The RAVYN Blog

Do you know who God is? 

While we may know Him in a theological context, I mean … can we really define ‘God’? We truly can’t—not if we neglect understanding the way words are used. 

The words we choose are crucial to knowing what we mean when we say ‘God’. This is different from God’s nature, especially when it comes to understanding the doctrine of the Trinity. 

The reality: we don’t know how to define God.

Until this helpful post, that is. 

I used to struggle with it, but now I’m ready to share these few tidbits to get you energized about what’s to come.

No. 1 – We Need to Define God (According to the Dictionary): How our English dictionary defines God and how the Bible defines God are not the same.

No. 2 – We Should Clarify Where the Word ‘God’ Comes From: And why we apply it to the Biblical patron deity (also, for a bonus, we need to highlight that the word ‘God’ is NOT a name).

No. 3 – We Must Fully Contextualize ‘God’ in Ancient Near Eastern Cultures: The Hebrews’ understanding of their patron deity is shaped by culture and context, and we need to take that into consideration.

As a Bonus – How the word ‘god’ is used throughout scripture: You’ll see that not every mention of the word ‘god’ refers to the Israelite’s patron deity (we’re talking about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).

The Beginner’s Guide to Defining God

So, what do we mean when we say ‘God’?

The word has value, and its meaning can give us insight into the way it’s used and why the doctrine of the Trinity is as sound as it gets. 

Mistake #1: We use ‘God’ as a personal name when in truth, it’s far from that. While Christians worship the patron deity of the Hebrews (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), we still need to put into context exactly who we’re referring to and why we believe He is the Supreme Creator. 

Our own English word ‘god’ has a meaning, and exploring it is certainly beneficial for our understanding of the Trinity.

Cambridge Dictionary Definition

According to the online Cambridge dictionary, the word god means:

A spirit or being believed to control some part of the universe or life and often worshipped for doing so, or something representing this spirit or being^[a].

Merriam-Webster Dictionary Definition

The Merriam-Webster dictionary also attaches several definitions to the word god^[b]:

• The being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness, who is worshipped (as in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism) as the creator and ruler of the universe
• A being or object that is worshipped as having more than natural attributes and power, specifically: one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality
• A person or thing of supreme value
• A powerful ruler

Some synonyms for ‘god’ include ‘divinity’ and ‘deity’.

There is also the word deity, which means: 

• The rank or essential nature of a god (a divinity)
• One exalted or revered as supremely good or powerful

Where Does the Word ‘God’ Come From?

The word ‘god’ may have derived from the Proto-Germanic word gudą, which perhaps meant ‘one to whom sacrifices are made’, though this definition isn’t necessarily agreed upon.

Some scholars believe this word could be based on the root word ǵhau(ə)-, which meant ‘to call’ or ‘to invoke’^[c]. 

So, where do we begin when defining the Christian God? 

Both the word ‘divine’ and the word ‘ deity’ stem from the Latin word for ‘god’, divinus, which comes from the root word ‘dyeu’, which is related to words such as light, sky, or heaven. 

Although in English we use the word ‘God’ to describe the Hebrews’ patron deity, is it possible that the Hebrews had a different understanding of who their patron deity was?

How Ancient Hebrews Understood God

The word ‘deity’ has often been used to relate to a supreme being—a person who, in a sense, had supernatural abilities or a celestial-like body. 

The Hebrews worshiped a patron deity, and through their account, we understand His name. However, they also attributed certain qualities to him, which are reflected in how they chose to worship their patron God. 

For us to fully understand how the Hebrews defined ‘God’, we need to peel back the layers of their language and do a deep dive into their Afro-Semitic language. 

Before we speak of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we first need to shed our Western lens and understand how the Hebrew God was understood within the culture and context. 

The Hebrews didn’t view God as one of the many gods that they simply chose to honor and reverence. It was more complex than that. In fact, they saw their Supreme being as a cosmic ruler, a political figurehead governing the entire universe. 

God, to them, was—and is—the grand Creator and orchestrator of all things, an unmatched warrior who battles against other deities. This view was the driving factor behind the use of the words ‘El’ and ‘Elohim’, and why we now translate them as ‘God’.

The Etymology of the Word ‘El’

The Hebrew word that we translate to ‘God’ stems from Ancient North African and Near Eastern languages, cultures, and spirituality. 

Hebrew is considered an Afro-Asiatic language because of its close connection to Sumer, Arabia, and North Africa. These regions influenced many aspects of Hebrew culture and languages, so it would be no surprise that they also influenced much of their spiritual understanding of God.

In the Old Testament, the word for ‘god’ is ‘elohim,’ which derives from Semitic languages and is considered a plural form of ‘el’. Many scholars make the connection between this word and the local deities of Canaan^[d].

In fact, much of the Hebrew language is considered an Afro-Asiatic language with close connections to Sumer, Arabia, and North Africa. The regions around Israel influenced many aspects of its language and culture. So, it’s no surprise that these cultures also shaped their spiritual understanding. 

In early Ugaritic texts, the Canaanite god El was considered the ‘Father of Gods and Humans’ and the creator of the heavens and earth. 

In Ugaritic manuscripts, El was seated with a council of gods, goddesses, and lower-level deities, and these gods were supposedly eternal. A few of these gods are even listed in the Bible (for example, Baal). The establishment of this Divine Council and its eventual downfall were recorded in Psalms 82.

The Canaanite Deity

El (also known as Adon Ilim, meaning Father or Lord) was the patron deity of the Ancient Canaanites.

El is comparable to the Akkadian or Mesopotamian god Anu or Enlil, and some compare him to the Roman god Saturn. However, the Canaanites viewed El as a very specific patron deity because they believed that all things derived from him. 

Unlike most other gods of the region, El was not ‘born’, but was considered the ‘father’ of all gods—or the ‘God of gods’ in Canaanite religion. 

In the Semitic-speaking regions of Mesopotamia, ‘el’ was a general term for any supreme being (or deity); it wasn’t necessarily a name attached to a particular god, as it was with the Canaanites. 

Ugaritic texts aren’t very clear on whether the word ‘el’ was used to refer to the patron deity or to one of the many other gods worshiped in the region. However, one thing is clear: this word was used by the Hebrews as their word for deity.

El to the Hebrews

In the Hebrew Tanakh, the words ‘El’ and ‘Elohim’ refer to the Supreme God of Israel, the patron deity, YHWH. However, Exodus 6:3 provides insight into who YHWH was and His relationship to the patron God El in the Canaanite region. 

To Moses, YHWH says this:

“I appeared to Avraham (Abraham), Yitz’chak (Isaac), and Ya‘akov (Jacob) as El Shaddai, although I did not make myself known to them by my name, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [Adonai].”

Exodus 6:3 The Complete Jewish Bible

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“And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.” 

Exodus 6:3 KJV

Abram’s father, Terah, intended to take his son to Canaan to live as outlined in Genesis 11:27-32. However, God called Abram, and Abram settled in Canaan. 

With this in mind, it can be inferred that Abram understood this deity as El (or El Shaddai), but later, to Moses, God reveals that this was not His name but rather how He was known to Abraham.

How the Word ‘God’ is Used Throughout Scripture

Whenever ‘el’ or ‘elohim’ is used in Scripture, it doesn’t always refer to the patron God of the Hebrews. Whenever ‘god’ appears in the Bible, finding a suitable English alternative helps to give context to the text. 

Deity

Any spiritual being residing in the cosmos but not part of the physical universe is a deity. In Scripture, they are often referred to as angels, gods (elohim), or other spiritual entities, often endowed with some authority. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12

God (common ‘g’)

If a deity is worshiped by humans, it is a common ‘g’ god. Created beings worshiped as gods are considered false gods, but not every deity that is worshiped demands worship from humans. There are instances in the Bible where humans attempt to worship angels, but are stopped because angels are not allowed to accept worship. 

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

False God

False gods are deities that are worshipped by humans. Sometimes, they pretend to be the true and living God. 

In the Book of Revelation and much of the New Testament, we see references to the anti-Christ who deceives humans by pretending to be Christ. We also see during the temptation, where Satan makes himself a god by asking Christ to worship him.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the LORD your God, and serve him only.’”

Matthew 4:8-10

Idol

An idol is a person, idea, feeling, or object positioned above the True God as an object of worship. Idols are created by humans who place intrinsic value and worth on persons or things they may use to replace or replicate the True God.

“Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.”

Leviticus 26:1

While all false gods are idols, not all idols are gods. In Exodus 20, YHWH distinguishes between idols created and placed as objects of worship and gods (spiritual entities) that attempt to take the place of YHWH. 

“You shall have no other gods before Me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Exodus 20:3-6

The True God

The True God (translated as Elohim) is the title of YHWH (the Father), Yeshua (the Son), and the Holy Spirit. 

The True and Living God is an essence that belongs solely to the persons within the Godhead and is categorized by eleven defining traits that only God embodies. 

All three persons function under the office of ‘God’, which is one in nature and essence.

Defining God Today: What We Should Know

Is the cultural context of God relevant to our faith?

It depends on how you define ‘God’. Understanding and defining God accurately can clarify the doctrine of the Trinity and help us better understand the purpose of believing in it and its relevance to our salvation. 

In John’s Gospel, Thomas, a disciple of Christ, challenges Jesus with a question. He asked, “How would we know where we’re going?” 

Many of us have asked this question concerning our salvation. How do we know what’s true, and how do we explore it? How do we use the Scripture to support or challenge what we already believe? 

Jesus responded to Thomas that our salvation and our truth can only be found in Him.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house, there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.  From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” 

John 4:1-7 ESV

A holistic view of God means understanding His nature, attributes, purpose, and plan for us. 

While many of us grow up hearing the doctrine of the Trinity, properly understanding what it is and why it’s relevant is the first step in exploring the message of Grace and Salvation.

Continuing the Journey: The Trinity Doctrine Explained

As you continue in this series, I hope that clarity and the strengthening of your faith will be at the forefront of your spiritual growth.

Signed, 

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Want to learn more about the Trinity? Follow my mini-study series, The Trinity Doctrine Explained, right here on The Ravyn Blog. Sign up to get all your questions answered as you dive deeper into God. 

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