Thanks for your good Bible references that help show that Jesus was not only divine, but Jehovah (
I Timothy 3:16; Matthew 1:21-23). In case you did not see this already, we have several additional passages along these lines in this article:
http://www.insearchoftruth.org/articles ... deity.html
And, we have an article on the trinity concept here:
http://www.insearchoftruth.org/articles/trinity.html
I think this article may answer several of your questions. But, please allow me to offer an explicit answer to your unique questions.
The "trinity" does not have an additional name. It is not a separate identity. These 3 beings of the Godhead don't combine to form another being with some super or meta identity. At least, the Bible offers no such indication that I can recall.
By Godhead or Godhood, I can mean the class, nature, or form of being divine, or I can mean the collection of beings who possess the quality of being divine or deity. Compare this to our more common, modern usages of manhood and neighborhood. The word "Godhood" or "Godhead" (depending on English translation) is found in
Colossians 2:9:
... according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily ... (Colossians 2:8-9 NKJ)
... according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ... (Colossians 2:8-9 NAS)
As you know, the word, "trinity", is not found anywhere in Scripture. It is a word invented by men to describe a concept that they believe is taught in Scripture. Just as
sola scriptura is not found verbatim anywhere in the Bible, the concept of authority by "Scriptures alone" is certainly advocated by the Bible (
Deuteronomy 8:4; Matthew 4:4). Likewise, I have used trinity - I can't speak for everybody else - to describe the perfect unity that exists between the 3 members of the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Again, I would point you to the above article to defend that they dwell in perfect unity, and although this unity is perfect and involves divine beings, it is a unity that we are to seek with the Lord and His followers, so it is not mystical or mysterious in any incomprehensible way. When we achieve that unity with God and each other, Christian manhood is no more transformed into a monstrous super-conglomerated being than are the 3 members of the Godhood.
About the terms:
- God the Father
- God the Son
- God the Holy Spirit, or God the Spirit
I cannot speak to their historical origins, but much like the term trinity, they are used to clarify a concept taught in Scripture. All 3 of these beings are divine. (Again, please see the above articles for defense.) When I talk to my children about God, they ask, "Which one?" So, instead of saying, "the member of Godhead, known as the Father", I often say, "God, the Father". Instead of saying, "the member of Godhead, known as the Son", I often say, "God, the Son". And, likewise for the Holy Spirit. Admittedly, the contraction is a bit confusing, because we are using the word, "God", as a proper name (like, John, Sally, Jesus, Michael), as a "class designator", (like, colonel, general, mortal, angel, demon, etc.), and as a "relationship designator" (like, master-slave, creator-creature, lord-servant, parent-child, etc.). Such diverse usage of the same word is definitely confusing, but the Bible seems to support these usages (
Genesis 1:1; 35:11; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 50:7; Colossians 2:2, 9). Generally, I use the Father (or just God), Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, since those were the terms used in
Matthew 28:19 (see also,
Galatians 4:6-8).
So, these terms serve more as designations than proper names. They attempt to simultaneously identify both the unique role and common class (i.e., form or nature) of each member of the Godhead. The only designation, which comes close to a proper name for God, is Jehovah (YHWH), which literally means, "the existing one" (
Exodus 3:14). And, as you noted, this is used to refer to the Son as well as the Father.
Now, how do you read? Are there 3 beings in the Godhead? For however many you recognize, how do you designate them and why? Do you believe the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit are members of the Godhead? Why or why not? Do you believe that the Son and the Holy Spirit are separate beings from the Father? In other words, are you a unitarian?
I look forward to hearing from you soon,
May God help us have a sincere love of truth,
m273p15c