Expert: Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine - 5/17/2011

Question
QUESTION: In Deuteronomy 6:4 verse is the word one plural like one nation under GOD or the two become one flesh, or literal one. In teaching jr. High children I feel the LORD led me to bring an egg to show an egg shell an egg yoke and an egg white are all separate but make one. Others tell me no it is water, steam and ice one changed into different form how can water sit at the right hand of ice if they are the same in different form? What do you say?

ANSWER: Hi Toni,

This is a very important question. That verse reads:

שמע ישראל ה 'הוא האלוהים שלנו הוא אחד

Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One"

Adonai translates as "Lord."

"Echad" means one in exclusivity.

The God of the Bible is One, Indivisible, echad.

The Trinity doctrine is not biblical. Y'shua (Jesus) was very clear that he is the son of God, that God is greater than he, that he serves God, that God is his father, that Y'shua is our elder brother, that God knows things that Y'shua does not know, that Y'shua was the first created being, and so on. I can provide you with plenty of verses to this effect if desired.

The Roman Pagans who established what we today know as the Christian religion worshiped triune gods, the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews do not.

You might be interested in our free online yeshiva (religious school) where we cover this and other important biblical topics: http://templebethhashem.org/yeshiva

Feel free to write back anytime.

~ Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok , but in Isaiah 9:6 HISname shall be called MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER. Revelations 22:12-13 I am ALPHA & OMEGA . John 11:30 I and My FATHER are one. John 1:1 Word Word was with GOD and Word was GOD. and who do you say the Holy Spirit is , do you say He is the Spirit of GOD . In the egg thing I in my small mind  see Jesus as shell that hAs father and spirit in him as he says in John the Fater is in me and I in Him, the white is spirit as power and helper of God the Father and yoke as GOD BECAUSE All power and potential genetics to become the chick are in the yoke.

Answer
Hi again,

Context is essential when studying the Bible. In most cases, as in this one, context answers all questions.

In verse 2 we read: The people living in darkness have seen a great light; upon those living in the land that lies in the shadow of death, light has dawned.

Who were these people? They were the Israelites and the great Light they beheld was the Torah.

Verse 3 HaShem (God) has enlarged the nation of Israel and has increased their joy by and through Torah.

As we continue reading we discover that Israel, so long abused and humbled arises with this son. Who is this son? It is the promised Kingdom. Dominion will rest on the shoulders of this son, the Kingdom of HaShem will be established. From it all the wisdom and power and glory of God will emanate. The son then is the potentiality of the Jewish people, as we see in the references to them as in the often misunderstood "suffering servant" passages (Isaiah chapters 52-54).

Why?

Verse 7 explains: in order to extend the dominion and perpetuate the peace of the throne and kingdom of David, to secure it and sustain it through justice and righteousness henceforth and forever. The zeal of ADONAI-Tzva'ot will accomplish this.

Y'shua is a descendent of King David (on both sides) however note the wording here: to extend the dominion and perpetuate the peace of the throne and kingdom of David, to secure it and sustain it through justice and righteousness henceforth and forever. This is an ongoing process, not something that would be done with.

The Throne of David, the seat of the Kingdom, is the "son" in these verses, the hope of Israel resides in the righteous sons. They are messianic to the degree that Messiah will one day sit upon the Throne and rule, however verse 6 is not talking about any particular king that might sit on that throne and Judaism has never understood the Moshiach to be an divine avatar as was common among the Pagans.

Also, my name means "Yah is Gracious." Many biblical names are taken from the Name of God to His glory (for instance: Joshua, Eliab, Eliada, Elzaphan, Eliakim, Elisha, Eleazar, Tavel, Gedaliah etc). Even Y'shua's name point to HaShem is the only giver of salvation. So even if this verse were talking about a specific ruler it would not follow that he was "the mighty God" and so on.

HaShem alone is God:

Deuteronomy 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
32:40  For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

When studying the Bible we must not base our views on "proof texts" but on the whole counsel. From beginning to end the God of the Bible is One, as the Shema clearly declares:

Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One"

The idea of God taking human birth is completely alien to biblical religion. It would be like me citing:

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

And deciding that it means that Y'shua was actually a hen.

John 1:1 does not say Y'shua was God. It says he was the Word: the Torah: the Wisdom of God. Paul explains this at Colossians 1:15 where he says that Y'shua was the firstborn of all creatures. God is not a creature.

Originally there was only God (Ein Soph) beyond all comprehension. The Eternal One manifested Self as Echad Elohiym (the One God) and then created Y'shua. He imparted His Torah (Wisdom) to him and through Y'shua HaShem created all else.

Y'shua was one with God in desire and purpose as he explains:
John 17:11 And now I [Y'shua] am no more in the world, but these [i.e. us] are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

How could we ever possibly be one with Y'shua as he is one with the Father in the context of the Trinity? It would mean that we would likewise have to be God! No, God is God and we are all His creations, with Y'shua as the firstborn.

Hebrew 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he [Y'shua] is not ashamed to call them brethren...

The Holy Spirit is the Ruach or Spirit/Presence of HaShem. Unlike many Pagan religions, biblical
religion is based firmly on monotheism. God is One.

Hope this helps to clarify these matters.