Lexical Summary theotés: Deity, Godhead, Divine Nature Original Word: θεότης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance godhead, deityFrom theos; divinity (abstractly) -- godhead. see GREEK theos HELPS Word-studies 2320 theótēs (a feminine noun derived from 2316 /theós, "God") – the personal God revealed in the Bible who is triune and infinitely relational as demonstrated by the embodiment of the Godhead in the incarnated Christ (used only in Col 2:9). 2320 /theótēs ("fullness of deity") expresses God's "essential (personal) deity, as belonging to Christ" (WS, 906). 2320 (theótēs) focuses on Christ physically embodying the Godhead through His incarnation and shown throughout His perfect life of faith (cf. Heb 12:2). [For more on Christ's full deity, see 2316 /theós ("God") at Sidebar A.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom theos Definition deity NASB Translation Deity (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2320: θεότηςθεότης, θεότητος, ἡ (deitas, Tertullian, Augustine (de civ. Dei 7, 1)), deity i. e. the state of being God, Godhead: Colossians 2:9. (Lucian, Icar. 9; Plutarch, de defect. orac. 10, p. 415 c.) Topical Lexicon Divine Fullness in Christ Colossians 2:9 declares, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily”. The single New Testament use of θεότης (theotēs) concentrates the entire biblical witness to Jesus Christ as the complete and personal embodiment of true God. Paul does not merely claim that Christ shares in divinity; he insists that the exhaustive reality of God—His essence, attributes, and prerogatives—permanently resides in the incarnate Son. The verse stands as the apostolic safeguard against any doctrine that would reduce Jesus to a semi-divine intermediary or exalted creature. Distinction from Other Terms for Deity Throughout Scripture several words express divine qualities, yet θεότης uniquely denotes full personal Godhood. Romans 1:20 employs θεῖότης (theiotēs) to speak of God’s “divine nature” discernible in creation, but Colossians 2:9 uses θεότης to point to the inherent identity of God Himself. The choice of term underscores that Christ is not merely a bearer of divine attributes; He is God in the absolute sense. Christological Implications 1. Full Deity and True Humanity: By affirming that the fullness of deity dwells “bodily,” Paul safeguards both natures in the one Person of Christ (cf. John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14). Historical Confessional Impact The testimony of Colossians 2:9 was pivotal in the early Church’s defense against Arianism. The Nicene Creed’s assertion of Christ as “very God of very God” echoes Paul’s language. Subsequent councils and confessions consistently appealed to this text to affirm that the Son shares the same essence (ὁμοούσιος) with the Father, excluding any notion of created or lesser divinity. Relation to Old Testament Revelation The Old Testament repeatedly attributes exclusive divine prerogatives to Yahweh: creation (Isaiah 44:24), sovereignty (Psalm 103:19), and redeeming power (Isaiah 43:11). The New Testament writers apply these very prerogatives to Christ (John 1:3; Revelation 19:16; Titus 2:14), and Colossians 2:9 encapsulates this transfer of divine identity. The θεότης housed in Christ’s body fulfills Emmanuel—“God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Practical Ministry Applications 1. Worship: Colossians 2:9 calls the Church to render to Jesus the same honor accorded to the Father (John 5:23). Conclusion The solitary appearance of θεότης in Colossians 2:9 serves as a theological cornerstone. It definitively identifies Jesus Christ as the living locus of all that God is, anchoring the gospel, directing worship, and shaping orthodox confession throughout the ages. Forms and Transliterations θεοτητος θεότητος theotetos theotētos theótetos theótētosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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