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I am wrestling with the term ‘Elohim’ referred to in Genesis? Can you please shed further light on its meaning?
This word is the plural for the term ‘God’. It is generally viewed in 2 ways: As a plural of majesty used by a monarch. For e.g. When Queen Elisabeth invites someone to the castle, she would say: “WE are inviting you…†As a reference to the Godhead – the divine family of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – which appears to be the meaning we find in the OT. Here are a few verses that refer to God in the plural: Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isa 6:8. This ‘us’ of Genesis (and Isaiah) is clarified in the New Testament. Jesus said that disciples are to be baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19). This can only mean that all three Beings are equal. Three distinct Beings working as one. See also 1 Pet 1:2 and 2 Cor 13:14. Notice how all three Beings of the Godhead come together at Jesus’ baptism: the Voice of the Father was heard from heaven, Jesus was in the water, and the Holy Spirit manifested in the form of a dove (Matt 3:16-17). While the Bible does say God is one in Deut. 6:4, the word for ‘one’ in this verse does not mean ‘single.’ It is the same word used when God blessed Adam and Eve’s union, saying that the two shall become ONE flesh (Gen 2:24). They were to be one in purpose and unity even though they were two separate beings with different personalities. Similarly, though the Godhead has 3 distinct personalities, all revelations about God in the Bible refer to the same, ONE divine reality.