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WhatHebrewDivineNameistranslatedas theLordand Lordinthisverse? p  WhatHebrewtermistranslatedas Godinthisverse?WhatHebrewwordisusedfor oneinDeuteronomy6:4?What  other s  wordsisitrelatedto?HowelseisthiswordtranslatedintheOldTestament?Deuteronomy6:4isrepeatedintheNewTestament.Where?Whatisthecontext?WhatGreekwordisusedfor onewhereDeuteronomy6:4iscitedintheNewTestament?ThedeclarationofDeuteronomy6:4isfollowedbyacommandfortheIsraelitestoloveYahwehwithalloftheirverybeings:8  AndthoushaltlovetheLordthyGodwithallthineheart,andwithallthysoul, |(#& andwithallthymight. h      p Deuteronomy6:5h)$' Itisnoaccidentthatthiscommandcomesafterthedeclarationinverse4.ItisobviousthatGodsOnenessrelatestothecommandtogiveHimcompletededicationandlove. ,,|'* ЇDeuteronomy6:5,also,isrepeatedintheNewTestament.Listtheseexamplesandtheircontexts.Inthespacebelow,considerthewaysinwhichDeuteronomy6:4and6:5relatetoeachotherinthecontextofancientIsrael.Whatshouldthesetwoversesmeantoustoday? h+&* Ї The OneGodverses   InadditiontoDeuteronomy6:4anditsquotationintheNewTestament,theBiblestatesthatGodisOneseveralothertimes"possiblyasmanyastwentytwotimesintotal.Usingyourconcordanceandcrossreferences,findasmanyoftheseexamplesaspossible.Dontworryifyoucantfindmorethantwentyexamplesorareunsureofsomeoccurrences(atleastoneoftheexamplesisobscuredbytranslation).Butdoaimforatleastfifteen.Hint:mostoftheversesareintheNewTestament.Beforeyoubegin,threefurtherpointsareinorder.Youwillfindalargenumberofverses(particularlyinIsaiah)thatusetheterm HolyOnetorefertoGod;theseversesdonotusetheword oneintheoriginalHebrew,sodontincludetheminyourlist.Also,donotincludeversesthatspeakofGodasbeingthe onlyGodor Godalone.Wellbedealingwiththeseexamplesinthenextstudy.Finally,wewillbementioningsomeoftheseverseslaterinthisandothersectionsoftheWorkbook,sodontlookahead! OldTestament  p Deuteronomy6:4 NewTestament     h+&* Ї TheOneGodandthemanyother gods   WhentheIsraelitesweretoldthattheirGodwasOne,thenationsaroundthemwerecaughtupinthefalsebeliefsystemofpolytheism.This,quiteplainly,isabigdifference.InthissectionwewanttoconcentratespecificallyonthedifferencesbetweenbelievinginOneGodandmanygods.InStudy2wellbelookingmorespecificallyattheimmoralityandvanityofidolatry,alongwiththenonexistenceofthepagangods"sosaveyourthoughtsonthesetopicsforthen.WhatspecificallydoestheOldTestamentsayaboutpolytheism(thebeliefinmanygods)?InwhatwaysdoesworshipanddevotiontotheOneGodcontrastwithworshipanddevotiontomanygods?ProvidesomeillustrativepassagesfromtheBible.Inadditiontocounteringthefalsepaganbeliefthattherearemanygods,whyelsedoyouthinkitwasimportantfortheIsraelitestoknowthattheirGodwasOne?WhatimpactwouldpolytheismhavehadontheunityoftheKingdomofIsrael? h+&* ЇWhatdoestheNewTestamenthavetosayagainstpolytheism?HowcanwebedivertedfromtheworshipofOneGodtothedistractingdevotionsofmanyother godstoday"secularandotherwise?HowdoesGodsOnenessguaranteetheunityandconsistencyofScripture?WhatelsedoesHisOnenessguarantee? h+&*  OneGodhascreatedusall   InthefirstfivestudiesofthisWorkbook,wewillseethattheprincipleoftheOneGodrelatestomanyotherscripturalteachingsandthemes.OnesuchexampleistheprinciplethatOneGodhascreatedusall.AkeyverseinthisregardisMalachi2:10:8  Havewenotallonefather[abechad]?HathnotoneGod[elechad]created L  us?Whydowedealtreacherouslyeverymanagainsthisbrother,byprofaningthecovenantofourfathers?  MalachismessageconcentratesonthefactthatthebrotherhoodoftheIsraelitesisguaranteedbycreationandGodsOneness.NoticealsothetreacherythatMalachispeaksaboutinverse11.ElaborateonthepointthatMalachiismakingabouttheOneGodinthecontextofhisoverallargumentinchapter2.Consider,amongtheotherdetails,howmarriagecomesintothetheme.Anotherimportantversethatdeals    with     Gods     Oneness  andhumanitysunityisJob31:15:  8  Did  nothethatmademeinthewombmakehim?Anddidnotone[echad]  fashionusinthewomb?  ЀThisverseagainestablishestheequalityofhumansontheircreationbyasingleGod(cf.Isaiah l 43:1).GodsUnityandtheunityofmankindareinextricablylinked.ThesameGodisLordoverallpeople,whatevertheirbackgroundorsocialstanding(cf.31:13).NoticealsothatJobdraws D! fromtheprincipleoutlinedin  31:15  idealsofsocialjustice(31:1640).Explaininmoredetailhowtheprinciplesin  Job31:15  andthosein31:1314,1640arelinked. h+&*   What  shouldour  ownattitude   toothersbe   likein  lightofJob31:15andthesurroundingverses?  This  particularaspectoftheteachingaboutGodsOnenessisalsoextendedintotheNewTestament,wheretheOnenessofGodguaranteesthesalvationofbothJewsandGentiles,aswellasunityamongthemembersoftheecclesia.LookuptheNewTestamentversesthatdeclarethatthesame  God  isoverallanddiscussbelowwhatimpact  this  shouldhaveonourhumilityandwillingnesstoworktogether.  NoteonHebrews2:11    p ItispossiblethatHebrews2:11,whichsaysthat bothhethatsanctifiethandtheywhoaresanctifiedareallofone,referstothecommonoriginofChristandthesanctifiedbelieversintheOneGod,inwhichcaseJob31:15andMalachi2:10wouldofferscripturalprecedents.Others,however,believethatthe onehereisAdam,andpointtothepossibleanalogyofActs17:26.Thisanalogyonlyworks,however,ifoneacceptsthereading ofone(cf.RSVandNIV)over   theotherpossiblereading ofoneblood(cf.KJVandNKJV).Thereissomeuncertaintyasto  whichisthecorrectreading.  Bylookingattheoverallargument,you  maywanttoconsiderwhichinterpretationofHebrews2:11iscorrect.  Finally,  GodsOnenessislinkedinGalatians3:20withGodsCovenant.TheargumentoftheApostlePaulisratherdifficulthere,butseeifyoucandeterminethepointheismakinginthischapteraboutmediation,theCovenantandtheOneGod.ComparealsoMalachi2:10,whichmentionsbothGodsUnityandtheCovenant.    h+&*   ThePromise: ThereshallbeOneYahweh    TheIsraelitesweregivenapreciousrevelationthatthe  True  GodwasOne.Incontrast,thenationsaroundthemhadcorruptedthemselvesinidolatrouspolytheism.BecausetheyhadthisprivilegedknowledgeoftheOneTrueGod,Israelwasnotonlyplacedinauniquesituation,butalsofoundthemselvesinapositionofgreatresponsibility.Theyweretobeakingdomofpriests(Exodus19:56)andalighttotheGentiles(Isaiah42:6,49:6).TheCovenantsofPromisealsostressthatthenationswillbeblessedthroughIsrael.TherearemanypassagesintheOldTestamentthatshowthatoneofGodsmainobjectiveswastorevealHimselftothenationsaroundIsrael.Identifyanddiscusssomeofthesepassages.(DontincludehereversesinwhichYahwehisshowntobetheOnlyTrueGod;wewilllookattheseinStudy2).  The  worldaroundusisalsoingreatdarkness,withmostnotknowingthelightoftheGospel.WhatshouldwedowithourprivilegedknowledgeoftheOneTrueGod?ProvidescripturalexamplesandconsidersuchpassagesasMatthew5:1416and28:19.   OneoftheprimarypurposesofGodwillbetofillthewholeearthwiththeknowledgeofHisGlory(Numbers14:21;Isaiah11:9;Habakkuk2:14).AlthoughsomeofthisknowledgeismadeavailablenowinGodsWordandinthewitnessofprophecy,  itisevidentthatmost  ofthisworkwillbeaccomplishedintheKingdom.Infact,theBibleteachesthattherevelationofGodasOnetoIsraelinDeuteronomy6:4willultimatelybeexpandedtocovertheentireearth.ThisismadeclearinZechariah14:9:8  AndtheLord  shall  bekingoveralltheearth:inthatdayshalltherebeone %0!$   Lord,  andhisname  one.  &"% ThusweseethatthereisapropheticaspecttotheOnenessofGod:fromthetimeoftheKingdomonward,everyonewillknowthatYahwehisOne.  TheUnityofGod,soimportantintheteachinggiventoancientIsrael,willalsobeacentralelementofthecomingKingdomofGod. h+&* Discuss  themeaningofZechariah14:9withinthecontextoftheentirechapter.Notealsotheassociationofideasbetweenverse9andverse7,whichspeaksofthatdaybeing oneday(i.e.  asingularoruniqueday).FindanddiscussotherversesfromtheOldandNewTestamentsthatspeakaboutknowledgeofthe  OneTrueGod  beingonedayextendedtoallnations.Afew  examples  are:Psalm86:910andMalachi1:11. h+&*   Wrested  Scriptures   ThisfirststudyhasdemonstratedtheclarityandunmistakablenatureoftheBiblesteachingthatGodisOne.Unfortunately,most  peopledo  notpossessthissavingknowledge.Millionsuponmillionsoftheearthsinhabitantstoday,includingHindusandBuddhists,arepolytheists.Millionsalsostillclingtoanimism,believingthatanimalsandtherestofnaturearedivine.Others,includingthevastmajorityofChristians,claimtobelievetheBibleyetassertthatGodexistsasthreepersons.Tosupportthisteaching,whichisforcedontheBiblefromideasofnonbiblicalorigin,TrinitariansbothignoreanddistorttheclearversesontheOneGod,andlooktoothersinanattempttoarguethattheOneGodismadeupofthethreepersonsFather,SonandHolySpirit.TheBibleemphaticallydemonstratesthattheHolySpiritistheMindandPowerofGod,andwewilltouchonthissubjectinStudy  4.  Inthissection,we  will   examine  someversesusedbyTrinitarianstosupporttheirbeliefthattheFatherandChristare  united  intheOneGod.    John10:30    Many(butnotall)Trinitarians  use  John10:30asachiefpropfor  the  doctrineoftheTriune  God:     ` IandmyFatherareone. \ ItisclaimedthatChristisheresayingthattheFatherandhetogetheraretheOneGod.Butthereareanumberofseriousproblemswiththisinterpretation,aseven  honest  Trinitarians  concede.  First,the  Greek  ofthispassageprovidesmuchhelp.Theversereadsliterally: IandtheFather,weareone.Christsuseofthefirstpersonplural( weare)showsthatheisreferringtotwoseparateindividuals.Trinitariansbelievethat  FatherandSon  aretwoseparatepersonsintheGodhead,yetas  the  nexttwo  Studieswillshow,  theBiblequiteplainlyteachesthatonlytheFatheristheOne  God,andthat  whenChristisspeaking  of  theFather,hemeanstheOne  God.  Theword  that  Christusesfor oneinJohn10:30ishen.ThisistheneuterformoftheGreek  wordfor  one,  andisdistinctfromthemasculinewordfor  one  (heis)thatisusedexclusively l fordescriptionsoftheOneTrueGod(e.g.Mark12:29).Innoexamplesoftheterm one[heis] X  GodintheNewTestamentisChristeverincluded.Twoverses,atleast,specificallyexcludehim D! fromtheOneGod(1Corinthians8:6;1Timothy2:5).  Moreover,1Corinthians8:6,1Timothy2:5andEphesians4:56alluseheisseparatelyofGodtheFatherandtheSon,andhenceshow #l! thateachofthemisauniquebeing.ConsiderEphesians4:56:thereis one[heis]Lord[i.e. $X" Christ]and[i.e.inaddition] One[heis]GodandFatherofall.Theseexampleseliminateany $D # possibilitythattheBibleteachestheTrinity.This  consistent  andpreciseusage   shows  thatifChristwantedtosayheandhisFatherwereOneGod,hewouldhaveusedheis. &"%   &  It  isalsoimportanttolookatwhattheverseomits.Inthiscase,sinceJohn10:30doesnotmentiontheHolySpirit,theversecannotbeusedtosupporttheTrinity.Atthemost,itcanonlybeusedtoargueforthedeityofChrist.Wewillseethatitbynomeansdoesthiseither.  ''@ h+&* Having  someofthemoretechnicalaspectsoftheverseoutlined,andhavingseenwhattheversecannotmean,youarenowaskedtocompletethecorrectinterpretationofJohn10:30byfocusingonwhatpositiveteachingtheverseismeanttohighlight.Tobegin,lookatthesurroundingcontextbothforevidencethatconfirmswhattheBiblesayselsewhereoftheFatherandChrist,andformaterialthatdirectlycontradictstheTrinitarianinterpretationoftheverse.  When  weencounterapotentiallydifficultverse,oneofourfirstactions  is  toseehowsimilarlanguageisusedinother,lessdifficultcontexts.Inthiscase,suchsimilarlanguageprovidesuswiththecorrectinterpretationofJohn10:30.Startingwith  John,  findotherexamplesof  this  languageofunityandshowhow  they  explainthemeaningofChristswordsinJohn10:30.       Many  Trinitarians  try  tobolstertheirreadingofJohn10:30byarguingthattheJewishleaderswhoheardthisstatementbelievedChristwasdeclaringhimselftobeGod(10:33).  ButarewetotakethetestimonyofChristsenemiesalwaysastruth?AndhowoftendidtheJewishleaderscorrectlyunderstandChriststeachings?(Notethatitwasthem,notthedisciples,whomadetheassumption).WhatdoesChristsaytocorrecttheirmisinterpretationofhissimple,yetprofound,words?Itisironicthat  Trinitarians  here   make  thesamemistakeastheJewish  leaders.  ̀   h+&* Whatspirituallessonscanwederivefromthisverseandthesimilarlanguageusedelsewhere?     John5:1718   8  InasimilarpassageinJohn5:1718,Christsays: MyFatherworkethhitherto,andIwork(verse17).After  sayingthis  theJewssoughttokillhim,becausetheybelievedthatChristhadbrokentheSabbathandhadmadehimselfequalwithGod(verse18).Trinitarians  argue  thatthecommentsaremadebyJohnandthusteach  inapositivewaythat  Christ  was  equalwithGod.First,wecansaythatifthisinterpretationistrue,thelanguageisrathersloppy,sinceGodtoTrinitariansmeansallthree:Father,SonandHolySpirit.  IftheBibletaughttheTrinity,wouldthethirdpersonalwaysbeleftoutofsuchpassages?CantheversesreallybeusedinthewayTrinitarianswantthemtobeused?Applytheprinciplesyouhavelearnedthusfartoexplainwhatisreallygoingoninthesetwoverses(hint:didJesusreallybreaktheSabbath?).  p ̜    $D #     ֛LMXX5  TheOnlyGod #X5XMLN#  'NTheOnlyTrueGod  8 TheBiblenotonlydeclaresthatGodisOne,butitalsostressesthatHeistheOnlyGod.Inthe $ t BibleGodsOnenessandUniquenessare,infact,stronglyinterrelatedteachings.ItshouldbeeasyforustorememberthissinceinEnglish,aswithmanyotherlanguages,thewordsfor one, only, aloneand none(thelatterfrom notone;asin thereisnone[notone]else)arebasedonthesameroot.InLatin,thewordforone(unum)canalsomean onlyor alone.  $ (Incidently,unumgivesus unity, unify, uniqueand uniqueness).Somethingsimilaristrue    inHebrew.First,itisthoughtthattheHebrewwordforone(echad)originallymeant onlyin   theearlyhistoryofthelanguage.Indeed,echadistranslated onlyfourtimesintheKJV.   Second,thestandardwordfor onlyinbiblicalHebrew,yachid,isrelatedtoechad.   AfterthedeclarationinDeuteronomy6:4thatGodisOne,theIsraelitesarecommanded:8  ThoushaltfeartheLordthyGod,andservehim,andshaltswearbyhisname. 4 Yeshallnotgoafterothergods,ofthegodsofthepeoplewhichareroundabout  p you:(fortheLordthyGodisajealousGodamongyou)lesttheangerofthe  \ LordthyGodbekindledagainstthee,anddestroytheefromoffthefaceofthe H earth. `     h      p Deuteronomy6:13154 GodcommandedtheIsraelitesthroughMosesinnouncertaintermsthattheywerenottoworshipanyothergods.Butthisisnotall.InDeuteronomy4:3539theIsraeliteshadalsobeentoldthattheLordwastheOnlyTrueGod: theLordheisGod;thereisnoneelsebesidehim(verse  35).Nothingcouldbeclearer:theothersocalledgodssimplydontexist.ButDeuteronomy4:3539isnotjustasimplestatementmeanttobeacceptedonitsownmerit.TheIsraelitesweregivenamplereasonstoacceptthistruth.ReadDeuteronomy4:140andexplainexactlywhytheIsraeliteshadgoodreasontoacceptthattheirGodwastheOnlyGod.Notealsoverse40andwhatthissaysabouttheIsraelitesresponsibilityandappropriateresponsetothisknowledge. ,,|'* WhatshouldourownresponsebetotheknowledgeandevidencethatourGodistheOnlyGod?AsfurtherevidencethatGodsOnenessandUniquenessarelinked,Deuteronomy6:4and4:35arecitedtogetherinthesameplaceintheNewTestament.Where?WelearnfromIsaiah43:10thattherehasonlyeverbeenOneTrueGodandthatthereonlyeverwillbe( beforemetherewasnoGodformed,neithershalltherebeafterme).SeeifyoucanuncovermoreexpressionsofGodseternityintheBible.Deuteronomy4:39( theLordheisGodinheavenabove,andupontheearthbeneath)also 0"  teachesthatGodispresenteverywhere(omnipresent).Findotherpassagesthatalsoteachthis. h+&*  The OnlyGodverses   TheBibleisfilledwithpassagesthatteachthattheLordisGodalone.Findandlistasmanyof  thesepassagesbelowasyoucan. OldTestament  `  NewTestament  D!  h+&* Ї TheOnlyGodofProphecy   InthefortythirdchapterofIsaiah,GodbacksupHisdeclarationsthatheistheOnlyGodwiththeunshakeableevidenceofprophecy.First,GodhadpromisedIsraelthatHewouldblessthemiftheyobeyedHimandcursethemiftheydidnot(Deuteronomy28).ButHealsosaidthatHewouldalwaysbewithIsraelandpromisedtobringthemoutofcaptivityoncetheywereledintoit(cf.Isaiah43:56).Inshort,asIsaiah43demonstrates,Yahwehsaidthatwhethertheyobeyed L  Himornot,theyweretobeHiswitnessestothesurroundingnations:8  Letallthenationsbegatheredtogether,andletthepeoplebeassembled:whoamongthemcandeclarethis,andshowusformerthings?Letthembringforththeirwitnesses,thattheymaybejustified:orletthemhear,andsay, Itistruth.  8   Yearemywitnesses,saiththeLord, andmyservantwhomIhavechosen: $  thatyemayknowandbelieveme,andunderstandthatIamhe:beforemethere   wasnoGodformed,neithershalltherebeafterme.Isaiah43:910  TheevidenceofprophecyprovidesuswithoneofthebestargumentsfortheexistenceofGod.Butitismorethanthis:fulfilledprophecydoesntjustshowthatthereisaGod,itrevealsthattheGodoftheBibleistheOnlyTrueGod.NootherGodandnootherreligionoffersthiskindofpowerfulevidence.Wehavenotbeenleftwithoutwitnesses,andfulfilledprophecyisoneofthegreatest.FindotherexamplesintheBibleoffulfilledpropheciesdemonstratinginunmistakablefashiontobothIsraelandthenationsthattheLordistheOnlyGod.Noteespeciallytheexampleswhere H prophecyislinkedwithevidenceandbeliefintheGodofIsrael.Discussalsohowmuchresponsibilityisplacedonthosewhoreceivethesurewordofprophecy. h+&* Ї TheOnlyGodwithpowertoact   InthisandthenextthreesectionswewilldiscusstheimplicationsofbeliefintheOnlyGodforbothidolatryandtheunscripturalteachingoffallenangels.GodhasexpressedmanyreasonsforHisactionsintheworld,andoneofthesereasonsissobelieversandunbelieversalikewillseethatHeistheOnlyTrueGod.ThepowerfulplaguesbroughtagainstEgyptwereinpartintendedtoshowtheEgyptiansthattheirmanygodswerepowerlessagainsttheOneGodYahweh.TheEgyptiangodseachhadtheirsphereofactivity,andeachplaguechallengedthesegodswhilerevealingthattheOnlyGodYahwehwas,asJethrosaidtoMoses, greaterthanallgods(Exodus18:11).TheseconfrontationsweredoublycrucialsincetheywerebothmeanttoshowthattherewasnoGodbutYahwehtheGodofIsrael,andtoconfirmthefaithoftheIsraelites.IdentifyothersuchcontestsandconfrontationsintheBiblebetweentheLordandthefalsegods $  ofthenations.DiscussthewaysinwhichtheseconfrontationsconfirmedtherealityoftheTrueGodandtheimaginarynatureofthefalsegods.ConsideralsoexactlywhattheseencountersrevealedtotheIsraelitesandthenationsabouttheLord. l  h+&* Ї TheOnlyGodandidolatry   AnunavoidablecorollarytotheteachingthatthereisonlyoneTrueGodisthatallothersocalledGodsarejustthat:theyhavenoexistenceinreality.TheBiblepresentsaforcefulandsustainedattackonthepracticeofidolatry.Givenhowrampantpaganidolatryandpolytheismwereinancienttimes,thisteachingstoodaloneasabeaconoflightinadarkworld.WhatdoestheBiblesayaboutthewickednessandimmoralityassociatedwithidolatry?HowdoesthiscontrastwiththemoralteachingsofYahweh?FindversesthatshowthattheLordcommandedIsraeltobecompletelyseparatefrompaganism.Whatanalogiescanyouseebetweenpaganimmoralityandtoday?Whatlessonscanwelearnfromourownneedtobeseparatetoday?ProvidingexamplesfromtheBible,describetheconditionandfateofpaganidolaters. h+&* WhatdoestheBiblesaywouldhappentotheIsraelitesiftheydescendedintotheworshipofstrangegods?AlthoughtheBibleoccasionallyspeaksoffalsegodsinanironicfashionasiftheyexist,thegeneraltenorofthepassagesonidolatryshowswithoutquestionthattheydonot.Usingthethebiblicalpronouncementsagainstidolatry,demonstratethattheBibleclearlystatesthatthepagangodsdonotexistinreality.Inparticular,whatargumentsdoGodandHisprophetsusetoshowthatthepagangodsareworthlessvanities?(Note:thisisnotanemptyquestion.Aswewillseebelow,evensomewhoclaimtobelievetheBiblearguethatthepagangodsarereal). h+&* ЇLookuptheoriginalHebrewandGreekwordsforidol,idolsandidolatry.Whatdothesemeaningsrevealaboutthenatureofpaganworship?TheBibleonseveraloccasionsspeaksofthefalsepagangodsas nogods.Findsomeexamplesandexplaintheirsignificance.ReadJeremiah10:11.ThisverseiswritteninAramaic,ratherthenHebrew.Whymightthisbe?TheBibleinfiveplacesreferstotheLordasthe trueGod.Findtheseexamplesandexplain 0"  theirsignificancetoaworldenslavedinidolatrousworship.(YoumayalsowanttolookuptheHebrewandGreekwordsfor trueseehowtheyareusedelsewhere). h+&* ЇUsingthedescriptionsgivenintheOldandNewTestaments,contrastthecharacteristicsoftheOnlyTrueGodontheonehand,andfalseidolsontheother.Includeallreferences. TheOnlyTrueGod    h      p Falsegods  t  h+&* ЇIdentifysomeofthefalsegodsoftheNewTestamentworld,andtheproblemstheyposedforGentileChristians.Whatkindoffalsegodsdowehavetocontendwithtoday,andwhatshouldbeourresponsetothem? h+&* Ї Biblicalmonotheism   Inourfirststudy,weexaminedthescripturalteachingthatGodisOne.Inthisstudy,wehavelookedatthewealthofevidenceinGodsWordthatstressesthattheOneGodisalsotheOnlyGod.Theseteachingsarethetwocornerstonesofbiblicalmonotheism.ThewordmonotheismisbasedontwoGreekwords,monos,whichmeans onlyor alone,andtheos,thestandard ` wordforGod.Thetermalsohasabiblicalflavour,sincetheexpressionmonostheos(OnlyGod) L  appearsmorethanonceintheNewTestament.Trinitariansacceptthesecondprinciple,buteffectivelyrejectthefirst,astheybelievethatGodisactuallythree.Forthisreasontrue,biblicalmonotheismcannotbeequatedwiththeclaimedmonotheismoftheTrinitarians,whatevertheirprotests.Incontrast,theJews,whiletheydonotacceptJesusasMessiah,neverthelessdoholdfirmlytothemonotheismsoplainlytaughtbytheHebrewBible.LookuptheGreekwordforonly(monos),whichisusedinJude25.Howelseisitusedinthe   NewTestament?̛̜ListtheoccasionsmonosisusedofGodintheNewTestament:  p SomehighercriticalscholarsclaimthatwhiletheearlyIsraelitesbelievedthatGodwasOne,andthatHewastheirGod,theybelievedthatthegodsoftheothernationsexistedaswell.Later,thesesamecriticscontend,Israelmovedfromthispositiontotruemonotheismandrejectedtheexistenceofothergods.TheviewthatoneshouldworshipasinglepowerfulGod,whileacknowledgingtheexistenceofothergods,iscalledhenotheism(Gkhen+theos).Thiswasa (#' commonpositionintheancientworld,soitispossiblethatsomesyncretisticIsraelitesdidbelievethis.Nevertheless,itisclearfromtheBiblethatthiswasnottheoriginalteachinggivenbyGodthroughMosesandtheProphets.Letsconsiderwhy. h+&* ЇFirst,ourstudyhasshownthattheideasofGodsOnenessandUniquenessareinseparable.Theonecannotexistwithouttheother.Second,someoftheimportantversesthatteachthattheLordistheOnlyGodappearquiteearlyinthehistoryoftheIsraelites(cf.1Samuel2:2),which  destroysanynotionthatmonotheismwasagradualdevelopment.Finally,asisquiteclearfromthemanypassagesaboutidolatry(includingalltheearlyones),theBibleflatlydeniesthatthepagangodshaveanyrealexistence.Thereisanotherwayinwhichbiblicalmonotheismcanbecorrupted.Thisisthefocusofournextsection. TheOneGodversus cosmicdualism   L  Giventhepaganandpolytheisticbeliefsofherneighbours,therewasalwaysthedangerthattheIsraeliteswouldbegintoattributesomeunexplainedmalignphenomenatolesserdeities;weknowthishappenedinGalileeinNewTestamenttimeswhensomeattributedcertainformsofillnesstodemons.ThePersiansactuallydevelopedthisnotionintoabeliefsysteminwhichtwoGods"oneoflightandgood,anotherofdarknessandevil"werelockedinmortalcombat.TheBible,ofcourse,teachesnothingofthesort.Infact,itopenlyopposesthisidea,whichiscalled cosmicdualism.ThekeyversehereisIsaiah45:57:8  IamtheLord,andthereisnoneelse,thereisnoGodbesideme:Igirdedthee, H thoughthouhastnotknownme:Thattheymayknowfromtherisingofthesun,andfromthewest,thatthereisnonebesideme.IamtheLord,andthereisnone  p else.Iformthelight,andcreatedarkness:Imakepeace,andcreateevil:ItheLorddoallthesethings. h      p Isaiah45:57H AmodernmanifestationofthisspiritualdualismisseenintheorthodoxChristianbeliefinthesatan(theadversary)asafallenangelwhoisprinceofahostofdemons.ThisunbiblicaldoctrineisnothingotherthanaChristianizedformofpolytheismanditdirectlycontradictswhatwehavejustreadfromIsaiah45.ThatisitnotunfairtocallbeliefinfallenangelsakindofpolytheismismadeevidentbythefactthatmanywhobelieveindemonsarguethattheyinfactarethepagangodsoftheOldTestament(see,forexample,JohnMiltonsParadiseLost).Thus,incredibly,they l believethepagangodsarereal!TheBible,conversely,saysthatthereisOnlyOneGodandthatHeisthesourceofeverything.Hereweareremindedagainthatallfirstprinciplesarelinkedinseparablytogether,includingtheteachingsaboutGodandthesatan.TheprinciplethateverythingcomesfromandiscontrolledbyGodiscalled monism(aftertheGreekwordmonos).Wecancallthepure,biblicalteaching $D # onthis Hebraicmonism.Thisisthethirdnecessaryelementofbiblicalmonotheism.Theonly dualismthattheBibleknowsisthatbetweenthespiritandtheflesh"notgoodspiritversusevilspirit.Romans6and7amplyrevealthis.Andhereisanotherkey:toexplainalltheactionsintheworld,whetherforgoodorill,weneedlooknofurtherthantoGodandHisangelsontheonehand,andhumanityontheother. h+&* ЇManyversesintheBibleshowthateverythingthatdoesnotcomefromsinfulhumanity"bothwhatisgood,suchashealing,andwhatappearstousas evil,includingdisease,plaguesandcalamities"comesfromGod.Theseversesarealsoveryvaluableevidencetousewhencontendingagainstbeliefinthesatananddemonsasafallenangels,whoareseenbysomepeopleinNewTestamenttimesasthesourceofmanyformsofillness.Findexamplesoftheseversesandlistthemhere.HowdothesepassagesfilloutbothourunderstandingofGodsactivityintheworldandthepurposeofcalamity? h+&* Ї Himonlyshaltthouserve   TheBibleoftenstatesthattheLordisajealousGod,andthatHedoesnottolerateworshipdue  toHimbeinggiventoothers.TheancientIsraeliteswerecommandedtoworshipandserveonlyYahweh,andthesameinjunctionsapplytous.Manytimes,asinDeuteronomy28,Godpromisedblessingsforobedienceandcursesforrebellion.WhenwecometorealizethattheLordisthe ` OnlyGod,andthattheidolsare nothings,weacceptallthisasrightandjust.FindexamplesofpassagesthatteachthatwemustserveonlyGod.ThebiblicalteachingsontheTrueGodandfalsegodsarenotjustpresentedfortheirownsake.Theyaregivensothatmenandwomencanavoidtheevilsoffalsehoodandthevanitiesofidolatry"allofwhichleadpeopleawayfromtheTrueGod.Onthepositiveside,theseteachingsarepartofthedivinepurposetofilltheearthwiththeknowledgeoftheOnlyTrueGod.ThereareotherreasonswhybeliefinonlyoneGodiscrucialtousasbelievers.Forexample,sincethereisonlyOneTrueGod,wecanandmustonlyappealtoHim.Heistheonlyonemightytosave.Also,becauseHeistheOnlyGod,theLordisalsotheonlyOnethatcankeeppromisesand  covenants(2Chronicles6:14).HowshouldourknowledgethatYahwehisGodaloneshouldaffectourpersonal,spirituallives? h+&*  TheLordisauniversalGod   DuringthereignofKingAhabofIsrael,BenHadadIIofSyria(Aram)laidsiegeagainstSamaria(1Kings20:112).AfterreceivinginstructionsfromaprophetoftheLord,Ahabsarmydefeated  theSyrians(20:1921).WhileNorthernIsraelwaspreparingforanotherattack,BenHadadsadvisorstoldhim Theirgodsaregodsofthehills;thereforetheywerestrongerthanwe;butlet ` usfightagainstthemintheplain,andsurelyweshallbestrongerthanthey(20:23).HeretheSyrianswereexpressingacommonnotionintheancientworld,namely,thatoflocaldeities.NotonlyweretheSyrianssurmisingthatYahwehwaslimitedinhispowerandrange,buttheywerealsoimplyingthatHewasnotGodalone.TheprophetoftheLordreturnedtoAhabandbrought  ` Godspowerfulreply:8  ThussaiththeLord, BecausetheSyrianshavesaid,TheLordisGodofthe $  hills,butheisnotGodofthevalleys,thereforewillIdeliverallthisgreat   multitudeintothinehand,andyeshallknowthatIamtheLord.     `     h      p 1Kings20:28Andsoitwas.ItisclearthatGodwantedtomakecertainthatboththeSyriansandKingAhabunderstoodthatHewasGodofthehillsandthevalleysand,indeed,everythingelse.SomethingsimilarhappenedduringtheAssyriansiegeofJerusalemduringthereignofKingHezekiahofJudah(2Kings18:1719:37).ThecraftypropagandistRabshakehtauntedthepeopleonthecitywallswiththischallenge:8  HathanyofthegodsofthenationsdeliveredatallhislandoutofthehandofthekingofAssyria?WherearethegodsofHamath,andofArpad?Wherearethe   godsofShepharvaim,Hena,andIvah?HavetheydeliveredSamariaoutofminehand?Whoaretheyamongallthegodsofthecountries,thathavedeliveredtheir  &  countryoutofminehand,thattheLordshoulddeliverJerusalemoutofmine  hand? `     h      p 2Kings18:3335 'LԀButHezekiahwasamanoffaithandheknewthattheLordwasallpowerful.Thusinhisprayer X  toGod(2Kings19:1519),heaffirmedthatYahwehwasGodalone ofallthekingdomsoftheearthandthatitwasHewhohad madeheavenandearth.HealsorecognizedthattheAssyrianshadcastthegodsofthedefeatednationsintothefire,because theywerenogods,buttheworkofmenshands.Finally,heappealedtoGodtosavethem,so thatallthekingdomsoftheearthmayknowthatthouarttheLordGod,eventhouonly.ItwasrighteousHezekiahs $D # supremedesirethattheLordshouldbevindicatedandmadeknowntoallnations.Hezekiahs %0!$ prayer,weknow,wasanswered(2Kings19:35).Psalms4648werecomposedaspartofthevictorycelebrations.ThesePsalmsmakeseveralreferencestoGodspower,Hisexaltationandhisuniversalreignoverthenations.Psalm47:2declares: FortheLordMostHigh[Yahweh (#' Elyon]isterrible;heisagreatKingoveralltheearth.Thusboththesebattleswiththesocalled )$( godsofthenationsservetoshowthattheLordisauniversalGod,OneWhoreignsoverall |*%) creationandisalwaysinfullcontrol. h+&* ЇFindanddiscusspassagesthatshowthattheLordisauniversalGod(e.g.versesthatteachhe  isGodofalltheearth).WhentheIsraelitesbehavedwickedly,itbroughtdisreputeontheNameoftheirGod.Whentheywerefaithful,itbroughtglorytoHisName.Howdothesedynamicsapplytoustoday? h+&* Ї ThePromise: ThatGodmaybeallinall   Aswehavejustseen,theLordisalready,andhasalwaysbeen,auniversalGod.Nevertheless,  atthepresentHisruleisnotuniversallyextendedoverallpeople,becausemostoftheworldstillliesinunbelief,rebellionandwickedness.ItwillonlybeintheKingdomagethatworshipandknowledgeofGodwillbecomeuniversal.OnlythenwillHebeunchallengedastheOnlyGod.TheBibletellsusthatChristwillreignintheKingdomuntilhehasbroughteverythingunderthesubjectionofhisFather.AttheappearingoftheLordJesusChrist,andintheMillennium,allother godsandpowersaretobeovercome.AfterthedestructionoftheapocalypticBabylon,forexample,willcomethedeclaration: Hallelujah!FortheLordGodAlmightyreigneth!(Revelation19:6).TheWordalsotellsusthatthepurposeofGodistofilltheearthwiththeknowledgeofHisglory.InthelaststudywesawinZechariah14:9thattheLordwillbe Kingoveralltheearth.ThiscommonscripturalthemethatYahwehsrulewillonedaybeuniversalisalsofoundinPsalm72,wherethePsalmistsaysthatHisrulewillstretch fromseatosea,andfromtherivertotheendsoftheearth(72:8).Anotherpassagethatteachesthisis1Corinthians15:2428,wherewereadthatGodtheFather(15:24)issupremeandwilleventuallybe allinall(15:28).Therefore,itisonlywiththeworkofChristandtheSaintsintheKingdomthatbothGodsruleandtheknowledgeofHisglorywillbeuniversalinthefullestsense.ThenHewillnotonlybetheOnlyTrueGod(whichHealreadyis),butalsotheOnlyGodworshippedandservedbyall.FindsomepassagesthatspeakaboutGodsultimatepurposewiththisearth:FindpassagesthatspeakabouttheextensionofGodsspiritualauthorityovertheearthinthe D! Kingdom: h+&* FindanddiscusspassagesthatspeakabouttheextensionofGodsKinglyruleovertheearthintheKingdom: WrestedScriptures  4 Inthefaceofanoverwhelmingarrayofbiblicalevidence,TrinitariansclaimthatJesusis veryGodofveryGod.Theterm veryusedinthisexpressionmeans true;thus,Trinitariansattempttousethebiblicallanguageofthe trueGodinanunbiblicalwaytoapplytoChrist.Ofcourse,theonlyrealsupporttheyhaveforthisbeliefcomesfromtheCreedsandpostbiblicaltradition.Still,theytwistScriptureinafutileattempttofindjustificationforitintheWordofGod. 1John5:20  D! OnesuchpassageusedbyTrinitariansis1John5:20,whichtheyclaimsaysthatChrististheTrueGod:8  AndweknowthattheSonofGodiscome,andhathgivenusanunderstanding,thatwemayknowhimthatistrue,andweareinhimthatistrue,eveninhisSon %0!$ JesusChrist.ThisisthetrueGod,andeternallife.  Thecontentionhereisthattheantecedentto trueGodisJesusChrist.InournextstudywewillestablishthattheOnlyTrueGodistheFather,butyoushouldalreadyhavesufficienttoolstoshowwhatthisverseisreallyteachingifyoufollowthesesteps: h+&* 8  1.Identifyhowmanyindividualsarespokenaboutinthisverse.  8  2.Analyzethelanguageandstructureoftheverseverycareful.Payparticularattentiontotheuseofthepreposition in.  8  3.Comparethestructureof1John2:22toseeif thisor hemustreferbacktotheimmediatelyprecedingnouninthispassageor1John5:20.  8  4.Lookatthesurroundingcontextforclues.  8  5.Seehowtheterm trueGodisusedelsewhere,firstbyJohnandthenbyothers.RememberthatScripturedoesnotcontradictitself.  8  6.Forthepositiveinterpretationoftheverse(i.e.whattheverseisreallysaying),  ` dontneglectthepoignantmessageofverse21,whichisunquestionablylinkedwithverse20.  М  7.Finally,considerwhatspirituallessonswecantakefrom1John5:2021. h+&*  Philippians2:6   Trinitariansalso(mis)usePhilippians2:6tosupporttheirbeliefthatChristis veryGod.Studythisverseanditscontexttodetermineitspositiveteaching.Lookforthebiblicalsourceofthelanguageusedinthispassage,asthiswillilluminateitsmeaning.Youwillalsowanttocompareothertranslationsoftheverse(seeespeciallytheRSVandNASB).Afterexplainingthisverseincontext,outlinetheexhortationforusinchapter2asawhole.̜   H   ֛LMXX5  TheFatherhoodofGod#X5XML#   OneGod,theFather  8 WiththeprinciplesofGodsOnenessandUniquenessfirmlyinplace,wecanproceedtothenextimportantteaching:thattheFatheraloneistheTrueGod.WhilethisprincipleisbroughtoutwiththegreatestclarityintheNewTestament,itis,likeallfirstprinciples,firmlyrootedintheHebrewScriptures.Onceagain,itwastaughttotheIsraelitesthroughMoseswhenheasked:8  DoyethusrequitetheLord,Ofoolishpeopleandunwise?IsnothethyFather    thathathboughtthee?Hathhenotmadethee,andestablishedthee?     `     h      p Deuteronomy32:6Similarly,inMalachi,theliterarydeviceofHebraicparallelism,inwhichtwosynonymousconceptsaregroupedinacouplet,alsoreinforcesthefactthattheFatherisGodalone:  HavewenotalloneFather?HathnotoneGodcreatedus?   `     h      p Malachi2:10TheseexamplesofGodasFatherintheOldTestament,andotherslikethem,areofamoregeneralnature.ButtheLordwasalsotobecomeFatherinamorespecificandliteralsensewhen 4 theMessiah,HisSonwasborn.ThisisprophesiedintheDavidicCovenant:  IwillbehisFather,andheshallbemyson.   `     h      p 2Samuel7:14Studythisverseanditssurroundingcontextcarefully.Whoisthespeaker?HowdoesthelanguageofthispassageanditsimmediatecontexttellusthatonlyYahwehistheOneTrueGod? ,,|'*  GodasFatherintheOldandNewTestaments   WiththeprinciplethattheFatheraloneistheLordGodfirmlyinplace,wecangoonto  elaboratethistheme.BoththeOldandNewTestamentsteachthatGodisFather.WhilethisteachingisconsistentthroughouttheBible,therearetwocrucialdistinctionsbetweenhowtheterm FatherisusedineachTestament.Inthissectionwewilldeterminethesedifferences.EvidenceforGodsFatherhoodintheOldTestamentisfivefold.First,ingeneralterms,GodcallshimselftheFatherofHispeopleIsrael.Second,althoughJesushadnotyetcomeintoexistence,GodreferstoHimselfpropheticallyastheMessiahsFather.Asasubsetofthiscategory,GodisontwooccasionsreferredtoastheFatherofSolomon(whointhiscasealsoactsasatypeoftheMessiah).Third,sometimesGodspeoplearereferredtoasHissonsorchildren,evenwhenthetermFatherisnotused.Fourth,thisislikewisetrueofafewpropheticreferencestoChristasSon.Fifth,variousHebrewpropernamesexpresstheFatherhoodofGod:  Abi: MyFather[isYah]  Abia/Abiah/Abijah(Hebrew:Abiyyah): MyFatherisYahor YahisFather     Abiel: FatherofMight  Eliab: MyGodisFather  Joab(Hebrew:Y=ab): YahisFather H FindasmanyversesasyoucanintheOldTestamentwhereGodisreferredtoasFatherinageneralsense(e.g.Malachi2:10)andpropheticallyofChrist(e.g.2Samuel7:14):  \    Generalsense   h     AsFatheroftheMessiah  4  h+&* ЇUsingaconcordance,countupthenumberoftimesthewordfatherappearsinthefollowing(youshouldalreadyhavemostoralloftheamountforthesecondcolumnfromthepreviouspage):*}"&Hddd Xdd Xdd X!!},Sdd ,Sdd ,Sdd ,Sdd +   t   OT:totalusesofwordfather     OT:GodasFather (    NT:totalusesofwordfather     NT:GodasFather #(    #,  D     D     D    D    NoticethesharpcontrastbetweenthetwoTestaments.Whattwomainreasonsaccountforthis?DiscussthesereasonsandtheimplicationstheyhaveforBibleteaching.SeehowmanyversesyoucanfindwhereChristisreferredtopropheticallyasGodsSonorFirstbornintheOldTestament(thisexcludestheverseswheretheterm Fatherisspecificallyused).NoticehowoftenChristisreferredtoasthefirstbornorSonofGodintheNew H Testament. 4   +&0 ЇFindasmanyversesasyoucaninbothTestamentswhereGodspeopleorbelieversarereferredtoasHissonsorchildren(thisexcludestheverseswheretheterm Fatherisspecificallyused): OldTestament:  t  NewTestament:    Whatdothesepassagestellus? NewTestamentepistolarysalutations  %0!$ ThegreetingsgivenbyPaul,James,Peter,JudeandJohnatthebeginningsoftheirEpistlesofferawealthofevidencethattheFatherisGodalone.EventheBookofRevelationincludesanexample.ThesalutationsinthePaulineEpistles,especially,followadistinctivepattern,includingthemainsalutation: Gracebeuntoyou,andpeace,fromGodourFather,andfromtheLord )$( JesusChrist(1Corinthians1:3),alongwithsurroundingstatementsthatalsocontrastGodandChrist(cf.1Corinthians1:1and4). h+&* ЇWriteoutthesalutationsoftheEpistlesandRevelation,alongwithanyrelevantsurroundingverses.Hebrewsdoesnotcontainasalutation;still,GodandChristaredistinguishedin1:12.Anotherexceptionis1John,whichneverthelessstilldistinguishesbetweenGodandChrist(cf.  4:910,15,5:5,20).Also,3JohndoesnotrefertoeitherGodorChristinitssalutation.Romans̛̜A" ) xdE LA  ` 1Corinthians̛̜A" ) xdELA 3  2Corinthians̛̜A" ) xdELA   Galatians̛̜A" ) xdELA  Ephesians̛̜A" ) xdE[LA \ Philippians̛̜A" ) xdE.LA / Colossians̛̜A" ) xdELA R  1Thessalonians̛̜A" ) xdELA %$ 2Thessalonians̛̜A" ) xdE"LA "( 1Timothy̛̜A" ) xdEz%LA {% , 2Timothy̛̜A" ) xdEM(LA N(#0 Titus̛̜A" ) xdE +LA !+q&4 Philemon ,l'6 ЇJames̛̜A" ) xdEsLA t 1Peter̛̜A" ) xdEF LA G  2Peter̛̜A" ) xdE LA  j  2John̛̜A" ) xdELA =  Jude̛̜A" ) xdELA  Revelation̛̜A" ) xdELA  МWhatpatternsemergefromtheaboveexamples? Anoteon2Peter1:1  *" Materialfromthesalutationto2PetermayappeartobeasolitaryexceptiontothegeneralpatternthatonlytheFatheriscalledGod,asthewords: throughtherighteousnessofGodandourSaviourJesusChrist(1:1)technicallycanbetranslated: throughtherighteousnessofourGodandSaviourJesusChrist.Sixthingscanbesaidaboutthis.First,theGreeksyntaxofthisstatementdoesnotdemandthatitbetranslatedinthesecondway.Second,PeterintheverynextversedistinguishesbetweenGodandChristinhisformalsalutation(thusallformalsalutationsthemselvesareconsistentintheNewTestament).Third,inthesalutationofhisFirstEpistle,Peterspeaksunambiguouslyof theGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist(1Peter1:3),andwecanbesurethataninspiredauthorwouldnotcontradicthimself(thus,ifPeterdoesusetheosof &'v"+ Christ,weknowthathecannotmeanitintheabsolutesense).Fourth,therestoftheinspiredepistolarysalutationsallclearlypointtoGodasFatheralone.Fifth,evensomeTrinitarianscholarsdonotbelievethat2Peter1:1canbeusedtoshowthatJesusis veryGod.Sixth,andfinally,evenifPeterisusingthetermtheosofChristratherthantheFatherin2Peter1:1,this *&&/ wouldnotprovethatPeterbelievedChristtobe veryGod,aswewillseeinStudy4. +'0 Ї OneGodtheFatherandoneLordJesusChrist   InthissectionwewillstudysomeadditionalpowerfulscripturalevidencethatdemonstratesthatonlytheFatherisGod.Thisisacornerstoneprincipleforunderstandingbiblicaldoctrines,andlikeallpivotalteachings,itisstressednumeroustimesintheWord.Therearetwotypesofbiblicaltestimonythatstressthisteaching:  1.PassagesthatequatethepersonofGodwiththeFather  2.PassagesthatalsospecificallyexcludeChristfromtheGodheadExamplesofthefirsttypehavebeenexaminedaboveandoneinparticularisfoundinthedoxologyofPaulssalutationtotheCorinthianecclesia,inthesecondepistle:8  Blessedbe God,eventheFather ofourLordJesusChrist,the Father of   mercies,andthe God ofallcomfort.     p 2Corinthians1:3  Therecanbenoquestioningthemeaningofthispassage:GodistheFather(notealsotheparallelbetween Fatherofmerciesand Godofallcomfort).OneofmanyillustrativeexamplesofthesecondtypecomesinActs2:22:8  YemenofIsrael,hearthesewords; JesusofNazareth , amanapprovedofGod  < amongyoubymiraclesandwondersandsigns, whichGoddidbyhim inthe ,| midstofyou,asyeyourselvesknow.  ЀSometimesonepassagewilldoboththesethingsatthesametime.2Corinthians1:3aboveisoneexampleofthis.ReadtheopeningofJesusprayerforhisdisciplesinJohn17:13.Examinethelanguageofthepassagecarefully,andshowexactlywhotheOnlyTrueGodis,andhowtheOnlyTrueGodisclearlydistinguishedfromJesusChrist. x+&* Nowturnto1Corinthians8:46.AnalysePaulsargumentinthispassage,and,payingcloseattentiontothelanguageandcategorieshedescribes,showpreciselyhowtheApostlemakesexactlythesamethreepointswehavestressedinthefirstthreeStudies:namely,thatthereisOneGod,thatHeistheOnlyGodandthatthisOnlyOneTrueGodistheFather,whichinturndemonstratesthatJesusChristisaseparatebeingandperson.WhatdoesPaulmeanwhenhesaysthattherearemanythatarecalled godsand lords?Howdoesthisfitintohisoverallargument?ListsomeotherversesthatdistinguishbetweenGodandChrist.Onlyuseversesthatuse theLordor God,sinceTrinitariansacceptthattheFatherandtheSonareseparateindividuals.  AnexampleofthistypeisChristswordstohisdisciplesinJohn14:1: YebelieveinGod,believealsoinme.(Hint:thereareseveralinterestingexamplesintheBookofRevelation!). h+&* WhiletheBibleclearlyteachesthatGodandHisSonaredistinctbeings,italsostressestheirintimateunity.Not(aswesawinourstudyofJohn10:30)aunityofsubstanceandessence"thisisaGreekphilosophicalidealaterreadbackintotheBiblebyTrinitariansofthefourthcenturyADandbeyond.Thisunityisoneofwillandpurpose.FindsomepassagesthatspeakoftheunityoftheFather(God)andHisSon. GodasalovingandcaringFather   \ FromthedaysofancientIsrael,GodhasbeenFather.GodhasalsobeenatpainstotellHispeopleofthisspecialrelationship.WealreadysawinDeuteronomy32:6abovethatMoseswasinspiredbyGodtoremindbackslidingIsraelofthis.Later,duringtheministryofJeremiah,the   Lordpleadedwithhispeople,whohadonceagainbecomeunfaithfultotheirhighcalling:   8  ThenIsaid, HowIwouldsetyouamongMysonsandgiveyouapleasantland,themostbeautifulinheritanceofthenations!AndIsaid, YoushallcallMe,MyFather,andnotturnawayfromfollowingMe. p Jeremiah3:19NASBl OnecansenseGodsyearningforHispeopletorespectandobeyHimasaFather,sothatHecouldtrulytreatHispeopleashissonsanddaughters.Noticealsotheassociationbetweensonshipandinheritance,somethingpickedupagaininRevelation21:7.ReadJeremiah3initsentiretyandyouwillseeGodpleadingwithIsrael,whomHecallsHisbackslidingchildren.Yahwehisnotsomedistanttyrant;HewantstobeaFathertoHispeopleandforHispeopletobehischildren.Inanotherplace,theLordisreferredtoevenmoregenerallyas afatherofthe %0!$ fatherless(Psalm68:5).Atthesametime,GodasFatherdisciplinesthechildrenthatHeloves:boththeIsraelites(Jeremiah2:30)andthoseinChrist(Hebrews12:58).Wecanunderstandthislanguage:imaginehowyouwouldfeelifyouhadchildrenwhowereungratefulforwhatyouhaddoneforthem,andthenturnedtheirbacksonyou.ThesearecompellingandintimatedescriptionsofalovingandcaringGod"aGodconcernedforthewelfareofHischildren.ThisistheGodoftheBible:OurFather. h+&* ЇFindotherversesthatdescribeGodasalovingandcaringFatherinthefollowingrelationships:̜1a.GodsrelationshiptoIsrael1b.WhereintheBibledoweseeIsraelitesturningfromGodandcallingidols myfather?(Hint:itsinJeremiah).HowdidthismakeGodfeelandwhatdidhedoaboutit?2.GodsrelationshipwithHisSon3.Godsrelationshipwiththesaints(consideralsowhattheNewTestamentsaysabouttheadoptionofthesaintsinChristassonsanddaughters,andhowourstatusassonsofGodisrelatedtoChristsstatusasSonofGod). h+&*  OurFatherinthelanguageofprayer   Aswehaveseenabove,GodsFatherhoodisstressedmuchmoreintheNewTestament.Relatedtothisweseeanemphasisontheuseof Fatherinthelanguageofprayer.ExamplesofthisusagecanbefoundinbothprayersofChristandtheprayerlanguageofthesaints.Themostwellknownexample,ofcourse,wasgivenbyChristasamodelfordiscipleseverywhere:8  OurFatherwhichartinheaven,hallowedbethyname.ThyKingdomcome.Thywillbedoneinearth,asitisinheaven...   p Matthew6:910$ t ThethemeofprayingtoourcompassionateandcaringHeavenlyFatherisdevelopedthroughoutMatthewchapter6.ReadthischapterandexplainwhatitteachesusaboutourFather,Hiscareforusandprayer.FindexamplesofJesususingtheterm FatherinhisprayerstoGod. h+&* ЇSointimatewasChristsrelationshipwithhisFather,thatheusedtheAramaicwordabbawhen  prayingtoHim(Mark14:36).Thisisatermofextremelyclosefamiliarity,andwasinfacttheexpressionusedbyAramaicspeakingchildrenoftheirownhumanfathers.Oneofthefirstwordsutteredbyababy,itcompareswiththecontemporaryGreekterm pappaandourownEnglish daddaor daddy.TheAramaicabbawasincurrencyamongJewsinthetimeofChrist,but ` itsusewasnormallyrestrictedtofamilylifeanditsapplicationtoGodwasextremelyrare.ThusChristsusageof AbbaforhisFather(assumingheuseditonoccasionswhenotherswerewitness)wouldhaveseemedoverlyfamiliarandperhapsdisrespectful.Yet,wemustrememberthatGodwasJesusliteralFather,andthuswearegiveninsightintotheprofoundlyintimaterelationshipChristhadwiththeOnewhowashisrealFather.FindthetwoexamplesintheNewTestamentwhere AbbaisalsousedbythoseinChrist:Inprayerlanguage Abbaisroughlyequivalenttotheintimateexpressions myFatherand ourFather.Discusstheexamplesoftheuseof AbbaintheNewTestamentandtheprivilegedrelationshipthesaintshavewiththeirHeavenlyFather.Explainwhyitispossibleforustousesuchexpressionsas Abbaand ourFather?Howdoyouthinkthesaintsuseof AbbarelatestothedesireofGodtobecalled myFatherasexpressedintheOldTestament?(Cf.Jeremiah3:19). $X" ̀ h+&* Ї ThePromise: TheyshallbecalledthechildrenofGod  t TheOldTestamentrevealsthatGodcalledHimself,andwantedtobe,theFatheroftheIsraelites.ϜAlso,intheMessianicpromisetoDavid,GodspokepropheticallyofHisrelationshipwiththeMessiah,whowastobebothsonofDavidandSonofGod:8  AlsotheLordtelleththeethathewillmaketheeanhouse.Andwhenthydays  ` befulfilled,andthoushaltsleepwiththyfathers,Iwillsetupthyseedafterthee,whichshallproceedoutofthybowels,andIwillestablishhiskingdom.Heshallbuildanhouseformyname,andIwillstablishthethroneofhiskingdomforever.IwillbehisFather,andheshallbemyson.  2Samuel7:1114  ThispromisehearkensbacktothepromisesoftheseedinEden(Genesis3:15)andtoAbraham(Genesis12:7,13:1516),andpointsforwardtothewordsoftheangelGabrieltoMary(Luke1:3035).ButitalsointersectswithotherthemesintheBible,namelyGodsDivineNameandthepromisethatwecanbeGodschildren.WhenGodrevealedHisNameYahwehtoMosesthroughHisangelattheburningbushinExodus3:14,Heexpresseditsmeaningaswell:8  AndGodsaiduntoMoses, IWILLBEWHOIWILLBE:andhesaid, ThusshaltthousayuntothechildrenofIsrael,IWILLBEhathsentmeuntoyou.     ` TheHebrewexpressionrenderedinEnglishas IwillbewhoIwillbe,isehyehasherehyeh.   TheshortformoftheName Iwillbeinthesameverseisehyeh.Thisverbformderivesfrom  theHebrewverbhayah( tobe).Itisfromaformofthisverbinthethirdpersonsingularthat  wegettheNameYahweh( Hewillbe).TheName,bothinitsfirstandthirdpersonforms,isprofoundlyaptfortheGodofPromiseandProphecy.AlthoughscholarshavelongdebatedoverthemeaningofthewordsinExodus3:14,weknowthatehyehshouldbetranslated Iwillbebecausethesameverbappearsin3:12,whereitis 0"  giveninthefuture( certainly Iwillbe withthee).Therendering IamthatIamislikely #l! influencedbytheuninspiredGreekSeptuaginttranslation Iamtheonewhois(egoeimihon).  $\" Nevertheless,manytranslations,suchastheNIV,givethecorrectmeaninginthemargin.ThenameEhyehalsoappearsthroughouttheHebrewOldTestamentembeddedinaseriesof & "% crucialpropheticpromisesofYahweh.Forexample,whentheCovenantsofPromisearerepeatedtoIsaacinGenesis26:25,GodassuredIsaac: Sojourninthisland,and Iwillbe [ehyeh]with (#' thee"languagethatforeshadowsthatofExodus3:12and14.Similarly,ehyehappearsin )$( Joshua1:5:  Iwillbe withthee:Iwillnotfailthee,norforsakethee.Thewordsof2Samuel *%) 7:14alsoechotheName:  Iwillbe [ehyeh]hisFather,andheshallbemyson. t+&* ЇButGodhadalsopromisedtheIsraelitesthatiftheyobeyedHim,HewouldbetheirGodandtheywouldbeHispeople:8  Cursedbethemanthatobeyethnotthewordsofthiscovenant,whichI t commandedyourfathersinthedaythatIbroughtthemforthoutofthelandof ` Egypt,fromtheironfurnace,saying, Obeymyvoice,anddothem,accordingtoallwhichIcommandyou:soshallyebemypeople,and Iwillbe [ehyeh]your 8  God. `     h      p Jeremiah11:34( x ThislanguagederivesfromseveralpassagesinthePentateuch,includingExodus6:7andLeviticus26:12.WehavealsoseenthatGodwantedtobeFathertotheIsraelites.Thistheme,withthatoftheDavidicCovenantandDivineName,allcometogetherintheNewTestament.TheApostlePaulin2Corinthians6:1618,drawsonlanguagefromLeviticus26:12,2Samuel7:14,Isaiah43:6,Jeremiah31:314(thelanguageoftheNewCovenant)andJeremiah32:8,whenhewrites:8  Godhathsaid, Iwilldwellinthem,andwalkinthem;and Iwillbe theirGod, ` andtheyshallbemypeople.Whereforecomeoutfromamongthem,andbeyeseparate,saiththeLord,andtouchnottheuncleanthing;andIwillreceiveyou, < and[ I ] willbe aFatheruntoyou,andyeshallbemysonsanddaughters,saith (x theLordAlmighty.  RelyingonpassagesthatusetheHebrewehyeh,thistextalsotwicereproducestheName Iwill @ beintheGreek(esomai).ThepromiseismadeagaininthedescriptionoftheNewCreationin , Revelation21,whichdrawsheavilyonOldTestamentlanguage.First,theprophecysaysin21:3:8  Behold,thetabernacleofGodiswithmen,andhewilldwellwiththem,andthey  shallbehispeople,andGodhimselfshallbewiththem,andbetheirGod. HereweseethepromisethatthesaintswouldbeGodspeopleandthatGodwouldbewiththem.Thelatteraspect(literally: Godhimself, hewillbe withthem)isanechooftheDivineName P! embeddedinseveralOldTestamentpromises,includingYahwehsaffirmationtoMoses(  Iwill @"  be [ehyeh]withthee;Exodus3:12)andtheassurancegiventoJoshua(  Iwillbe [ehyeh]with 0#! thee;Joshua1:5).ThelanguageofGodbeingwithusalsoconnectswithJesusnameImmanuel,whichmeans Godwithusor Godiswithus(Isaiah7:14;Matthew1:23).Second,thethemescontinueandareextendedin21:7,whichalsocontainsanechoofthecovenantlanguageofinheritance:8  Hethatovercomethshallinheritallthings;and Iwillbe [esomai]hisGod,andhe )$( shallbemyson.   +&* ThusGodsdesiretobeFathertoallHispeoplewillfinallybefulfilledfullyinthefuture.ThisisthepromisetoallthosewhoobeyHimassons.Amorewonderfulandcomfortingpromisecannotbeimagined.Wedontlookbackwithregret;welookforwardinhope.TherearemanymorereferencestothisgeneralthemeintheBible.FindfurtherexamplesintheOldandNewTestamentsofGodpromisingtobeHispeoplesGod.Notehowmanyofthesepassagesusethephrase Iwillbe;agoodnumberoftheOldTestamentexamplesuseehyeh. 8  Therearealsoanumberofpassagesthatspeakabouttheprospectofthesaintsbeing sonsor childrenofGodbothnowandinafullersenseintheKingdom.Listsomeexamplesofthese.Intheseallthesepassages,GodhasmadeHispromise.WhatdoestheBiblesayHispeopleneedtodotoreceivethiswonderfulpromise?Andwhatkindoflivesdotheseversessaywemustliveifwearetobe Godspeople? h+&* Ї WrestedScriptures   LetsconsidertheimplicationswhatwehavejustlearnedhasforthedoctrineoftheTrinity.OftenwhendiscussingtheBiblesteachingonGodwithTrinitarians,weturntotheversesthatspeakabouttheLordbeingtheOnlyGod.Theseversesontheirown,however,arenotenoughto ` disprovetheTrinitytoacommittedTrinitarian,sincetheybelievetheTruineGodistheonlyGod.IfwewanttoconstructafoolproofscripturalargumentagainstthedoctrineoftheTrinity,wereallymustbuildourcaseusingallthreecategoriesofpassagesthatwehavestudiedthusfar:thoseteachingGodsOneness,UniquenessandFatherhood.First,weshowthattheLordisOne,thenwedemonstratethatHeisalsotheOnlyTrueGodand  8  finallywebringhomethepowerfulscripturalevidencethatonlytheFatherisYahweh.TothisweaddthoseversesthatshowthatChrististheSonofYahweh,andnotmerelytheSonoftheFather.ThereisabsolutelynobiblicalanswerTrinitarianscangivetothisconclusivetestimony.Interestingly,evensomeTrinitariansadmitthatwhenGodappearsunqualifiedintheBible,itisindeedtheFather.Bytheirownadmission,then,virtuallyallreferencestoGodintheScripturesrefertotheFather.Moreover,onceapersonrealisesthattheBibleteachesthatonlytheFatherisGod,itisincontrovertiblethatGodisoneperson.TheregoestheTrinity.ThelanguageofFatherhoodintheOldTestamentisalsoprofoundevidenceagainstthedoctrineofthepreexistenceofChrist.ForalthoughnotallTrinitariansacceptthedoctrineoftheeternalgenerationoftheSon(i.e.someTrinitariansbelievethesecondpersonoftheTrinityonlybecame  \ Sonathishumanbirth),andwehavealreadyseenthatGodsliteralFatherhooddidnotbeginuntilChristsbirthinBethlehem,thefactthatGodisonlyidentifiedastheFather(justoneofthethreepersonsoftheTrinity)intheOldTestamentshowsthattheSondidnotyetexist. John14:9   WhenJesusdisciplePhilipaskedtheLordtoshowthemtheFather,Jesusreplied: hethathathseenmehathseentheFather(John14:9).TrinitariansarguethatthisreplyshowsthatJesusandtheFatherwerecoequal,coeternalandboth veryGod.Doesthesewordsreallyteachthis?WhatdidChristmeanbyhisreply? h+&* Ї John5:23   Christswords HethathonourethnottheSonhonourethnottheFatherwhichhathsenthim(John5:23)areusedbyTrinitariansasproofthattheFatherandSonarecoequalandcoeternal.LookatthecontextofthisstatementandstudytheuseofsimilarlanguageelsewheretodemonstratethatChristcouldnothavemeantthis.̀ Optional:John6:33,38,51,58,62    ChristmakesaseriesofstatementsinJohn6abouthisbeingthe breadofGodthatcamedownfromheaven.TrinitariansarguethattheseversesshowthatChristliterallycamedownfromheavenasaperson.Studythelanguage,itscontextanditsOldTestamentrootstoexplainthespiritualteachingChristwasconveyingtohisfollowers.