Three Greek words are translated "Godhead" in the N.T., namely, To Theion that

which is divine, the thing pertaining to Theos. Theiotes, divinity, the characteristic

property of Theos. That which is discernible from the works of creation, thereby making

idolatry "without excuse" (Rom. 1: 20) and Theotes.

The above is partly quoted from Dr. E. W. Bullinger's Lexicon, and it agrees with the

definitions given by Trench, Cremer, Lightfoot and most commentators.

Those of us who believe the doctrine of the Deity of Christ naturally turn to Col. 2: 9

as to a proof text, but this may not be the right attitude of heart and mind when dealing

with the sacred Scriptures. We do no honour to the Lord, if we misuse a portion of

Scripture, even to prove or to enforce the glorious doctrine of His Deity. Truth needs no

bolster. One of the reasons that caused us to hesitate about this use of Col. 2: 9 is that

when we apply the principle given in I Cor. 2: 13 namely, that we speak not in the

words of man's wisdom, "but which the Holy Ghost teacheth", and that we then go on to

compare spiritual things with spiritual, we come up against a doctrinal difficulty. If the

words "all the fullness" of the Godhead, prove the Deity of Christ, what do they prove in

Eph. 3: 19. There, the prayer of the apostle is for the believer, that Christ may dwell,

katoikeo, in their hearts by faith, and as a consequence that they may be "filled with (eis

unto, with a view to) all the fullness of God". If "all the fullness of Theotes" proves the

Deity of Christ, should not "all the fullness of Theos" prove the Deity of the Church? To

express the thought is to refute it. Such cannot be the meaning. In Col. 1: 19 we meet

the expression "all the fullness", but there it is not followed, either by "God" or

"Godhead", yet this first reference must have a definite bearing upon the second

reference found in Col. 2: 9.

We cannot expect to understand the reference in Col. 2: 9 if we ignore the earlier

reference in Col. 1: 19.  They go together and constitute a united testimony. The first

passage opens with redemption (Col. 1: 14) and closes with "peace through the blood of

His cross" (Col. 1: 20). He Who created "all things, that are in heaven and that are in

earth" (Col. 1: 16) reconciled "all things, whether they be things in earth, or things in

heaven" (Col. 1: 20). We move from Creation to Reconciliation via the headship of the

church which is His body, and the blessed fact that He Who was in the beginning "the

firstborn of every creature" is revealed as being Himself "the beginning, the firstborn

from the dead". While the triumph of His resurrection is the feature that is stressed here,

we believe we shall never understand the reference to "fullness" in Col. 2: 9 if we do