1 Corinthians 8:6 - But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.-- World English.
Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. -- American Standard Version.
This scripture is very clear in saying that the Father is the "one God" of Christians. However, many who believe that Jesus is the only true God have found ways to make the scripture appear to be saying just the opposite of what it actually does say, so that they would claim that Jesus is also the "one God" of Christians. Some cross 1 Corinthians 8:6 with Deuteronomy 6:4, and thereby claim that Jesus is the "one Lord" spoken of in Deuteronomy 6:4. This line of argument highly depends on translations that change the holy name in Deuteronomy 8:6 to "the Lord." Or, it may be assumed that every time "Lord" appears in the New Testament, that it refers to Jehovah (Yahweh) of the Old Testament, and thus since the word "Lord" is applied to Jesus, in some vague manner this is supposed to mean that Jesus is Jehovah.
See:
“Lord” in the New Testament
The Holy Name in the New Testament
The Holy Name in the Original Hebrew/Greek
Others claim that Deuteronomy 6:4 says that there is one Jehovah, but that this does not mean that Jehovah is not three persons. Notwithstanding, never does the one Jehovah say of Himself, We will do..., or we did..., etc. Since Jehovah is never presented in the Bible in the Bible as being more than one person, the default reasoning is that the one Jehovah is one person; the default reasoning does not call for us to imagine, assume and add to the scriptures that the one Jehovah is really three persons, all of whom are the one Jehovah. The idea that Jehovah is three persons has to imagined, assumed, added to any and every scripture that is presented that is alleged to support the imagined assumption.
The Holy Name in the New Testament
The Holy Name in the Original Hebrew/Greek
Others claim that Deuteronomy 6:4 says that there is one Jehovah, but that this does not mean that Jehovah is not three persons. Notwithstanding, never does the one Jehovah say of Himself, We will do..., or we did..., etc. Since Jehovah is never presented in the Bible in the Bible as being more than one person, the default reasoning is that the one Jehovah is one person; the default reasoning does not call for us to imagine, assume and add to the scriptures that the one Jehovah is really three persons, all of whom are the one Jehovah. The idea that Jehovah is three persons has to imagined, assumed, added to any and every scripture that is presented that is alleged to support the imagined assumption.
1 Corinthians 8:4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.
1 Corinthians 8:5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords. -- New American Standard.
Paul first refers to the idols to which sacrifices are made, and concerning these states that there are those that are so-called 'gods'. An idol, of course, is nothing -- it has no might, no power of its own; that which is made by the hands of men that is worshiped as "gods" "by nature are not gods." (Galatians 4:8, ESV) By nature that which is made and formed by the hands of men to which men make sacrifices has no "might" of itself to either cause harm are to cause good. (Psalm 115:4-8; 135:15-18; Isaiah 44:9-20) However, Paul, in harmony with the Old Testament, says that those who make offerings to such idol-gods are actually making offerings to demons, and not to the one true God. (Deuteronomy 32;17; Psalm 106:37; 2 Corinthians 10:20) These demons do have power, and are "by nature" mighty, but the man-made idol (gods) have no power, and thus, are not, by nature, mighty, and are certainly not the Supreme Mighty One, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
That there indeed are many "gods" --mighty ones -- is affirmed by Jesus. (John 10:34-36) The "gods" that Jesus referred to are the "sons of God" to whom the Logos came, and who received him. (Psalm 82:1,6,7; John 1:10-12) These are not false gods; but neither are they the one true God, the Might of the universe. They are mighty (gods - el, elohim, theoi) because of the power and authority given to them by the one true Might. Nevertheless, even the demons have been given great might from the only true Might, and they have misused that might. As to the promises of demons, however, they are false gods, but as to their being, by nature, they are true gods, that is, they really do have power and might.
To "us", that is, we who "who are sanctified in [by means of] Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2), there is but one God -- One who is the Supreme Being, the Might of the Universe. This one God is the God that is spoken of as the God -- The Supreme Being -- of Jesus, the one that Jesus speaks of as the only true God, the only true Supreme Being. (These references are to the World English Bible translation: Psalm 45:7; Micah 5:4; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; John 17:3; 20:17; Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 11:31; Ephesians 1:3,17; Hebrews 1:9; Revelation 1:6; 2:7; 3:2,12) Thus, the God and Father of Jesus is the "one God" -- the one Supreme Being -- that Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 8:6.
And yet, Paul is speaking relatively concerning 'one lord', for he had just stated that there are many lords. He is speaking of "one lord" over the church as appointed by God. We know that the God and Father of Jesus is the Supreme Lord of all, including being the Lord of the one whom he made "lord". (Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 7:17; 92:1; John 10:29; 17:3; Acts 2:36) Jesus is "our Lord" because of he has been made "lord" by the only Most High. (Acts 2:36) And yet, the fact is that there have been many who are truly "lords", having been given some capacity as such all through the Bible. Do a search on biblestudytools.com for the word "lord" to verify this (to use this method effectively, you will need to ignore the the places where the Holy Name has been changed to "Lord" or "the Lord").
For instance, when the Samaritan woman called Jesus “lord” as recorded in John 4:11,15, this was before she knew who Jesus was. In verse 19, she still addresses him as “Lord” as a prophet, evidently as the prophet like Moses. -- Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:13-26.
For instance, when the Samaritan woman called Jesus “lord” as recorded in John 4:11,15, this was before she knew who Jesus was. In verse 19, she still addresses him as “Lord” as a prophet, evidently as the prophet like Moses. -- Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:13-26.
In John 5:7, we find that a sick man, who did not know who Jesus was, yet referred to him as “lord”.
In John 12:21, the word for “lord” is used of Philip. No one would think that Philip must be God because the title KURIOS was applied to him.
Bullinger gives the following instances in which Kurios is used in the Gospels of others than Jehovah or Jesus, and as being used with different shades of meaning:
With the Article (ho Kurios), emphasizing ownership. Occurs fourty-two times: twenty-one times in Matthew 10:24,25; 15:27; 18:25,27,31,32,34; 20:8; 21:40; 24:45,46,48,50; 25:18,19,21,21,23,23,26; twice in Mark 12:9; 13:35; sixteen times in Luke 12:36,37,42,43,45,46,47; 14:21,23; 16:3,5,5,8; 19:33; 20:13,15; three times in John 13:16; 15:15,20.
Without the Article (Kurios). Generally in courtesy, emphasizing superior relationship. Occ. Nineteen times. Rendered “Lord” fourteen times (Matthew 18:26; 25:11,11,20,22,24. Luke 13:8,25,25; 14:22; 19:16,18,20,25); “Master” twice (Matthew 6:24. Luke 16:13); “Sir” four times (Matthew 13:27; 21:30; 27:63. John 12:21). -- The Companion Bible, Appendix 98
We do not necessarily agree with all of Bullinger’s conclusions
.
However, there is nothing in any of these scriptures or anyplace else in the entire Bible that presents Jesus as being the Supreme Being, or as a person of the Supreme Being; the scriptures show that it was the only true Supreme Being who sent Jesus, and with whom Jesus was with before the only true Supreme Being made the world of mankind through Jesus. (John 1:3,10; 17:3, Acts 17:24) God, by means of his holy spirit, reveals through the scriptures that Jesus was sent by Jehovah, speaks for Jehovah, represents Jehovah, and was raised and glorified by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus never claimed to be, nor do the scriptures ever present Jesus as, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whom Jesus represents and speaks for. — Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Matthew 22:32; 23:39; Mark 11:9,10; 12:26; Luke 13:35; 20:37; John 3:2,17,32-35; 4:34; 5:19,30,36,43; 6:57; 7:16,28; 8:26,28,38; 10:25; 12:49,50; 14:10; 15:15; 17:8,26; 20:17; Acts 2:22,34-36; 3:13,22; 5:30; Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 8:6; 11:31; Colossians 1:3,15; 2:9-12; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:1.
God, by means of his holy spirit, reveals through the scriptures that Jesus is son of the only Most High, Jehovah. Jesus is never spoken of as the “Most High”; he is not the only Most High Jehovah of whom he is the son. — Genesis 14:22; Psalm 7:17; 83:18; 92:1; Luke 1:32; John 13:16.
We have been sent many scriptures to allegedly prove that Jesus is the Supreme Being, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In reality what is presented as "proof" is actually the imaginations and assumptions of men that are placed over various scriptures so as to leave the impression that what has been imagined is supported by the scriptures. In other words, what the trinitarian, in effect, does is say: we have God's Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit tells us that God is three persons, thus, we *know* [actually, "imagine"] that God is three persons, thus, we believe that this scripture or that scripture supports what we "know" [imagine], and thus, because or what we "know" [imagine] to be true, what we "know" [imagine] is supported by this or that scripture. Their default assumption is that God is three persons, and they often fail think beyond that default assumption. Nevertheless, over and over in our studies on this and other sites, we have shown how this kind of circular reasoning, or a deal of human imagination, has to be used when they present their scriptures that are alleged to support the trinitarian dogma.
See out study:
Jesus is Not Jehovah
See out study:
Jesus is Not Jehovah
Summation Regarding 1 Corinthians 8:6; Deuteronomy 6:4:
The "one God" from whom are all is not the "one Lord" through whom are all, and the "one Lord" through whom are all is not the "one God" of whom are all.
There is only one Lord whom the Lord Jehovah, the "one God" who is the source of all, has anointed and made christ and lord, and through whom are all. -- Isaiah 61:1; Acts 2:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6.
The "one Jehovah" of Deuteronomy 6:4 and Mark 12:29 is the "one God" of 1 Corinthians 8:6. The "one Lord" of 1 Corinthians 8:6 is NOT the "one Jehovah" of Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29.
The "one Jehovah" of Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29 is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. -- Exodus 3:14,15; Deuteronomy 8:15-19; Acts 3:13-26; Ephesians 1:3,17-23; Hebrews 1:1,2.
Responses Addressed:
Responses Addressed:
There are some who continue to insist that "one Lord" of 1 Corinthians 8:6 is the same "one Lord" of Deuteronomy 8:6. We will try to make this clearer:
Hear, O Israel, Jehovah* our God is one Jehovah*. -- Green's Literal
*Strong's 3068
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/yehovah.html
(This incorrectly states that this name is "unpronunced except with the vowel pointings of 0136".)
*Strong's 3068
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/yehovah.html
(This incorrectly states that this name is "unpronunced except with the vowel pointings of 0136".)
There is no form of any Hebrew word that means "lord" in Deuteronomy 6:4. Many misrepresent the Holy Name as meaning "lord", but the Holy Name in Hebrew is an active verb that is used as though a noun, but it is not a titular noun.
Mark 12:29, Westcott & Hort Interlinear
apekrithee ho ieesous hoti prwtee estin akoue
ANSWERED THE JESUS THAT FIRST (ONE) IS BE HEARING,
0611 3588 2424 3754 4413 1510_2 0191
israeel kurios ho theos heemwn kurios heis estin
ISRAEL, LORD THE GOD OF US LORD ONE IS,
2474 2962 3588 2316 1473_8 2962 1520 1510_2
In Mark 12:29 we do not at all find the same phrase as is used in Deuteronomy 6:4, but what we find that someone has changed the Holy Name of Deuteronomy 6:4 to a form of the Greek word transliterated above as kurios, which means, master, mister, sir, lord, ruler, etc. We have no doubt that Jesus did not change the Holy Name of his God to KURIOS, but that he used some form of the Holy Name when he spoke; he would not have changed the name of his God to something that does not even mean the same as expressed by the Holy Name. Indeed, if he did, then Deuteronomy 18:15-22 would suggest that he was not the promised prophet who was foretold to come in the name of Jehovah, and who was to speak the words of Jehovah, etc. Obviously, the Holy Name was changed by later copyists.
Deuteronomy 18:15-22, American Standard Version:
15 Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken? 22 when a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him.
1 Corinthians 8:6, Westcott & Hort Interlinear
all heemin heis theos ho pateer ex hou ta
BUT TO US ONE GOD THE FATHER, OUT OF WHOM THE
0235 1473_9 1520 2316 3588 3962 1537 3739 3588
panta kai heemeis eis auton kai heis kurios ieesous
ALL (THINGS) AND WE INTO HIM, AND ONE LORD JESUS
3956 2532 1473_7 1519 0846_7 2532 1520 2962 2424
christos di hou ta panta kai heemeis di
CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM THE ALL (THINGS) AND WE THROUGH
5547 1223 3739 3588 3956 2532 1473_7 1223
autou
HIM.
0846_3
In 1 Corinthians 8:6, we do not find that the Holy Name has been changed to KURIOS, but KURIOS is applied to the only one whom the one Jehovah of Deuteronomy 6:4 has anointed and made lord for this special position; Jehovah, the "one God" of 1 Corinthians 8:6, performs His work through this special channel whom He has made both Christ and Lord. (Psalm 2:26; 45:7; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 34:23,24; John 10:29; 17:1,3; Acts 2:23,36; 4:27; 10:38; Hebrews 1:9). No one else occupies this special position of being this one lord through whom Jehovah speaks and performs His work. — Deuteronomy 18:18,19; John 3:34; 5:19; 6:38; 7:16,28,29; 8:28,38,40; 12:29; 14:10; 17:8; Acts 3:13-26; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 1:1,2.
If it is the thought that no one but Jehovah (Yahweh) in the Old Testament is called lord, we never meant to leave such an impression, nor do forms of the Hebrew word often transliterated as ADON in the Old Testament ALWAYS refer to God Almighty. Jesus is "lord" in Psalm 110:1. Abraham is "lord" in Genesis 18:12; 23:6,11,15. Angels are referred to as "lords" in Genesis 19:2; 23:6. And there are many other such "lords" throughout the Old Testament, both of men and angels. One can verify this by using Strong's concordance or see:
https://www.studylight.org/desk/interlinear.cgi?ref=00023006All of these could be included in the "many lords" that the apostle Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 8:5; such are NOT simply "called" lords, but are actually lords in respect to whatever context is being used. However, there is only one whom God has appointed to be Lord through whom are all, and only one whom Jehovah has appointed as Lord and Shepherd (Pastor) over all His sheep. -- Ezekiel 34:23,24; Isaiah 61:1,2; John 10:11-17,29; Acts 2:36; 10:42; 1 Corinthians 8:6.
Another claims that we do not believe in "one God", because there are not "two Lords", but only one Lord according to 1 Corinthians 8:6. It is then evidently assumed that since there is only "one Lord", and since Jehovah is "Lord", then Jesus has to be Jehovah.
To arrive at this conclusion one has to ignore what is actually stated in 1 Corinthians 8:6. Indeed, many who promote this view often quote only part of what is said while ignoring the qualification placed both the "the one God" as well as the "one Lord." In other words, they will quote, "To us there is one God," but not quote, "of whom are all." They will quote, "there is one Lord," but not quote, "through whom are all." (Many translations add the word "things" after "all") In other words, "the one God" is qualified as being the source of all, while the "one Lord" is qualified as being the instrument through whom are all.
Another claims that we do not believe in "one God", because there are not "two Lords", but only one Lord according to 1 Corinthians 8:6. It is then evidently assumed that since there is only "one Lord", and since Jehovah is "Lord", then Jesus has to be Jehovah.
To arrive at this conclusion one has to ignore what is actually stated in 1 Corinthians 8:6. Indeed, many who promote this view often quote only part of what is said while ignoring the qualification placed both the "the one God" as well as the "one Lord." In other words, they will quote, "To us there is one God," but not quote, "of whom are all." They will quote, "there is one Lord," but not quote, "through whom are all." (Many translations add the word "things" after "all") In other words, "the one God" is qualified as being the source of all, while the "one Lord" is qualified as being the instrument through whom are all.
The "one God" of whom are all is not the "one Lord" through whom are all, nor is the "one Lord" through whom are all the "one God" of whom are all.
Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound;
The Lord Jehovah of Isaiah 61:1 is definitely not Jesus; yet is it this Lord Jehovah who anointed Jesus, and made Jesus both lord and Christ. (Psalm 2:26; 45:7; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 34:23,24; John 10:29; 17:1,3; Acts 2:23,36; 4:27; 10:38; Hebrews 1:9) The Lord Jehovah did not need to be made lord; however, the Lord Jehovah did make someone else who is not himself to be "lord", the "one lord" through whom is all. Nevertheless, these scriptures thus present two different "Lords" 1) The Lord Jehovah who is not the "lord" of Acts 2:36 nor the "one Lord" of 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:5, and then 2) the one who is made "lord" as spoken of in Acts 2:36, the "one Lord" of 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Ephesians 4:5.
As far as there being many lords spoken of in the Bible, we have no reason to disagree with the apostle who said there are many lords (1 Corinthians 8:5) nor do we have reason to disagree with the scriptures that speak of these lords who are not "one Lord" of 1 Corinthians 8:6. Forms of the Hebrew word often transliterated as adon are used of many men and of angels; likewise forms of the corresponding Greek word often transliterated as Kurios is used of many men and also of angels.
http://www.studylight.org/lexicons/greek/2962.html
http://www.studylight.org/lexicons/hebrew/0113.html
http://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hbd/l/lord.html
http://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/kjd/l/lord.html
http://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hdn/l/lord-2.html
Related
Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13 – Serving Two Masters (Not Yet Linked)
Lord of Glory
The Hebraic Usage of the Titles for "God"
Related Books and Bible Aids
Ronald R. Day, Sr. - Restoration Light (RlBible, ResLight) Bible Study Services
The Hebraic Usage of the Titles for "God"
Related Books and Bible Aids
Ronald R. Day, Sr. - Restoration Light (RlBible, ResLight) Bible Study Services
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Great research. Acts 3:13 definitely shows Jesus is not Jehovah but the servant of Jehovah who is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
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