Greek word · Strong's G2316

θεός

theós · noun · “God”

In a sentence

Theos is the standard New Testament word for God — used both for the one true God and, strikingly, for Jesus, declared “the Word was God” at the start of John’s Gospel.

Theos covers any divine being in Greek usage, but the New Testament reserves it overwhelmingly for the one true God of Israel — the Father, but also the Son and the Spirit.

John 1:1 uses theos of Jesus directly: “the Word was with God, and the Word was theos.” The earliest Christians, all monotheists, made the breath-taking move of confessing Jesus as theos — God the Son.

Strong's reference

Definition: figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very

KJV usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward)

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.