The document discusses the Godhead according to the Bible. It summarizes that the Bible teaches there is one God, who is the Father of Jesus Christ. God begat Christ from eternity past, passing His life, character, glory, name, and Spirit to His only begotten Son. While Christ inherited full equality with God, He submitted to His Father. The Holy Spirit is defined as the very Spirit of God and Christ, and not a separate divine being.
1. The Godhead in the Bible
As we undertake the study of the Bible, what inspired
council are we given to guide us when we attempt to
explain the meaning of its verses?
“The language of the Bible should be
explained according to its obvious meaning.”
{GC 598}
Q
A
2. QA
God
How many gods does the Bible teach exist?
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20: 3
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD.
Deuteronomy 6: 4
hath not one God created us? Malachi 2: 10
[there is] none other God but one.
1 Corinthians 8: 4
But to us [there is but] one God. 1 Corinthians 8: 6
One God and Father of all. Ephesians 4: 6
For [there is] one God. 1 Timothy 2: 5
3. QA
What is the common title given in the Bible to the One God?
Have we not all one father? Malachi 2: 10
But to us [there is but] one God, the Father.
1 Corinthians 8: 6
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
Romans 1: 7
One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and
through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:6
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father.
2 Thessalonians 1: 2
4. Q
A
Is the one God, our Father, the father of Jesus Christ
as well?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 1: 3.
I ascend unto my Father, and your Father. John
20: 17
One God and Father of all. Ephesians 4: 6
Conclusion: The Bible teaches that there is one God,
who is the Father of all.
5. Q
A
Christ
Who is Christ?
And we believe and are sure that thou art that
Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6: 69
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the
Son of God. Mark 1:1
Truly this man was the Son of God. Mark 15:39
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son
of God. John 1:34
Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the
King of Israel. John 1:49
6. Q
A
Is ‘the son of living God’ a mere title given to Christ
or is He in reality the very son of the one God?
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given. Isaiah 9: 6
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or
descended? who hath gathered the wind in his
fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment?
who hath established all the ends of the earth?
what is his name, and what is his son's name, if
thou canst tell? Proverbs 30: 4
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father. John 1:14
7. Q
A
Does the Bible reveal when Christ was begotten of
the Father? When did He become the “Son of
God”?
Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is
to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2
“And the Son of God declares concerning
Himself: "The Lord possessed Me in the
beginning of His way, before His works of old. I
was set up from everlasting. . . . When He
appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was
by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was
daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him."
Proverbs 8:22-30.” {PP 34}
8. Q
A
Does the Bible reveal when Christ was begotten of
the Father? When did He become the “Son of
God”?
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his
way, before his works of old. I was set up from
everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth
was. When there were no depths, I was brought
forth; when there were no fountains abounding
with water. Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet
he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the
highest part of the dust of the world. … Then I
was by him, as one brought up with him: and I
was daily his delight, rejoicing always before
him. Proverbs 8:22-30
9. Conclusion: The One God at one point from
everlasting begat Christ, His only begotten son.
And if what God gave was not His real and
only begotten, then Abraham’s test would not
have been a meaningful type
10. Q
A
Aspects of the divine ‘begetting’
What did the one God, the Father of all, pass unto His
only begotten?
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath
he given to the Son to have life in himself.
John 5: 26
The brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person; Hebrews 1: 3
11. Q
A
What does it mean that God passed His glory to His
only begotten son?
And he said, I beseech thee, show me
thy glory. And he said, I will make all
my goodness pass. Exodus 33: 18, 19
It pleased the Father that in him should
all fullness dwell. Colossians 1:19
12. Q
A
Did the one God pass on His name to His only
begotten son?
Being made so much better than the angels, as
he hath by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:4
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep
thee in the way, and to bring thee into the
place which I have prepared. Beware of him,
and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he
will not pardon your transgressions: for my
name is in him. Exodus 23:20, 21
13. Q
A
What else was passed by the Father unto His only
begotten?
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if
so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his. Romans 8: 9
14. Conclusion: God passed unto His only begotten son,
unconditional ‘life in Himself’. As the baby becomes
independent of the mother once he is born, Christ became
self-existent once He was begotten of the Father. Self-existence
was inherent in His birth. In addition to self
existence, the son received from His Father His very
character [goodness], and thus His express image. There was
nothing that the Father had which was not passed unto the
His only begotten Son. Even the very Spirit of God is shared
by His Son. Christ naturally received the name of His Father
[Jehovah/God]. He is therefore fully divine.
15. Q
A
How did Christ regard His Father?
And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God. John 17:3
Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended
to my Father: but go to my brethren, and
say unto them, I ascend unto my Father,
and your Father; and to my God, and your
God. John 20: 17
16. A At that time Jesus answered and said, I
thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast
revealed them unto babes. Matthew 11:25
17. Q
A
Equality of Christ
What was Christ’s position in heaven?
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God: But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him
the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men. Philippians 2:6, 7
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9
18. A “God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son
of God. To Christ has been given an exalted
position. He has been made equal with the
Father. All the counsels of God are opened to
His Son.” {8T 268}
“Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God,
was one with the eternal Father--one in
nature, in character, in purpose--the only
being that could enter into all the counsels
and purposes of God.” {PP 34}
19. Q
A
How does the Bible demonstrate the submission
of Son to His Father, the one God?
And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
1 Corinthians 3: 23
But I would have you know, that the head of
every man is Christ; and the head of the woman
is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 1
Corinthians 11: 2
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and
Father of all, who is above all, and through all,
and in you all. Ephesians 4: 5, 6
20. A For he hath put all things under his feet. But
when he saith all things are put under him, it
is manifest that he is excepted, which did put
all things under him. And when all things
shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son
also himself be subject unto him that put all
things under him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15: 27, 28
Conclusion: The Son of God inherited His Father’s
nature and is equal to Him in nature, character, and
purpose; His full and only co-partner. This reality does
not negate, however, the submission of the Son to His
Father, who is the one God, who rules over all including
the Son.
21. Q
A
Does the Biblical fact of Christ’s submission to
His Father affect our worship of the Son?
That all men should honour the Son, even as
they honour the Father. He that honoureth
not the Son honoureth not the Father which
hath sent him. John 5: 23
22. Q
A
Holy Spirit
What is the Bible definition for ‘Spirit’?
Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD,
or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Isaiah 40:13
For who hath known the mind of the Lord?
or who hath been his counsellor?
Roman 11:34
23. Q
A
Who is the Holy Spirit?
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if
so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his. Romans 8: 9
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father. Galatians 4: 6
24. A And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he may abide with you
for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the
world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will
not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14: 16- 18
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17
Conclusion: The Holy Spirit is none other than the very
Spirit of Christ which proceeded from the Father, the
one God, [of whom are all things]. 1 Corinthians 8: 6.
25. Q
A
Does the SOP confirm that fact that the Holy Spirit
is the very spirit of Christ?
“Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the
Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy
Ghost, "the Spirit of truth, which the Father
shall send in My name." … This refers to the
omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the
Comforter.” {EGW, 14MR 179}
”The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have
proved Him to be.” {EGW, 8MR 49}
26. A “As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith
pierces the shadow, and we adore God for
His wondrous love in giving Jesus the
Comforter.” {EGW, 19MR 297, 298}
“The reason why the churches are weak and
sickly and ready to die, is that the enemy has
brought influences of a discouraging nature
to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought
to shut Jesus from their view as the
Comforter, as one who reproves, who warns,
who admonishes them, saying, "This is the
way, walk ye in it"” {EGW, RH, August 26,
1890 par. 10}
27. A “Let them study the seventeenth of John, and
learn how to pray and how to live the prayer
of Christ. He is the Comforter.” {EGW, RH,
January 27, 1903}
“Let them be thankful to God for His
manifold mercies and be kind to one another.
They have one God and one Saviour; and one
Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--is to bring unity
into their ranks.” {EGW, 9T 189}
28. Q
A
What is another definition of the Holy Spirit?
“Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the
thought that in giving His Holy Spirit He is
giving to them the glory which the Father
hath given Him, that He and His people may
be one in God.” {EGW, 2MR 36, 37}
“The impartation of the Spirit is the
impartation of the life of Christ.” {EGW, DA
805}
29. Q
A
Some have attempted to tamper with God’s divine
council and promote the Spirit of Christ to a god. Is
this Biblical?
*The Holy Spirit is never referred to as an
individual god-being in the Bible.
*It will contradict the plain Bible teaching
of one God only.
*The Bible is plain there are only two
divine beings, never three.
30. Q
A
Is Jesus Christ ever referred to as “Spirit”?
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17
And so it is written, The first man Adam was
made a living soul; the last Adam was made a
quickening spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to
all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost
hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his
own blood. Acts 20:28
31. Q
A
Who is sent into our hearts to comfort us?
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one
spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17
32. Conclusion: The Holy Spirit is not an individual
being like God the Father and His Son. It is rather the
mind of God, His very own personal presence with
us. This is how Christ fulfills His promise to us:
And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world.
Amen.
Editor's Notes
John 5:18. His Sonship is the evidence of His equality and divinity.