Pluralis excellentiae, pluralis maiestatis and the Trinity

[Jonaitis]

Are Christians misinterpreting (-im) in elohim when referring to God, and "us" in "Let us make man in our image" as referring to the plural nature of the Trinity?

Pluralis Excellentiae

Pluralis Maiestatis (Royal 'We')

"Against this are objections such of that of the grammarian and Messianic Jewish missionary C. W. H. Pauli (1863) that Gesenius had misunderstood the grammar and perpetuated a hoax."

What are your thoughts?

 

[Lulav]

You might want to take a look at this thread, it's gotten off track but it may help a bit with what you are asking.

 

[Jonaitis]

You might want to take a look at this thread, it's gotten off track but it may help a bit with what you are asking.

Yeah, this is sort of an extension to that thread.

 

[Lulav]

Oh, OK, I'm not sure about the hoax part, but as far as the 'royal 'we' ' I don't think that applies.

 

[Jonaitis]

Oh, OK, I'm not sure about the hoax part, but as far as the 'royal 'we' ' I don't think that applies.

Why is it that?

 

[gadar perets]

Are Christians misinterpreting (-im) in elohim when referring to God, and "us" in "Let us make man in our image" as referring to the plural nature of the Trinity?

Pluralis Excellentiae

Pluralis Maiestatis (Royal 'We')

"Against this are objections such of that of the grammarian and Messianic Jewish missionary C. W. H. Pauli (1863) that Gesenius had misunderstood the grammar and perpetuated a hoax."

What are your thoughts?

I agree with the Plural of Majesty in certain cases, especially when "elohim" is used for either the Father or the Son. Since it is used of the Son in Psalm 45:6 and the Son is a single being, it is used in the sense of the plural of majesty. Of all the elohim that exist, Yeshua ranks above them all except for his Father YHWH.

As for Genesis 1:26, it can be understood in the same sense as an adult saying to a group of children, "Let us drive to the lake", but only the adult does the driving. Or, saying to a group of people in a dark room, "Let us turn on the lights", but only one person flicks the switch or lights a candle.