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This represents what is certain to be a bit of a journey. I received an assignment that I think may serve to clarify a great deal with regards to the theological lens through which we perceive scripture. At the very least, it should help to catalyze points I have been pressing on this site for years now.
The academic term for the manner in which we approach scripture is hermeneutics. It should surprise no one who has read this site with any frequency that I am pretty big on this issue as I believe that the hermeneutic we apply should come from the scriptures themselves and should provide us with a logical, cohesive, and non-contradictory view of scripture from the very front, to the very back of the book.
I look to and for a cohesive view of scripture even when the conclusions this leads to contradict traditional views. The Messiah Himself had much to say regarding tradition and, quite frankly, much of it isn’t good. It has perplexed me throughout the years that many within Christian circles are resistant – even outright hostile – to such views, demonstrating a veneration of the tradition in question over a plain reading of scripture on the matter.
Okay, so that basically provides you with the basis of why; why this article?
I’ve said before that one cannot understand the “back of the book” (e.g. the “New Testament”) until one understands the “front of the book” (e.g. the “Old Testament”) – and honestly, I don’t believe anyone can truly understand either of those in earnest until they come to grips with the Character of God himself. I mean, if the Bible is the Word of God, then understanding the character of the one who put this all forward in the first place would be paramount in understanding both meaning and intent… particularly when the text addresses issues that are rough – and rough they are.
None of this is to infer that I know everything about God – I most certainly do not – no one does and, in fact, anyone claiming otherwise is selling something and should be avoided. No, I am going to address the things we can and do know about our Creator – from His own Word – and allow that to form the bedrock for a sound, biblical hermeneutic. Only with a solid foundation can we truly hope to rightly-divide the Word. You follow?
Elohim – אלהים
In Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, the word we translate “God” is actually אלהים – El-Oh-Heem. In fact, it is the first word used in all of scripture to describe God;
בּראשית בּרא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’arets
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
The reason the use of the term Elohim is so interesting to me is that this term is not used solely for, nor uniquely to refer to God. Consider;
ותחסרהוּ מעט מאלהים וכבוֹד והדר תעטרהוּ
Vatehaserehu me-at m’elohim vekabod vehedar te’aterehu
For You have made him little lower than the angels, and with glory and honor You have crowned him.
Psalm 8:5
Now this may make some folks uncomfortable, but in both of those verses, we could translate the term elohim as either God, or gods. The difference in this is purely based upon the referent figure in the text. In Genesis 1, we are clearly looking at a reference to God Almighty, while in Psalm 8, we’re looking at a reference to heavenly beings we commonly refer to as “angels” – although it’s often a misnomer. Have a look into what Michael Heiser says on this issue for more insight, as it’s not my intention to belabor this here. We have more to cover.
Incidentally, a video series was released recently that is well worth your time. You can find the first episode here.
So elohim could be used to refer to God himself, or to any of the “gods” – that is, heavenly beings. Since Hebrew does not, itself, utilize punctuation or capitalization, one might wonder how readers were to differentiate God, from the “gods” i scripture – and the answer is the nature, or character of the one being discussed.
You see, while we can use the term elohim interchangeable, their is one Elohim throughout scripture who is entirely unique from any other elohim presented – and that is YHVH. His nature and character are unique, His attributes are unique and His authority is unique and all-encompassing.
Are you maybe starting to get the idea that this isn’t some minor detail or otherwise insignificant matter?
Now, it may not have escaped your notice, but the “im” (pronounced eem) at the end of elohim is commonly used throughout the Hebrew language to indicate a plural referent. For example, the term ילד or “yalda” means child while the term ילדים or “yeladim” means children. Yet throughout the text of scripture, God is indicated utilizing a word that would otherwise indicate a pulrality.
Your trinitarian bells are probably going off right about now – and I do believe that this is done throughout scripture in order to highlight the plurality of His nature – I do not intend, however, to dig into trinitarian theology at this time… I mean, let’s at least try to start simple and work our way up from there. =)
The Attributes of God
On of the essential themes within scripture that differentiated Elohim – GOD from elohim – gods, is the issue of His attributes. While all the heavenly beings presented in scripture certainly defy our material understanding of reality, the attributes ascribed specifically to YHVH mark Him out as distinct and unique among the host of heaven. The point being that HE ALONE is God – everything else, physical, spiritual, great or small is subject to Him and Him alone.
Let’s look at what the bible tells us about these unique attributes…
God is infinite & eternal.
We’ve all heard this right? Thing is, I think that even this idea falls utterly short of His reality. God isn’t just eternal – God is beyond time. He is not only not subject to time, time exists because He created it – it exists at and serves His will. Now that may sound high-minded, but let’s back that up shall we?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
I begin with Genesis 1 because this is quintessential. For God to have created anything in the beginning requires that He pre-existed “the beginning” – you get it? Logic folks. Theo-logic.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.
Isaiah 40:8
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”
Isaiah 43:13 NLT
Full disclosure, I snagged the New Living Translation here simply because I like the poetic nature of the wording. In any case, the meaning inferred, regardless of translation, will be essentially the same.
He himself is before all things, and all things are held together in him.
Colossians 1:17
We could go on, but I don’t want to belabor a point that should be patently obvious to any student of scripture; God is eternal. He existed before time and His existence is not dependent on anything outside of Himself.
God does not change.
Ever. He never has and He never will – perfection has no need of change.
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?
Numbers 23:19
“Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. …”
Malachi 3:6
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!
Hebrews 13:8
God is all-knowing and all-powerful.
We often here these attributes referred to as omniscience and omnipotence.
The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child when I am old?’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.”
Genesis 18:13 – 14
‘Oh, Sovereign Lord, you did indeed make heaven and earth by your mighty power and great strength. Nothing is too hard for you!
Jeremiah 32:17
… and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:18
God is ever-present.
We often here this described as His being omnipresent.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good.
Proverbs 15:3
“Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?” the Lord asks. “Do you not know that I am everywhere?” the Lord asks.
Jeremiah 23:24
… so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17:27
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Note that in the following Psalm, all of the attributes we’ve just discussed are addressed by the Psalmist:
For the music director, a psalm of David. O Lord, you examine me and know me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.
You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do.
Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.
You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me.
Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.
Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence?
If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.
If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the other side of the sea, even there your hand would guide me, your right hand would grab hold of me.
If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me, and the light will turn to night all around me,” even the darkness is not too dark for you to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to you.
Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.
How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total.
If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you.
If only you would kill the wicked, O God! Get away from me, you violent men!
They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies lie.
O Lord, do I not hate those who hate you and despise those who oppose you?
I absolutely hate them; they have become my enemies.
Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts. Test me, and know my concerns.
See if there is any idolatrous way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139
We’re going to stop here for this week – know that this is not an exhaustive list of God’s attributes, but it does serve as a foundation to better understanding His character.
Know also that the attributes we have discussed are absolutely and undeniably unique to Him and Him alone. No other being, human, angel, “elohim” or otherwise can claim to possess all of these attributes. Honestly, there’s only one of them that could possibly apply to the heavenly beings, i.e. angels and even that is highly debatable… I’ll let you figure out which one.
Until next time,
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You