Godhead verses
Could we be over thinking these topics and verses?
The word, “Godhead” was only mentioned three times by the apostle Paul in the Scriptures and in this study we will take a look at those three instances and learn how the apostle used the word in each case.
The first was recorded in:
1) Acts 17:29 – “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”
The context that surrounds this verse was the objective of Paul to reveal the true God to the people in Athens which were wholly given up on idolatry (vs. 16-28), and he specifically contrasted their false image of the “UNKNOWN GOD” as inscribed on the altar (v23) by speaking against their ideology that God could be known through the graven works of their imagination of God.
The apostle declared to them, “…Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (v23). But who was this God that Paul desired to reveal to them? When he said, “HIM,” did he wish it to be understood as “EloHIM” in the plurality of divine persons that make up the Godhead? Or was “HIM” a single divine person in this context? Paul declared the “HIM” as a single person that will one day judge the world by “…that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (v31)
And Peter testified that God raised Jesus from the dead whom He ordained to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:40-42). So therefore Paul in this context used the word Godhead to reveal God as the One that raised Jesus from the dead, which was specifically the Father (Galatians 1:1) and not a plurality of divine persons.
The second time Paul mentioned Godhead was in his letter to the believers in Rome.
2) 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; so that they are without excuse.”
From the beginning of this chapter in Romans 1 you will quickly notice that the apostle distinctly referred to the Father as “God” and to Jesus as the Son of God, therefore in context, the “HIM” again refers to the Father.
And the third time Paul mentioned Godhead was in his letter to the Colossians.
3) Colossians 2:9 – “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
In this text, the “HIM” referred to Jesus (v8), and “IN HIM” dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead. According to Paul, the Godhead was the Father and His eternal power, so what was dwelling in Christ?
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself…” – 2 Corinthians 5:19
“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” – Colossians 1:19-20 (him = Christ)
Within these Scriptures, the use of the word Godhead by the apostle Paul always referred to the Father and His eternal power, which pleased Him to see it dwelling in His Son. But is the Father physically dwelling in His Son, or is it by His Spirit that He dwells in his Son?
“…for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him” – John 3:34.
And since it was given to Jesus not by measure, then it must be in its fullness.
In conclusion, the usage of the word Godhead by Paul never alluded to a plurality of persons that make up one God, but always to a single divine Person, namely the Father. And this was his belief and the belief of the other disciples.
Paul said, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” – 1 Corinthians 8:6
So at this point you can see what is missing from the only three verses in the Bible with the word Godhead. And that is the defining of persons. Also not found is the mention of a membership or group of three. The Holy Spirit is missing. Why? Let the scriptures speak to you without any preconceived notions. Let the scriptures speak to you and not what you have been told to regurgitate.
One thing is certain, the word Godhead it has nothing to do with a trinity or trinity explanation, or a three being / person doctrine of any kind.
Colossians 2:8 – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
WHAT or WHO does the Bible say IS the Godhead in Acts 17:29?
New International Version – Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.
New Living Translation – And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.
English Standard Version – Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
Berean Study Bible – Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
Berean Literal Bible – Therefore, being offspring of God, we ought not to consider the Divine Being to be like to gold or to silver or to stone, a graven thing of man’s craft and imagination.
New American Standard Bible – Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.
New King James Version – Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
Christian Standard Bible – Since we are God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.
Contemporary English Version – Since we are God’s children, we must not think that he is like an idol made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn’t like anything that humans have thought up and made.
Good News Translation – Since we are God’s children, we should not suppose that his nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone, shaped by human art and skill.
Holman Christian Standard Bible – Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.”
International Standard Version – So if we are God’s children, we shouldn’t think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by humans using their own imagination and skill.
NET Bible – So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination.
New Heart English Bible – Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by human art and design.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English – Men, therefore, because our lineage is from God, we ought not to think that gold or silver or stone carved by the skill and knowledge of a man is like The Godhead.
GOD’S WORD® Translation – So if we are God’s children, we shouldn’t think that the divine being is like an image made from gold, silver, or stone, an image that is the product of human imagination and skill.
New American Standard 1977 – Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.
Jubilee Bible 2000 – Being therefore of the lineage of God, we ought not to think that which is Divine is like unto gold or silver or stone, bearing the mark of art and man’s imagination.
King James 2000 Bible – Therefore then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Deity is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
American King James Version – For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
American Standard Version – Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
Douay-Rheims Bible – Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the divinity to be like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the graving of art, and device of man.
Darby Bible Translation – Being therefore [the] offspring of God, we ought not to think that which is divine to be like gold or silver or stone, [the] graven form of man’s art and imagination.
English Revised Version – Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
Webster’s Bible Translation – Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone graven by art and man’s device.
Weymouth New Testament – Since then we are God’s offspring, we ought not to imagine that His nature resembles gold or silver or marble, or anything sculptured by the art and inventive faculty of man.
World English Bible – Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.
Young’s Literal Translation – Being, therefore, offspring of God, we ought not to think the Godhead to be like to gold, or silver, or stone, graving of art and device of man;
WHO or WHAT does the Bible say ABOUT the Godhead in Romans 1:20?
New International Version – For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
New Living Translation – For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
English Standard Version – For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Berean Study Bible – For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Berean Literal Bible – For from the creation of the world His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and divinity, are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, for them to be without excuse.
New American Standard Bible – For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
New King James Version – For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Christian Standard Bible – For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Contemporary English Version – God’s eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made. That’s why those people don’t have any excuse.
Good News Translation – Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all!
Holman Christian Standard Bible – For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
International Standard Version – For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been understood and observed by what he made, so that people are without excuse.
NET Bible – For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.
New Heart English Bible – For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made. So they are without excuse.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English – For the secrets of God from the foundation of the world are appearing to his creatures through intelligence, even his power and his eternal Godhead, that they will be without a defense,
GOD’S WORD® Translation – From the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse.
New American Standard 1977 – For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Jubilee Bible 2000 – For the invisible things of him, his eternal power and divinity, are clearly understood by the creation of the world and by the things that are made so that there is no excuse;King James 2000 Bible – 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 deity; so that they are without excuse:American King James Version – 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; so that they are without excuse:
American Standard Version – For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:
Douay-Rheims Bible – For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; his eternal power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.
Darby Bible Translation – for from [the] world’s creation the invisible things of him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity, — so as to render them inexcusable.
English Revised Version – For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:
Webster’s Bible Translation – 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; so that they are without excuse:
Weymouth New Testament – For, from the very creation of the world, His invisible perfections–namely His eternal power and divine nature–have been rendered intelligible and clearly visible by His works, so that these men are without excuse.
World English Bible – For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.Young’s Literal Translation – for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, by the things made being understood, are plainly seen, both His eternal power and Godhead—to their being inexcusable;
WHAT or WHO dwells in WHOM in Colossians 2:9?
New International Version – For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
New Living Translation – For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
English Standard Version – For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
Berean Study Bible – For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
Berean Literal Bible – For in Him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily.
New American Standard Bible – For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
New King James Version – For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
Christian Standard Bible – For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,
Contemporary English Version – God lives fully in Christ.
Good News Translation – For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity,
Holman Christian Std Bible – For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,
International Std Version – because all the essence of deity inhabits him in bodily form.
NET Bible – For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form,
New Heart English Bible – For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Aramaic Bible in Plain English – For all The Fullness of The Deity dwells in him bodily.
GOD’S WORD® Translation – All of God lives in Christ’s body,
New American Standard 1977 – For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Jubilee Bible 2000 – For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,
King James 2000 Bible – For in him dwells all the fullness of the Deity bodily.
American King James Version – For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
American Standard Version – for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
Douay-Rheims Bible – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally;
Darby Bible Translation – For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;
English Revised Version – for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
Webster’s Bible Translation – For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Weymouth New Testament – For it is in Christ that the fulness of God’s nature dwells embodied, and in Him
you are made complete,
World English Bible – For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
Young’s Literal Translation – because in him doth tabernacle all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
From the above study of the three main Scriptures using the word Godhead, we can see what the Bible is telling us, and we can see what the Bible is not telling us. Now it is up to you to reconcile your thinking to the Bible, instead of trying to reconcile the Bible to your thinking.
