Purpose
8 But of the Son He says,
“YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER,
AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER
IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
9 “YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU …”
“GOD” in verse 8 refers to Jesus. “GOD” in verse 9 refers to the Father: Since Hebrews 1:8 refers to Jesus as “God,” the question in this article is whether this proves that He is God.
This does not prove that Jesus is God.
For the following reasons, Hebrews 1:8-9 does not mean that Jesus is God in the modern sense of the word:
Evidence from Hebrews 1:8-9
Theos can be translated as ‘god’ or ‘God’.
The word “God” in Hebrews 1:8 is translated from the Greek word theos. As discussed in the article on theos, there is no word in the ancient Greek that is exactly equivalent to the modern word “God:”
God – The modern word “God” identifies one specific Being; the Almighty; the One who exists without cause and who caused all other things to exist. This word functions as a proper name for the Supreme Being.
Theos – In contrast, the word theos has a much wider range of meanings. It does not identify one specific being, but a category of beings. In the ancient Greek language, it was used for the Greek gods, such as Zeus. When Greek became the common language in Europe during the centuries before Jesus was born, the Jews used this same word also for YHVH (Yahweh – the God of the Old Testament). But theos retained its original much broader meaning. The New Testament, therefore, also uses theos for the gods of the nations (e.g., 1 Cor 8:5) and even for Satan, who is called ‘the theos of this world’ (2 Cor. 4:4).
Theos, therefore, can be translated either as ‘god’ or as ‘God’. When the translator thinks that a specific instance refers to the Almighty, it is translated as “God.” In other instances, it is translated as “god.”
In Hebrews 1:8-9, “GOD” is in all caps because it is a quote from the Old Testament. However, in other instances where theos refers to Jesus (e.g., John 20:28), it is translated as “God,” implying that Jesus is God Almighty. But that translation is based on the assumption that Jesus is God Almighty. It is an application of the Trinity doctrine; not proof of it.
If one understands Jesus as the Son of God, through Whom God created all things, and Who still upholds all things by the word of God’s power (Heb 1:2-3), but Who received His existence from His Father, then references to Jesus as theos should not be translated as “God.”
In a Christian context, the term “god” refers to false gods. For that reason, we do not want to refer to Jesus as “god.” But the important point is that the fact that the Bible refers to Jesus as theos does not mean that He is God Almighty.
For a further discussion, see – The Meanings of the Word THEOS.
The Father is Jesus’ God.
Although Hebrews 1:8 refers to Jesus as theos, the very next verse (Heb 1:9) refers to His Father as His God. Jesus has a God over Him. God is also Jesus’ God. We find this principle in many other places in the Bible (John 20:17; Heb 1:9; 2 Cor 11:31; Eph 1:3, 17; 1 Peter 1:3; Rev 1:6; 3:2, 12). If the Father is Jesus’ God, then Christ is subordinate to the Father, which is contrary to the Trinity doctrine, in which they are co-equal.
Hebrews 1:8-9 is similar to John 20. That chapter also refers to Jesus as “God” (John 20:17) but in that same chapter Jesus refers to God as His God:
“I ascend to My Father and your Father,
and My God and your God” (John 20:17).
For a further discussion, see – Did Thomas call Jesus “my God” in John 20:28?
Jesus is theos because Israel’s king is theos.
Hebrews 1:8-9 is a quote from Psalm 45:6-7, which refers to Israel’s king as Elohim, translated as ‘god’. The mention of the king’s wives (Psm 45:9) confirms that “God” in verse 6 refers to the king of Israel.
Elohim, therefore, is similar to theos: Both are used for both the only true God and for certain superior human beings. Another example is in Exodus 7:1, where “The LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made you a god [elohim] to Pharaoh.” The NASB translates Elohim about 250 times with “god” or “gods.” For more information, see the article on Elohim. Literally, it is a plural word (gods). Strong’s defines elohim as “God” with a capital “G,” or “god.”
Hebrews 1:8, therefore, refers to Jesus as theos because the author of that letter interpreted the king of Psalm 45 as a type of Christ and because that psalm refers to the king as Elohim/Theos. In other words, the author of Hebrews did not understand Him to be the Most High.
Evidence from the rest of the letter
Hebrews explains the superiority of Christ.
One main purpose of the letter to the Hebrews is to exalt Jesus. The letter, for example, begins (Heb 1:2-4) by saying that:
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- God appointed His Son as “heir of all things,”
- God “made the world” through the Son,
- The Son “is … the exact representation of God’s nature,”
- The Son “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” and
- Christ became “much better than the angels.”
If the writer of Hebrews thought that the Son is the Almighty God, why would the writer try so hard to show that Jesus is “better than the angels?” Why not simply state that Jesus is God?
Jesus is distinct from God.
Hebrews explicitly distinguishes between Jesus and God. For example, it says that “God … has spoken to us in His Son” (Heb 1:1) and “Jesus … has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). If Jesus is distinct from God, then He is not God.
Jesus is subordinate to God
In several ways, Hebrews describes the Son as subordinate to God. For example:
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- The Son “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3),
- God “appointed” His Son as the heir of all things (1:2),
- God made the world “through” the Son (1:2), and
- The Son is the radiance of God’s glory (1:3).
If the Son is subordinate to the Father, then the Son is not God Almighty.
Evidence used to prove that the Son is God
Begotten does not mean equal.
Hebrews 1:5 quotes from Psalm 2, saying of Jesus, “you are my son, today I have begotten you.” This is sometimes interpreted to mean that Jesus is equal to the Father, in the way that a human son eventually becomes equal with the human father.
However, this is symbolic language. He is called the Begotten Son of God to show that He has a very unique relationship with God. To describe Jesus as the “only begotten Son” explains something in human language that human minds cannot comprehend. He was not begotten as humans are. We should not interpret this symbolic language literally.
Conclusion
To translate theos, when it refers to Jesus, as “God” is an implementation of the Trinity doctrine; not proof of it.
Summary
Hebrews 1:8 refers to Jesus as “GOD.” For the following reasons, does not mean that Jesus is God in the modern sense of that term:
1. The word “God” in Hebrews 1:8 is translated from the Greek word theos, which can be translated either as ‘God’ or as ‘god’. To translate theos, when referring to Jesus, as ‘God’ is based on the assumption that Jesus is the Most High God. It is an application of the Trinity doctrine; not proof thereof.
2. Although Hebrews 1:8 refers to Jesus as theos, the very next verse (Heb 1:9) refers to His Father as His God. That the Father is His God is stated often in the Bible (e.g., John 20:17; Eph 1:3, 17; Rev 1:6; 3:2, 12).
3. Jesus is called theos in Hebrews 1:8, not because the author understood Him to be the Most High, but because this verse quotes Psalm 45:6-7, where Israel’s king is called Elohim (theos in Greek), and because that king is a type of the Messiah.
4. Hebrews explains the superiority of Christ in many ways, for example, by saying that Christ became “much better than the angels.” (Heb 1:4) If the purpose is to exalt the Son, why does Hebrews not just say that He is God?
5. Hebrews explicitly distinguishes between Jesus and God. For example, “Jesus … has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). If Jesus is distinct from God, then He is not God.
6. In several ways, Hebrews describes the Son as subordinate to God. For example, He “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3).
7. That the Son is Begotten does not mean that He is equal with His Father. “Begotten” is symbolic language and must not be interpreted as if He has the same substance as the Father.
8. God commanded all angels to worship the Son (Heb 1:6,). This is sometimes taken as evidence that Jesus is God Almighty. But if Jesus was the Almighty God, there would not have been any need for the Father to command angels to worship Him. The Greek word that is translated “worship” (proskuneó) simply means to give honor.
Other Articles
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- The Truth about the Origin of the Trinity Doctrine 1The decision to adopt the Trinity doctrine was not taken by the church but by Roman emperors. They made Trinitarian Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire = the Roman Church.
- Arius 2Who was he and what did he believe? Why is the Arian Controversy named after him?
- The Nicene Creed 3Who created it, what was the role of emperor Constantine and what does the Creed say?
- Homoousios 4Does it mean ‘one substance’ or ‘same substance’? Why was the term not mentioned, even by Athanasius, for about three decades after Nicaea?
- Fourth-Century ‘Arianism’ 5Their theology, the Homoians, and the Homoi-ousians
- The Pro-Nicenes 6Were Alexander and Athanasius Sabellians? In 343 at Serdica, the Western Church issued a blatantly Sabellian statement. Basil of Caesarea taught three substances.
- Is Jesus the Most High God? 7The conclusion that Jesus is ‘God’ forms the basis of the Trinity Doctrine.
- Trinity Doctrine – General 8Including Modalism, Eastern Orthodoxy view of the Trinity, Elohim, and Eternal Generation
- All articles on this website
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FOOTNOTES
- 1The decision to adopt the Trinity doctrine was not taken by the church but by Roman emperors. They made Trinitarian Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire = the Roman Church.
- 2Who was he and what did he believe? Why is the Arian Controversy named after him?
- 3Who created it, what was the role of emperor Constantine and what does the Creed say?
- 4Does it mean ‘one substance’ or ‘same substance’? Why was the term not mentioned, even by Athanasius, for about three decades after Nicaea?
- 5Their theology, the Homoians, and the Homoi-ousians
- 6Were Alexander and Athanasius Sabellians? In 343 at Serdica, the Western Church issued a blatantly Sabellian statement. Basil of Caesarea taught three substances.
- 7The conclusion that Jesus is ‘God’ forms the basis of the Trinity Doctrine.
- 8Including Modalism, Eastern Orthodoxy view of the Trinity, Elohim, and Eternal Generation
You are quite correct on Jesus not being God. While it says he was made “higher than the Angels”, it is only in a representative role. Whereas in OT times, the Israelites were required to obey Angels (re: Moses law), in the NT times, Jesus is there to represent True believers (the faithful), replacing the OT Angel rulers.
Ray
Dear Ray
It seems as if the Bible presents a higher view of Christ than what you have. Jesus, before His birth, existed in the FORM OF GOD and with EQUALITY TO GOD (Phil 2). He is WORSHIPED EQUAL TO GOD (John 5:23). He is THE FIRST AND THE LAST (Rev. 1:17). Jesus is the only being, apart from God, who has LIFE IN HIMSELF (my understanding of John 5:26). In my view you run the risk of not worshiping Jesus, and not worshiping Him equal to God.
Andries,
I don’t feel that I am seeing Jesus any different than yourself. My point is to show that, even as great as Jesus is, he is still much as the “elder brother” to those that are True believers. After all, Jesus is the Creator’s son. And if I am not mistaken, this is what I find is the promise to those whom overcome. Or, becoming the “younger brothers” of Jesus. And, by virtue of being spirit beings, will actually be God’s also.
But another point I am trying to make is, that the Jesus of the 1st century, was also a human being in the OT times. I believe it is Enoch. Whom is also the same as the “high priest” Melchizedek. Many will say that said priest was an Angel. But there is no witness in Scripture that shows that the priests were ever any but human beings.
Others say that Enoch died, and was taken to God in spirit. But that is not what Scripture shows. Heb. 11:5 states that Enoch was “translated”. Or, taken from earth into heaven. But note it also says that Enoch “did not see death”. Jesus, whom was Enoch “died” as it says. “It is given to all men ONCE to die”.
Anyway, thanks for the response.
Take care friend, and continued best.
Ray
Hi Ray,
So you say that Enoch, Melchizedek, and Jesus are different names for the same person. I cannot see how one would be able to reconcile that with the view that the Son always existed and that God created all things through Him. Regards Andries