Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Colossians 2:9 - The Plenitude of Deity

For in Him all the fullness [Greek, pleroma, plenitude] of Deity [Greek, Theotes; Strong's #2320] dwells in bodily form and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. -- Colossians 2:9,10, New American Standard Bible translation
https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/greek/2320.html
The Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich Lexicon [BAGD]  defines the Greek word theotes as: "deity, divinity, used as abstract noun for theos...the fullness of a deity Col.2:9". [abstract noun, a quality or attribute].

This form of THEOS, that is, THEOTES, appears only this one time in the Scriptures, thus we have a lack of scriptural comparison for its particular usage. We have, however, the Hebrew background of words that are translated into Greek as THEOS, that is, forms of EL and ELOHIM. We have given before the Hebriac usage of these words in the Hebrew scriptures, showing that when they are used of others than Jehovah (or idols of men), they take on a more general meaning of might, power, strength, etc, rather than of the Supreme Mighty One of the universe. Without assuming and adding to Colossians 2:9 the idea that Jesus is being spoken of here as the Supreme Being, it certainly can be seen that Paul would be using theotes to describe what God has given to Jesus as being power and might, not any idea that Jesus is Jehovah, or that Jesus is a person of Jehovah.
See our study:
Hebraic Usage of the Titles for "God"

The Greek form of the word often transliterated as Soma (body) that appears in Colossians 2:9, is often transliterated as Somatikos (adverb form of "Soma", bodily), which form likewise does not appear anywhere else in the Scriptures. Paul speaks of Jesus' spiritual, heavenly, body in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:44), when he says that Jesus, the last Adam, "became a life-giving spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:45) Thus, he is speaking in Colossians 2:9 about that spiritual body, as can be seen from the context, and not the body of flesh and blood that Jesus had already given in sacrifice. -- Hebrews 10:10.
See:
Jesus Died a Human Being - Raised a Spirit Being

The plenitude of godship -- ruling might -- does dwell permanently in the mighty spiritual body of Jesus. It is not just an authority that is given to him, but his very being, after he became the life-giving spirit, now possesses all the power needed to carry out the works of his Father, thus "it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him," (Colossians 1:19, NAS) and so that now he "is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:10; see also Ephesians 1:3,17-23) This might -- godhead, godship -- is given to Jesus from his God. -- Psalm 45:7; Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:2,6,9; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Philippians 2:9; Colossians 2:10; Ephesians 1:3,17-23; Psalm 2:7,8; 110:1,2; Isaiah 9:6,7; Luke 1:32; Jeremiah 23:5; Daniel 7:13,14. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.
See also:
The Fullness of Deity

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1 comment:

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:28 makes it very clear that Jesus and Jehovah are not the same person. This is after Jesus resurrection and he is now in heaven. At this point in time Jesus subjects himself to Jehovah, so JEHOVAH can be all things to everyone. Demonstrating that Jesus and Jehovah are not equal in power or position.

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