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Hebrews 1:8

(‘Did God address the Lord Jesus as God?)
“But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”
(Hebrews 1:8 NKJV Emphasis mine)
HEBREWS 1:8 CONTINUES to be a controversial topic of debate and a highly cited passage used by Trinitarians who use it to support the belief that Jesus is God. According to their interpretation, this verse depicts God addressing the Lord Jesus as God, the second component of the Trinity, although the word “Trinity” itself is nowhere to be found in the Holy Scriptures. If we are to submit to such an erroneous interpretation and belief of this passage, it would create many serious unavoidable biblical contradictions.

It is worth noting that different versions of the Bible indeed differ in their renditions of Hebrews 1:8. However, before we delve into and examine the various translations, let us look at what the actual NT Greek says, which has served as the basis for the various interpretations of this passage:

Koine Greek:
“προς δε τον υιον ο θρονος σου o θεος εις τον αιωνα του αιωνος ραβδος ευθυτητος η ραβδος της βασιλειας σου”

(Reference: Greek Manuscript, Koin Greek, Emphasis Mine)

“Toward the son the throne of you the god into the age of the age scepter of candidness the scepter of the kingdom of you.”

(Reference: Word for word Translation, Emphasis Mine)

As we can glean from the context of the passage from the biblical Koine Greek, it does not have a trinitarian inference. However, the roughness of a direct word-for-word translation, the readability is not very smooth; thus, when the manuscripts were translated into different languages; user-friendly translations were produced to make the Bible more readable and easier to understand, but if a verse is rendered in such a way that its original meaning is lost or twisted in the process then that verse cannot be relied upon as God’s Word. In view of this strict accuracy, it is immensely preferred to remain faithful to the original languages in which the text was written rather than focus on readability. One thing that explains the disparities found in various translations of the Bible can be attributed to the fact that the Bible has been translated into different languages that in the process, some alterations have been made due to the idiosyncrasies of different languages, differences in shades of meaning, and dissimilarity in interpretations by different translators, as well as their theological biases. It cannot be denied that many Bible versions are produced by people or groups of people with their own beliefs that have subjectively influenced their versions, thereby producing translations with tainted, if not twisted meanings.

So the question is, how then, do we know which particular translation of the Bible to use, for example, in this case of Hebrews 1:8? Apostle Paul states the guiding principle we should employ:

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

(Reference: I Cor 2:10,13 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)

Based on Apostle Paul’s guiding principle, comparing spiritual truths, there must be no contradiction among Bible verses. Therefore, in determining which rendition of a particular verse expresses the truth, a verse should not be in opposition to any other verse of the Bible because God, in whose will and guidance the Bible was written, is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33).
In note of this principle, let us now dive into the various bible translations of Hebrews 1:8 and compare and see which translation does not contradict the words of God to find spiritual truth throughout our discussion. Let us read:
“But of the Son He says, ‘YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.”
(Reference: New American Standard Bible 1995, Emphasis Mine)
“But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”
(Reference: New King James Version, Emphasis Mine)
“But of the Son he says, ‘God is your throne forever and ever! And a righteous scepter is the scepter of his kingdom!”
(Reference: Goodspeed New Testament, Emphasis Mine)
“He then says to the son, Your throne is God for an age of ages, And your rod of correction is your kingly scepter.”
(Reference: The Unvarnished New Testament, A New Translation From The Original Greek, Emphasis Mine)
“he says of the Son, ‘God is thy throne for ever and ever, thy royal sceptre is the sceptre of equity.”
(Reference: Moffat Translation, Emphasis Mine)
“but as to the Son ‘God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of integrity is the scepter of his reign.”
(Reference: The Bible in Living English,  Emphasis Mine)
“But, as for the Son, he says: ‘God is your throne for ever and for ever, and the sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of your kingdom.”
(Reference: William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, Emphasis Mine)

The New American Standard Bible and the King James Bible rendition exemplify those translations of Hebrews 1:8 in which it appears as though the Son was addressed “O God” by the Father, whereas that of the Goodspeed, Moffat, and American Translation, etc., typifies those Bible versions where it has no indication that the Father called the Son as God, but states instead that the throne of the Son is God. One Bible version even combines the two differing translations and renders Hebrews 1:8 this way:

“But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is {Or [God is your throne]} forever and ever’…”
(Reference: New Revised Standard Version, Emphasis Mine)

Hebrews 1:8 was originally written in the Hebrew language, and the term that was used in the Greek bible was “o θεος” (“ho theos“).  The term “ho theos” is not found in the Hebrew Bible also called the Masoretic Text. The “ὁ θεός” (ho theos) was taken from the Septuagint [LXX], a Greek translation of the Old Testament. According to B.F. Wescott this is what is stated:

“The LXX. admits of two renderings: ὁ θεός [ho Theos] can be taken as a vocative in both cases (Τhy throne, O God,… therefore, O God, Thy God…) or it can be taken as the subject (or the predicate) in the first case (God is Thy throne, or Thy throne is God…), and in apposition to ὁ θεός σου [ho Theos sou] in the second case (Therefore God, even Thy God…).”
(Reference: The Epistle To The Hebrews by Brook Foss Westcott, D.D., D.C.L., Second Edition, London, Macmillan and Co., and New York, 1892, p.25, Emphasis Mine)
In addition, University of Cambridge professor and noted New Testament language scholar C. F. D. Moule writes:
“Heb i. 8…constructed so as to mean Thy throne is God…”
(Reference: An Idiom Book of New Testament Greek, C.F.D Moule, Second Edition, Cambridge At The University Press, 1960, p.32, Emphasis Mine)
Furthermore, in “A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament” also supports the above views:
“Hebrews 1:8 ‘must be’ translated ‘God is thy throne’ and not ‘thy throne, O God’.”
(Reference: A Textual Commentary On the Greek New Testament, United Bible Societies, 1971, pp. 662-663xx, Emphasis Mine)

MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE

What further evidence attests to the above textual commentary? Let once again cite Hebrews 1:8 from one of the Bible translations our trinitarian friends like to use:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of HIS kingdom.”
(Reference: Hebrews 1:8 NASB, Emphasis Mine)
There is a very important manuscript variant reading of verse 8 (see P46; Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, etc.). This is represented by the NASB which reads “his Kingdom instead of “your Kingdom.” This indicates that the writer was quoting a version of the Septuagint with this reading.
So should it read “Your Kingdom” or “His Kingdom”?
This is significant since the throne in question in this verse is the throne of the Kingdom, God’s Kingly throne. The best manuscript evidence appears to favor “his Kingdom” which is grammatically taken to refer to the Father’s Kingdom. Clearly, “his Kingdom” in the first instance of “ho theos” in verse 8 refers to God the Father, and the vocative translation “O God” is incorrect. This fact has also been acknowledged by Trinitarian academics; thus, translations such as Goodspeed, The Bible in Living English, and other versions of the bible have correctly presented it as “God is your throne.” The pronoun “his” would be referring back to the Father in the phrase “the throne of you ho theos [O God],” which means this phrase refers to the Father’s Kingly throne, which is why the throne of Christ is God. e.g.:
But concerning the son, “Your Throne, God, is forever and ever and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His Kingdom.” (NASB)
“προς δε τον υιον ο θρονος σου…” “Toward the son the throne of you…”

Notice in the original Greek manuscripts it says in the second person: “the throne of you,” but in the third person: “his Kingdom” (NASB). This strongly indicates that “his“ refers not to the Son but to the Father. That being the case, the antecedent to “his“ would be “ho theos,” the Father, “the God,“ the God of Jesus. Thus, the throne of the Son is God!

But concerning the son, “Your throne, [God the Father] is forever and ever and
the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of his Kingdom.”
Thus:
“But of the Son he says, “God is your throne forever and ever! And a righteous scepter is the scepter of his kingdom!” (Goodspeed New Testament, Emphasis Mine)
Moreover, the very next verse of Hebrews 1:9 testifies to this biblical evidence in the explanation above as to why “God is your throne” is the correct and preferred translation, which is why even scholars have come to such a definite conclusion. Let us read:
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
(Reference: Hebrews 1:9 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
So now we find spiritual truth and no contradiction against the oneness of the true God — the Father. Clearly, Christ has a God — “therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Thus, Hebrews 1:8, of those translations that use the phrase “God is your throne,” together with the next verse, verse 9, harmoniously brings spiritual truth with no contradiction and depicts the accurate translation of the original Greek Text. 
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:8 is a prophecy of God about Jesus the Son; The true God, the Father, is not calling Jesus God. This prophecy is recorded in the Old Testament, in the Book of Psalms, chapter 45: 6-7. Let’s examine this prophecy closely and identify what it clearly states:
“Your throne is from God, for ever and ever, the sceptre of your kingship a sceptre of justice, you love uprightness and detest evil. This is why God, your God, has anointed you with oil of gladness, as none of your rivals,”
(Reference: Psalms 45: 6-7 The New Jerusalem Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, in verse 9, it is indisputably clear that the throne of the Son is from God, and the Son, whom God refers to, is the one who has a God. The true God does not have another God; otherwise, there would be two Gods.
Hebrews 1:8-9 is an important prophecy about the Son who was anointed with the oil of gladness, detests evil, and loves uprightness or righteousness.  For this reason, the Church Of Christ believes that any translation of Hebrews 1:8 that renders it in such a way that Christ is seemingly being acknowledged as God by the Father is unquestionably erroneous. Why? Because such rendition would categorically contradict the following statements of God the Father Himself, such as the prophet Isaiah quotes:
“… I am the only God. Besides me there is no other god; there never was and never will be.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:10 GNT, E phasis Mine)
“Acknowledge that I alone am God and that there is no one else like me.”
(Reference: Isa. 46:9 TEV, Emphasis Mine)

THE WORD "THRONE" IN SCRIPTURE

With the exception of a minority number of informed scholars, Trinitarians generally reject the translation “God is your throne” or “Your throne is God” because they cannot comprehend how God could be Jesus Christ’s throne. Some even consider it absurd because, they argue, it would mean God is being used as Jesus’ chair (throne). However, this is a result of their ignorance and understanding. The problem is that they are equating the word “throne” with a chair to sit upon, which is quite farcical regarding this biblical context. This confusion stems from their ignorance of the biblical usage of the word “throne.”
The word throne signifies “supreme power and authority”:
“Throne: The throne was the symbol of supreme power…”
(Reference: Smith’s Bible Dictionary, Emphasis Mine)
“The use of ‘throne” referring to the authority that the throne represents…In Psalm 45:6, the text reads, כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים, literally, ‘your throne God,’ which is brought into English as ‘your throne is God,’ which makes perfect sense when we realize that the ‘throne’ is a reference to kingly authority.”
(Reference: Psa. 45:6 Rev Bible commentary, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, the “throne of the Son,” or the seat of power and authority of the Son who is being spoken about, is clearly stated to be an authority given to Him with emphasis — from God. Clearly, then, God is the throne of the Son, which denotes that the Son’s throne is from God. Note the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and its direct translation from Psalms 45:6 from the Hebrew text “כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים,“ literally, ‘your throne God,’ which is brought into English as ‘your throne is God’.”
Did the Lord Jesus Christ teach that His authority, or throne, was inherent in Him because He is supposedly God? Or was it because God gave it to Him? The throne or authority that the Son holds comes from no other than the Almighty God, who is the Father! Christ Himself taught this when He declared:
“…’All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth’.”
(Reference: Matthew 28:18 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father,…”
(Reference: Matthew 11:27 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, it is clear that the source of Christ’s power was not inherited but given to Him by His Father. This further demonstrates that Hebrews 1:8 and Psalms 45:6-7 are clear statements about the authority given to Christ by God, His Father, and not God the Father saying Jesus is God. Thus, God is the throne of the Son, which is a metaphor indicating that God is the source of the Son’s throne or power and in as much that Christ confirmed in the above passages that all power in heaven and on earth was given to Him by God, His Father, ultimately on the day of Judgment, He Himself, the Son, will be placed under God and God will rule completely over all even over our Lord Jesus Christ:
“For the scripture says, ‘God put all things under his [Christ] feet.’ It is clear, of course, that the words ‘all things” do not include God himself, who puts all things under Christ. But when all things have been placed under Christ’s rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him [Christ]; and God will rule completely over all.”
(Reference: I Cor. 15:27-28 GNT, Emphasis Mine)
So, a hard question that Trinitarians face, is why would the Son be placed under God if He is 100% equal and possesses the same power as the Father as they claim? Moreover, if Christ were God, it would appear that God is placing Himself under Himself — an absurdity that Trinitarians cannot provide a satisfactory explanation. Their only response has been to hide behind the “mystery doctrine of the Divine Trinity” to avoid addressing this major contradiction in their theological position.
As you can see, supporting any Bible translation of Hebrews 1:8 that gives a Trinitarian inference and renders it in such a way that Christ is seemingly being acknowledged as God by the Father creates many problematic contradictions. Therefore, it is unquestionably erroneous. Contrary to the belief of some authors, nowhere in the Bible, including Hebrews 1:8, does the Father acknowledge the Son as “God.” The Holy Scriptures openly teach that the Son Jesus Christ, who is mistaken by our detractors as God, is introduced in the same epistle of Hebrews as a “man.” Let us read:
“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”
(Reference: Hebrews 7:24 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
And Christ unmistakably acknowledged the Father, not Himself, as the “only true God”:
“After Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father…
And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent—Jesus the Messiah.”
(Reference: John 17:1,3 ISV, Emphasis Mine)

And to put a final nail in the coffin to this argument, in the words of George W. Burnap in his book: “Expository Lectures On The Principal Passages Of The Scriptures Which Relate To The Doctrine Of The Trinity,” has this to say:

“It is immaterial to the purpose of our present investigation, to inquire whether the word ‘God’ in this case is used in the nominative or the vocative case, so as to read, ‘God is thy throne, or thy throne, O God.’ The sense will be ultimately the same. Both will alike disprove the Trinity. It cannot be applied to the second Person of a Trinity. The second person of a Trinity cannot have a God. The second Person of the Trinity cannot be exalted on account of his moral merits,…he [Christ] still has a God over him, to whom he is indebted for his exaltation…This use of the word God, then, is so far from helping the Trinitarian cause.”
(Reference: BURNAP: Expository Lectures, Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1845, pp.105-106, Emphasis Mine)

IN CONCLUSION

1

After all the facts are laid out before us, it is beyond doubt that the Trinitarian translation is an entirely untenable and unreasonable option. To the reasonable mind, the weight of evidence is entirely against it. It is essential to underscore that the Trinitarian translation is fundamentally flawed and lacks any logical basis. The evidence, in this case, is incontrovertible and leaves no room for doubt. The Trinitarian translation not only results in an absurd statement concerning God’s God, but biblically, the Trinitarian position is a complete absurdity and goes against the very oneness of God.

2

When reading Hebrews 1:8 in the original language in which the epistle was written, it is evident that the manuscripts do not give any Trinitarian inference to Jesus as God.

3

Scholars agree that the most accurate reading according to A Textual Commentary On the Greek New Testament, United Bible Societies, 1971, pp. 662-663 states:

“Hebrews 1:8 ‘must be’ translated ‘God is thy throne’ and not ‘thy throne, O God’.” (Emphasis Mine)

4

The Goodspeed, Moffat, The Unvarnished New Testament, and among other translations, typifies those Bible versions where it has no indication that the Father called the Son God but states instead that the throne of the Son is God: “God is your throne,” which harmoniously brings spiritual truth by eliminating any contradiction with the very next verse in verse 9: “therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

5

In the original Greek manuscripts, it says in the second person: “the throne of you,” but in the third person: “his Kingdom” (NASB). This strongly indicates that “his” refers not to the Son but to the Father. That being the case, the antecedent to “his” would be “ho theos,” the Father, “the God,” the God of Jesus. Thus, the throne of the Son is God!

6

Hebrews 1:8 is a prophecy of God about Jesus the Son; The true God, the Father, is not calling Jesus God. This prophecy is recorded in the Old Testament, in the Book of Psalms, chapter 45: 6-7, which reads:

 

“Your throne is from God, for ever and ever, the sceptre of your kingship a sceptre of justice, you love uprightness and detest evil. This is why God, your God, has anointed you with oil of gladness, as none of your rivals,” (Psalms 45: 6-7 The New Jerusalem Bible, Emphasis Mine)

 

THRONE: Signifies Power and Authority. (Smith’s Bible Dictionary and Rev Bible commentary)

It has been made clear that the throne or power that Christ possesses was given to Him by God and is not inherited! Christ Himself declared that all authority was given to Him by his Father (Matthew 28:18, 11:27 NKJV), a problem that even Trinitarians have not been able to reconcile with their Trinity doctrine.

7

The throne or authority that was given to Christ will be subjected to God on the Day of Judgement, by Christ being placed under God, and God will rule completely over all, even above our Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:27-28 GNT). If Christ were God, it would appear that God is placing Himself under Himself — an absurdity that Trinitarians cannot provide a satisfactory explanation. Their only response has been to hide behind the “mystery doctrine of the Divine Trinity” to avoid addressing this major contradiction in their theological position.

Bible References

Translations of Heb. 1:8 by Trinitarians themselves that do not support the corrupted interpretation:

● “God is your throne” (Goodspeed Translation)

● “God is thy throne” (Moffatt Bible)

● “God is your throne forever.”  (NWT 1950)

● “God is your throne forever and ever.” (The Bible in Living English)

● “God is your throne” (Barclay’s Daily Study Bible)

● “God is thy throne” – (Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Macmillan And Co., NY, 1903)

● “God is thy throne” (Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament)

●  “God is thy throne” (Revised Standard Version, Footnote)

●  “God is your throne” (New Revised Standard Version, Footnote)

●  “Your throne is God forever and ever.” (New English Translation, Footnote)

●  “Thy throne is God” (American Standard Version, Footnote)

●  “God is thy throne” (Revised Standard Version, Footnote)

●  “God is your Kingdom” (Good News Translation, Footnote)

●  “It is God who is your throne for ever and ever.” (God’s New Covenant:  New Testament Translation by Heinz W. Cassirer)

●  “Your throne is God for an age of ages.” (Unvarnished NT)

●  “Thy throne is God” (21st Century NT)

●  “Great Prince, your throne is for ever and ever” (The Complete Bible in Modern English by Ferrar Fenton)

Translations of Psa. 45:6 by Trinitarians:

● “Thy throne given of God is for ever and ever…” (JPS)

● “Your divine throne is everlasting…” (NJPS)

● “Your Divine throne” (RSV)

● “Your throne is like God’s throne” (NEB)

● “God is your throne” (The Bible in Living English)

● “The kingdom that God has given you” (GNB)

● “God has enthroned you” (REB)

● “Your throne is from God” (NJB)

● “Your throne is a throne of God” (NRSV, Footnote)

● “Thy throne is the throne of God” (ASV, Footnote)

WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of Christ and His apostles as they were taught in the first-century Church Of Christ: 

The Truth about God and Jesus Christ

SUPPORTERS OF THE BELIEF in the divinity of Christ, also known as the Christ-is-God or the God-man doctrine, assert that God exists as a trinity consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although they are three in nature and considered distinct beings, proponents maintain that they form a single God. The concept of the Trinity lacks explicit biblical endorsement; thus, proponents often argue that it represents a profound mystery beyond human comprehension and should be accepted by faith alone.
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