A detailed Quick Facts Bible study examining Hebrews 1:8–9 and the question of whether Jesus being addressed as “God” means that He is the One True God Almighty. The study considers the words “God, your God” in Hebrews 1:9, Psalm 45, John 10:35 where others are called “gods,” Jesus receiving authority from God, and Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 8:6: “For us there is one God, the Father.”
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QUICK FACT — DOES BEING CALLED “GOD” MEAN SOMEONE IS THE ONE TRUE GOD?
This is one of the most important distinctions in this entire study.
I believe there are a few passages in which Jesus can legitimately be understood as being called “God.”
But here is the crucial question:
DOES BEING CALLED “GOD” AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT JESUS IS THE ONE TRUE GOD — GOD ALMIGHTY?
NO.
The Bible itself shows that the word “god” can be applied to others without making those individuals THE ONE TRUE GOD.
Jesus Himself made this point.
He said:
“If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—”
— John 10:35
Jesus was referring to Psalm 82:6:
“I said, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.’”
Notice carefully:
GOD HIMSELF CALLED CERTAIN PEOPLE “GODS.”
Did this mean those people were YAHWEH, THE ALMIGHTY GOD?
Of course not.
They were called “gods” in a representative or authoritative sense, while THE ONE TRUE GOD remained their God.
This is extremely important when examining passages where Jesus may be called “God.”
Many readers see:
JESUS = GOD
and immediately conclude:
THEREFORE JESUS = THE ONE TRUE GOD ALMIGHTY.
But that conclusion does not automatically follow from the use of the word “God.”
We must ask:
IN WHAT SENSE IS JESUS BEING CALLED GOD?
PAUL MAKES THE DISTINCTION VERY CLEAR
Paul wrote:
“For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’—yet for us there is ONE GOD, THE FATHER... and one Lord, Jesus Christ...”
— 1 Corinthians 8:5–6
Notice Paul's distinction:
THERE ARE THOSE CALLED “GODS.”
BUT:
“FOR US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER.”
This is precisely the distinction I believe many Christians are overlooking.
JESUS MAY BE CALLED “GOD” — BUT WHERE IS HE CALLED “THE ONE TRUE GOD”?
This is the question I encourage every reader to investigate.
There are a small number of New Testament passages where Jesus is called, or may be understood as being called, “God.”
But where does Scripture call Jesus:
“THE ONE TRUE GOD”?
Where does Scripture call Jesus:
“GOD ALMIGHTY”?
Where does Jesus Himself ever say:
“I AM THE ONE TRUE GOD”?
Instead, Jesus prayed to His Father:
“And this is eternal life, that they know YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
— John 17:3
Notice the distinction:
THE FATHER:
“YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD”
JESUS:
“JESUS CHRIST WHOM YOU HAVE SENT.”
THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE WE MUST NOT MISS
Being called:
“GOD”
is not necessarily identical to being:
“THE ONE TRUE GOD.”
Scripture itself demonstrates this because others were called “gods.”
Therefore, even if Hebrews 1:8 is translated:
“YOUR THRONE, O GOD...”
we still cannot simply stop at the word “God” and conclude:
THEREFORE JESUS IS GOD ALMIGHTY.
We must continue reading.
Because the very next verse says to the Son:
“Therefore GOD, YOUR GOD, has anointed you...”
— Hebrews 1:9
And this brings us to the decisive question:
IF JESUS IS THE ONE TRUE GOD ALMIGHTY, HOW CAN THE ONE TRUE GOD HAVE A GOD?
Jesus Himself said:
“I ascend to my Father and your Father, and MY GOD and your God.”
— John 20:17
This is why I believe understanding the biblical difference between someone being called “god” and identifying THE ONE TRUE GOD is absolutely essential to understanding Hebrews 1:8–9.
A detailed Quick Fact Bible study image examining Hebrews 1:8 and the question of whether the Greek must be understood as “Your throne, O God.” The image compares this traditional rendering with “God is your throne” and examines the biblical symbolism of a throne as kingship, rule and authority, together with 1 Chronicles 28:5 and Psalm 72:1.
QUICK FACT — DOES HEBREWS 1:8 HAVE TO MEAN “YOUR THRONE, O GOD”?
There is another important issue surrounding Hebrews 1:8 that deserves careful examination.
Most familiar English translations read:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever...”
— Hebrews 1:8
However, some translators have understood the Greek construction differently and have rendered the thought:
“GOD IS YOUR THRONE.”
For example, An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed) and The Bible in Living English (Byington) have used the rendering:
“God is your throne...”
Why is this important?
In Scripture, a throne represents:
KINGSHIP
RULE
AUTHORITY
Under this interpretation, Hebrews 1:8 would not be identifying Jesus as THE ONE TRUE GOD.
Instead, GOD is the source and foundation of the Son’s royal authority.
This fits the biblical picture of the Davidic kings, who ruled with authority received from God.
QUICK FACT — THE DAVIDIC KING RULED FOR GOD
David said concerning Solomon:
“He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.”
— 1 Chronicles 28:5
Notice carefully.
Solomon could sit upon the throne of the kingdom of YAHWEH without actually BEING Yahweh.
Solomon was God's appointed king.
He ruled under GOD'S authority.
Psalm 72 similarly says:
“Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!”
— Psalm 72:1
The king receives his authority and righteous judgment FROM GOD.
This provides important background for understanding Jesus as God's ultimate Messiah and King.
QUICK FACT — JESUS HIMSELF SAID HIS AUTHORITY WAS GIVEN TO HIM
After His resurrection Jesus declared:
“All authority in heaven and on earth HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.”
— Matthew 28:18
Please notice:
“HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.”
Jesus did not say:
“I possess all authority because I am the Almighty God.”
He said His authority had been GIVEN to Him.
WHO GAVE JESUS THIS AUTHORITY?
GOD.
This agrees perfectly with the biblical picture of Jesus as God's appointed and exalted Messiah.
QUICK FACT — JESUS SAT DOWN ON HIS FATHER’S THRONE
Jesus Himself said:
“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with MY FATHER ON HIS THRONE.”
— Revelation 3:21
Again notice the distinction:
JESUS
and
HIS FATHER.
Jesus says He sat down:
WITH MY FATHER
ON:
HIS THRONE.
Hebrews similarly describes Jesus as:
“seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
— Hebrews 12:2
Jesus occupies the highest position of authority beside God.
But being seated at the RIGHT HAND OF GOD distinguishes Jesus from the God at whose right hand He sits.
QUICK FACT — NOW READ HEBREWS 1:9
This may be the most important point in this entire study.
Many people quote Hebrews 1:8:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever...”
and conclude:
JESUS IS GOD.
But please do not stop reading at verse 8.
READ THE VERY NEXT VERSE.
Hebrews 1:9 says:
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore GOD, YOUR GOD, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
PLEASE NOTICE THESE WORDS:
“GOD, YOUR GOD.”
The person being addressed in Hebrews 1:8 HAS A GOD in Hebrews 1:9.
That fact must be explained.
QUICK FACT — IF JESUS IS THE ONE TRUE GOD, HOW CAN HE HAVE A GOD?
This is the central problem with interpreting Hebrews 1:8 as proof that Jesus is THE SAME ONE TRUE GOD ALMIGHTY.
If the words:
“YOUR THRONE, O GOD”
mean that Jesus is THE ONE TRUE GOD Himself, then the very next verse tells us:
THE ONE TRUE GOD HAS A GOD.
Because it says:
“GOD, YOUR GOD.”
But how can THE ONE TRUE GOD have another who is HIS GOD?
This would appear to leave us with two distinct persons:
GOD
and
THE GOD OF THAT GOD.
Yet Scripture repeatedly teaches that there is only ONE GOD.
God Himself declared:
“I am Yahweh, and there is no other. Besides me, there is no God.”
— Isaiah 45:5
And:
“Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
— Isaiah 44:8
And again:
“I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”
— Isaiah 46:9
Therefore, if Hebrews 1:8 is interpreted as saying that Jesus is another distinct person who is nevertheless THE SAME ONE TRUE GOD, while Hebrews 1:9 says that Jesus Himself HAS A GOD, we are faced with a serious theological problem.
It would appear to give us two divine persons side by side:
THE FATHER — GOD
THE SON — GOD
while one of those persons is:
“GOD, YOUR GOD”
to the other.
This is precisely why Hebrews 1:8 cannot responsibly be isolated from Hebrews 1:9.
QUICK FACT — GOD ANOINTED JESUS
Hebrews 1:9 says:
“GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU.”
Again there are clearly two parties:
GOD — THE ONE DOING THE ANOINTING
JESUS — THE ONE BEING ANOINTED
This agrees perfectly with Acts:
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”
— Acts 10:38
GOD ANOINTED JESUS.
Jesus did not anoint Himself.
Jesus is GOD'S ANOINTED ONE.
That is exactly what “Christ” or “Messiah” means:
THE ANOINTED ONE.
QUICK FACT — JESUS HIMSELF SAID HE HAS A GOD
Hebrews 1:9 is not an isolated statement.
Jesus Himself said after His resurrection:
“I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to MY GOD and your God.”
— John 20:17
Notice carefully:
MY FATHER
and:
MY GOD.
Even the resurrected Jesus identifies the Father as:
“MY GOD.”
And in Revelation, the exalted Jesus repeatedly says:
“MY GOD.”
— Revelation 3:12
Therefore Hebrews 1:9 agrees with Jesus Himself:
JESUS HAS A GOD.
And that God is HIS FATHER.
QUICK FACT — JESUS CALLED HIS FATHER “THE ONLY TRUE GOD”
Now compare all of this with Jesus' own prayer:
“And this is eternal life, that they know YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
— John 17:3
Jesus does not identify Himself here as:
“THE ONLY TRUE GOD.”
He identifies His FATHER as:
“YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD.”
Then He distinguishes Himself as:
“JESUS CHRIST WHOM YOU HAVE SENT.”
This distinction is extremely important.
QUICK FACT — PAUL IDENTIFIED THE ONE GOD AS THE FATHER
Paul gives us another remarkably clear statement:
“For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’—yet for us there is ONE GOD, THE FATHER... and one Lord, Jesus Christ...”
— 1 Corinthians 8:5–6
Notice Paul's distinction.
There are those who can be:
CALLED “GODS.”
Yet:
“FOR US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER.”
Therefore, even if Hebrews 1:8 directly calls Jesus “God,” that does NOT automatically establish that Jesus is being identified as:
THE ONE TRUE GOD ALMIGHTY.
We still have to determine what the title means in its biblical context.
QUICK FACT — DID GOD SAY JESUS WAS GOD?
This is the question behind my continuing research into Hebrews 1:8–9:
DID GOD SAY JESUS WAS GOD?
And even more importantly:
DID GOD IDENTIFY JESUS AS THE ONE TRUE GOD?
My own research on Hebrews 1:8–9 continues to be revised and expanded.
There are significant questions concerning the Greek construction, Psalm 45, the meaning of “throne,” and the relationship between Hebrews 1:8 and Hebrews 1:9.
Until my fuller study is completed, readers may also wish to examine the detailed arguments presented in:
THE TRINITY DELUSION — HEBREWS 1:8
This study argues for understanding the passage along the lines of:
“GOD IS YOUR THRONE.”
In other words, GOD is the source of the Davidic King's royal authority.
I encourage readers not simply to accept that interpretation — or mine — but to examine the Greek, compare translations, read Psalm 45, and most importantly read Hebrews 1:8 AND 1:9 together.
Full study:
https://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/TTD/verses/hebrews1_8.html
QUICK FACTS CONCLUSION
SO DOES HEBREWS 1:8 REALLY CALL JESUS THE ONE TRUE GOD?
I believe the biblical evidence says:
NO.
Hebrews 1:8 may address Jesus as “God” under the traditional translation.
But being called “God” does not automatically mean:
THE ONE TRUE GOD ALMIGHTY.
Scripture itself demonstrates that others can be called “gods.”
Jesus confirmed this in John 10:35.
Paul acknowledged that there are those “called gods,” while declaring:
“FOR US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER.”
— 1 Corinthians 8:6
And most importantly, Hebrews itself does not stop at verse 8.
The very next verse says:
“GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU.”
— Hebrews 1:9
Therefore:
JESUS HAS A GOD.
JESUS WAS ANOINTED BY GOD.
JESUS RECEIVED AUTHORITY FROM GOD.
JESUS SITS AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND.
JESUS CALLS THE FATHER “MY GOD.”
JESUS CALLS THE FATHER “THE ONLY TRUE GOD.”
And Paul calls the Father:
“THE ONE GOD.”
THE FINAL QUESTION
If Hebrews 1:8 identifies Jesus as THE SAME ONE TRUE GOD ALMIGHTY, then who is:
“GOD, YOUR GOD”
in Hebrews 1:9?
How can THE ONE TRUE GOD have a God?
And why did Jesus Himself say:
“MY GOD”
— John 20:17
and:
“YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD”
— John 17:3?
These questions deserve serious answers.
Do not simply accept what I say.
Do not simply accept what a Trinitarian says.
Do not simply accept what a Unitarian says.
OPEN YOUR BIBLE.
READ HEBREWS 1:8–9 TOGETHER.
READ PSALM 45.
COMPARE JOHN 10:35.
COMPARE JOHN 17:3.
COMPARE JOHN 20:17.
COMPARE 1 CORINTHIANS 8:5–6.
EXAMINE THE GREEK.
COMPARE THE TRANSLATIONS.
PRAY.
SEARCH.
AND DECIDE FROM THE BIBLICAL EVIDENCE.
“For us there is one God, the Father... and one Lord, Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 8:6
Research by Simon Brown
REAL DISCOVERIES
https://wwwrealdiscoveriesorg-simon.blogspot.com/
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- WHO IS THE ONE TRUE GOD? New video!
- The Greatest Commandment Ever Given — Who Is the One True God?
- Mark 12:29 — Why Did Jesus Quote the Shema?
- Deuteronomy 6:4 — The Shema: "Hear, O Israel, Yahweh Our God Is One"
- John 10:30 — What Did Jesus Mean by "I and the Father Are One"?
- John 8:58 — What Did Jesus Mean by "Before Abraham Was, I Am"?
- John 20:28 — Did Thomas Really Call Jesus Almighty God?
- John 14:9 — "He Who Has Seen Me Has Seen the Father" Explained
- John 17:3 — Jesus Confirmed That the Father Alone Is the Only True God
- John 17:5 — Did Jesus Exist with the Father Before the World Began?
- John 1:1 — Does "The Word Was God" Mean Jesus Is Almighty God?
- 2 Peter 1:1 — Another Trinitarian Misunderstanding?
- Colossians 1:15–17 — Does "Firstborn of All Creation" Mean Jesus Was Created?
- Hebrews 1:2 — Did God Create the Universe or the Ages Through His Son?
- Who Is the Alpha and the Omega?
- Did the Doctrine of the Trinity Originate with Jesus Christ and His Apostles?
- Is Jesus God, or the Son of God? What Does the Whole Bible Teach?
- Scriptures Proving Yahweh: The One True God of Israel Is the Creator Alone.
- John 6:38 — How Did Jesus Come Down From Heaven?


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