Edited 12/15/23.
What is the Trinity, and the meaning of Godhead?
Following is a correct English interpretation of the word Trinity, from the Greek and the Hebrew. Also the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew word, “Godhead.”
Webster’s 1851 edition gives the following definition of the word Trinity; it’s the union of three persons in one Godhead,” this consists of, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is how Daniel Webster defined the Trinity.
The word Trinity is from Late Latin, Trinitas, it means a state of being threefold. It gives the idea of three. It is not found in our English Bibles, but can be found in German Bibles, and the Latin Vulgate.
The doctrine of the Trinity is best expressed in the words of Jesus.
Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach = (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God = (the Father,) and the communion of the Holy Ghost.”
John 14:16-17, Jesus said, “I (Jesus) will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter (Holy Spirit,)” — even the Spirit of truth; whom the world (unbelievers) cannot receive.”
John 16:5-7, Jesus said, I (Jesus) go my way to Him (the Father) that sent me,”
Verse 7, It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you.” Here we see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 48:6, Jehovah is speaking, “Come ye near unto me, hear ye this, I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was , there am I: and now the Lord God, and His Spirit, hath sent me.”
Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Us, is a pronoun; objective case of We. As in, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Genesis 11:7, God said, “Let us go down, and there confound their language,” again this implying two or more. It in no way implies one person and some of their attributes.
Now the definition of the word “AND:”
Matthew 28:19. The word, “and” is a conjunction, or connective. It signifies that a word or part of a sentence is to be added to that what proceeds. Therefore, “the person of the Son” is to be added to the person of “the Father. The “Holy Ghost” is to be added to “both the Father, and the Son. Therefore, suggesting three separate entities.
Further proof of how the word “and” is used in Scripture to separate individuals can be seen in the following verses. To deny the above is to deny the following. Some deny that the three persons of the Godhead mentioned above are not separate individuals, but one person. They teach that God takes on various forms. How then would they explain the following, (and) being the connective, or conjunction?
1. Matthew 4:18, “Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother,” two distinct people.
2. Matthew 4:21, “He (Jesus) saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother,” two distinct people.
3. Acts 1:13, “And when they (the apostles) were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode = (were staying) Peter and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon (the Zealot) and Judas the brother of James.”
Each person is connected to the other by the word “and,” each being a separate and distinct person. In this case we have 11 persons mentioned, each separate, each distinct, yet all are of one accord, in the preaching of the Gospel. All are called the foundation of Christianity, yet one building, one temple in Christ. We are one bride, yet many individuals. Therefore we have the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Greek and Hebrew for the word Godhead:
“There are three Greek words for the English word “Godhead.” Note the word “God” in the Greek is, “Theos.” The word “Godhead” in all three cases is a form of Theos. They are, “Theios, Theiotes, and Theotes, implying a particular characteristic of God alone. Note below, #2320, is speaking of Jesus Christ specifically.
Godhead: 2304. Greek is, theios. Similar words are LORD and God. Divine, pertaining to God,
2 Peter 1:3, “According as His Divine power hath given unto us all things.”
Verse 4, “Ye may be partakers of the Divine nature.”
Septuagint for Hebrew, Exodus 31:3, “I have filled Him with the Spirit of God,”
Exodus 35:29, “the children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD.” Neuter, the Divine nature, Divinity, Acts 17:29.
Godhead: 2305. Greek is, theiotes. Deity, Godhead, as in the divine nature and perfections,
Romans 1:20, “Even His (Christ’s) eternal power and Godhead.
Godhead: 2320. Greek is, theotes. Deity, Godhead, the Divine nature and perfections,
Colossians 2:9, “For in Him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
The idea of a Godhead represents the Divine nature, perfections, and essence of the only true God. What does it mean, when we speak of the essence of God? The idea of essence can be broken down into two parts. There is what we call normal essence, secondly there is real essence.
For example, gold’s, NORMAL ESSENCE consists of the idea that this precious metal has a special value, plus a wonderful golden natural beauty.
Secondly, in gold, REAL ESSENCE would be the constitution of its atomic structure on which its properties depend. This information is not known to the average person who owns gold, yet, they accepted the idea of gold’s normal essence, which is its’ value, and natural beauty.
Apply this to God. We have some knowledge of the normal essence of God, and of the Godhead, but not much of His real essence. How do we know of His normal essence,
1. Through the creation itself! First through it’s natural beauty, secondly through it’s complex interwoven infrastructure.
2. Through our conscience, we being able to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, feeling of guilt when we do something wrong, questions concerning and believing in a supreme being, etc.
3. We have been given a glimpse of God through the Bible.
4. Lastly through the physical presence of Jesus. “God manifest in the flesh.” Jesus descended from heaven, took on the form of a man, lived a spotless life, and brought us a message of hope; hope linked to our belief, resulting in eternal salvation. The above information gives us a glimpse of God’s normal essence.
Even with this information, we still do not know of God’s real essence. What is God’s spiritual makeup, What is His form, His true beauty, His full glory, and His real power?
Moses spoke to God through a cloud, and his face began to radiate. Isaiah was terrified when he saw the Lord Jesus sitting on the throne of heaven. He was humbled by his sinful condition, saying,
Isaiah 6:5, “Woe is me! for I am undone (destroyed); because I am a man of unclean lips (defiled), for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
Revelation 1:17, When John saw Jesus in all His glory, he, “fell at His feet as dead.” Ezekiel 1:28, Daniel 8:17, Ezekiel, and Daniel heard the voice of God, they both, “fell upon (their) faces.”
Jesus said in John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee (the Father) the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Life eternal lies in the knowledge, and worship of the Lord Jesus, this to the glory of the Father!
Jesus said in John 14:16, “I (Jesus) will pray the Father, and He shall give you = (the disciples, and the church) another Comforter (Holy Spirit), that He may abide with you forever.”
In this verse, we have conformation of the existence of the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, which is referred to as the Comforter. The Comforter is also referred to as “He.” We are told that the Holy Spirit transacts the cause of both the Father, and the Son.
Another strong proof that the Holy Spirit is a separate person in the Godhead can be seen in the following verse.
John 16:13-14, Jesus said, “When He (the Holy Spirit) the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak …He shall glorify me (Jesus): for he shall receive of mine (what is mine) and shall shew it unto you.”
If the Holy Spirit was the Father, why would he not speak of himself? After all, the Gospel is about Jesus Christ. Also, this Comforter will be giving the glory to Christ in the things that he receives from Christ. Therefore, they are distinct persons.
John 16:7, Jesus told one of his disciples, that, “It is expedient (advantageous) for you that I go away = (assent into heaven): for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you,” two distinct persons.
The word, “He” in verse 13, is a pronoun substitute for the third person. Also, the word “He,” is masculine in gender (male), which refers to the Holy Spirit. The second persons are the one Jesus is speaking to. So, we know by the above verses, that the Holy Spirit is, male in gender, a Spirit Being, and the third person of the Godhead.
John 14:26, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name = (Jesus). He shall teach you all things.” Again, this verse speaks of the three persons of the Trinity, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
There is unity in the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One plan, one voice, one focus, and that unity is to bring Satan to justice, and to bring man to salvation.
1. The Father is made of none, neither created, or begotten:
2. The Son is of the Father alone, neither made, or created, but Begotten:
3. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son, neither made, or created, or begotten, but proceeding from the Father and Son.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com