In Hebrews 1:8-9 there are two seemingly contradictory truths which only orthodox Christian doctrine can rightly reconcile:

— :8 “Your throne O GOD is forever and ever.” Jesus, who is the subject of this verse (which quotes Psalm 45:6) and who is the focus of all of Hebrews 1, IS Himself God. This verse, as well as many others in the Bible, makes that very clear.

— :9 “God YOUR GOD has anointed You with the oil of gladness …”.
But here in this next verse, which quotes Isaiah 61, it tells us that Jesus had a God who “anointed” Him. How can this be? On the one hand, He IS God. On the other hand, God is HIS GOD. How can these seemingly contradictory truths be reconciled?

They are reconciled through the Doctrine of the Trinity: that God exists eternally in three Persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Understanding this doctrine, one can see how Jesus can both BE God (God the Son) and be anointed BY His God (God the Father). The doctrine of the Trinity is not just a “man-made” concept. Although the word “trinity” is never used in scripture, it serves to explain the truths we find clearly taught in Hebrews, as well as in the rest of the word of God.