Hello Beloved,
As we continue our discussion on the names of God, we find ourselves leaving the Hebrew of the Old Testament and moving to the Greek of the New Testament. Similar to the way we began our study for the names of God in the Old Testament, we start with the most basic term for “God” in the Greek, “Theos.”
Theos is almost always translated God, and usually refers to the one true God. Because it is the most generic term for divinity, theos can also be used in other ways. Sometimes theos is used for the “gods” of paganism (Acts 12:22; 14:11; 17:23; 19:26-27; 1 Corinthians 8:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). Sometimes, the word can be used of Satan, as when Paul describes him as “the god of this age”
(2 Corinthians 4:4). Sometimes theos is used in an idolatrous manner as when Paul utilizes the term to characterize man’s sinful sensuality in “whose god is their belly” (Philippians 3:19). Of course, in the true sense of divine nature, Jesus Christ is called “Theos” (Romans 9:5; John 1:1,18; 20:28;
Titus 2:13).
Theos technically is not a “name” for God, but a title. As has already been stated, theos is frequently used as the common term for deity in general; however, the word Theos was linked directly to the Jewish concept of God even prior to the formation of the New Testament. For instance, in the Greek Old Testament called the Septuagint, Theos was often the Greek translation for the Hebrew generic term of God, Elohim. Therefore, when Theos was used of God in these contexts, it revealed the truth that He was the one and only true God. The New Testament testifies that Theos (God) is the “only” God (1Timothy 1:17), the only “true’ God (John 17:3), the only “Holy One” (Revelation 15:4), and the only “wise One” (Romans 16:27). Since this is true, believers are to have no other gods besides the one true God [Theos} (Matthew 6:24). As the Theos, God is the Creator, Sustainer, Lord, and Orchestrator of the universe (Acts 17:24; Hebrews 3:4; Revelation 10:6).
When Theos was used in the New Testament, it defined God in much clearer terms, separating the core concepts of Christianity from that of Judaism. This core distinction relates to the truth that God is one essence in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And God brings redemption through His Son, the Messianic figure of Jesus Christ by His substitutionary death on the cross. The New Testament reveals that Theos is Savior (1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Titus 1:3; 2:13; 3:4). If we are “in Christ,” then we have a right relationship with God; and through His Spirit, God dwells in us. Consider this final sidenote. The word "Enthusiasm" is derived from two Greek words: "en" meaning in and "theos" meaning God. Enthusiasm is literally “God in us.” The enthusiastic man is one who speaks as if he were possessed by God.
Until next time, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”.