The Godhead

From: Christian Shepherd, The: 2000

• 1 min. read • grade level: 6

EVERY ACTIVITY of the Godhead is always in Trinity. The first time the name of God is mentioned in the Bible, the Hebrew word used is God in the plural. In the Hebrew language there is singular, dual, and plural.

The Hebrew word for God in the plural is Elohim. This is the word used in Gen. 1:1¹In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1).

The Hebrew word for God in the dual is Elohaim. It is never used in the Scripture.

The Hebrew word for God in the singular is Eloah. The first time this is used is in Deut. 32:15-17¹⁵But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. ¹⁶They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. ¹⁷They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. (Deuteronomy 32:15‑17) where He is contrasted with idols.

The order in Scripture is always: God the Father in purpose, the Son, the One who carries out the purposes of God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, the power by which they are fulfilled. This truth runs all through the Word of God.

Creation

It was the purpose of God the Father that creation would be the sphere for the display of all His counsels (Eph. 1:9, 10⁹Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: ¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:9‑10)).

The Son is the One by whom all is created and upheld (John 1:1-4¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1‑4); Col. 1:16¹⁶For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16); Heb. 1:1-3¹God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ²Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ³Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:1‑3)).

The Holy Spirit is the power in creation (Job 26:13¹³By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. (Job 26:13); Psa. 104:30³⁰Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:30)).

Redemption

God the Father in His love purposed the blessing of man (John 3:16¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself" 2 Cor. 5:19¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Christ in the obedience of love accomplished the work of redemption (Heb. 10:7-10⁷Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ⁸Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; ⁹Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ¹⁰By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:7‑10)).

He (Christ) "through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God." Heb. 9:14¹⁴How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).

Resurrection

God the Father raised Christ from the dead (Acts 3:15¹⁵And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15)).

Christ, the Son, raised Himself from the dead (John 10:18¹⁸No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:18)).

The Holy Spirit raised Christ from the dead (Rom. 8:11¹¹But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11); 1 Peter 3:18¹⁸For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)).

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