The Bible’s language allows for one supreme God who can exalt another divine ruler to share His authority without losing His own supremacy—and early Christians understood Jesus exactly in that way.
Psalm 95:3 says:
“For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.”
In plain language, this means:
- God (YHWH) is very great.
- He is the highest King.
- And He is above all the other divine beings people believed in.
The Hebrew wording does not demand ideas like:
- “There are no other spiritual beings,” or
- “Only one being can have kingly authority,” or
- “If there are other powers, they must be fake.”
Instead, it simply states:
- YHWH is the top God.
- He is the highest King.
- The other gods are real but beneath Him.
This way of thinking is often called henotheism.
Henotheism means:
- There can be many gods or divine beings.
- They can have real power.
- But only one of them is the supreme King.
How this helps explain Psalm 110
Psalm 110 says:
“The LORD said to my lord: sit at my right hand…”
In simple terms:
- “The LORD” (YHWH) is the highest God.
- “My lord” (Hebrew: adoni) is a second important figure whom God honors.
- Sitting at God’s right hand means sharing royal authority—not replacing God.
In henotheistic thought, this is normal:
- The high God can raise another being to rule with Him.
- They can share the throne.
- One is supreme; the other is exalted but still beneath Him.
So:
- YHWH = the supreme King over all gods
- The figure at His right hand = an exalted, royal being who also rules, but depends on YHWH
This fits with passages like Psalm 110 and Daniel 7, where a second divine figure receives authority from God.
How earliest Christians understood this
Early Christian texts present Jesus this same way:
Paul
- Christ is “at the right hand of God.”
- Christ rules until all enemies are defeated.
- Then Christ hands the kingdom back to God and becomes subject to Him (1 Cor 15:28).
Hebrews
- Christ sits on God’s right hand.
- Angels worship Christ, meaning he shares in God’s authority.
Revelation
- There is “the throne of God” and “the throne of the Lamb.”
- Two thrones, but a shared rule.
This shows an early Christian pattern:
- God is supreme.
- Christ is exalted by God.
- Christ shares God’s rule.
- Christ is still ultimately under God.
Paul summarizes it simply:
- “Christ is the head of every man,
and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor 11:3)
This fits perfectly with henotheistic logic:
- More than one divine ruler can exist.
- Both can stand above all other spiritual beings.
- One is the ultimate source; the other derives his power from Him.
In one sentence
The Bible’s language allows for one supreme God who can exalt another divine ruler to share His authority without losing His own supremacy—and early Christians understood Jesus exactly in that way.
