Greek terms that are included in the loose term, Godhead. The primary word study reference was Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Joseph H. Thayer, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, Mass. 2003.
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Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead [the one true God] is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
G2304 [Theios]
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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 divine nature of God]; so that they are without excuse: (so…: or, that they may be)
G2305 [Theiotēs]
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Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [the state of being God, i.e. the essence of God’s deity expressed] bodily.
G2320 [Theotēs]
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What we are left with are three different Greek words signifying three different aspects of God’s deity all being translated into one English word that is not well defined. The term Godhead (or its synonym) does not exist in any original language text of the Bible.
Can there be any god’s in deity? Not really. For if “deity” contained God, then the attributes of deity would be greater than God. The attributes, elements and composition of those things which express “deity” are contained within and are defined by God, Himself, not the other way around. Therefore God contains His own attributes of deity; He is not contained within nor is He defined by any “external elements” (as generally comprehended by mankind). This point of view also accommodates the meaning of
Colossians 2:9, where it is not a ‘something’ that had to be altered in order to dwell fully in Jesus bodily (a given, no man can contain all of what it is to be the infinite God), but rather it was the essences of what it means (attitudes, elements, expressions, abilities, etc.) to be God.
The expressed attitude by Jesus of being totally dependent upon the Father also accommodates the sayings of Jesus when He states that He can do nothing without the Father, that He does only what He sees the Father doing, etc.
Conclusion:
(1) There are no gods in the Godhead, not even one.
(2) All discussions based on the misunderstood and the misused terms are doctrinal discussions based on one or more false premises and are without validly.
(3) The Godhead arguments are not over “how many gods are there?”, but rather over how different people perceive God’s deity. And, there are no scriptural requirements for a salvation based on knowing and understanding the elements, nature, and/or composition of God’s deity (
Isaiah 40:28,
Romans 11:33-36) beyond those expressly identified by Jesus and His Apostles.
Generally, the disagreements over the Godhead are over the baptismal formula and how it should be administrated, which is quite different from the number of Gods question.
Arguments arising from these mistranslations and interpretations of scripture have resulted in brothers and sisters judging each other harshly. So, rather than building up (edifying), encouraging and bringing unity to the body of Christ, we have been actively engaged in tearing it down and creating divisions – and that should never be! But, this exercise also demonstrates how a little ignorance can result in the murder of another, within one's own heart.
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