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Last Updated on :
Saturday, November 22, 2014

 

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NEXT: Hebrew Titles Of Deity

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PHANEROSIS
The Subject Itself


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PAGE 47

We proceed to remark that Paul, as well as Moses, declares, "there is no other God but one"; and having so said, proceeds to remark: "For though there be that are called gods, whether in the heaven, or upon the earth (as there are gods many, and lords many), but to us there is one God the Father, out of whom (ex ou) all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Anointed, on account of whom (di'ou) all things, and we through Him. Howbeit the knowledge is not in all. (1 Cor. 8:4-7).

Here then, we have good authority for saying, that in the universe there are many gods and many lords; but that over and above them all is "One Supreme," who is styled "the Blessed and Only Sovereign, (monos dunastes) the King of kings, the Lord of lords; the only one having deathlessness, inhabiting light unapproachable, whom no one of men hath seen, nor is able to behold" (1 Tim. 6:15). He is God of gods, whose existence He Himself admits in saying to Israel' "I am Jehovah, thy Elohim ...." "There shall not be to thee other Elohim above me."

Thus far Moses and Paul are in agreement. They both teach one supreme Deity, and the existence of others beside; but that these others were not to be made objects of worship by dwellers upon the earth. Now Jesus of Nazareth is perfectly Mosaic in his teaching upon this subject. When a certain scribe asked him: "Which is the chief commandment of all"? He answered in the words of Moses, so often referred to by the Jews of our day, when disputing the claims of Jesus, and by Dr. de Lara among the number: "the first of all the commandments," said he, is, "Hear, 0 Israel; 'Yahweh' our 'Elohim' is 'one' Yahweh. And thou shalt love 'Yahweh', thine Elohim, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like; as, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." "Well, Teacher," said the scribe, "thou hast said the truth; for there is one 'Deity' (hoti els estin Theos) - and there is no other but of him -ouk estin allos plen autou" (Mark 12:29-34).

 


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