# G2316 - theos

<!-- type: lexicon | created: 2026-04-26 | updated: 2026-04-26 -->

**Strong's:** [G2316](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2316/) · BLB lookup
**Pronunciation:** the′-os
**Part of speech:** masculine noun

## Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG)

1. **The supreme divine being**, the one God of Israel; the God of biblical revelation.
2. **The Father, in Christian usage**, when articular (*ὁ θεός*), commonly designates the Father (cf. [John 1.1](/codex/john-1-1/) clause 2).
3. **The Son, in Christian usage**, predicated of Christ when context warrants ([John 1.1](/codex/john-1-1/) clause 3, [John 20.28](/codex/john-20-28/), [Hebrews 1.8](/codex/hebrews-1-8/), [Titus 2:13](/codex/titus-2-13/)).
4. **Whatever can in any respect be likened to God**, extended to civil rulers ([John 10:34](/codex/john-10-34/) quoting [Psalm 82:6](/codex/psalms-82-6/)), false gods of pagan worship ([1 Corinthians 8:5](/codex/1-corinthians-8-5/)), or Satan as "the *theos* of this age" ([2 Corinthians 4:4](/codex/2-corinthians-4-4/)).

## Theological force, the [John 1:1](/codex/john-1-1/) grammar

The two occurrences of *theos* in [John 1.1](/codex/john-1-1/) illustrate the most contested Greek grammar in the NT:

| Clause | Greek | Form | Refers to |
|--------|-------|------|-----------|
| 2 | *πρὸς τὸν θεόν* | articular (with *ὁ*) | the Father, specifically |
| 3 | *θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος* | anarthrous (no article), predicate before verb | the *qualitative* category, full deity, not "a god" |

**Colwell's rule** and the broader pattern (Harner 1973, *JBL*) show pre-verbal anarthrous predicate nouns in Greek are typically *qualitative*, emphasizing the **nature** of the subject, not indefinite. The Watchtower's NWT renders "a god" (indefinite); this misreads the construction. The Word *is* God by nature while remaining personally distinct from the Father.

This single verse's grammar grounds:
- Eternal pre-existence (imperfect *ἦν*)
- Personal distinction from the Father (*pros ton theon*)
- Full deity (*theos ēn ho logos*)

…in fourteen Greek words. Nicaea's *homoousios* (consubstantial) is the conceptual unpacking of clause 3.

## Notable verses

### Christ called *theos* directly
- **[John 1.1](/codex/john-1-1/)**, *θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος*
- **[John 1.18](/codex/john-1-18/)**, "the only-begotten *theos*" (μονογενὴς θεός in oldest manuscripts)
- **[John 20.28](/codex/john-20-28/)**, Thomas: *ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου*
- **[Hebrews 1.8](/codex/hebrews-1-8/)**, Father addresses Son: *ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεός*
- **[Titus 2:13](/codex/titus-2-13/)**, "our great *theos* and Savior, Christ Jesus" (Granville Sharp construction)
- **[2 Peter 1:1](/codex/2-peter-1-1/)**, same Granville Sharp construction
- **[Romans 9:5](/codex/romans-9-5/)**, "Christ, who is over all, *theos* blessed forever"
- **[Colossians 2.9](/codex/colossians-2-9/)**, "in Him all the *plērōma* of *theotēs* dwells bodily" (related noun)
- **[1 John 5:20](/codex/1-john-5-20/)**, "this is the true *theos* and eternal life"

### *Theos* of the Father
- **[John 1.1](/codex/john-1-1/)** clause 2 (*πρὸς τὸν θεόν*)
- **[John 17:3](/codex/john-17-3/)**, "you, the only true *theos*"
- **[1 Corinthians 8.6](/codex/1-corinthians-8-6/)**, "for us there is one *theos*, the Father"
- **[Ephesians 4:6](/codex/ephesians-4-6/)**, "one *theos* and Father of all"

### *Theos* extended/qualified
- **[John 10:34](/codex/john-10-34/)**, quoting [Psalm 82:6](/codex/psalms-82-6/) ("you are *theoi*")
- **[2 Corinthians 4:4](/codex/2-corinthians-4-4/)**, Satan as "the *theos* of this age"
- **[Philippians 3:19](/codex/philippians-3-19/)**, "their *theos* is their belly"
- **[1 Corinthians 8:5](/codex/1-corinthians-8-5/)**, "many so-called *theoi*"

## OT background (Hebrew El, Elohim, Eloah)

The LXX renders El (אֵל) and Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) almost uniformly as *theos*; YHWH is rendered *kyrios*. This LXX convention is what NT writers inherit when applying *theos* to the Father and (programmatically) to Christ.

## Verses in this codex

_See Obsidian's backlinks pane for every verse page linking here._ Top-cited references using *theos* in the deity-of-Christ sense include: [John 1.1](/codex/john-1-1/), [John 20.28](/codex/john-20-28/), [Hebrews 1.8](/codex/hebrews-1-8/), [Colossians 2.9](/codex/colossians-2-9/), [John 1.18](/codex/john-1-18/).

## See also

- [G2962 - kyrios](/codex/g2962-kyrios/), "Lord," LXX rendering of YHWH
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), "Father"
- [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), "Son"
- [G3439 - monogenes](/codex/g3439-monogenes/), "only-begotten"
- [G3056 - logos](/codex/g3056-logos/)
- [G0746 - arche](/codex/g0746-arche/)
- [G4314 - pros](/codex/g4314-pros/)