2320. theotés

Lexicon

theotés: Deity, Godhead, Divine Nature

Original Word: θεότης
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: theotés
Pronunciation: theh-ot'-ace
Phonetic Spelling: (theh-ot'-ace)
Definition: Deity, Godhead, Divine Nature
Meaning: deity, Godhead.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

godhead, deity

From 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 Origin
from theos
Definition
deity
NASB Translation
Deity (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2320: θεότης

θεότης, 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.) [SYNONYMS: θεότης, θειότης: θεότης deity differs from θειότης divinity, as essence differs from quality or attribute; cf. Trench, § ii.; Lightfoot or Meyer on Colossians, the passage cited; Fritzsche on Romans 1:20.]

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from θεός (theos), meaning "God."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for θεότης, related concepts can be found in Hebrew terms that describe God's nature and attributes, such as:

• אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) • Strong's Hebrew 430: A plural form often used for God, emphasizing majesty and power.
• יְהוָה (YHWH) • Strong's Hebrew 3068: The personal name of God, often rendered as "LORD," signifying His eternal and self-existent nature.
• קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh) • Strong's Hebrew 6918: Meaning "holy," highlighting God's purity and separateness from creation.

These Hebrew terms collectively contribute to the understanding of God's divine nature, which is encapsulated in the Greek concept of θεότης.

Usage: The term θεότης is used in the New Testament to refer to the divine nature or essence of God. It emphasizes the fullness of God's deity.

Context: The Greek term θεότης (theotēs) appears in the New Testament in Colossians 2:9, where the Apostle Paul writes, "For in Him all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form" (BSB). This passage underscores the complete and perfect nature of Christ's divinity, affirming that Jesus embodies the totality of God's essence. The use of θεότης here is significant in the context of early Christian theology, as it addresses the nature of Christ and His relationship to God the Father.

In the broader theological discourse, θεότης is a critical term for understanding the doctrine of the Trinity and the incarnation. It affirms that Jesus is not merely a reflection or representation of God but possesses the full divine nature. This concept is foundational for the Christian belief in the hypostatic union, where Jesus is fully God and fully man.

The term also serves to counter early heresies that denied the full divinity of Christ, such as Arianism, which viewed Jesus as a created being. By asserting the θεότης of Christ, the New Testament provides a basis for the orthodox understanding of Jesus as co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Forms and Transliterations

θεοτητος θεότητος theotetos theotētos theótetos theótētos

Englishman's Concordance

Colossians 2:9 N-GFS
GRK: πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος σωματικῶς
NAS: the fullness of Deity dwells
KJV: all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
INT: fullness of the Deity bodily

Strong's Greek 2320
1 Occurrence

θεότητος — 1 Occ.