Library Home>The Christian Shepherd>The Christian Shepherd: 2000>The Godhead (#167560)

The Godhead

From: The Christian Shepherd: 2000

By: Henry Edward Hayhoe

Show More Sources

From: Christian Treasury: Volume 7

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

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—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 Genesis 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 Deuteronomy 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.

In 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 1:14¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14); 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. 1:13¹³But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (Hebrews 1:13)). 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)).

In redemption God the Father purposed, in love, 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 obedience of love accomplished the work of redemption (Heb. 10:710). 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)).

In 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)).

H. E. Hayhoe

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.

Previous Article

The Christian Shepherd: 2000

• "Give This Man Place"

• Glories of Christ As Man

• Glories of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Seven Glories of Christ - Part 1, The

• Glories of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Seven Glories of Christ - Part 2, The

• Glorifying the Lord

• God of Peace, The

• God the Son

• Godhead, The

• He Will Let You in

• His Love and Desire for Our Blessing

• How to Know the Will of the Father

• I Lay It Down

• In Need of Comfort?

• Jews - A Meditation on Isaiah 18, The

• Last Tribunal, The