Expert: Dean Gade - 10/31/2010

Question
Thanks again for your response. I am so sorry for my eorror. It is 1Tim3:16, nott 36. So my question was, suppose the NT was written in Hebrew what would have been the meaning of elohim? You mentioned a possible bad rendering in Isa 44:6, but comparing it with the other possible translation you mentioned I see them as one and the same. Now, the word 'none', why is that word necessarily in the plural form, for 'none can be applied to one in every day language usage, but there again the hebrew may be another matter. In any event, translators of the original language have to be consistent, for from the foregoing from you  get the impression that thay differ in belief. Now earlier you mentioned your belief in one God as Father Son and HolySpirit. How do you reconcile such a position with Eph 4:6 which states, 'One God and Father of all.' Here, it seems to contradict your definition of this one and only God. Samee goes for 1Cor8:6. Thanks again for your timely and patient response. The God of Heaven bless you abundantly.

David

Answer
I Cor.8:6 is a great passage.  It shows that there is only One God and yet tells us that Jesus Christ is the One who created all things:

1 Cor 8:5-6
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
NIV

...as does:

Col 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created : things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
NIV

....and:

John 1:1-5, 10-14
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning .
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.   
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
NIV

Yet, it is clear from the beginning to the end of God's inspired Word that the One who created the world is ONE God.

Gen 1:1-2
1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
NIV
(Note that the Spirit was also a part of the creation)

....and:

Rev 4:9-11
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."
NIV

Now I must close our enjoyable discussion by saying again that the knowledge of our One God, who is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, is by the faith worked in us by God, the Holy Spirit.  There is no human wisdom nor any earthly example of this spiritual truth which God has given to us.

Isa 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
NIV