Is the claim of only one God false? - How many gods are there?

[St. SteVen]

We recognize the one true God, creator of heaven and earth. Beside Him there should be no other.
Wait, should be?

Doesn't that tell us right there that there are other gods? How many and for what purposes?

How many of these entities in the spiritual realm are there?

In ancient times there was a god for everything. Literally thousands of them.

The sun, all the planets and some of the stars. Agriculture and fertility (human and animal), anything and everything.

- Does the claim of only one God ring true?
- How many gods are there?
- What are they?
- Do they have an effect on our lives today?

The Apostle Paul even used this to his advantage.

Acts 17:22-23 NIV
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said:
“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship,
I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god.
So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—
and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

[

 

[Wick Stick]

mo·nol·a·try
/məˈnälətrē/
noun
1. the worship of one god without denial of the existence of other gods.

 

[Jericho]

You should check out Michael S. Heiser's work on the Divine Council. Michael was a Bible scholar who was proficient in Greek and Hebrew, so he knew his stuff. Keep in mind we're reading an English translation, so when "elohim" is translated as "gods," it's easy to assume it's talking about polytheism, but it's not. Polytheism can be defined as more than one god who vie for power and have the same or similar powers and abilities with each other. Scriptures make it clear there is only one supreme God who is unequaled and to whom all the other heavenly beings, whom He created, are subservient.

Elohim (gods) can refer to demons, spirits of the undead, and angels. Basically, anything with a supernatural origin is an elohim. However, although any spirit being may be referred to as an elohim, it does not mean they are on par with God, who is the supreme elohim. It only means they exist on the same plane of reality as God and share some of His attributes. But only God is omnipotent and omniscient.

The Semitic view then is that they were lesser gods, even though they are not true gods. To the ancients, they certainly would have appeared as gods in comparison with them. When someone saw an angel in the Bible, for example, they were usually afraid and mistakenly bowed down to worship them. The angels in turn would redirect their worship to God.

 

[Windmill Charge]

Does the claim of only one God ring true?
- How many gods are there?
- What are they?
- Do they have an effect on our lives today?

One God? Is true if one is prepared to examine the case for and against.

How many gods? As many as one desires if one rejects the One true God, as they are all the product of demons divert worshippers away from the One true God.

Effect us? Take a look at your neighbourhood, how many Christian Christmas display.ays are thers?
How many are composed of snowmen, father Christmases etc etc etc
Nature abouts a vacume, if Jesus is not in our society then a demon will happily fill that space with attractive lies.

 

[RedFan]

“Mammon, n. The god of the world's leading religion. His chief temple is in the city of New York.”​

― Ambrose Bierce

 

[Wick Stick]

“Mammon, n. The god of the world's leading religion. His chief temple is in the city of New York.”​

― Ambrose Bierce

From The Devil's Dictionary?

 

[RedFan]

From The Devil's Dictionary?

Correct.

 

[MatthewG]

There are many I suppose little g, gods. That’s why I’m not offended by the use of “gd” besides God has a name (some say Yehovah, Yahavah, Jehovah, Yahweh), and I believe taking his name in vain is speaking on Gods behalf.

 

[St. SteVen]

Elohim (gods) can refer to demons, spirits of the undead, and angels. Basically, anything with a supernatural origin is an elohim. However, although any spirit being may be referred to as an elohim, it does not mean they are on par with God, who is the supreme elohim. It only means they exist on the same plane of reality as God and share some of His attributes. But only God is omnipotent and omniscient.

It just occurred to me that all of humankind joins the Elohim when they pass into the afterlife.
Unless I am missing something here.

What does the term "spirits of the undead" mean?

[

 

[Skovand]

In the Bible, the word most commonly used for god is Elohim. Elohim is not the name of God. The two main names of the god of the Bible is El and Yahweh.

Elohim sometimes confused for a name, just means spiritual being. It’s a word used for other gods, angels and even the spirit of Samuel. To ancient Hebrew’s, the word translated as god did not mean the only all knowing, all powerful, eternal being. It just meant spiritual being. So all the angels, all the people, all the spirits and so on are all elohim.

 

[Jericho]

It just occurred to me that all of humankind joins the Elohim when they pass into the afterlife.
Unless I am missing something here.

Yes, I think that's accurate. 1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." It appears will be elevated from what we are now, whatever all the entails. Hebrews 2:7 would seem to confirm this: "You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor." So much so that 1 Co 6:3 says that we will "judge the angels."

What does the term "spirits of the undead" mean?

"And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit (elohim) ascending out of the earth.” -1Sa 28:13. Basically, a disembodied spirit.

 

[Runningman]

We recognize the one true God, creator of heaven and earth. Beside Him there should be no other.
Wait, should be?

Doesn't that tell us right there that there are other gods? How many and for what purposes?

How many of these entities in the spiritual realm are there?

In ancient times there was a god for everything. Literally thousands of them.

The sun, all the planets and some of the stars. Agriculture and fertility (human and animal), anything and everything.

- Does the claim of only one God ring true?
- How many gods are there?
- What are they?
- Do they have an effect on our lives today?

The Apostle Paul even used this to his advantage.

Acts 17:22-23 NIV
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said:
“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship,
I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god.
So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—
and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

[

Most likely, there are different uses of the word for "God" in Hebrew culture, but as far as I can tell, the Greek isn't nuanced enough to capture that. Every now and then, someone writes something with the word for "God" in it that is quoted from the Old Testament, where there are many different usages of words for God that seem to have a different nuance than the reference to the Lord God Almighty.

For example, Jesus said that those to whom the word of God came are themselves gods in John 10:34, yet it's quoted from Psalm 82:6, where they, as elohim, are not themselves the Most High. So, there may be different ranks or types of gods, and it may not always refer to deity; sometimes it can refer to being a ruler or judge as well.

It could also mean that they believed that there are literally many different deities, but the God being the only true God and there being lesser gods with Him or in existence with Him.

 

[Wrangler]

We recognize the one true God, creator of heaven and earth. Beside Him there should be no other.
Wait, should be?

Doesn't that tell us right there that there are other gods? How many and for what purposes?

<sigh> To answer this question, one must do 2 things:

1. Understand Definitions
2. Read Scripture

There is more than one sense to many words, including 'god.' It means mastery in one sense or having authority, such as a judge or commander or governor. There is another sense, normally differentiated by capitalization that refers exclusively to the Creator. This explains why there is a book entitled, "Jesus is not God with a capital-G."

If one reads Scripture, it is clear that there are other gods. The 1st commandment has no application otherwise. You shall have no other gods before me, YHWH told Moses. Who was YHWH referring to if no other gods exist?

We should never forget that our Lord, Jesus Christ invoked Ps 82:6 in defending his claim to be the son when Scripture acknowledges many other gods in the Heavenly Council.

When all the other gods[a]
have come together,
the Lord God judges them
and says:
2 “How long will you
keep judging unfairly
and favoring evil people?
3 Be fair to the poor
and to orphans.
Defend the helpless
and everyone in need.
4 Rescue the weak and homeless
from the powerful hands
of heartless people.​

5 “None of you know
or understand a thing.
You live in darkness,
while the foundations
of the earth tremble.[b]​

6 “I, the Most High God, say
that all of you are gods[c]​

Clearly, the one (singular pronoun "I") Most High God, YHWH is using the sense of the definition 'god' to have authority or be a master in a given area in v6. "All of you are gods." Obviously that is more than one god in the heavenly council of v1, right?

There are many other verses as well but the most germane is probably 1 COR 8:5 (CEV) Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords ... Ali is the god of boxing. LeBron is the god of basketball, etc. Jesus is the lord of those who accept him as the ruler of their life.

 

[St. SteVen]

This explains why there is a book entitled, "Jesus is not God with a capital-G."

Does it? - LOL

[

 

[Wrangler]

Does it?

Yes. Read the book to confirm.

 

[St. SteVen]

Yes. Read the book to confirm.

Does the book tell you that Jesus is God with a small g? Or not a god at all?

[

 

[St. SteVen]

New topic:

Reader Poll - Bible Reading - BEFORE or AFTER you became a Christian?

Did you read the Bible BEFORE you became a Christian, or AFTER? I have heard testimonies of people reading the Bible before becoming Christians. I assumed it was a rare occurrence. Someone seeking God. rather than God seeking them. Discussion. [

www.christianityboard.com

[

 

[Kabone]

Was wondering the same thing and found this thread. I was reading Micah and he says in 7:18 ‘there is no other God like you’. And I wonder why he wouldn’t say ‘You are the God’ or something to the effect that there is only one. Then I thought about the commandment to ‘worship no other god but me for I am a jealous god and tolerate no rivals’. If He is the only one then the commandment is unnecessary because to worship a god you made up in your head is basically worshipping an idol and that’s a separate commandment

 

[RedFan]

Was wondering the same thing and found this thread. I was reading Micah and he says in 7:18 ‘there is no other God like you’. And I wonder why he wouldn’t say ‘You are the God’ or something to the effect that there is only one. Then I thought about the commandment to ‘worship no other god but me for I am a jealous god and tolerate no rivals’. If He is the only one then the commandment is unnecessary because to worship a god you made up in your head is basically worshipping an idol and that’s a separate commandment

Let me add Exodus 20:2-3 to your list. “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Saying “I am the Lord thy God,” rather than “I am the only God” as one would to a monotheist indicates that the ancient Israelites viewed their national God as one of many – and they might even have understood "Thou shalt have no other gods before me” as consistent with “but thou mayest have as many gods as ye like after me.”

 

[St. SteVen]

Let me add Exodus 20:2-3 to your list. “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Saying “I am the Lord thy God,” rather than “I am the only God” as one would to a monotheist indicates that the ancient Israelites viewed their national God as one of many – and they might even have understood "Thou shalt have no other gods before me” as consistent with “but thou mayest have as many gods as ye like after me.”

The first giving of the Ten Commandments is recorded in Exodus chapter 20.
However, the commandments were not given to Israel in that chapter.
The conversation between Moses and God continues for another 12 chapters before this happens.
Obviously, the Israelites were not ignorant about idolatry.

Exodus 32:1-4 NIV
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain,
they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us.
As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.
2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives,
your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.”
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf,
fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

[