Lesson 2 The Oneness of God The most

Lesson #2: The Oneness of God “The most fundamental and the most important teaching of Prophet Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) is faith in the unity of God. ” Abul A'La Mawdudi, Towards Understanding Islam

Guiding Question #1: Is the doctrine of the trinity biblical?

Video Presentation: “The Mystery of the Trinity” with R. C. Sproul Section 1: Monotheism

Progressive Revelation “The New is in the Old concealed, the Old in in the New revealed. ” (St. Augustine)

Two Different Names for God’s Nature or Essence God in the Creation Account “A plural ending with a singular verb. ”

The ‘Shema’ “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. ” (Deut. 6: 4) Return

Two Hebrew Words for ‘ONE’

One of Rabbinical Judaism’s most revered sages, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam) wrote his 13 Articles of Faith in his commentary on the Mishnah, in the 12 th century from Egypt. The original text was in Arabic and then translated into Hebrew. Below is a translation of the Hebrew text into English. אני מאמין באמונה שלמה שהבורא יתברך שמו הוא יחיד ואין יחידות כמוהו בשום פנים והוא לבדו אלהינו היה הוה ויהיה “I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is unique and there is no likeness to Him in any way, and that He alone is our God, who was, and is to come. ”

Hebrew vs. Greek Translations of ‘ONE’ ECHAD Gen 2: 24 Deut 6: 4 UNIFIED ONE HEN two become one Man + Woman Matt 19: 5 Mk 12: 29 God is one Father + Son + Spirit ONE

Word Definition/texts Usage Echad unified one: Gen. 2: 24; Deut. 6: 4 Used of God’s oneness OT absolute numeric one: Ezekiel 33: 24 Yachid Always absolute numeric one: OT Judges 11: 34 Never used of God’s oneness Bad OT Absolute numeric one: Isaiah 37: 20 Used of God’s oneness Hen NT Unified one: John 10: 30; Matthew 19: 5; Mk 12: 29 absolute numeric one: Galatians 3: 20 Used of God’s oneness Monos absolute numeric one: Matthew Used of God’s oneness NT 24: 36; 1 Timothy 1: 17

An Opposing View Isaiah 44: 6, "I am the first and I am the last and besides Me there is no other. " While Judaism believes that G-d manifests Himself to His creation (humanity) in many ways, (i. e. as a judge or a protector) G-d's essence itself is indivisible and therefore without any possibility of distinction. Something that transcends both time and space cannot be described as consisting of three different aspects. The moment we attribute any such distinctions to G-d's essence, we negate His absolute Oneness and unity.

The Unity of God’s Essence "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body , whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. " (1 Corinthians 12: 12 -14).

The Greek word translated "one" in this passage is hen, which means "one in essence. " This Greek word makes it clear that Paul is speaking of spiritual unity, not physical unity. The spiritual body of Christ is "one" not because its individual members are physically assembled in one congregation, or are enrolled in one church organization, but because all its members are united by the "one Spirit" of God.

Paul emphasizes that the Spirit of God, although dwelling in many individuals who are separate entities, is "one Spirit. " Paul's inspired words show that the Spirit of God the Father and the Spirit of Jesus Christ are the same Spirit. Paul tells us that it is Jesus Christ Who apportions the Spirit for various services or ministries, not through a hierarchical ministry but directly to individual Christians as it pleases Him. Paul also declares that it is the Father Who energizes the work of the Spirit in individuals.

“In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity. ” (Westminster Conf. Chap 2. Par. 3) One in essence, Three in Person

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Gen. 2: 24) Return

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. ” (Mark 12: 29) Return

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. ” (Gen. 2: 24) Return

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? ” (Matt. 19: 4 -5) Return

“Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance. ” (Ezekiel 33: 24) Return

“And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. ” (Judges 11: 34) Return

“Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only. ” (Isaiah 37: 20) Return

“I and my Father are one. ” (John 10: 30) Return

“And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? ” (Matt. 19: 5) Return

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. ” (Mark 12: 29) Return Note: Jesus quoted Deut 6: 4 in Mk 12: 29 and chose the "unified oneness" word "hen" which is the same word used by Jesus in Mt 19: 5, "the two shall become one (hen) flesh. It is significant that Jesus did not use "mono" in Mk 12: 29. The word "hen" directly corresponds to "echad" which was used in Deut 6: 4. Both texts used "unified oneness" words rather than absolute numeric oneness to the exclusion of all others.

“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. ” (Gal. 3: 20) Return

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. ” (Matt. 24: 36) Return

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. ” (1 Tim 1: 17) Return