IS JESUS CHRIST GOD
Brethren who believe and teach the trinity dogma often quote Genesis 1:26 when trying to prove that Jesus existed as a person from the beginning and was a co-creator with God. According to them, they believe that since God said “let us,” it means that God had co-creators. Also, the word “God” was translated in the text from the Hebrew word “Elohim,” which is a plural word. They therefore believe Genesis 1:26 talks about a three in one God. Let’s see the scripture.
Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Let’s analyse this scripture together. It’s general knowledge that “God” in this verse is the Hebrew word “Elohim.” What many don’t know is that the word “Elohim,” biblically, isn’t used for God (Yahweh/Jehovah) alone. Kings, magistrates, judges, divine beings, man made gods, etc are described with the word “Elohim” in the Bible.
Genesis 35:2
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods (the Hebrew word here from which which English interpreters translated is the word ‘Elohim’) that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
1 kings 11:5
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess (elohim) of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Do check for the Hebrew words and meanings (contextually too) from which the English Bible was translated.
In the above Bible verses, a man made god and a goddess were called Elohim (a plural word). How then can the plural ‘Elohim’ in Genesis 1:26 be the proof that God is 3 in 1 and has co-creators? Well, except you will say man made gods are 3 in one too.
Human beings are also called “Elohim.” Let’s see scriptures.
Exodus 21:6
Then his master shall bring him unto the judges (elohim); he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
Exodus 22:9
For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges (elohim); and whom the judges (elohim) shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
In the above scriptures, humans (the judges in Israel) are called Elohim.
Psalm 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods (elohim); and all of you are children of the most High.
The above scripture is directed to men but the word “Elohim” is used. There are many more of such scriptures. Too many.
In the bible and even generally in the Hebrew language, the word “elohim” isn’t used for the one true God only. It’s also used for important persons like kings/rulers, judges, men of high positions, deities, etc. Bible translators therefore utilize the context to determine who is being talked about, unlike English language where we can easily use capitalisation (God) to differentiate between deities (god, goddesses, etc). The Hebrew language differs from English in many ways.
So, the use of the plural word “elohim” clearly doesn’t indicate a biune or triune (two in one or three in one) God. Except you want us to believe that kings, rulers, man made gods and goddesses, magistrates, etc are also two in one or three in one each. The Hebrew language has its explanation behind the plurality.
The plurality indicates authority, emphasy, majesty, importance, power, strength, capacity, and the likes. When just one person is speaking but it is pluralized in the Hebrew language, it denotes the majesty and authority of the speaker.
Writers use this at some juncture to express the might and importance of the one who is speaking. Thus, instead of “and eloha (the singular) said…,” the writer of Genesis expressed God’s potency and wrote “Elohim said…”
Infact, this occurs in English language sometimes. A king, after consulting no one, can make a statement like: “We thought about it and this is our decision…” Pluralization sometimes expresses the weight of the influence of the speaker or the one being addressed.
This is how the BDB Greek dictionary defines “Elohim” in the above texts:
1. (Plural)
a. rulers, judges
b. divine ones
c. angels
d. gods.
2. (Plural intensive – singular meaning)
a. god, goddess
b. godlike one
c. works or special possessions of God
d. the true God
e. God.
You might ask, how about the phrase “let us” and the word “our” in Genesis 1:26? That’s quite simple. That’s the writer following the rules of language/grammar. A Plural pronoun (us) has to follow “Elohim” (the Plural noun in the sentence).
Since “Elohim” is plural, it can’t be followed up by a singular pronoun (me). It has to be “us.” So, grammatically, if the writer of Genesis had said “God (elohim: plural) said, let me (singular) make man in my (singular) image,” it could have been wrong grammatically.
See it again in the text:
Genesis 1:26
And God (plural noun) said, Let us (it’s right grammar-wise for a plural pronoun to come after a plural noun) make man in our (Plural again, in conformity to the rules of grammar) image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Let’s use this illustration also;
– THEY said, “let US go to the market to buy OUR basket.” – RIGHT.
– THEY said, “let ME go to the market to buy MY basket.” – WRONG.
The parts of speech must agree. The plural noun in Genesis 1:26 (Elohim) determined the type of pronoun(s) to be used in the verse.
Although the scriptures were written by men under the direction of the Holy Spirit, it was made for man. It was written in a language he/men can relate to. As a result, it was also written following the rules of the language(s) of men.
That’s that for Genesis 1:26.
God created the world.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
He’s God alone. There’s one God. He alone created. Not two in one God. Not three in one God. ONE GOD! ONE GOD!
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.
At this juncture, we draw down the curtains for today. We appreciate your efforts invested in following this series.
Light shines.
© SonsHub Media | Written By Fredrick Agaga
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Agaga Fredrick Abangji is a writer, reporter, content writer, believer in Jesus Christ, and a creator of religious literature. A student of Bingham university – Nasarawa state, studying mass communication.