Godhead

The term "Godhead" is an archaic English word synonymous with "Godhood," which literally means the "state or quality of being God." Linguistically, these two words are etymological doublets sharing the same Middle English root.

By the 14th century, John Wycliffe introduced the word "Godhead" to the English Bible to translate the Latin word "divinitas" (divinity) within the text.

In its earliest Biblical sense, the word was used simply to refer to the divine nature of the Creator—defining what God is rather than how many persons He is. However, because there are only three instances of the word in the New Testament, its exact meaning became a subject of historical debate, leading to various interpretations of the divine nature.

Over time, the meaning of Godhead has changed to mean a collection of three co-equal persons. Today, modern dictionaries and ministries often treat the terms "Godhead" and "Trinity" almost interchangeably:

the nature of God especially as existing in three persons — Merriam-Webster Dictionary

The word Trinity cannot be found in the Bible, but the truth of it can. While there's only one God, the Godhead consists of three distinct persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are equally omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal, and unchanging, but each has unique functions. — Christianity.com

In theological studies, the term Godhead is used to refer to the concept of the Triune God, or one God in three Persons that include God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. — Got Questions Ministries

Various Trinitarian scholars attempted to explain the Godhead as the Triune God in three Persons.

However, Jesus teaches a different kind of "Godhead" theology in the Gospel of John 13-17.

Translations

There are only 3 instances where the English word "Godhead" is found in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, and some other modern English Bible translations do not even contain that word at all.

Translations of "Godhead":

VerseGreekTypeVulgate (405)Wycliffe (1395)Tyndale (1525)ESV (2001)
Acts 17:29θεῖονadjectivedivinumthat godli thinggodhedthe divine being
Romans 1:20θειότηςnoundivinitasgodhedgodheddivine nature
Colossians 2:9θεότηςnoundivinitythe Godheadthe godheeddeity

Most modern scholars, including those in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, note that "Godhead" has become an imprecise translation because it carries Trinitarian weight that the original Greek words (which simply mean "divine essence" or "divinity") did not originally carry.

Because there are so few verses about "Godhead", scholars and theologians have historically proposed different interpretations of what the divine nature truly is.

The word "Godhead" is translated from different Greek words:

Theios

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead theios is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. — Acts 17:29 (KJV)

According to Strong's Concordance:

Strong's Concordance
Original Wordθεῖος, α, ον
Part of SpeechAdjective
Transliterationtheios
Phonetic Spelling(thi'-os)
Definitiondivine

However, this word is missing in the New King James Version (NKJV) from the same scripture:

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. — Acts 17:29 (NKJV)

Theiotēs

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 theiotēs, so that they are without excuse — Romans 1:20 (NKJV)

Strong's Concordance
Original Wordθειότης, ητος, ἡ
Part of SpeechNoun, Feminine
Transliterationtheiotés
Phonetic Spelling(thi-ot'-ace)
Definitiondivinity, divine nature

Theotés

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead theotés bodily. — Colossians 2:9 (NKJV)

Strong's Concordance
Original Wordθεότης, ητος, ἡ
Part of SpeechNoun, Feminine
Transliterationtheotés
Phonetic Spelling(theh-ot'-ace)
Definitiondeity

The "Unified" God

Biblical Unitarians often argue that there is only one God.

However, Trinitarians argue that "God is one" actually means "God is unified". This interpretation proposes that God is a unification of three united members.

Jason Dulle argues "echad" the Hebrew word in question:

Echad is used nearly 1000 times in the OT, and almost always refers to a single numerical entity. There are times when it is used of a composite entity (Genesis 2:24). It functions just like the English word “one,” which can be used of single or composite entities, although it most often refers to a single, solitary thing. Only the context can determine how echad is being used. Given the rarity with which echad is used to refer to a composite entity, we should understand echad as referring to a single entity unless there are good contextual clues that warrant the uncommon meaning.

However, in the context of the Shema nothing suggest a unified God.

Further more "echad" should also be compared with the Greek word "heis" when New Testament authors quote the Shema in Greek.

The "Plural" God

In the Hebrew language, the word "elohim" usually means multiple gods. The Trinitarians claim that this refers to the multiple personalities God has or the unity of multiple persons in the Godhead.

However, in the Bible, the word "elohim" could also technically represent a singular God. For example, both Genesis and Exodus (or Shemoth as it is called in The Scriptures) were written by the same author, Moses, who also wrote:

So יהוה said to Mosheh, “See, I have made you an elohim to Pharaoh, and Aharon your brother is your prophet. — Exodus 7:1 (TS2009)

“He who slaughters to an elohim, except to יהוה only, is put under the ban. — Exodus 22:20 (TS2009)

This style of writing was not limited to Moses only. In the book of Judges we read that both Baal and Chemosh were also considered "elohim", yet none of them were composite gods.

But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god (elohim, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” — Judges 6:31 (ESV)

Will you not possess what Chemosh your god (elohim gives you to possess? And all that the LORD (YHVH)) our God (elohim has dispossessed before us, we will possess. — Judges 11:24 (ESV)

The same verse uses the same word "elohim" to refer to either Chemosh or YHVH. Likewise, in 1 Samuel 5:7 the same verse uses the same word "elohim" to refer to either Dagon or YHVH.

And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God (elohim) of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god (elohim).” — 1 Samuel 5:7 (ESV)

Yet, no one claimed that Dagon was a composite or "uniplural" god or that the people who worshipped Dagon thought that he was one.

However, Mike Leake from Bible Study Tools explains:

The term "Elohim" means “supreme one” or “mighty one.” It is not only used of the one true God but is also used on occasion to refer to human rulers, judges, and even angels. If you saw one exhibiting supreme rule and expressed mighty power, the word you would use would be Elohim.

In the Ancient Near East, it was common to refer to the deity in the compound plural, and when speaking of an owner or master, it was often the rule to speak of him in such terms.

To give you just a few examples,

  • Abraham’s servant speaks of his master in the plural in Genesis 24 (ʾadonim, literally, “lords”),
  • Joseph speaks of his master Potiphar in the plural in Genesis 39, and
  • David the king is spoken of as “lords” in 1 Kings 1:11.
  • In Exodus 21, to translate literally and incorrectly, the law speaks of a slave and his masters (ʾadonim, referring to just one master),
  • in Isaiah 19:4, the prophet tells Israel that God will hand them over to a cruel lord (Hebrew, ʾadonim qasheh, a plural noun with a singular adjective), and
  • Isaiah 1:3 tells us that a donkey knows the feeding crib of its masters (baʾalim, referring to just one person; cf. the first half of the verse in which reference is made to an ox’s owner—in the singular).

These examples, which are really very common, show clearly that compound plurals were often used to speak of leaders, owners, masters, or kings. How much more then could similar expressions be used to speak of the Lord, the Master, the King, and the God."

Answering Jewish objections to Jesus: Theological objections, Michael L. Brow, A Jew who converted to Christianity, Vol. 2, p9, 2000 AD

God Created In Partnership

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. — Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

It is also unlikely that a Jewish Monotheistic religion would copy or translate the text incorrectly like this.

Unfortunately the scripture does not name who or what the co-author is or was and what exactly was meant by this verse. So this is open for debate and different interpretations:

The Trinity Co-Created

Trinitarians reason that at least two of the members of the Trinity co-created man.

However, the next verse reads:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him. — Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

Interpreting "us" as multiple distinct persons within the Godhead raises questions about how man could be created in a single "image" (Genesis 1:27). If God consisted of three distinct personalities, it implies Adam would have been created with a similar plural nature to reflect that image.

God Refers To Angels

  • The most common objection to the “us” in Genesis 1:26 referring to angels is that Scripture attests that God made mankind. But God could easily have headed up a council with whom He conferred, and afterward did the work they decided upon.
  • Another objection to this view is that God goes on to say “our image” after saying “let us” so one might question how angels are in the image of God. Since Adam in his pre-fallen state was without sin and in the image of God, it is perfectly reasonable to assume angels in God’s divine council, were also created in the image of God, and without sin. Therefore, it presents no problem to say that humans were created after the image of God (and subsequently angels).

Spirit & Truth Fellowship International

However, this interpretation must be balanced with other scriptures:

I am the LORD, Who made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who by Myself spread out the earth; — Isaiah 44:24 (NRSV)

Misunderstanding

Michael Heiser, a Hebrew scholar, wrote in "The Unseen Realm, p. 39":

The plural of majesty does exist of nouns… but Genesis 1:26 is not about nouns — the issue is the verbal forms.

In other words, God did multiple things and not multiple gods did the same thing.

This could mean that God created multiple people at different times through history.

People Make People

Another explanation to consider is that reproduction is a cooperative effort between God, male, and female.

People do not appear instantaneously without a process. Even Jesus had a biological mother.

Without God granting the origin of life, humanity could not reproduce. Similarly, biological reproduction requires both male and female participants.

So God could possibly be talking to mankind in general when He said: "Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness."

Children also reflect the image of their human parents, often physically but could also show family traits. However, it is more likely this verse reflects that mankind is supposed to maintain God's dominion over creation.

And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. — Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

God Doing Divine Things In Partnership

Genesis 3:22

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever” — Genesis 3:22 (ESV)

Trinitarians reason that members within the Godhead were having a meeting. However, the next verses read:

... therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. — Genesis 3:23-24 (ESV)

God was more likely ordering "the cherubim" who was also in partnership with God.

Genesis 11:7

Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech. — Genesis 11:7 (ESV)

God as the LORD of hosts was possibly speaking to His angels ("hosts") to "confuse their language".

Singular Pronouns

Furthermore, the pronouns in the Bible that refer to “God” are singular, and there are lots of them.

“The Hebrew Bible and the New Testament contain well over twenty thousand pronouns and verbs describing the One God” (Anthony Buzzard and Charles Hunting, The Doctrine of the Trinity: Christianity’s Self-inflicted Wound, International Scholars Publications, New York, 1998, p. 17).

Singular pronouns include “I,” “my,” and “he.”

We would expect that the pronouns that refer to the “Father,” to Jesus, and to “the Holy Spirit” would be singular if there were a Trinity, but since the Trinity teaches that “God” is triune and consists of three “Persons,” that the pronouns associated with “God” would be plural. This is especially the case because according to Trinitarian doctrine, each “Person” in the triune God is individually omnipresent, individually all-knowing; individually all-powerful, and each individually has his own will, his own mind (which is why Jesus could say to the Father, “not my will but yours be done”). John 3:16 (REV) reads,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have life in the age to come.”

But if “God” were composed of three co-equal beings who each had their own mind and together agreed to send Christ, we would expect it to say,

“For God so loved the world that they gave the Father’s only begotten Son….”

The fact that the pronouns in the Bible refer to “God” as a singular being is evidence that there is no Trinity.

Spirit & Truth Fellowship International

Greek Lexicon

Most scholars agree the Father is God because it is plainly stated in multiple scriptures. But what about the other members of the Godhead?

The Spirit of truth (The Helper)Jesus
the Spirit of truth who proceeds (ekporeuomai) from the Father (John 15:26 NKJV)I came forth (exerchomai) from God (John 16:27 NKJV)

Comparing the meaning of the Greek words:

ekporeuomaiexerchomai
Strong's Concordanceto make to go forth / to go forthto go / come out of
Strong's Exhaustive Concordancebe discharged / proceed / project / issue / proceeddepart / escape / get out / go out
Thayer's Greek Lexiconto go forth from some place / to go out i.e. be discharged / to break forth / to proceed / to flow forth / to spread abroadto come out of a place / to come from a place (by forsake the place) / to spread (proclaimed)
Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionaryto go out with an emphasis on "coming forth"to go out / come out
The Baker Expository Dictionarycommunicates an action of going out or leaving, often with reference to people leaving a place of confinementa general term for exiting

For example:

ekporeuomaiexerchomai
A river flows out of a mountain (originates from within) — The Baker Expository Dictionary, pg. 822A person walks out of a store (general exit) — Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary, pg. 232
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God — Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)You will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. — Matthew 5:26 (NKJV)
There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. — Mark 7:15 (NKJV)There met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs — Matthew 8:28 (NKJV)
What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders Mark 7:20-21 (NKJV)And the report of this went out into all that land. — Matthew 9:26 (NKJV)

Based on Greek translations of these two verses it would mean:

  • The Spirit of truth (The Helper): the Spirit of truth is an "extension" of the Father that flows out/spreads abroad to the world (John 15:26 NKJV)
  • The Son:
    • Jesus was coming from God as a separate individual leaving God behind (John 16:27 NKJV), or
    • Jesus' coming was proclaimed (prophesied) by God

Conclusion

The concept of the Godhead represents a recurring theme of inquiry throughout historical and modern theology. Examining the translations reveals a nuance in how English terms map to original Greek concepts concerning God's nature. Grammatically, the use of singular pronouns supports an understanding of God as a singular entity. Furthermore, the analysis of the words echad and elohim helps clarify the contextual applications of unity and plurality when used for the Creator. Finally, studying the Greek lexicon showcases how distinct actions are attributed to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, providing deeper clarity into the nature of the Godhead.