In this study, I hope to show a simple exercise in clearing the "Godhead" after the rules I shared in Learning How To Learn and How To Build Stable Data.
Word Clearing: Using Strong's Reference
Here are the Only verses in the King James Version that use the word "Godhead" with the Strong's reference:
(Acts 17:29 KJV+) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the GodheadG2304 is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
(Rom 1:20 KJV+) 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;G2305 so that they are without excuse:
(Col 2:9 KJV+) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the GodheadG2320 bodily.
Please Note the Definition of "Godhead" in Strong's: G2304, G2305, and G2320:
"adjective: divine, divine nature; "
"noun, neuter: godlike, divinity, deity"
Strong's Reference for Illustration:
G2304 - used three times in Acts 17:29, 2 Pe 1:3,4
θεῖος
theios ~ adjective: divine, divine nature ~ http://biblesuite.com/greek/2304.htm
thi'-os
From G2316; godlike (neuter as noun, divinity): - divine, godhead.
G2305 - used only once in Rom 1:20
θειότης
theiotēs ~ noun: divine nature ~ http://biblesuite.com/greek/2305.htm
thi-ot'-ace
From G2304; divinity (abstractly): - godhead.
G2320 - used only once in Col 2:9
θεότης
theotēs ~ noun: deity, godhead ~ http://biblesuite.com/greek/2320.htm
theh-ot'-ace
From G2316; divinity (abstractly): - godhead.
Other Bible references to the use of Strong's G2304 -- adjective: divine,
2Pe 1:3 According as his divineG2304 power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divineG2304 nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Definition of Strong's G2304, G2305, G2320 is divine, or divine nature; divinity, deity.
Word Clearing: Comparing Different Bibles
Now, let's compare different Hebrew Roots Bible versions:
Orthodox Jewish Bible:
(Acts 17:29 OJB) "Therefore, being offspring of Hashem, we ought not to think that Hashem's essence is like gold or silver or stone, a tzelem (image) made by the skill and thought of Bnei Adam. [Isa 40:18-20]
Word of Yahweh:
(Acts 17:29 WoY) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of Yahweh, we ought not to think that the Supreme Being is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Hebraic Roots Bible:
(Acts 17:29 HRB) Then man being of the offspring and family of YAHWEH, we ought not to suppose that the Sovereign Deity is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by art and the imagination of man.
Restored Name King James Version:
(Acts 17:29 RNKJV) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of YHWH, we ought not to think that the Most High is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
The Scriptures 1998:
(Acts 17:29 The Scriptures 1998+) “Now then, since we are the offspring of Elohim, we should not think that the Elohim is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by the skill and thought of man.
[emphasis mine: Bold/Italic/Underline]
Now we have the following words and please note, they agree with the Strong's definition -- divine, divinity, deity:
"essence", "Supreme Being", "Sovereign Deity", "Most High", and "Elohim".
Word Clearing: Using English Dictionary
For illustration purposes in "Clearing Words" let's break them down one by one, leaving out "Elohim" for now:
es·sence
/ˈesəns/
Noun
The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, esp. something abstract, that determines its character.
A property or group of properties of something without which it would not exist or be what it is.
Synonyms
substance - gist - pith - marrow - nub - core - being
supreme being
Web definitions
God: the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of...
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
sov·er·eign
/ˈsäv(ə)rən/
Noun
A supreme ruler, esp. a monarch.
Adjective
Possessing supreme or ultimate power: "the people's will is in theory sovereign".
Synonyms
noun. monarch - ruler - king - lord - potentate
adjective. paramount - supreme - independent
de·i·ty
/ˈdē-itē/
Noun
A god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion): "a deity of ancient Greece".
Divine status, quality, or nature: "a ruler driven by delusions of deity".
Synonyms
divinity - godhead - god
most high
God.
NOTE: All the English definitions agree together with the Strong's definition. So far, so good. What we have come so far is trustworthy.
Word Clearing In Hebrew
Now let's clear "Elohim". This is a Hebrew word, and since the heritage of our faith is rooted in Hebrew, this is where we should go back ultimately to retrace the heritage of our faith. And our final check should always be traced back to the Hebrew roots -- The Hebrew Language, The History of the Israelites and the Jews, The modern Jews, and Judaism and finally the Torah as we are instructed in Isa 8:20.
(Isa 8:20 HRB) To the Torah and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no light to them!
Because, most of the writers are Hebrews. Even if some passages were written in Aramaic or Greek, the mindset that wrote those are Hebrew mindset. Let us bear this in mind and strive to clear this mindset as well. So our clearing will stretched from the English language, in this case, to the Hebrew roots.
Definition of "Elohim":
"Elohim (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) is a grammatically singular or plural noun for "god" or "gods" in both modern and ancient Hebrew language.
When used with singular verbs and adjectives elohim is usually singular, "god" or especially, "the God". When used with plural verbs and adjectives elohim is usually plural, "gods" or "powers"." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim
Elohim although it is plural, it is always use in grammatically singular form, when referring to the one "God" or "the God" of Israel. It is unique to the Hebrew mindset. In other words, Elohim although plural does not mean "gods" or more than one "god" when referring to the One True Elohim of Israel, since it is mainly used in singular verb forms and with adjectives and pronouns in the singular form. Example:
(Gen 1:26 The Scriptures 1998+) And Elohim said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth and over all the creeping creatures that creep on the earth.”
We may not see it in English but according to the Hebrew Scholars in Hebrew it does. But when used grammatically in plural form it also means "gods", or "the gods", referring to all other "gods". Example:
(Gen 31:30 RNKJV) And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my elohim?
"Hebrew grammar allows for this nominally-plural form to mean "He is the Power (singular) over powers (plural)", or roughly, "God of gods"." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim
"The plural form ending in -im can also be understood as denoting abstraction, as in the Hebrew words chayyim ("life") or betulim ("virginity"). If understood this way, Elohim means "divinity" or "deity"." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim
Therefore: In Hebrew mindset "Elohim" carries ALL the plenitude of the attributes of a Sovereign Deity any one can imagine of the One True Elohim of Israel. What was translated as "Godhead" in our English Bibles is "Elohim" in Hebrew, which meaning bears repeating: all the plenitude of the attributes any one can imagine of the One True Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel.
Do this agree with the Torah? Let's check:
(Exo 3:14 The Scriptures 1998+) And Elohim said to Mosheh, “I am that which I am.”1 And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
Footnote: 1The Heḇrew text reads: ’eyeh ’asher ’eyeh, the word ’eyeh being derived from hayah which means to be, to exist, but the Aramaic text here in v. 14 reads: ayah ashar ayah. This is not His Name, but it is an explanation that leads up to the revelation of His Name in Exo 3:15, namely: יהוה.
(Exo 3:15 The Scriptures 1998+) And Elohim said further to Mosheh, “Thus you are to say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘יהוה Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Aḇraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance to all generations.’
The revelation of the name יהוה (YHWH) identifies Elohim as the self existent or eternal ONE, NOT three! This is an irrefutable fact! -- J.L.
(Deut 6:4 The Scriptures 1998+) “Hear, O Yisra’ĕl: יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one!
(Deut 6:4 RNKJV) Hear, O Israel: YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is one:
There, it agrees with the Torah, it is very clear!
How about the "Testimony"? Does it agree with the "Testimony"? Let us see!
(Isa 44:24 The Scriptures 1998+) Thus said יהוה, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb, “I am יהוה, doing all, stretching out the heavens all alone, spreading out the earth, with none beside Me,
(Isa 45:5 The Scriptures 1998+) ‘I am יהוה, and there is none else – there is no Elohim besides Me. I gird you, though you have not known Me,
(Isa 46:5 The Scriptures 1998+) “To whom do you liken Me, and compare Me and make Me similar, that we should be alike?
(Isa 46:9 The Scriptures 1998+) “Remember the former events of old, for I am Ěl, and there is no one else – Elohim, and there is no one like Me,
WOW! Is not that amazing what the revelations of "The Names" reveal? How the adversary throughout many centuries until this day was covering up "The Names" so that the "end times" people of the world shall be deceived. And led to believe on a three-in-one or on a two-in-one deity?
Please note: Up to this point All the definition of the "Godhead" agrees with the Hebrew definition of "Elohim". And it agrees with "the Torah and the Testimony". But no equivalent word can we find, probably in any other language outside of Hebrew, to translate the word "Elohim" in order to carry the Hebrew mindset as well. Selah! (Pause and think about it!)
For this reason, I prefer to use the Hebrew roots Bibles with the King James and Strong's in my journey of tracing back the Hebrew roots of my faith. You are welcome to join me.
In the English language and today's mindset, we can literally translate Deut 6:4 as: "...our Gods, ... is one!". Can any one clear in that one, the difference between the Hebrew mindset and today's mindset? If you did, blessed are you, you have just cleared where the confusion got started.
Now, let's clear the English word "Godhead".
Merriam-Webster ~ http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/godhead ~
god·head noun \-ˌhed\
Definition of GODHEAD
1: divine nature or essence
2 capitalized
a : god 1
b : the nature of God especially as existing in three persons
Origin of GODHEAD
Middle English godhed, from god + -hed -hood; akin to Middle English -hod -hood
First Known Use: 13th century
Synonyms
deity, divinity, godhood
Godhood ~ Merriam-Webster ~ http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/godhood?show=0&t=1374509085 ~
god·hood noun \-ˌhu̇d\
Definition of GODHOOD
: divinity
First known use of GODHOOD
1563
Synonyms
deity, godhead, divinity
The Free Dictionary ~ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/godhead ~
god·head (gdhd)
n.
1. Divinity; godhood.
2. Godhead
a. The Christian God, especially the Trinity.
b. The essential and divine nature of God, regarded abstractly.
[Middle English godhode, godhede, from Old English godhd : god, god; see god + -hd, -hood.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Godhead [ˈgɒdˌhɛd]
n (sometimes not capital)
1. (Christian Religious Writings / Theology) the essential nature and condition of being God
(Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms)
the Godhead God
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
God•head (ˈgɒdˌhɛd)
n.
the essential being or nature of God; the Almighty.
[1200–50]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Dictionary.Reference.com ~ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/godhead ~
Random House Dictionary ~
God·head [god-hed] Show IPA
noun
1.a. the essential being of God; the Supreme Being.
b. the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
2. ( lowercase ) divinity; godhood.
3. ( lowercase ) Rare. a god or goddess; deity.
Origin:
1200–50; Middle English godhede; see God, -head
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=Godhead&ia=luna
World English Dictionary
Godhead (ˈɡɒdˌhɛd)
— n
1. the essential nature and condition of being God
2. the Godhead God
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=Godhead&ia=ced
Word Origin & History
godhead
from god (q.v.) + M.E. -hede, cognate with -hood and Ger. -heit. Along with maidenhead, this is the sole survival of this form of the suffix.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=Godhead&ia=etymon
-hood
a native English suffix denoting state, condition, character, nature, etc., or a body of persons of a particular character or class, formerly used in the formation of nouns: childhood; likelihood; knighthood; priesthood .
Origin:
Middle English -hode, -hod, Old English -hād (cognate with German -heit ), special use of hād condition, state, order, quality, rank
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=-hood&ia=luna
Bible Dictionary
Godhead definition
(Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9), the essential being or the nature of God.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=Godhead&ia=easton
Please note: these dictionaries still carry the original definition of the word "Godhead":
Definition 1: the essential being or the nature of "God", divinity, deity
But we also get a new meaning, a second definition, notably from the three dictionaries.
Definition 2:
Merriam-Webster: "the nature of God especially as existing in three persons"
American Heritage: "The Christian God, especially the Trinity."
Random House (c) 2013: "the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost."
It is interesting to note here that "Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010" do not yet have this second definition.
Also note the four letters in the American Heritage Dictionary (c)2000: "god·head (gdhd)". Does not that now mimic the four letter tetragrammaton? What might the agents of darkness up to this time?
Conclusion:
Where "Godhead" is found in our English Bible, it should have been "Godhood", where it is clearer and means: All the character traits accorded to the Mighty Elohim.
Same as the used of the Hebrew "Elohim" - plural used in singular form to mean -- all the character traits any one can ever imagine of the One Mighty Elohim of Israel.
This is the original meaning. Today however, it is already confused to readily mean the three persons of the Trinity. Although some of our dictionaries still carries the original meaning, most abridged dictionaries no longer. Instead they already suggest the "triune god". As illustrated in this document.
For lack of a better word to describe the plenitude nature of our One True Elohim of Israel; instead of using "Godhood" in the English language where this word is not yet archaic, "Godhead" was used. Whether this is done deliberately or not, we cannot know for sure and we cannot explain why.
But this I know:
(2Th 2:7 The Scriptures 1998+) For the secret of lawlessness is already at work – only until he who now restrains comes out of the midst.
And this is the working of the adversary, Satan:
(2Th 2:9 The Scriptures 1998+) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood,
And those who did not receive the love of the truth will perish because they are carried away by the deceit of unrighteousness:
(2Th 2:10 The Scriptures 1998+) and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved.
And Elohim allows this to happen to them so that they will be deceived, because they are happy with doing away the instructions of YHWH which the Messiah fully preached as the Way to walk unto.
(2Th 2:11 The Scriptures 1998+) And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood,1 Footnote: 1 Eze. 20:25, John 9:39, John 12:40, Acts 7:42, Rom. 1:24-28.
(2Th 2:12 The Scriptures 1998+) in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness.
I believe, our adversary, the devil is the originator of the use of this word, "Godhead" in our Bibles, so that the work of unrighteousness and unbelief will take effect. To take away the true meaning of the word and to confused. And he has his agents every where, after all, we are in his world of sin. His agents have already conquered All known religions today.
Ever wonder why the Hebrew name "Satan" was preserved to almost, if not, all Bibles in any language today? Ever wonder why the Hebrew names of our One True Elohim, YHWH, and His Messiah, Yahushua were not preserved in our Bibles today? But changed to Greek names? But now, we can conjure that our adversary, the devil, is busy at work of covering up truth. And he is using his multitude of agents teaching and preaching untruth in most, if not all pulpits today.
The dictionaries I quoted here are testament that we live in the Age Of Deceit, we are being deceived in front of our eyes. The axiom "What is true to you is true to you" is the weapon used against us. This is a very subtle deception. And this is what is happening today. There is an absolute truth. We must seek it and hold it fast.
YHWH Bless you!
~ Have you missed the first part? -- "What Significance Is The 'Godhead' To Our Worship?"
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