With the highest respect and in divine fear, we should approach this theme about the Godhead. We do have different religions and also various imaginations and teachings about God. In the following chapters, God will testify about Himself and make known of the Revelation of Himself.

Any formulation should be avoided, because it is not possible to comprehend what is incomprehensible, to explain what is unexplainable, and to understand what is far above our understanding. This great mystery will remain with us until we step from time into eternity.
“Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee” (2 Chr. 6:18). After we should be with God in Glory we shall know more about this great mystery of the Almighty.

Almost every Bible teacher has taken the train of thoughts about the Godhead which was discussed since the 4th century A.D. and was taught later. Why the Old Testament was not considered in this respect is hard to understand. No prophet or apostle ever formulated a trinity. In heathenism, there were many trinities in existence. The most renowned was the one in Hinduism: Brahma — the creator; Vishnu — the sustainer; Mahesh — the destroyer. Neither in the Old nor in the New Testament is it mentioned about different persons in the Godhead. Not once does the Lord introduce Himself in His Word as tri-une — three-person-God , but rather as the personal God. Whoever tries to divide God shall have no more the one true God but a self-made God with two or three faces or more gods.

In recent years, especially at Protestant Conventions, women theologians have raised their voice and criticised God and His Word. Sometimes in a very blasphemous way. One of their complaints was that God is male and not female. It was made mention of the “masculine God of the Bible” also of “the ten commandments which were only written for men.” It was declared, “Because women do not have a male member which could be circumcised, they could not become a member of the Jewish assembly.” (Idea-Spektrum 1st July 1987, pg. 17). It is shocking to experience how far people can go and even criticise God.

About 4,000 years ago, God made a covenant with Abraham and gave him the promise, “… and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3). Abraham is for Jews, Christians and Moslems a central figure. At the time of Moses, approximately 3,600 years ago, the Lord God came down upon Mount Sinai and gave the commandments. This incident is not disputed by the three named religions. From that time Israel was predestined to give testimony of the one true God amidst all the heathen nations.

Almost 2,000 years ago, the Messiah appeared being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of Mary the virgin. The Christians are convinced of this fact. The Moslems respect Him as one of the greatest prophets, believe in His miracles, but do not see Him as the Redeemer. For the Jews the time to believe in Him is very near. As Joseph made himself known to his brethren at the second time, so Israel will recognise their Messiah when He will come to them the second time (Gen. 45; Acts 7:13).

Approximately 1,400 years ago, Mohammed appeared on the scene. His task was to deliver the people from the heathen cults and turn them to believe in the one God, the Almighty, whom he called Allah. Mohammed believed to be the last prophet of Malachi 4:5-6. After him the judgment should come upon the earth and Allah would decide who would go into paradise and who would be damned. Although all these years elapsed, this event has not yet taken place. But into existence came a religion which is very massive against Christians and Jews. This was not the original intention. Ever so often we find the admonition in the Koran: “Read the Scriptures”. With this statement prophet Mohammed referred to the Bible which should be read and believed. Of course many of his followers, the Moslems, do not act accordingly.

The true understanding of God and His Self-revelation is very important and decisive. Only thereby we can participate in God’s plan. In regard to the personal manifestation of God, one must sadly say the overwhelming majority of Jews did not recognise, the Christians quickly misinterpreted and the Moslems did not comprehend. This is a historical fact. If the same God who spoke to Abraham and Moses and revealed Himself through Christ also spoke to Mohammed, then whatever was said, written and believed must coincide from A to Z. As people of the 20th century we must be permitted to ask who understood God’s Word and plan and who misunderstood. The original goal of God with humanity is no more known in the religions of today. Furthermore, the very reason for the different manifestations of God right down to His Self-Revelation in Christ was not conceived by the majority.

For the English word «God» we find the Hebrew word Elohim. “In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.” The word God introduces us to the Almighty as an object of worship. In Genesis 1 we only find the word Elohim. From Gen. 2:4, we find the combination, the Lord God, Elohim-Yahweh. Every time these names express the kind and significance of a particular revelation of God. We deal with the manifold attributes of Himself. The word Elohim includes both, the singular and the plural. The singular is in reference to Him as one God; the plural is to His attributes as He is Creator, Sustainer, Judge, King, etc, etc.

Every time the word Elohim, Elah or El are found in the original, only God is meant. Then it becomes very important to comprehend in what way He manifests the attributes of Himself. The following words are used of God: El Elyon = the highest God (Gen. 14:18), El Shaddai = Almighty God (Gen. 17:1), El Olam = everlasting God (Gen. 21:33), El Gibbor = Mighty God (Isa. 9:6). It is very sad that the Bible transla-tors have not given the original names with their significance. Therefore, the knowledge about God and His specific manifestations appear difficult because in the original names the actual meaning was expressed.

From the days of the patriarchs until the giving of the law, it was God-Elohim speaking. Then He spoke to Moses, “I am Yahweh; And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of El Shaddai, but by my name Elohim Yahweh was I not known to them.” (Ex. 6:2-3). It was just before making the covenant with Israel, God revealed His covenant name which is Yahweh and written in the Hebrew YHWH. Wherever we read in the Old Testament Lord God, the original text says Elohim Yahweh. Yahweh is the visible form or the appearance of Elohim.

In the same way as Elohim is found in the respective dealings with His people, expressed in the plurality of names, in the same way it also applies to the name of the Lord Yahweh. Yahweh-Jireh = the Lord provides (Gen. 22:7-14), Yahweh-Rapha = the Lord heals (Ex. 15:26), Yahweh-Nissi = the Lord my banner (Ex. 17:8-15), Yahweh-Shalom = the Lord my peace (Jud. 6:24), Yahweh- Ra-ah = the Lord my shepherd (Ps. 23), Yahweh-Tsidkenu = the Lord my righteousness (Jer. 23:6), Yahweh-Shammah = the Lord is present (Ezek. 48:35) and Yahweh-Sabaoth = the Lord of hosts (1 Sam. 1:3). From the very beginning, God revealed Himself as Lord according to the necessities of His plan and purpose with humanity.

Before the Lord God made known His name to Moses He said to him: “I am that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you … this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex. 3:14-15). The expression I am is embedded in the name Yahweh as the Eternal, and the Self-existing One. He always is the I am, regardless of how and when He manifests Himself. Also when He stepped out from His spiritual body into the body of flesh and revealed the New Testament covenant name Yahshua, which means Yahweh-Saviour, He still is the same I am. Hence we find this confirmed throughout until the last chapter in the New Testament: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (vs. 13).

Only those who recognise the way God manifested Himself in the Old Testament will have the possibility to see His manifestation in the New. In fact, it is always the same Lord God with the difference that He made Himself known in the Old Testament in a spiritual body but in the New Testament He appeared visibly in the body of flesh.

As a being God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24). As Spirit no man has ever seen Him (Jn. 1:18; 1 Jn. 4:2). Therefore He is called the invisible God (1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Tim. 6:16). Whoever saw God in the Old Testament had seen Him as Lord-Yahweh. Whoever sees God in the New Testament, must see Him as Lord-Yahshua, Immanuel — God with us. The Father revealed Himself in the Son and God Who is Spirit revealed as Lord in a human body. All those descriptions we find in reference to God, we also find in reference to the Lord, because the Lord is God.

In the Old Testament, there was no such thing as Father — Son relationship. It was predicted in prophecy. In a figurative sense, God was Adam’s Father; He was Israel’s Father. But no prophet ever addressed God as Heavenly Father. Not one spoke to or referred to a Son of God within the Old Testament period of 4,000 years. Also not one conversation between Father and Son is recorded in the Old Testament, simply because this fact was not in existence. It was always the Lord God to Whom the prophets and the people of Israel spoke and had relationship with.

In Gen 1:27, we are confronted with the reality that the invisible God is active in a twofold manner. The one and only true God expresses Himself right at the beginning of the creation in a visible form of man, therefore, it is written, “So God created man in his own image …”, and secondly “… And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Because of this no one ever thought or spoke about different persons. If you so want, you could see directly at the beginning the way God revealed Himself in different manifestations as they became necessary. The many forms of appearance in the Old Testament are called by experts theophanies and in the New He took upon Himself the form of man.

With the highest respect and in divine fear, we should approach this theme about the Godhead. We do have different religions and also various imaginations and teachings about God. In the following chapters, God will testify about Himself and make known of the Revelation of Himself.

Any formulation should be avoided, because it is not possible to comprehend what is incomprehensible, to explain what is unexplainable, and to understand what is far above our understanding. This great mystery will remain with us until we step from time into eternity. “Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee” (2 Chr. 6:18). After we should be with God in Glory we shall know more about this great mystery of the Almighty.

Almost every Bible teacher has taken the train of thoughts about the Godhead which was discussed since the 4th century A.D. and was taught later. Why the Old Testament was not considered in this respect is hard to understand. No prophet or apostle ever formulated a trinity. In heathenism, there were many trinities in existence. The most renowned was the one in Hinduism: Brahma — the creator; Vishnu — the sustainer; Mahesh — the destroyer. Neither in the Old nor in the New Testament is it mentioned about different persons in the Godhead. Not once does the Lord introduce Himself in His Word as tri-une — three-person-God , but rather as the personal God. Whoever tries to divide God shall have no more the one true God but a self-made God with two or three faces or more gods.

In recent years, especially at Protestant Conventions, women theologians have raised their voice and criticised God and His Word. Sometimes in a very blasphemous way. One of their complaints was that God is male and not female. It was made mention of the “masculine God of the Bible” also of “the ten commandments which were only written for men.” It was declared, “Because women do not have a male member which could be circumcised, they could not become a member of the Jewish assembly.” (Idea-Spektrum 1st July 1987, pg. 17). It is shocking to experience how far people can go and even criticise God.

About 4,000 years ago, God made a covenant with Abraham and gave him the promise, “… and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3). Abraham is for Jews, Christians and Moslems a central figure. At the time of Moses, approximately 3,600 years ago, the Lord God came down upon Mount Sinai and gave the commandments. This incident is not disputed by the three named religions. From that time Israel was predestined to give testimony of the one true God amidst all the heathen nations.

Almost 2,000 years ago, the Messiah appeared being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of Mary the virgin. The Christians are convinced of this fact. The Moslems respect Him as one of the greatest prophets, believe in His miracles, but do not see Him as the Redeemer. For the Jews the time to believe in Him is very near. As Joseph made himself known to his brethren at the second time, so Israel will recognise their Messiah when He will come to them the second time (Gen. 45; Acts 7:13).

Approximately 1,400 years ago, Mohammed appeared on the scene. His task was to deliver the people from the heathen cults and turn them to believe in the one God, the Almighty, whom he called Allah. Mohammed believed to be the last prophet of Malachi 4:5-6. After him the judgment should come upon the earth and Allah would decide who would go into paradise and who would be damned. Although all these years elapsed, this event has not yet taken place. But into existence came a religion which is very massive against Christians and Jews. This was not the original intention. Ever so often we find the admonition in the Koran: “Read the Scriptures”. With this statement prophet Mohammed referred to the Bible which should be read and believed. Of course many of his followers, the Moslems, do not act accordingly.

The true understanding of God and His Self-revelation is very important and decisive. Only thereby we can participate in God’s plan. In regard to the personal manifestation of God, one must sadly say the overwhelming majority of Jews did not recognise, the Christians quickly misinterpreted and the Moslems did not comprehend. This is a historical fact. If the same God who spoke to Abraham and Moses and revealed Himself through Christ also spoke to Mohammed, then whatever was said, written and believed must coincide from A to Z. As people of the 20th century we must be permitted to ask who understood God’s Word and plan and who misunderstood. The original goal of God with humanity is no more known in the religions of today. Furthermore, the very reason for the different manifestations of God right down to His Self-Revelation in Christ was not conceived by the majority.

For the English word «God» we find the Hebrew word Elohim. “In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.” The word God introduces us to the Almighty as an object of worship. In Genesis 1 we only find the word Elohim. From Gen. 2:4, we find the combination, the Lord God, Elohim-Yahweh. Every time these names express the kind and significance of a particular revelation of God. We deal with the manifold attributes of Himself. The word Elohim includes both, the singular and the plural. The singular is in reference to Him as one God; the plural is to His attributes as He is Creator, Sustainer, Judge, King, etc, etc.

Every time the word Elohim, Elah or El are found in the original, only God is meant. Then it becomes very important to comprehend in what way He manifests the attributes of Himself. The following words are used of God: El Elyon = the highest God (Gen. 14:18), El Shaddai = Almighty God (Gen. 17:1), El Olam = everlasting God (Gen. 21:33), El Gibbor = Mighty God (Isa. 9:6). It is very sad that the Bible transla-tors have not given the original names with their significance. Therefore, the knowledge about God and His specific manifestations appear difficult because in the original names the actual meaning was expressed.

From the days of the patriarchs until the giving of the law, it was God-Elohim speaking. Then He spoke to Moses, “I am Yahweh; And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of El Shaddai, but by my name Elohim Yahweh was I not known to them.” (Ex. 6:2-3). It was just before making the covenant with Israel, God revealed His covenant name which is Yahweh and written in the Hebrew YHWH. Wherever we read in the Old Testament Lord God, the original text says Elohim Yahweh. Yahweh is the visible form or the appearance of Elohim.

In the same way as Elohim is found in the respective dealings with His people, expressed in the plurality of names, in the same way it also applies to the name of the Lord Yahweh. Yahweh-Jireh = the Lord provides (Gen. 22:7-14), Yahweh-Rapha = the Lord heals (Ex. 15:26), Yahweh-Nissi = the Lord my banner (Ex. 17:8-15), Yahweh-Shalom = the Lord my peace (Jud. 6:24), Yahweh- Ra-ah = the Lord my shepherd (Ps. 23), Yahweh-Tsidkenu = the Lord my righteousness (Jer. 23:6), Yahweh-Shammah = the Lord is present (Ezek. 48:35) and Yahweh-Sabaoth = the Lord of hosts (1 Sam. 1:3). From the very beginning, God revealed Himself as Lord according to the necessities of His plan and purpose with humanity.

Before the Lord God made known His name to Moses He said to him: “I am that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you … this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex. 3:14-15). The expression I am is embedded in the name Yahweh as the Eternal, and the Self-existing One. He always is the I am, regardless of how and when He manifests Himself. Also when He stepped out from His spiritual body into the body of flesh and revealed the New Testament covenant name Yahshua, which means Yahweh-Saviour, He still is the same I am. Hence we find this confirmed throughout until the last chapter in the New Testament: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (vs. 13).

Only those who recognise the way God manifested Himself in the Old Testament will have the possibility to see His manifestation in the New. In fact, it is always the same Lord God with the difference that He made Himself known in the Old Testament in a spiritual body but in the New Testament He appeared visibly in the body of flesh.

As a being God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24). As Spirit no man has ever seen Him (Jn. 1:18; 1 Jn. 4:2). Therefore He is called the invisible God (1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Tim. 6:16). Whoever saw God in the Old Testament had seen Him as Lord-Yahweh. Whoever sees God in the New Testament, must see Him as Lord-Yahshua, Immanuel — God with us. The Father revealed Himself in the Son and God Who is Spirit revealed as Lord in a human body. All those descriptions we find in reference to God, we also find in reference to the Lord, because the Lord is God.

In the Old Testament, there was no such thing as Father — Son relationship. It was predicted in prophecy. In a figurative sense, God was Adam’s Father; He was Israel’s Father. But no prophet ever addressed God as Heavenly Father. Not one spoke to or referred to a Son of God within the Old Testament period of 4,000 years. Also not one conversation between Father and Son is recorded in the Old Testament, simply because this fact was not in existence. It was always the Lord God to Whom the prophets and the people of Israel spoke and had relationship with.

In Gen 1:27, we are confronted with the reality that the invisible God is active in a twofold manner. The one and only true God expresses Himself right at the beginning of the creation in a visible form of man, therefore, it is written, “So God created man in his own image …”, and secondly “… And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Because of this no one ever thought or spoke about different persons. If you so want, you could see directly at the beginning the way God revealed Himself in different manifestations as they became necessary. The many forms of appearance in the Old Testament are called by experts theophanies and in the New He took upon Himself the form of man.