Monotheism and the Divine Council
In conservative theological circles, the term divine primarily refers to God (the Trinity or the Godhead) as the ultimate, supernatural reality. But in historical usage, the term can be used to describe that which proceeds from God (like Jesus’s nature or the Holy Spirit’s work) or, in biblical contexts, figures in God's heavenly council (angels, etc.) as “divine” or “sons of God,” though these beings are clearly not God Himself. Divinity, broadly speaking, then, denotes something of God’s nature, essence, or involvement in his nature or essence, distinguishing it from mere human goodness or the gods of other faiths, while still acknowledging divine attributes in created beings, such as angels and divinized humans.
THE DIVINE IDENTITY OF JESUS AS YAHWEH IN THE SCRIPTURES AND SECOND TEMPLE JEWISH THOUGHT
The divine identity of Jesus as Yahweh is evident in the New Testament and Second Temple Jewish literature. The New Testament presents Jesus not only as the Messiah but also as Yahweh incarnate, demonstrated through His divine roles, such as creator and forgiver of sins. The concept of the "Two Powers in Heaven" from early Jewish thought, which describes two divine figures sharing authority, aligns with early Christian views of Jesus. Additionally, some Jewish groups during the Second Temple period held expectations of a divine Messiah, as seen in texts like 1 Enoch and the Psalms of Solomon, which depict the Messiah with divine attributes. These sources affirm that Jesus is portrayed as the incarnate Yahweh in both scriptural and Second Temple contexts.