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The Godhead – What is it?

The word "Godhead" can be found on three occasions in the King James Version of the Bible with the meaning of Deity or Divinity. 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.

Some note that the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible and is therefore not a biblical teaching. While the word is not used, the concept is. First, it is clear that God the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct because each person can be found in the same passage in the Bible at the same time on occasion. For example, following the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, we read, "And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven [the Father] said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'" (Matthew 3:16-17, emphasis added).

In John 20:21-22 we also read, "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (emphasis added). Again, all three Persons of the Triune Godhead are involved as individual Persons at the same time.

In addition, there are occasions where Jesus speaks or prays to the Father, making it clear there are two persons involved (Matthew 6:9). In Acts 5:3-4 we find the Spirit specifically referred to as God: "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God." It is clear the Father is God (Deuteronomy 6:4), Jesus is God (John 1:1; Colossians 1:16), and the Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4).

Yet God is also one Being. For example, the first verse of the Bible tells us that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1, emphasis added). Deuteronomy 6:4 specifically teaches, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." John 5:44 refers to God as "the only God." First Timothy 2:5 explicitly states, "there is one God."

Each Person—Father, Son, and Spirit—is called God yet each Person is also seen individually. Together, the three Persons as one God are referred to as the Godhead. While this teaching transcends our full human understanding, it reflects the teachings of Scripture and serves as one of the distinctive features of biblical Christianity.

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