One True God:
Zachariah 14:9, “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be One LORD, and His name One.”
Malachi 2:10, “Have we not all one father? hath not One God created us?”
Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is One LORD.”
Yet the following verses appear to speak of more then one God.
Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let US make man in our image, after our likeness:”
“Us,” a pronoun objective case of, “WE.” Plural
Genesis 11:7, God said, “Let US go down, and there confound their language.”
In the following, God is speaking to Isaiah and the text suggests three persons. Lets examine,
Isaiah 48:16, “I (Jehovah) have not spoken in secret from the beginning = (from the foundation of the earth); from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God = (the Father), and his Spirit = (Holy Spirit) hath sent ME (the Lord).”
Here we have Jehovah stating that it was His Father and the Holy Spirit that sent Him.
Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
The above seem to indicate three separate and unique persons. Is the Bible contradicting itself? is there a logical answer?
An examination of the following titles, and characteristics of God may help us to come to a place of understanding. Under the microscope are the words, God, Lord, and One, as in, One God.
Question: Are the nouns God and Lord proper names? Muslims worship a god called Allah, Hindus worship many gods, Buddhist worship their god, evolutionist worship the god of the gap, as in the gap theory. Money, things, careers, are considered gods to many people.
A noun can be, a person, place, a quality, idea, action or state, or a thing. I believe the correct category here is, “Person or thing,” thing meaning a titles, office or characteristic.
If we were to ask God, “What is your proper name?” We can be assured that He would NOT say, “My name is God, or my name is LORD.”
In the O.T. God calls Himself, “The I am,” or, the “Word.”
In the N.T. Matthew 1:25, “And knew her (Mary) not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.” So Jesus is the God that Christians’ are to worship.
Jesus would say to us, “I am the God of the Creation, I am LORD over those who believe in me, I am the great I Am, I am your Saviour. These are my Titles, and characteristics. They represent my qualities, attributes and work. I am the Almighty.”
The titles LORD and God, are translated from the Hebrew and Greek words, Elohim and Jehovah. Other titles used by God in the Scriptures are, Elahh, El, Adhonai, Theos, etc.
The first time we see the word “God” in the Bible, is in,
Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Here is the Hebrew word, “Elohim.”
Elohim is not God’s proper name, but describes His real essence. Elohim is a compound word which signifies that God is Almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, a pure and perfect Spirit, who preserves and governs all things, the one who is, who was, and who will be.
He is Spirit: He cannot be seen by the human eye and cannot be comprehended by any mortal man. But He can be understood by the vast and wonderful works of the creation, and man’s own conscience.
What about Jehovah, is this a proper name for God?
This Hebrew word is an English rendering of the tetragrammation YHWH. Its original pronunciation is unknown. Jehovah is derived from the verb “To be,” and expresses that God is eternal, Absolute, the Uncaused One. This describes God’s real essence.
How and why did the title of Jehovah come about?
The Jews took seriously the third commandment written in,
Exodus 17:15, “Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain.” God will hold those who take his name in vain, guilty.
After the Jewish captivity from Babylon = (modern day Iraq), the true pronunciation (Y.H.W.H) was lost. The name Jehovah in our Bibles has been refined and translated in English to Lord, or God.
How did God’s name Y.H.W.H. at first become Yahweh, then Jehovah. The two vowels, A and E were added for easier reading and pronunciation, rendering it, YaHWeH, or Yahweh.
In the English alphabet until the 1600 hundred, had no letter “J”. The name Jehovah was written in English as, “Yahweh.” The letter J was introduced into our alphabet for an easier pronunciation of words.
The W, in early English is the union of two V’s, this V being in the form of the Roman capital letter which we call, U. The W is properly a vowel, but does not retain that distinction today.
To conclude, Y was changed to J, and W was changed to V. The vowels were added for pronunciation purposes, and now we have the English, Jehovah. Later when the English Bible was published, Jehovah became Lord and God.
Concerning the Jews, when they read the Scriptures, the Jews’ would make no attempt to pronounce Y.H.W.A. because of its sacredness. In this, the true pronunciation was lost. Because “Yahweh,” was also considered a sacred name for God, they replaced it with LORD and God. But in the English Bibles we still find the name Jehovah used seven time.
Let’s get back to the original question, is there one God, or three. In order to gain a correct understanding of this question, we need to look into the word “One,” One as in, “One God.”
The word, “One,” can be,
Single in number, as an individual, meaning one man, one book. But, it also can mean, one in union, or, one united body. The word one, like many other adjectives is used without a noun, and is to be considered as a substitute for some noun understood. For example, if we say,
1. “Let the men (plural) depart one by one (singular).”
2. “Count them = (the men plural) one by one (singular.)”
3. “Every one = (speaking of a group of men) has his (singular) peculiar habits.”
Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave = (be joined) unto his wife: and they (plural) shall be one (singular) flesh.” Two people, one flesh.
Genesis 34:16, “Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we (plural) will dwell with you, and we will become one (singular) people.” That is, many people will become one people.
Colossians 3:15, “Ye = (many) are called in one body;” In this verse we see that many people are called into one body, which is the church of Jesus Christ.
When we speak of One God, we are speaking of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as being one in union, union implying two or more being united, a conjunction of minds, wills, affections, and interests.
How Does the Godhead Work?
The Father rules from heaven. He is Spirit. He governs from His spiritual sanctuary, as King, LORD, and Father of all. He is the Almighty. His will prevails over all, both in the spiritual world, and in the physical world.
Jesus Christ, by the authority and will of the Father has been given by inheritance, the whole of the physical and spiritual creation. Jesus, the Word of God, by the will of His Father, has been made Lord of lords, and King of kings. He shares the titles, and characteristics of His Father. He is the exact image and brightness of the Father’s glory.
Concerning the whole of creation, physical and spiritual, Jesus is the Father’s ambassador and Prime Minister. He is the perfect representative, having been given ALL power and full authority.
From the beginning, Jesus is called the “Word of God,” (John 1:1.) He left His place in heaven, and spoke the physical creation into existence. Thus, He is called, The Word of God.
Genesis 1:3, “And God = (the Father) said, “Let there be light.” This was the glory of the Son casting His (shekinah) glory upon an earth covered in darkness, prepared to bring life to a dead water covered world.
John 1:1, “And the Word = (Jesus) was with God = (the Father and the Holy Spirit).”
John 1:4, “In Him = (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.” He breathed life into Adam nostrils, a body formed from the dust of the ground. From dust to glory; from glory to shame, and from shame to eternal glory again!
In the O.T. whenever you read the words, “came to the prophets, the Jews’ understood this to be a physical manifestation of God, they had seen the LORD face to face, but God’s real essence and nature had been veiled by flesh. The eternal source of truth, purity, and joy came down from His place in heaven. He brought life to the world as He also brought life and immortality to light in His Gospel.
Jesus represented the brightness and splendor of the Godhead. He was the life of the new-born world. He is the light and life of the Abrahamic covenant, the new covenant, and light and life of every born-again Christian that was, is, and will be.
2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God = (the Father), who commanded the light = (Jesus) to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
The “Glory of God,” answers to the “Glory of Christ.”
Four (4) thousand years after the creation, God stepped into a body of flesh. He came to finish the work and will of His Father.
His mother was a virgin called Mary, His Father is the Father in heaven, a pure and perfect spirit. What was conceived in Mary is of the Holy Ghost. The Word of God came from on high. Joseph was Jesus earthly father by appointment from God.
Jesus rule and reign:
In Scriptures we can see the anti-type and type of this relationship in the O.T.
Concerning the life and person of Joseph, most scholars agree they resemble Jesus life and ministry most closely. In Gen. 41:45, Joseph, by the will of Pharaoh has been elevated to lord over the whole kingdom of Egypt. At this time, Egypt was a world power.
Pharaoh had given Joseph a new name. He was now to be called, “Zaphnath-paaneah.” which means, “a revealer of secrets.” Our Creator was also given a new name by His Father. That name is Jesus; He is the revealer of the Father’s will. The mystery of a new covenant was brought to light by Him.
Jesus the revealer of things kept secret from all eternity. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
Joseph was sealed = (anointed) by Pharaoh. He was clothed in fine garments and by Pharaoh’s own hand, had gold chain’s put around his neck. He was made lord of the land, prime minister of the state, and comptroller of the house. Compare the following:
Jesus was established as Lord over the whole of creation. On the Mt. of transfiguration the apostiles saw Jesus, Matt.17:2, “Before them: — His raiment (clothes) was white as the light.”
Proverbs 8:23, “I = (Jesus) was set up = (anointed) from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” Jesus was anointed, and the Father did the anointing. Compare this with Joseph being anointed by Pharaoh.
Although Joseph was a foreigner in Egypt, a Jew, the people were commanded by Pharaoh to honor Joseph, as they honored Pharaoh.
No man was to raise a hand to Joseph. He was to be esteemed and respected by the people as Pharaoh’s equal.
Jesus was not of this world, He was a sojourner, a traveler in the land, yet of Jewish stock. He was to be praised and honored as Lord over all, by all.
John 17:16, Jesus said, “They = (the apostles) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” He was a stranger in the land and on the earth.
Joseph was sent by Pharaoh to execute and establish a plan for saving the people from certain starvation. Jesus was that bread that came down from heaven to save the people from a certain spiritual death.
Joseph as Pharaoh’s prime minister was given a ring containing the royal signet. This seal gave Joseph the power and authority to rule over the kingdom of Egypt in the name of Pharaoh.
Jesus was the Father’s prime minister, having the Holy Spirit as His royal signet. This was His emblem of power.
Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, “All thing are delivered unto me of my Father:”
John 16:15, “All things that the Father hath are mine:”
Pharaoh said to Joseph,
Genesis 41:40, “Thou = (Joseph) shalt be over = (govern over) my house, and according unto thy = (your) word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”
Pharaoh said, “Only in the throne” from where I rule, would Joseph have no authority. Here Pharaoh would remain unchallenged. Compare the following:
Jesus was sent to rule over His physical and spiritual creation. In this, He is called God, supreme over all. Only in heaven, at the throne of the Father is the Father greater.
John 14:28, Jesus said, “I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”
The people were told, when in the presence of Joseph they were to,
Genesis 41:43, “Bow the knee.”
The people were to honor Joseph as they would honor Pharaoh. The idea of bowing a knee which is a Hebrew term, meaning to prostrate oneself, and signifies, “Blessed father.” Compare the two following verses, the first is found in the O.T. the other is in the New.
Isaiah 45,22-23, “I am God (Jehovah,) and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, — That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Compare with,
Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” Only God is to be worshipped in this manner.
Isaiah calls the child to come, “The everlasting Father.” We are to bow a knee to our Everlasting Father, and Jesus is mans’ everlasting Father.
There is in the Godhead a chain of command and authority authorized, just as there is in every phase of the military, judicial, and political systems established in America. As Pharaoh sent Joseph, so also the Father sends His Only Begotten Son as our military, judicial and spiritual leader.
As Pharaoh is an anti-type of the Father, so is Joseph a shadow of Jesus. When the people heard the voice of Joseph, it was as though they were hearing Pharaoh. When Joseph appeared to them, they were to act as if Pharaoh were present.
The Father said of His Son,
Matthew 17:5, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus replied, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” THEY ARE ONE.
John 14:11, “I (Jesus) am in the Father, and the Father in me.”
What the Father is, Jesus is. What the Father has, Jesus has. The will of the Father, becomes the will and finished work of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, John 17:5, “Father, glorify thou me (Jesus) with thine own self with the glory which I HAD with thee before the world was.” In verse 24, Jesus said, speaking to the Father, “Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
The whole of creation is commanded to honor Jesus, as it honors the Father, and no man was, or is, to raise a hand to our Lord. This was the sin of the Jews. They rejected, than killed the Son of God.
John 5:23, “All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.”
Our Lord made a covenant, and sealed it with His blood. This covenant was honored by the Father. Jesus came from, than returned to heaven from where He came. He then took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father.
Colossians 1:16, “For by Him = (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.”
Following are verses that refer to the Godhead as consisting of more than one God.
Isaiah 34:16, God said, “For my = (the Word) mouth it hath commanded, and His = (the Father) Spirit = (Holy Spirit) it hath gathered them.
2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God = (the Father), and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. A-men.”
John 14:24, Jesus said, “He that loveth me and keepeth not my sayings = (words) and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let US make man in our image.”
Genesis 11:6-7, “The LORD said, behold, the people is one, —-let US go down, and there confound their language.”
There is one chain, having three links. Each as strong as the other, each pulling the same load, that being the salvation of mankind. The three consists of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We are to worship the One True God. He is our Creator, He is called Yaheweh. The Jews’ call Him LORD. Christian’s calling Him Jesus.
The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, and said,
Matthew 1:21, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus,” Jesus meaning, He who shall save, or, Jehovah His helper.
His name Jesus points to His new office and the work set before Him. He came to seek and to save the lost. The Jews waited hundreds of years for their Messiah. Upon His arrival, they rejected Him. He fulfilled the office of King, High Priest, and Prophet.
He was born to die, and then to live again. He paid the ultimate price for our redemption.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com