Y.H.W.H.
Christians, are to worship the “One true God of the Bible.” Yet Scriptures appear to teach more then one God. They speak of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
What’s going on here? For example,
Zechariah 14:9, “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one.”
1. Malachi 2:10, “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?”
2. Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”
Yet the following verses appear to speak of more then one God.
3. Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let US make man in our image, after our likeness:”
“Us,” a pronoun objective case of, “WE.” Plural
4. Genesis 11:7, God said, “Let US go down, and there confound their language.”
Can we throw out, set aside, or pretend these verses do not exist because we they don’t make sense? No! These verses do exist, therefore we must find the answers.
In the following verses, God is speaking to Isaiah and the text refers to three persons. So let’s look at them. The LORD is speaking,
Isaiah 48:16, “I (Jehovah) have not spoken in secret from the beginning (from the foundation of the earth); from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God (the Father), and his Spirit (Holy Spirit) hath sent ME (Jehovah.)” Here we see the three persons spoken of by God Himself. Also Jesus said in,
Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Lets examine the following titles more closely. God, Lord, and One. When the ancient Jews read Scripture, they would not attempt to pronounce Y.H.W.H. because of its sacredness, also lost was the true pronunciation for Y.H.W.H. And because the name “Yahweh,” was also considered to be sacred, the Jews replaced it with LORD and God. Yet in seven places in the English Bibles we still find the name Jehovah used.
Question: Are the nouns God and Lord proper names? My answer would be, emphatically NO. As you know, a nouns can be, a persons, places, a quality, idea, action or state, a things. I believe the correct category is, “thing.” as in Titles, offices and characteristics.
If we were to ask God, “What is your proper name?” I am quite sure He would NOT say, “My name is God, or my name is LORD.
What He would say is, “In the O.T. they called me the Word of God, Jehovah. In the N.T. my Father gave me a new name, my name is Jesus, I am the Christ, your Savior.
I am the God of the Creation, I am LORD over those who believe in me, I am the great “I Am.” These are my Titles, offices, and characteristics. They represent my qualities, attributes and work. I am the Almighty, Revelation 1:8.”
The titles LORD and God, are translated from the Hebrew and Greek words, Elohim and Jehovah. Other titles used by God in the Scriptures are, Elahh, El, Adhonai, Theos, etc.
The first time we see the word “God” in the Bible, is in,
Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In Genesis 1, God is the Hebrew word, Elohim.
Again, Elohim is not God’s proper name, but describes His real essence. Elohim is a compound word which signifies that God is Almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, a pure and perfect Spirit, who preserves and governs all things, the one who is, who was, and who will be.
He is Spirit, cannot be seen by the human eye and cannot be comprehended by any mortal man. Yet He can be understood by the vast and wonderful works of the creation, our conscience, it knowing right from wrong, and from His written word.
Is the word Jehovah a proper name for God?? No! This Hebrew word is an English rendering of the tetragrammation YHWH. Its original pronunciation is unknown. Jehovah is derived from the verb “to be.” and implies that God is eternal, that He is Absolute, the Uncaused One. This describes God’s real essence.
How and why did the title Jehovah came about?
The Jews took seriously the third commandment written in,
Exodus 17:15, “Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain.” It is written that God will hold those who do take his name in vain, guilty.
After the Jewish captivity from Babylon, the true pronunciation (Y.H.W.H) was lost. The modern name, Jehovah in our Bibles has been greatly refined, and translated in the English word Lord or God.
How did God’s name Y.H.W.H. become Yahweh, this followed by, Jehovah. The two vowels, A and E were added for easier reading and pronunciation, rendering it, YaHWeH, or Yahweh.
In the English alphabet, up until the 1600’s there was no letter “J”. The name Jehovah was written in English as, “Yahweh.” The letter J was introduced into our alphabet for easier pronunciation of words.
The W, is the union of two Vs. V being the form of the Roman capital letter which we call, U. The W is properly a vowel, but does not retain that distinction today.
Thus, the Y was changed to J. The W was changed to V. The vowels were added for pronunciation purposes, so now, we have the English Jehovah. Then upon publication of the English Bible, Jehovah became Lord and God.
What does the phrase, “One God” mean? The word “one,” can mean, single in number, an individual, such as one man, one book. But, it also can mean, one in union, or, one united body. The word one, like many other adjectives is used without a noun, and is to be considered as a substitute for some noun understood. For example, if we say,
Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave (be joined) unto his wife: and they (plural) shall be one (singular) flesh.” Two people, one flesh.
Genesis 34:16, “Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we (plural) will dwell with you, and we will become one (singular) people.” That is, many people will become one people.
Colossians 3:15, “Ye = (many) are called in one body;” In this verse we see that many people are called into one body, which is the church of Jesus Christ.
So when we speak of One God, in reality we are speaking of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as being one in union. Union implying two or more being united, a conjunction of minds, wills, affections, and interests.
How Does the Godhead Work?
The Father rules from heaven. He is Spirit. He governs from His spiritual sanctuary, as King, LORD, and Father of all. He is the Almighty. His will prevails over all, both in the spiritual world, and in the physical world.
Jesus Christ, by the authority and will of the Father has been given by inheritance, the whole of the physical and spiritual creation. Jesus, the Word of God, by the will of His Father, has been made Lord of lords, and King of kings.
Concerning the whole of creation, physical and spiritual, He is the Father’s ambassador and Prime Minister. He holds all of the Father’s titles and all that the Father has. He is the perfect representative, having been given ALL power and authority.
From the beginning of the creation, Jesus, who is also called the “Word of God,” (John 1:1,) left His place in heaven, and spoke the physical creation into existence. Thus, He is called, The Word of God.
Genesis 1:3, “And God = (the Father) said, “let their be light.” This was the glory of the Son casting His light upon an earth covered in darkness.”
John 1:1, “And the Word = (Jesus) was with God = (the Father and the Holy Spirit).”
John 1:4, “In Him = (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.” He breathed life into Adam nostrils who’s body was formed from the dust of the ground.
So the light of Genesis 1:3 and John 1:4, represents the glory that surrounds the Lord Jesus Christ when present.
In the O.T. whenever you read, “The word came to Moses, or to Isaiah or Ezekiel, etc. The Jews’ understood this to be a physical manifestation of God. In other words, they saw the LORD eye to eye in a man’s body. His true essence and nature vailed.
The eternal source of truth, purity, and joy came down from His place in heaven. He brought life to the world as He also brought life and immortality to light in His Gospel.
Jesus represented the brightness and splendor of the Godhead. He was the life of the new-born world. He is the light and life of the new covenant and every born-again Christian.
2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God = (the Father), who commanded the light = (Jesus) to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
The “glory of God,” answers to the “glory of Christ.”
Four thousand years after the creation, our Creator stepped into a body of flesh. He came to finish the work of the Father.
His mother was a woman called Mary, His Father is the Father in heaven, a pure and perfect spirit. And what was conceived in Mary is of the Holy Ghost. The Word came from on high.
Jesus rules and reigns. In Scriptures we can see the anti-type and type of this relationship in the O.T.
Joseph is one person most scholars agree resembled Jesus Christ most closely. In Genesis 41:45, Joseph, by the will of Pharaoh has been elevated to lord over the whole kingdom of Egypt. At this time, Egypt was the world power.
Pharaoh had given Joseph a new name. He was now to be called, “Zaphnath-paaneah.” which means, “a revealer of secrets.” Jesus is the revealer of the Father’s will. The mystery of a new covenant was brought to light.
Jesus the revealer of things kept secret from all eternity. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
Joseph was sealed = (anointed) by Pharaoh. He was clothed in fine garments and by Pharaoh’s own hand, had gold chain’s put around his neck. He was made lord of the land, prime minister of the state, and comptroller of the house. Compare the following:
Jesus was established as Lord over the whole of creation. On the Mt. of transfiguration the apostiles saw Jesus, Matt.17:2, before them: — His raiment (clothes) was white as the light.”
Proverbs 8:23, “I = (Jesus) was set up = (anointed) from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” It was the Father who anointed His beloved Son.
Although Joseph was a foreigner in Egypt, a Jew. The people were commanded by Pharaoh to honor Joseph, as they honored Pharaoh.
No man was to raise a hand to Joseph. He was to be esteemed and respected by the people as Pharaoh’s equal.
Jesus was not of this world, a sojourner in the land, yet of Jewish stock. He was to be praised and honored as Lord over all.
John 17:16, Jesus said, “They = (the apostles) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” He was a stranger in the land and on the earth.
Joseph was sent by Pharaoh to execute and establish a plan for saving the people from certain starvation. Jesus was that bread that came down from heaven to save the people from certain spiritual death.
Joseph as Pharaoh’s prime minister was given a ring containing the royal signet. This seal gave Joseph the power and authority to rule over the kingdom of Egypt in the name of Pharaoh.
Jesus was the Father’s prime minister, having the Holy Spirit as His royal signet. This was His emblem of power.
Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, “All thing are delivered unto me of my Father:”
John 16:15, “All things that the Father hath are mine:”
Genesis 41:40, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Thou = (Joseph) shalt be over = (govern over) my house, and according unto thy = (your) word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”
Pharaoh said, “Only in the throne” from where I rule, would Joseph have no authority. Here Pharaoh would remain unchallenged. Compare the following:
Jesus was sent to rule over His creation, Therefore He is called God. God meaning Creator, supreme over all. Only in heaven, at the throne of the Father is the Father greater.
John 14:28, Jesus said, “I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”
The people were told, when in the presence of Joseph,
Genesis 41:43, “Bow the knee.” The people were to honor Joseph as they would honor Pharaoh. The idea of bowing a knee which is a Hebrew term, meaning to prostrate oneself, and signifies, “blessed father.” Compare the two following verses.
Isaiah 45,22-23, “I am God (Jehovah,) and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, — That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Compare with,
Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” Only God is to be worshipped in this manner.
Isaiah calls the child to come, “The everlasting Father.” We are to bow a knee to our Everlasting Father.
There is in the Godhead a chain of command and authority authorized, just as there is in every phase of the military, judicial, and political systems established in America. As Pharaoh sent Joseph, so also the Father sends His Only Begotten Son as our military, judicial and spiritual leader.
As Pharaoh is an anti-type of the Father, so is Joseph a shadow of Jesus. When the people heard the voice of Joseph, it was as though they were hearing Pharaoh. When Joseph appeared to them, they were to act as if Pharaoh were present.
The Father in heaven said of His Son, Matt.17:5, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus replied, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” THEY ARE ONE.
John 14:11, “I (Jesus) am in the Father, and the Father in me.”
What the Father is, Jesus is. What the Father has, Jesus has. The will of the Father, becomes the will and finished work of Jesus Christ.
John 17:5, Jesus said, “Father, glorify thou me (Jesus) with thine own self with the glory which I HAD with thee before the world was.” In verse 24, Jesus said, speaking to the Father, “thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
The creation is commanded to honor Jesus, as they honored the Father, and
no man was, or is, to raise a hand to Jesus. This was the sin of the Jews. They rejected the Son of God.
John 5:23, “All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.”
Our Lord made a covenant, and sealed it with His blood. This covenant was honored by the Father. Jesus returned to heaven from where He came, sitting at the right hand of the Father.
Colossians 1:16, “For by Him = (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.”
Following are verses that seem to refer to the Godhead as consisting of more than one God.
Isaiah 34:16, God said, “for my = (the Word) mouth it hath commanded, and His = (the Father) Spirit = (Holy Spirit) it hath gathered them.
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, be with you all. A-men.”
John 14:24, Jesus said, “He that loveth me and keepeth not my sayings = (words) and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let US make man in our image.”
Genesis 11:6-7, “The LORD said, behold, the people is one, —-let US go down, and there confound their language.”
Isaiah 48:16, God said, speaking to Isaiah, “Come ye near unto me, = (Jesus) hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: = (Jesus) and now the Lord God, = (the Father) and His Spirit, hath sent me.” = (Jesus). Here the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned.
There is one chain, having three links. Each as strong as the other, each pulling the same load, that being the salvation of mankind. The three consists of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We are to worship the one true God. He is our Creator, He is called Yaheweh. The Jews’ call Him LORD. Christian’s calling Him Jesus.
Matthew 1:21, The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, and said, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus.” Jesus meaning, He who shall save, or, Jehovah His helper.
His name Jesus points to His new office and the work set before Him. He came to seek and to save the lost. The Jews waited hundreds of years for their Messiah, and when He came as prophesied, the Jews rejected Him. Upon His entry into the world, He began to fulfilled the office of King, High Priest, and Prophet.
He was born to die, He paid the ultimate price for mans’ redemption.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com