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God
April 3
God
theos
Today we begin an examination of several names and titles of
God that appear in the NT. The most logical place to start, of
course, is with the name God.
The Greek theos (G2316), which forms such English words as
theology (the study of God) and theocracy (a government ruled
by God), is the most frequent designation of God in the NT.
It meant something quite different, however, to the ancient
Greeks than it did to Jews and Christians. The Greeks were
polytheistic (poly means “many,” so believing in multiple
gods), so they used theos to refer to “the gods” as impersonal
forces that sustained all that existed. By Homer’s day (eighth
century BC), the gods were little more than deified humans who,
while powerful, still had human frailties and limitations.
In dramatic contrast, the Jews were monotheistic (mono means
“one,” so believing in only one God). The Hebrew Elohim (H430)
was consistently translated Theos in the Septuagint. What’s
interesting is that while Elohim is plural (which denotes the
Trinity), the Septuagint never uses the plural Theoi (“gods”)
because this would have given the Greeks a concept of God that
was consistent with their polytheism.
Like the Jewish concept (Mar_12:32), Christians believe in the
one, only, and unique God, the true God of the universe. As
Paul declared, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of
whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom are all things, and we by him” (1Co_8:6).
Likewise, while men fashion gods according to their own image
(Act_14:11), Paul declares that there is only one “living and
true God” (1Th_1:9), in contrast to the dead gods of
idolatry.
What a blessing it is to know that there is only one true God!
As men grope in darkness, worshiping gods they have shaped to
conform to their lifestyles, we worship and follow the true God
of the universe.
Scriptures for Study: In the following passages, identify what
we receive from God: Rom_15:13, Rom_15:16, Rom_15:20; 2Co_1:3;
2Co_13:11.
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