The Bible on God

All Bible references are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, unless otherwise noted.

Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me.

Who is speaking here? The Lord (Jehovah or Yahweh) your God said “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Mark 12:29,30 Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'"

Who are we required to love with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind? If we are required to love the Lord our God with all our heart, then we will have to understand who He is. It is very difficult to love someone whom you do not know; and impossible to love them with all your heart. If we want to love God with all our heart, then we must first learn to know and appreciate His character. This can only be done by accepting the testimony from the Scriptures on this subject.

We are instructed to follow Christ as our example. “He who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6, RSV) Who did Christ love with all His heart, and worship? His Father.

John 4:22,23 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him.

Christ said that He worshipped the Father.

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Revelation 3:12 He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

The God referred to in all the preceding verses is none other than the Father.

Hebrews 1:1-4 In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature [5841: a precise reproduction in every respect], upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs.

The Son of God was appointed by His Father to be heir [one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship] of all things. And He has, by inheritance, obtained an excellent name. Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God, begotten of the Father before all creation.

Hebrews 1:5-13 For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God [The Father refers to His Son as God, a name which He received by inheritance], is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades." And, "Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou are the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet"?

Psalms 110:1 The Lord [3068: Jehovah = ‘the existing One’ the proper name of the one true God] says to my lord [113: Adonai]: "Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool."

The Father (Jehovah) said unto His Son (Adonai), Sit at my right hand.

Psalms 83:18 Let them know that thou alone, whose name is the Lord [3068: Jehovah], art the Most High over all the earth.

Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty [7706: most powerful], but by my name the Lord [3068: Jehovah] I did not make myself known to them.

Jehovah (the Father) is the Highest, and the Most powerful. How many Most Highs can there be? One, the Father!

Mark 5:7 and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High [5310: highest, most high, of rank: the most high God] God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."

Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty [3841: omnipotent, He who holds sway over all things, the ruler of all] and the Lamb [the Son of the Father].

The Father is above all (including His only begotten Son.)

Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days [6268: advanced, aged, old] and was presented before him.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only [3441: alone, without a companion] true [228: real, true genuine, it contrasts realities with their resemblances (note: Christ is a resemblance of His Father)] God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Who is the only true God? The Father!

1 Timothy 2:4,5 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator [3316: one who intervenes between two] between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Who is the one God? The Father?

1 Corinthians 8:4-7 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

Who is the one God from whom all things originated? The Father!

John 1:1,2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

What about John 1:1? Isn’t Christ spoken of here as being God? In the original Greek this verse reads as follows. “In the beginning was the Word [the Son of God], and the Word was with [the 3588] God [the Father], and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with [the 3588] God [the Father].” (John 1:1, 2) Notice the distinction that is made when the word the [3588] is inserted in the proper places.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

Let’s take a look at some of the attributes that are true about God the Father only. “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.” (John 1:18) This certainly could not be referring to the Son of God, for many men have seen Him.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted [551: not liable to temptation to sin] with evil and he himself tempts no one.

Who is the God who cannot be tempted? The God that cannot be tempted could not refer to the Son of God, for He was tempted in all points as we are.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 Timothy 6:14-16 I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone [3441: alone, without a companion] has immortality [110: undying, everlasting, deathlessness] and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

God the Father is the only one who cannot die under any circumstance, because He is the source and sustainer of all life: if He were to die, then all things would cease to exist. This quality, of course, could not apply to the Son of God, for He was dead!

Revelation 1:17,18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand upon me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."

Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant.

How could Christ lay down His life for us?

John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

Here is the answer, His life was given to Him, therefore He could lay it down, and suffer death.

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one.

Who did Christ rely on for everything He did? His Father is the strength and sustainer of His life.

John 5:30 "I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me."

What about where it says that in Christ is all the fulness of the Godhead? “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [2320: this Greek word is only used once] bodily.” (Colossians 2:9, KJV)

Colossians 1:19 For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell.

2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, in Christ God [the Father] was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

The term Godhead refers to God, the Father, who is the head of His Son.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

The Bible says that we also can be filled with all the fulness of God. “And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19) This is accomplished by God allowing us to be partakers of His divine nature. “By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. ” (2 Peter 1:4)

God was in Christ, and Christ can be in us, which is the hope of glory. “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ” (Colossians 1:27)

“When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.” (1 Corinthians 15:28)

The Son is subject unto His Father now, and will be forever. The Greek word that was translated subject and subdued means this: “to arrange under, to subordinate, to submit to one’s control, to subject one’s self, to obey: A Greek military term meaning ‘to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader’.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

Colossians 1:15 He is the image [1504: likeness] of the invisible God, the first-born [4416: or it may be; born before all creation (Wigram’s)] of all creation.

”Christ is called, firstborn of all creation, who came into being through God prior to the entire universe of created things.” (Thayer’s)

Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days [the days of eternity].

This verse is talking about the Son of God, whose origin (beginning) was long before the beginning of this world; and time as we know it.

In the first verse of Proverbs 8 it says that wisdom is speaking. Who is wisdom? In verse 8 it tells us that He has a mouth, and speaks. “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30) Christ is Wisdom, and is speaking in Proverbs chapter 8.

“When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth.” (Proverbs 8:24, 25) Also in another version (The 1965 Bible in Basic English) “When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water. Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth.”

The Hebrew verb that was translated brought forth is used, in this verse, in the Pulal form: the definition for the Pulal form is the only definition that can apply here. This definition is as follows: “to be made to writhe, be made to bear, to be brought forth.” This verb, in this form, is only used four times in the Bible; here is one of them. “Are you the first man that was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?” (Job 15:7)

If Proverbs 8:24, 25 were talking merely about an intellectual wisdom, then you must say that at some point God acquired wisdom, and that before that time He did not have wisdom. These verses cannot be talking about that, but rather the origin of the Son of God.

“When he established the heavens, I was there [Remember John 1:1, the Word was with God in the beginning when He made the heavens], when he drew a circle on the face of the deep. . . . Then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always.” (Proverbs 8:27, 30)

Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

The terms Father and Son, by definition, indicate the existence of the one before the other.

The New Testament over and over affirms the fact that Christ was brought forth from the Father.

John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded [1831: to come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of] and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me."

John 16:27,28 "For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from [1831: to come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of] the Father. I came from [1831] the Father and have come [2064: “to come from one place to another”] into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father."

John 17:7,8 Now they know that everything that thou hast given me is from thee; for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came [1831] from thee; and they have believed that thou didst send me.

John 14:28 You heard me say to you, "I go away, and I will come to you." If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater [3187: elder] than I.

The Greek word that was translated greater in this verse, is translated elder in Romans 9:12. Here is the definition of this Greek word: “larger (literally or figuratively, specifically in age).” (Strong’s) “she was told, 'The elder [3187] will serve the younger.'” (Romans 9:12) Here we have plain evidence that the Father is older than the Son. It does not take a wise man to figure out something so plain that a child can understand. Ask your child, “Who is older, you or I?” I am sure he will give you the right answer.

Doesn’t the Bible say that the Father and His Son are one? They are one, but how are they one? Are they the same being?

John 17:22 The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.

Jesus prayed that His disciples may be one in the same way that He is one with His Father. Jesus was not imagining one disciple with twelve heads, neither is He part of a three in one God, but He was imagining twelve disciples who are united with the same thinking. Even as a man is to become one flesh with his wife. Though many miles separate the two, they are still one in goals and desires.

What about Isaiah 9:6, where the Son of God is called the Father?

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting [5703: for ever (of future time) - Brown Driver Brigg’s] Father, Prince of Peace."

Is Christ the Father? If so, how can He be the Son? And if He is both Father and Son, then how can there be a trinity, for a trinity is three individuals. This verse is obviously not supporting of a trinity doctrine.

Hebrews 2:13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."

Christ is called everlasting, which is appropriate, since He will last forever. He is called Father, not of Himself, but of the children which God has given Him.

Notice also that Isaiah 9:6 says that “His name shall be called. . . The mighty God”. Some may use this phrase to mean that Christ is the supreme God. This would be a good argument if the verse had referred to Christ as the Almighty God, however it uses the term mighty God. We read of mighty men, but never of Almighty men. It certainly is appropriate to refer to the Son as mighty, for He is powerful. It is also appropriate to refer to Him as God, for the Almighty God Himself refers to His Son as God in Hebrews 1:8. Therefore the terms everlasting Father and The mighty God can rightly apply to the Son.

Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty.

The term The most High always refers to the Father.

What about Revelation 1:8, Isn’t Christ called the Almighty?

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty [3841]."

The Greek word that was translated “Almighty” in this verse is pantokrator, which is formed by the combining of the Greek words pas and kratos [from 3956 and 2904]. pas means “all,” and kratos means “power.”

Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) Jesus says that “all power” has been given unto Him. Therefore He now has all power, and the term “Almighty” can rightly be applied to the Son of God. Yet this does not indicate that He is the Most High God, for the Most High God is the one who gave Christ “all power.”

Revelation 1:4,5 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come [the Father], and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

Christ is never referred to as the Most High God. He is never referred to as the only true God. He is never referred to as the Ancient of Days. He is never referred to as the God of the Father. The Father is however the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.” (Ephesians 1:17)

The Bible clearly makes the distinction between the Supreme being in the universe, and His only begotten Son.

How many Gods are there?

1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

As you may have figured out by now, the testimony from the Scriptures about God, completely disproves the doctrine of the trinity. This doctrine, as stated by most denominations, teaches that there are three co-equal (equal in every respect), co-eternal (the same age), omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful) gods, who are not three gods, but one. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this idea makes no sense at all, therefore the propagators of this doctrine tag it with the word mystery, stating that we will never be able to understand it. In this way, Satan has tricked many people into believing this falsehood without checking it out for themselves. We must be as the noble Bereans who Paul talked about. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

The Bible clearly reveals the character and many of the attributes of God, the Father, and of His Son Jesus Christ. Whatever is revealed in Scripture we are free, and required, to examine thoroughly. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, KJV) We are without excuse if we neglect such plain teachings from the Word of God.

Let us not become one of those who reject knowledge, for the Scriptures plainly state that if we do this, then God will reject us. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)

With the idea of three gods in one, the plan of redemption is thwarted with many needless contradictions. The fact that God so loved us that He gave up His only born Son for us means nothing at all if Christ was not liable to sin under any circumstance, and therefore God the Father never risked anything by giving up His Son. Also, if this doctrine were true, since God cannot die, Christ was never liable to die under any circumstance. “I died, and behold I am alive for evermore.” (Revelation 1:18) If Christ did not die, then our faith is in vain. And, “If Christ has not been raised [from the dead], your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

God so loved us that He yielded up His only begotten Son, so that we could be reconciled back to Him. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?” (Romans 8:32) Those who hold to the doctrine of the trinity are as surely worshipping another God as were the servants of Baal. By doing this they are, possibly ignorantly, breaking the first of the ten commandments.

Excerpted from The Truth About God by Lynnford Beachy.