By Donald Z. Underwood

To understand the Godhood or Godhead, we need to know the meaning of the word God.
- God by definition means Divine Essence or Divine Quality or Divine Nature.  Thus, God by definition has reference to an essence or quality or nature and not the name of a personality.  The context of a passage of scripture will reveal the name or personality of Deity.
- In the Old Testament, the Hebrew words el, eloah, and elohim are generic designations of God.  Specific definitions are found within the text of the passage under consideration.
- There are two words used in the New Testament for God:

-- Divinity (Theites)…usually translated Godhead or Godhood; refers to attributes or characteristics.
--- Romans 1:20, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
-- Deity (Theos)…usually translated God; refers to Divine Essence, the personality of Godhead.
--- Colossians 1:15, Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
- Furthermore, the word God is not the specific name of a personality; it is the name of a nature or quality of being.

Thus, it is important for us to understand the meaning of these key words, in order for us to understand and comprehend the Godhead.

Brother Guy N. Woods wrote, “The word God, which is the name of the divine nature, is often used under the figure of the synecdoche to stand for each member of the Godhead.  Because there is but one  divine nature, there is but one God, though this name is possessed by  three distinct personalities, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,  and each of them is called God in the scriptures.  (John 3:16; 1:1; Acts 5:3-4).  Similarly, the word Jehovah is occasionally used, in the Old Testament, in prophecies which are said to be fulfilled in the Person of Christ.” (Questions and Answers, Freed-Hardeman College, 1976, p 290).

Moses said, Hear,O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: (Deuteronomy 6:4).  The Hebrew word one in the verse is achid and means unified.  Thus, the verse reads Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is unified Lord:  Implying, that Deity, one or more personalities are unified.  Jesus said, I and my Father are one (John 10:30).  Hence, the Godhead is unified and one.  There is one God, i.e. one divine nature or quality or essence, but three personalities, not three Gods.

I hope this short and brief article helps each of us to better understand the Godhead.