The following presentation is a response to a request from a Muslim to prove from the Old Testament and from Genesis to Revelation that the doctrine of the trinity is not a foreign philosophy we Christians have tried to force onto the scriptures. It was meant to be posted directly onto the discussion group on Facebook, but due to restrictions, I couldn't possibly do so and so present it here instead :)
As for the doctrine of the Godhead, what you fail to realise
is that 1st Century Jews dedicated to monotheism were able to accept Jesus as
Yahweh without it compromising their monotheism. Why is that? The fact is, Jews
accepted the idea of a plural Godhead consisting of two Powers in heaven both
called Yahweh before Jesus and it was not until the 2nd Century that this
became seen as heretical in response to Christians saying that Jesus was this
"Second Yahweh"
You want the sources throughout the Bible, alrighty, you'll have them :) it's going to be a long read and a long post but if you honestly want answers, you'll approach the material honestly.
So let's start with God. There were four common terms for God in the Hebrew:
1. Elohim
2. El
3. Yahweh
4. Eloah
Elohim, however, was not used exclusively to refer to the God of Israel. The term Elohim is used in the Bible to describe:
* The God of Israel
* The gods of the nations: because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. (1 Kings 11:33 ESV)
* The gods of Yahweh’s council: God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: (Psalm 82:1 ESV)
* Demons (Deut 32:17):They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.
* Deceased human dead: The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. (1 Samuel 28:13, 14 ESV)
* Maybe Angels
Unfortunately this is sometimes obscured by our English translations, but the Hebrew is clear. We are used to prescribing a unique set of attributes to the term "G-O-D" which is something the Hebrew writers DIDN'T do when it came to the term Elohim.
So, all Elohim are not equal in attributes. To put it another way, Yahweh is an elohim but not all elohim are Yahweh.
Elohim more so describes where these things come from, a place of residence, I.e the Spiritual realm of the unseen.
So:
1) Biblical use of the term "Elohim" shows that it is not tied to a set of attributes.
2) This explains why more than one being can be described as elohim.
3) Since Elohim is not about attributes, Jews would not be violating monotheism by using the term to describe other beings they believed to exist.
Two more points to focus on:
* Yahweh was in command of other elohim. He is superior and unique.
* Sonship language like"sons of God" was rightly applied to divine beings other than humans without violating monotheism.
So let's look closely at some passages:
God [elohim] has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods[elohim] he holds judgment: (Psalm 82:1 ESV)
Context tells us the first use of Elohim is singular (has taken HIS place) whereas the second is plural (in the MIDST of).
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord[Yahweh]? Who among the heavenly beings[bene elim] is like the Lord [Yahweh], a God [elohim] greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? (Psalm 89:5-7 ESV)
The term "bene elim" is "sons of God" What we have here is the superiority of Yahweh expressed above and beyond all other elohim in the heavens. He is feared in the divine council of the elohim.
I said, "You are gods[elohim], sons[bene] of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince." (Psalm 82:6, 7 ESV)
Yahweh's heavenly council is full of other elohim, spiritual beings called the sons of God. Here they are being admonished and told they will be stripped of their immortality for disobeying Yahweh.
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. (Deuteronomy 32:8, 9 ESV)
When God divided the nations, He did so according to the number of the sons of God, placing each of them to watch over a nation. In Psalm 82:6-7 He is berating them for not doing their job properly.
Now bear with me, I'm going to give a number of references to other instances of bene / elohim as "sons of God"
Elohim / elim
None can compare to you among the gods[elohim], O Lord!
Your exploits are incomparable! (Psalm 86:8 NET)
For the Lord[Yahweh] is a great God[el],
a great king who is superior to all gods[elohim]. (Psalm 95:3 NET)
For the Lord [Yahweh] is great and certainly worthy of praise;
he is more awesome than all gods [elohim]. (Psalm 96:4 NET)
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods [elohim]!
Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord [Yahweh].
For you, O Lord [Yahweh], are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods [elohim]. (Psalm 97:7-9 ESV)
Notice here, these other elohim are commanded to worship Yahweh.
Give thanks to the God [elohim] of gods [elohim],
for his loyal love endures. (Psalm 136:2 NET)
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods [elohim] I sing your praise; (Psalm 138:1 ESV)
This one here, psalm 138, is a psalm of David, something the Quran claims to acknowledge. David is here saying he will sing praises to Yahweh before the elohim, for them to see and hear.
Who is like you, O Lord [Yahweh], among the gods [ba'elim]?
Who is like you? – majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11 NET)
Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? [ba'elim]
Do you judge the children of man uprightly? (Psalm 58:1 ESV)
Bene Elohim / elim
when the morning stars sang in chorus,
and all the sons of God [bene elohim] shouted for joy? (Job 38:7 NET)
Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings [bene elim],
acknowledge the Lord’s majesty and power! (Psalm 29:1 NET)
Now the day came when the sons of God [bene elohim] came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them. (Job 1:6 NET)
Again the day came when the sons of God [bene elohim] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the Lord. (Job 2:1 NET)
the sons of God [bene elohim] saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose...The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God [bene elohim] were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men. (Genesis 6:2, 4 NET)
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
when he divided up humankind,
he set the boundaries of the peoples,
according to the number of the heavenly assembly [bene elohim]. (Deuteronomy 32:8 NET)
So now lets look at the Shema:
"Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Notice the use of OUR. Israel is proclaiming that Yahweh is their elohim as opposed to any other. He is the only one worthy of worship. He is one in that He is unique among the Elohim. There is none like Him. He alone is creator, sovereign and eternal. Israel worships one Elohim but that Elohim reveals Himself to be more than one figure or person.
Let's examine the incomparability of Yahweh more closely:
When Yahweh says there is "none besides me" or "none other" He is not denying the existence of other Elohim, He is speaking of His incomparability, His uniqueness. We know this because the Bible clearly describes other beings who are "elohim"
These are not purely false or fake gods of other nations, but beings among Yahweh's heavenly assembly or divine council. They are beings over which He is sovereign and lord.
To keep this in context, compare this to Islam which declares there is only one god. The Hebrew Bible says no, there is not only one god/elohim, but there is only one worthy of worship and He is Yahweh. He is described less in terms of what He is and more in terms of who He is, what He does and what He is able to do.
The whole point of this is to draw focus away from our term "god" and all the things we associate with that term, and bring focus instead to the being who is Yahweh and what scripture says about Him and how He has revealed Himself.
Passages about the incomparability of Yahweh:
You have been taught that the Lord [Yahweh] alone is God [elohim] – there is no other besides him. (Deuteronomy 4:35 NET)
Today realize and carefully consider that the Lord [Yahweh] is God [elohim] in heaven above and on earth below – there is no other! (Deuteronomy 4:39 NET)
The Lord [Yahweh] alone was guiding him,
no foreign god [el] was with him. (Deuteronomy 32:12 NET)
You are my witnesses,” says the Lord [Yahweh],
“my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may consider and believe in me,
and understand that I am he.
No god [el] was formed before me,
and none will outlive me.
I, I am the Lord[Yahweh],
and there is no deliverer besides me.
I decreed and delivered and proclaimed,
and there was no other god among you.
You are my witnesses,” says the Lord [Yahweh], “that I am God.[el]" (Isaiah 43:10-12 NET)
Notice Yahweh's expression of incomparability in that there are no other elohim that dwelt among the people of Israel. This will be significant later. Remember, there are no other ELOHIM who dwells among them. Yahweh alone is that El. But more so, He here expresses that no other elohim was formed before Him and none will outlive Him, in other words, He is the only one who is and has always been eternal. He is the creator.
This is what the Lord [Yahweh], Israel’s king, says,
their protector, the Lord [Yahweh]who commands armies:
“I am the first and I am the last,
there is no God [elohim] but me.
Who is like me? Let him make his claim!
Let him announce it and explain it to me –
since I established an ancient people –
let them announce future events!
Don’t panic! Don’t be afraid!
Did I not tell you beforehand and decree it?
You are my witnesses! Is there any God [eloah] but me?
There is no other sheltering rock; I know of none. (Isaiah 44:6-8 NET)
Note again, it is not a question of "Do any other Elohim exist?" but rather "Is there any other like me?" Are there any other elohim who know the end from the beginning and who in their sovereignty decree what is first and last?
You want the sources throughout the Bible, alrighty, you'll have them :) it's going to be a long read and a long post but if you honestly want answers, you'll approach the material honestly.
So let's start with God. There were four common terms for God in the Hebrew:
1. Elohim
2. El
3. Yahweh
4. Eloah
Elohim, however, was not used exclusively to refer to the God of Israel. The term Elohim is used in the Bible to describe:
* The God of Israel
* The gods of the nations: because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. (1 Kings 11:33 ESV)
* The gods of Yahweh’s council: God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: (Psalm 82:1 ESV)
* Demons (Deut 32:17):They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.
* Deceased human dead: The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. (1 Samuel 28:13, 14 ESV)
* Maybe Angels
Unfortunately this is sometimes obscured by our English translations, but the Hebrew is clear. We are used to prescribing a unique set of attributes to the term "G-O-D" which is something the Hebrew writers DIDN'T do when it came to the term Elohim.
So, all Elohim are not equal in attributes. To put it another way, Yahweh is an elohim but not all elohim are Yahweh.
Elohim more so describes where these things come from, a place of residence, I.e the Spiritual realm of the unseen.
So:
1) Biblical use of the term "Elohim" shows that it is not tied to a set of attributes.
2) This explains why more than one being can be described as elohim.
3) Since Elohim is not about attributes, Jews would not be violating monotheism by using the term to describe other beings they believed to exist.
Two more points to focus on:
* Yahweh was in command of other elohim. He is superior and unique.
* Sonship language like"sons of God" was rightly applied to divine beings other than humans without violating monotheism.
So let's look closely at some passages:
God [elohim] has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods[elohim] he holds judgment: (Psalm 82:1 ESV)
Context tells us the first use of Elohim is singular (has taken HIS place) whereas the second is plural (in the MIDST of).
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord[Yahweh]? Who among the heavenly beings[bene elim] is like the Lord [Yahweh], a God [elohim] greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? (Psalm 89:5-7 ESV)
The term "bene elim" is "sons of God" What we have here is the superiority of Yahweh expressed above and beyond all other elohim in the heavens. He is feared in the divine council of the elohim.
I said, "You are gods[elohim], sons[bene] of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince." (Psalm 82:6, 7 ESV)
Yahweh's heavenly council is full of other elohim, spiritual beings called the sons of God. Here they are being admonished and told they will be stripped of their immortality for disobeying Yahweh.
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. (Deuteronomy 32:8, 9 ESV)
When God divided the nations, He did so according to the number of the sons of God, placing each of them to watch over a nation. In Psalm 82:6-7 He is berating them for not doing their job properly.
Now bear with me, I'm going to give a number of references to other instances of bene / elohim as "sons of God"
Elohim / elim
None can compare to you among the gods[elohim], O Lord!
Your exploits are incomparable! (Psalm 86:8 NET)
For the Lord[Yahweh] is a great God[el],
a great king who is superior to all gods[elohim]. (Psalm 95:3 NET)
For the Lord [Yahweh] is great and certainly worthy of praise;
he is more awesome than all gods [elohim]. (Psalm 96:4 NET)
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods [elohim]!
Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord [Yahweh].
For you, O Lord [Yahweh], are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods [elohim]. (Psalm 97:7-9 ESV)
Notice here, these other elohim are commanded to worship Yahweh.
Give thanks to the God [elohim] of gods [elohim],
for his loyal love endures. (Psalm 136:2 NET)
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods [elohim] I sing your praise; (Psalm 138:1 ESV)
This one here, psalm 138, is a psalm of David, something the Quran claims to acknowledge. David is here saying he will sing praises to Yahweh before the elohim, for them to see and hear.
Who is like you, O Lord [Yahweh], among the gods [ba'elim]?
Who is like you? – majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11 NET)
Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? [ba'elim]
Do you judge the children of man uprightly? (Psalm 58:1 ESV)
Bene Elohim / elim
when the morning stars sang in chorus,
and all the sons of God [bene elohim] shouted for joy? (Job 38:7 NET)
Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings [bene elim],
acknowledge the Lord’s majesty and power! (Psalm 29:1 NET)
Now the day came when the sons of God [bene elohim] came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them. (Job 1:6 NET)
Again the day came when the sons of God [bene elohim] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the Lord. (Job 2:1 NET)
the sons of God [bene elohim] saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose...The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God [bene elohim] were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men. (Genesis 6:2, 4 NET)
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
when he divided up humankind,
he set the boundaries of the peoples,
according to the number of the heavenly assembly [bene elohim]. (Deuteronomy 32:8 NET)
So now lets look at the Shema:
"Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Notice the use of OUR. Israel is proclaiming that Yahweh is their elohim as opposed to any other. He is the only one worthy of worship. He is one in that He is unique among the Elohim. There is none like Him. He alone is creator, sovereign and eternal. Israel worships one Elohim but that Elohim reveals Himself to be more than one figure or person.
Let's examine the incomparability of Yahweh more closely:
When Yahweh says there is "none besides me" or "none other" He is not denying the existence of other Elohim, He is speaking of His incomparability, His uniqueness. We know this because the Bible clearly describes other beings who are "elohim"
These are not purely false or fake gods of other nations, but beings among Yahweh's heavenly assembly or divine council. They are beings over which He is sovereign and lord.
To keep this in context, compare this to Islam which declares there is only one god. The Hebrew Bible says no, there is not only one god/elohim, but there is only one worthy of worship and He is Yahweh. He is described less in terms of what He is and more in terms of who He is, what He does and what He is able to do.
The whole point of this is to draw focus away from our term "god" and all the things we associate with that term, and bring focus instead to the being who is Yahweh and what scripture says about Him and how He has revealed Himself.
Passages about the incomparability of Yahweh:
You have been taught that the Lord [Yahweh] alone is God [elohim] – there is no other besides him. (Deuteronomy 4:35 NET)
Today realize and carefully consider that the Lord [Yahweh] is God [elohim] in heaven above and on earth below – there is no other! (Deuteronomy 4:39 NET)
The Lord [Yahweh] alone was guiding him,
no foreign god [el] was with him. (Deuteronomy 32:12 NET)
You are my witnesses,” says the Lord [Yahweh],
“my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may consider and believe in me,
and understand that I am he.
No god [el] was formed before me,
and none will outlive me.
I, I am the Lord[Yahweh],
and there is no deliverer besides me.
I decreed and delivered and proclaimed,
and there was no other god among you.
You are my witnesses,” says the Lord [Yahweh], “that I am God.[el]" (Isaiah 43:10-12 NET)
Notice Yahweh's expression of incomparability in that there are no other elohim that dwelt among the people of Israel. This will be significant later. Remember, there are no other ELOHIM who dwells among them. Yahweh alone is that El. But more so, He here expresses that no other elohim was formed before Him and none will outlive Him, in other words, He is the only one who is and has always been eternal. He is the creator.
This is what the Lord [Yahweh], Israel’s king, says,
their protector, the Lord [Yahweh]who commands armies:
“I am the first and I am the last,
there is no God [elohim] but me.
Who is like me? Let him make his claim!
Let him announce it and explain it to me –
since I established an ancient people –
let them announce future events!
Don’t panic! Don’t be afraid!
Did I not tell you beforehand and decree it?
You are my witnesses! Is there any God [eloah] but me?
There is no other sheltering rock; I know of none. (Isaiah 44:6-8 NET)
Note again, it is not a question of "Do any other Elohim exist?" but rather "Is there any other like me?" Are there any other elohim who know the end from the beginning and who in their sovereignty decree what is first and last?
I am the Lord [Yahweh], I have no peer,
there is no God [elohim] but me.
I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.
I do this so people will recognize from east to west
that there is no God but me;
I am the Lord [Yahweh], I have no peer.
I am the one who forms light
and creates darkness;
the one who brings about peace
and creates calamity.
I am the Lord [Yahweh], who accomplishes all these things. (Isaiah 45:5-7 NET)
there is no God [elohim] but me.
I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.
I do this so people will recognize from east to west
that there is no God but me;
I am the Lord [Yahweh], I have no peer.
I am the one who forms light
and creates darkness;
the one who brings about peace
and creates calamity.
I am the Lord [Yahweh], who accomplishes all these things. (Isaiah 45:5-7 NET)
No other elohim arm Israel for battle, who forms light and
darkness and brings peace and calamity. Yahweh declares that He alone does all
these things, no other elohim.
This is what the Lord [Yahweh]says:
“The profit of Egypt and the revenue of Ethiopia,
along with the Sabeans, those tall men,
will be brought to you and become yours.
They will walk behind you, coming along in chains.
They will bow down to you
and pray to you:
‘Truly God [el] is with you; he has no peer;
there is no other God [elohim]!’” (Isaiah 45:14 NET)
Again, the point in Isaiah 45:14 is that no other Elohim are with Israel. Yahweh is the Elohim who is with them.
For this is what the Lord [Yahweh] says,
the one who created the sky –
he is the true God [elohim],
the one who formed the earth and made it;
he established it,
he did not create it without order,
he formed it to be inhabited –
“I am the Lord [Yahweh], I have no peer. (Isaiah 45:18 NET)
Yahweh is the Elohim who created the earth and formed it to be inhabited. He is the one Elohim worthy of worship because He is Yahweh the creator and there is none like Him.
Tell me! Present the evidence!
Let them consult with one another!
Who predicted this in the past?
Who announced it beforehand?
Was it not I, the Lord [Yahweh]?
I have no peer, there is no God [elohim] but me,
a God [el] who vindicates and delivers;
there is none but me.
Turn to me so you can be delivered,
all you who live in the earth’s remote regions!
For I am God [el] , and I have no peer. (Isaiah 45:21, 22 NET)
And here, Yahweh proclaims His ability to predict future events and announce them. No other elohim are capable of doing this. He alone is the El who vindicates and delivers, so He calls for those afar off to return to the one El capable of doing this.
Note that many of these passages are within books that acknowledge the existence of other elohim, so they are not denials that other elohim exist. Compare this to the following passage about Babylon:
Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart,
"I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children": These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments. You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, "No one sees me"; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me." (Isaiah 47:8-10 ESV)
Here Yahweh is saying He's going to bring calamity on the city of Babylon that has claimed "I am, and there is no one besides me." Babylon is not saying that no other cities exist, but rather that they are unique amongst all and no one compares to them.
Lets return once more to the Shema:
"Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
We have seen that "Elohim" is not used exclusively of Yahweh but of a number of beings. In the Shema which Muslims love to compare to the Shahada, Israel is affirming that Yahweh is THEIR elohim as opposed to any other of those that exist. He is the only one worthy of worship, the only one who is Creator. He demonstrates this by His saving acts, by His prophetic power, by His sovereignty and by dwelling with them. No other elohim, whether those who have rebelled against Yahweh or fake gods, actually dwell within their nations.
So, when it comes to Judaism we can see several things:
* The Shema is not a contradiction to divine plurality. It does not deny that Yahweh can be one being but multiple persons.
* Rather, the Shema affirms the uniqueness of Yahweh, a uniqueness that can operate alongside divine plurality.
* So when we properly understand the term elohim, it is not inconsistent with divine plurality or the concept of the triune Godhead.
* This provides the foundation to explain how Christianity grew out of Judaism.
* This ultimately means that the Muslim cannot turn to the Shema as either an affirmation of the Shahada or a contradiction to the triune Godhead, because the theology of the old testament writers and prophets was contrary to the Shahada and in fact acknowledged the existence of another who both was but wasn't Yahweh.
The OT identifies another elohim with Yahweh's essence who is Yahweh yet distinct from Yahweh.
We're going to see that Israelite divine plurality has a Godhead, therefore it is not just a New Testament idea. Furthermore, it was not made up by Paul in contradiction to other Christians.
THE OT GODHEAD
Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. (Deut 6:4)
Remember, Yahweh is unique among the elohim. That is the expression of the Shema.
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:18 ESV)
Look at what this passage in John is saying. No one has seen God (The Father / Yahweh in this context) The unique God (that is the expression meant by "the only" here, the Greek monogenes), who is at the Father's side has revealed Him. We are here being told of one who is the unique Elohim, a term only reserved for Yahweh, who is at Yahweh's side who has revealed Yahweh.
The question we're going to answer here is: Why did a 1st Century Jew, committed to monotheism, embrace Jesus as God in the flesh alongside the God of Israel without seeing it as a violation of the Shema?
We've already explored part of the answer to this by acknowledging that the Shema is an acknowledgement of Yahweh being unique among the elohim, not that there are no other elohim. So is what John is saying a new idea only found in the NT? That there is a unique God at the side of God who reveals God?
Let's examine some interesting OT passages:
Then the Lord [Yahweh] rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord [Yahweh] out of heaven. (Genesis 19:24 ESV)
“I overthrew some of you the way God [Elohim] overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the flames.
Still you did not come back to me.”
The Lord [Yahweh] is speaking! (Amos 4:11 NET)
First we have this odd form in Genesis where Yahweh rains fire from Yahweh out of heaven. Is God here saying that He simply rained fire from heaven? Why not simply have said "Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and Gomorrah suffer and fire from heaven"?
But look at the next passage in Amos. It is Yahweh speaking and He says "I overthrow some of you the way God [elohim] overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah."
Now we know in Genesis 19:24 that Yahweh is the one who overthrows Sodom and Gomorrah, yet in Amos Yahweh is referring to another who is Elohim yet also Yahweh.
Some time after these things God [Elohim] tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied. God said, “Take your son – your only son, whom you love, Isaac – and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.”...
But the Lord's angel [Yahweh's Messenger] called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God [Elohim] because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.” (Genesis 22:1, 2, 11, 12 NET).
Yahweh is the one who tests Abraham, yet here we are introduced to "Yahweh's Messenger" or "The Messenger of Yahweh" "The Angel of the Lord" who speaks AS Yahweh. He says that He knows Abraham fears God because he didn't withhold Isaac from Him. Note the context, Abraham was sacrificing to Yahweh yet here Yahweh is described as two distinct people.
To quote Alan F Segal "The idea of the 2nd power was not considered heretical until the 2nd century CR" Segal, 'Two Powers in Heaven' pp. x-xi (intro)
So in other words, Jews didn't consider this idea of Yahweh's messenger being a second power in heaven who was also Yahweh to be heretical until AFTER the rise of Christianity.
Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. The angel of the Lord [Yahweh's Messenger] appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked – and the bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed! So Moses thought, “I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” When the Lord [Yahweh] saw that he had turned aside to look, God [Elohim] called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:1-4 NET)
First we are told that it is Yahweh's Messenger who appears in the fire. Next we are told that Yahweh Himself observes Moses turning to look at the bush. Finally Elohim calls to Moses from within the bush. So we have Yahweh's Messenger equated with both Yahweh and Elohim. They are distinct, yet one.
Next we'll examine this messenger’s relationship with what scripture calls "the name" of Yahweh.
THE NAME
“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for MY NAME IS IN HIM. But if you diligently obey him and do all that I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries. (Exodus 23:20-22 NET)
You must not worship the Lord [Yahweh] your God [elohim] the way they worship. But you must seek only the place he chooses from all your tribes to establish HIS NAME as his place of RESIDENCE, and you must go there. And there you must take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks...Then you must come to the place the Lord [Yahweh] your God [elohim] chooses for HIS NAME TO RESIDE, bringing everything I am commanding you – your burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, and all your choice votive offerings which you devote to him. (Deuteronomy 12:4-6, 11 NET)
First we see that an angel / messenger is sent before Israel after the exodus to protect them and make a way for them. They are told to obey him because Yahweh's name is IN him. Many speak in Yahweh's name, as in on His behalf delivering His messages, but for His very name to be somewhere is describe His presence.
May the Lord [Yahweh] answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God [Elohim] of Jacob protect you!
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord [Yahweh] our God [elohim]. (Psalm 20:1, 7 ESV)
Look, the name of the Lord [Yahweh]comes from a distant place in raging anger and awesome splendor. He speaks angrily and his word is like destructive fire. (Isaiah 30:27 NET)
The Name is spoken of as "coming" from one place to another. Again, it is describing the very presence of Yahweh travelling from one place to another. So let's look again at Exodus:
“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for MY NAME IS IN HIM. But if you diligently obey him and do all that I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries. (Exodus 23:20-22 NET)
Yahweh's presence is in this messenger, and it is for this reason that Israel is to obey Him. But "the name" is more than just the presence of God, but His very being and glory:
Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see that this nation is your people.”
And the Lord said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
And Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here. For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:13-16 NET)
Here Yahweh is saying His presence will go with Israel. Moses is saying that Israel will be distinguished from ALL people because Yahweh’s presence will dwell with them. Remember that? It’s a description of the uniqueness of Yahweh. But look further on:
This is what the Lord [Yahweh]says:
“The profit of Egypt and the revenue of Ethiopia,
along with the Sabeans, those tall men,
will be brought to you and become yours.
They will walk behind you, coming along in chains.
They will bow down to you
and pray to you:
‘Truly God [el] is with you; he has no peer;
there is no other God [elohim]!’” (Isaiah 45:14 NET)
Again, the point in Isaiah 45:14 is that no other Elohim are with Israel. Yahweh is the Elohim who is with them.
For this is what the Lord [Yahweh] says,
the one who created the sky –
he is the true God [elohim],
the one who formed the earth and made it;
he established it,
he did not create it without order,
he formed it to be inhabited –
“I am the Lord [Yahweh], I have no peer. (Isaiah 45:18 NET)
Yahweh is the Elohim who created the earth and formed it to be inhabited. He is the one Elohim worthy of worship because He is Yahweh the creator and there is none like Him.
Tell me! Present the evidence!
Let them consult with one another!
Who predicted this in the past?
Who announced it beforehand?
Was it not I, the Lord [Yahweh]?
I have no peer, there is no God [elohim] but me,
a God [el] who vindicates and delivers;
there is none but me.
Turn to me so you can be delivered,
all you who live in the earth’s remote regions!
For I am God [el] , and I have no peer. (Isaiah 45:21, 22 NET)
And here, Yahweh proclaims His ability to predict future events and announce them. No other elohim are capable of doing this. He alone is the El who vindicates and delivers, so He calls for those afar off to return to the one El capable of doing this.
Note that many of these passages are within books that acknowledge the existence of other elohim, so they are not denials that other elohim exist. Compare this to the following passage about Babylon:
Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart,
"I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children": These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments. You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, "No one sees me"; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me." (Isaiah 47:8-10 ESV)
Here Yahweh is saying He's going to bring calamity on the city of Babylon that has claimed "I am, and there is no one besides me." Babylon is not saying that no other cities exist, but rather that they are unique amongst all and no one compares to them.
Lets return once more to the Shema:
"Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
We have seen that "Elohim" is not used exclusively of Yahweh but of a number of beings. In the Shema which Muslims love to compare to the Shahada, Israel is affirming that Yahweh is THEIR elohim as opposed to any other of those that exist. He is the only one worthy of worship, the only one who is Creator. He demonstrates this by His saving acts, by His prophetic power, by His sovereignty and by dwelling with them. No other elohim, whether those who have rebelled against Yahweh or fake gods, actually dwell within their nations.
So, when it comes to Judaism we can see several things:
* The Shema is not a contradiction to divine plurality. It does not deny that Yahweh can be one being but multiple persons.
* Rather, the Shema affirms the uniqueness of Yahweh, a uniqueness that can operate alongside divine plurality.
* So when we properly understand the term elohim, it is not inconsistent with divine plurality or the concept of the triune Godhead.
* This provides the foundation to explain how Christianity grew out of Judaism.
* This ultimately means that the Muslim cannot turn to the Shema as either an affirmation of the Shahada or a contradiction to the triune Godhead, because the theology of the old testament writers and prophets was contrary to the Shahada and in fact acknowledged the existence of another who both was but wasn't Yahweh.
The OT identifies another elohim with Yahweh's essence who is Yahweh yet distinct from Yahweh.
We're going to see that Israelite divine plurality has a Godhead, therefore it is not just a New Testament idea. Furthermore, it was not made up by Paul in contradiction to other Christians.
THE OT GODHEAD
Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. (Deut 6:4)
Remember, Yahweh is unique among the elohim. That is the expression of the Shema.
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:18 ESV)
Look at what this passage in John is saying. No one has seen God (The Father / Yahweh in this context) The unique God (that is the expression meant by "the only" here, the Greek monogenes), who is at the Father's side has revealed Him. We are here being told of one who is the unique Elohim, a term only reserved for Yahweh, who is at Yahweh's side who has revealed Yahweh.
The question we're going to answer here is: Why did a 1st Century Jew, committed to monotheism, embrace Jesus as God in the flesh alongside the God of Israel without seeing it as a violation of the Shema?
We've already explored part of the answer to this by acknowledging that the Shema is an acknowledgement of Yahweh being unique among the elohim, not that there are no other elohim. So is what John is saying a new idea only found in the NT? That there is a unique God at the side of God who reveals God?
Let's examine some interesting OT passages:
Then the Lord [Yahweh] rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord [Yahweh] out of heaven. (Genesis 19:24 ESV)
“I overthrew some of you the way God [Elohim] overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the flames.
Still you did not come back to me.”
The Lord [Yahweh] is speaking! (Amos 4:11 NET)
First we have this odd form in Genesis where Yahweh rains fire from Yahweh out of heaven. Is God here saying that He simply rained fire from heaven? Why not simply have said "Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and Gomorrah suffer and fire from heaven"?
But look at the next passage in Amos. It is Yahweh speaking and He says "I overthrow some of you the way God [elohim] overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah."
Now we know in Genesis 19:24 that Yahweh is the one who overthrows Sodom and Gomorrah, yet in Amos Yahweh is referring to another who is Elohim yet also Yahweh.
Some time after these things God [Elohim] tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied. God said, “Take your son – your only son, whom you love, Isaac – and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.”...
But the Lord's angel [Yahweh's Messenger] called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God [Elohim] because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.” (Genesis 22:1, 2, 11, 12 NET).
Yahweh is the one who tests Abraham, yet here we are introduced to "Yahweh's Messenger" or "The Messenger of Yahweh" "The Angel of the Lord" who speaks AS Yahweh. He says that He knows Abraham fears God because he didn't withhold Isaac from Him. Note the context, Abraham was sacrificing to Yahweh yet here Yahweh is described as two distinct people.
To quote Alan F Segal "The idea of the 2nd power was not considered heretical until the 2nd century CR" Segal, 'Two Powers in Heaven' pp. x-xi (intro)
So in other words, Jews didn't consider this idea of Yahweh's messenger being a second power in heaven who was also Yahweh to be heretical until AFTER the rise of Christianity.
Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. The angel of the Lord [Yahweh's Messenger] appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked – and the bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed! So Moses thought, “I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” When the Lord [Yahweh] saw that he had turned aside to look, God [Elohim] called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:1-4 NET)
First we are told that it is Yahweh's Messenger who appears in the fire. Next we are told that Yahweh Himself observes Moses turning to look at the bush. Finally Elohim calls to Moses from within the bush. So we have Yahweh's Messenger equated with both Yahweh and Elohim. They are distinct, yet one.
Next we'll examine this messenger’s relationship with what scripture calls "the name" of Yahweh.
THE NAME
“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for MY NAME IS IN HIM. But if you diligently obey him and do all that I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries. (Exodus 23:20-22 NET)
You must not worship the Lord [Yahweh] your God [elohim] the way they worship. But you must seek only the place he chooses from all your tribes to establish HIS NAME as his place of RESIDENCE, and you must go there. And there you must take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks...Then you must come to the place the Lord [Yahweh] your God [elohim] chooses for HIS NAME TO RESIDE, bringing everything I am commanding you – your burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, and all your choice votive offerings which you devote to him. (Deuteronomy 12:4-6, 11 NET)
First we see that an angel / messenger is sent before Israel after the exodus to protect them and make a way for them. They are told to obey him because Yahweh's name is IN him. Many speak in Yahweh's name, as in on His behalf delivering His messages, but for His very name to be somewhere is describe His presence.
May the Lord [Yahweh] answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God [Elohim] of Jacob protect you!
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord [Yahweh] our God [elohim]. (Psalm 20:1, 7 ESV)
Look, the name of the Lord [Yahweh]comes from a distant place in raging anger and awesome splendor. He speaks angrily and his word is like destructive fire. (Isaiah 30:27 NET)
The Name is spoken of as "coming" from one place to another. Again, it is describing the very presence of Yahweh travelling from one place to another. So let's look again at Exodus:
“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for MY NAME IS IN HIM. But if you diligently obey him and do all that I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries. (Exodus 23:20-22 NET)
Yahweh's presence is in this messenger, and it is for this reason that Israel is to obey Him. But "the name" is more than just the presence of God, but His very being and glory:
Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see that this nation is your people.”
And the Lord said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
And Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here. For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:13-16 NET)
Here Yahweh is saying His presence will go with Israel. Moses is saying that Israel will be distinguished from ALL people because Yahweh’s presence will dwell with them. Remember that? It’s a description of the uniqueness of Yahweh. But look further on:
The Lord said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you
have requested, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
And Moses said, “Show me your glory.”
And the Lord [Yahweh] said, “I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will proclaim the Lord [Yahweh] by NAME before you; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” But he added, “You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live.” The Lord [Yahweh] said, “Here is a place by me; you will station yourself on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and will cover you with my hand while I pass by. Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:17-23 NET)
Yahweh is going to pass by Moses an proclaim Yahweh by name. See the interesting construction of the text. Yahweh speaks of showing His glory as if He was declaring someone distinct from Himself. This is in response to Moses asking to see His glory. His glory, His presence and His name are all descriptions of who Yahweh is, what He's done and what He is able to do.
So Moses cut out two tablets of stone like the first; early in the morning he went up to Mount Sinai, just as the Lord [Yahweh] had commanded him, and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone.
The Lord [Yahweh] descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the Lord [Yahweh] by NAME. The Lord [Yahweh] passed by before him and proclaimed: “The Lord [Yahweh] the Lord [Yahweh], the compassionate and gracious God [el], slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”
Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped and said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord go among us, for we are a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
He said, “See, I am going to make a covenant before all your people. I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. All the people among whom you live will see the work of the Lord [Yahweh], for it is a fearful thing that I am doing with you.
“Obey what I am commanding you this day. I am going to drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you. Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles. For you must not worship any other god, for the Lord [Yahweh] , whose NAME is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:4-14 NET)
God is here describing His nature and character. So we see that The Name of Yahweh represents His very presence, His nature, His character and His glory. ALL of this is in Yahweh's Messenger.
You have been taught that the Lord [Yahweh] alone is God [elohim] – there is no other besides him. From heaven he spoke to you in order to teach you, and on earth he showed you his great fire from which you also heard his words. Moreover, because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants who followed them and personally brought you out of Egypt with his great power (Deuteronomy 4:35-37 NET)
Yahweh personally brought Israel out of Egypt, an act equated with Yahweh's Messenger.
The Lord’s angelic messenger [Yahweh's Messenger] went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, “I BROUGHT YOU UP FROM EGYPT and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my agreement with you, but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’ But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing? At that time I also warned you, ‘If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.’”
When the Lord’s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. (Judges 2:1-4 NET)
Note, these are the very words spoken by Yahweh in Exodus 34 now being spoken by Yahweh's Messenger, and He is saying that He is the one who brought them up out of Egypt, made a covenant with them and said He would drive out the other nations, all things Yahweh said He will do:
He [Yahweh] said, “See, I am going to make a covenant before all your people. I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. All the people among whom you live will see the work of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am doing with you.
“Obey what I am commanding you this day. I am going to drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you. Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles. For you must not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:10-14 NET)
“Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. In the dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Here I am!’ I replied. Then he said, ‘Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you. I AM THE GOD OF BETHEL, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.’” (Genesis 31:10-13 NET)
And here's the event if you are in doubt:
Meanwhile Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Haran. He reached a certain place where he decided to camp because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones and placed it near his head. Then he fell asleep in that place and had a dream. He saw a stairway erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it and the Lord [Yahweh]stood at its top. He said, “I am the Lord [Yahweh], the God [elohim] of your grandfather Abraham and the God [elohim] of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using your name and that of your descendants. I am with you! I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!”
Then Jacob woke up and thought, “Surely the Lord [Yahweh]is in this place, but I did not realize it!” He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than the house of God [elohim] ! This is the gate of heaven!”
Early in the morning Jacob took the stone he had placed near his head and set it up as a sacred stone. Then he poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel [house of God], although the former name of the town was Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God [elohim] is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord [Yahweh] will become MY God [elohim]. Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.” (Genesis 28:10-22 NET)
So here we see, Yahweh's Messenger is claiming to be the God who appeared to Jacob at Bethel. He is claiming to be Yahweh.
Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, although he was the younger. Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Then he blessed Joseph and said,
“May the God [elohim] before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked –
the God [elohim] who has been my shepherd
all my life long to this day,
the Angel [Messenger] who has protected me
from all harm –
bless these boys.
May my name be named in them,
and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.
May they grow into a multitude on the earth.” (Genesis 48:14-16 NET)
Jacob / Israel, this same Jacob, speaks of the God of his fathers and calls him the Messenger who protected him from harm, calling God and His Messenger Yahweh! Notice also that this is spoken long after the preceding events when he is an old man, and he acknowledges that Yahweh indeed did protect him and did become his elohim.
The Lord’s angelic messenger came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash’s son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress so he could hide it from the Midianites. The Lord’s messenger [Yahweh's Messenger] appeared and said to him, “The Lord [Yahweh] is WITH YOU, courageous warrior!” Gideon said to him, “Pardon me, but if the Lord [Yahweh] is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Did the Lord [Yahweh]not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord [Yahweh] has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” Then the Lord [Yahweh]himself turned to him and said, “You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! Have I not sent you?” Gideon said to him, “But Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.” The Lord [Yahweh] said to him, “Ah, but I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army.” Gideon said to him, “If you really are pleased with me, then give me a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. Do not leave this place until I come back with a gift and present it to you.” The Lord [Yahweh] said, “I will stay here until you come back.”
Gideon went and prepared a young goat, along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. God’s messenger said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed. The Lord’s messenger [Yahweh's Messenger]touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The Lord’s messenger [Yahweh's Messenger] then disappeared.
When Gideon realized that it was the Lord’s messenger [Yahweh’s Messenger], he said, “Oh no! Master, Lord! I have seen the Lord’s messenger [Yahweh’s Messenger] face to face!” The Lord [Yahweh] said to him, “You are safe! Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!” Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.” To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:11-24 NET)
Here is a very interesting text. The Messenger comes and says that Yahweh is with Gideon who questions whether this is true. Then we are told Yahweh Himself turns to Gideon and speaks! Gideon asks for a sign that it is actually Yahweh speaking to Him. When He brings the proof, the Messenger vanishes yet Yahweh still speaks. Here we have Yahweh distinguished as two yet united as one. Furthermore, this event becomes an affirmation of the first thing that Yahweh’s Messenger said, for by being there, Yahweh truly WAS with Gideon.
The messenger of Yahweh and Yahweh are distinct yet both referred to directly as Yahweh.
So to summarise:
* The Hebrew Bible/OT contains clear suggestions of a Godhead (Yahweh as two figures)
* The "Name" is another way of referring to Yahweh (as Jews do today)
* The Name is within the Messenger of Yahweh
* The Messenger is Yahweh in human form!
THE WORD
After these things the word of the Lord [Yahweh]came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.” (Genesis 15:1 NET)
Not a message, but the Word of Yahweh Himself comes to Abram, appears visibly and speaks as Yahweh. Messages themselves don't just speak, but are spoken. We are told the Word came in vision, appearing to Abram and speaking.
Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord [Yahweh]under Eli. And the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh] was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord [Yahweh] , and the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh] had not yet been revealed to him.... And the Lord [Yahweh] called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord [Yahweh] was calling the young man. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord [Yahweh] came and STOOD, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears."
And Samuel grew, and the Lord [Yahweh] was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord [Yahweh] APPEARED AGAIN at Shiloh, for the Lord [Yahweh] REVEALED HIMSELF to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh]. (1 Samuel 3:1, 7-10, 19-21 ESV)
So several things. The Word of Yahweh was rare, meaning He did not appear visibly or in visions! Samuel is said to not yet know Yahweh and that the Word hasn't been revealed to him. Later we see that after Samuel grew, Yahweh appears AGAIN. When did He appear the first time? When He stood calling to Samuel. Samuel recognises Yahweh because Yahweh has previously revealed Himself BY THE WORD OF YAHWEH. In other words, Yahweh revealed Himself to Samuel because the Word of Yahweh appeared to Samuel. The Word is not an abstract reference to a message or prophecy or scripture, for how could Samuel be under the tutelage of a prophet and yet not know any scripture? No, rather it is a reference to the actual physical presence of Yahweh, yet this Word is distinct from Yahweh in the text. There are two who are both Yahweh.
Now the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh] came to me, saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God [Elohim]! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord [Yahweh]said to me,
"Do not say, 'I am only a youth';
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord."
Then the Lord [Yahweh] put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord [Yahweh] said to me,
"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. (Jeremiah 1:4-9 ESV)
The Word of Yahweh comes, and speaks. Messages don't speak and they don't physically interact. The Word of Yahweh appears physically, claims to be Yahweh and touches Jeremiah, yet scripture tells us that none have seen God at any time. So who did Jeremiah see? He say the Word of Yahweh.
And Moses said, “Show me your glory.”
And the Lord [Yahweh] said, “I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will proclaim the Lord [Yahweh] by NAME before you; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” But he added, “You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live.” The Lord [Yahweh] said, “Here is a place by me; you will station yourself on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and will cover you with my hand while I pass by. Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:17-23 NET)
Yahweh is going to pass by Moses an proclaim Yahweh by name. See the interesting construction of the text. Yahweh speaks of showing His glory as if He was declaring someone distinct from Himself. This is in response to Moses asking to see His glory. His glory, His presence and His name are all descriptions of who Yahweh is, what He's done and what He is able to do.
So Moses cut out two tablets of stone like the first; early in the morning he went up to Mount Sinai, just as the Lord [Yahweh] had commanded him, and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone.
The Lord [Yahweh] descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the Lord [Yahweh] by NAME. The Lord [Yahweh] passed by before him and proclaimed: “The Lord [Yahweh] the Lord [Yahweh], the compassionate and gracious God [el], slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”
Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped and said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord go among us, for we are a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
He said, “See, I am going to make a covenant before all your people. I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. All the people among whom you live will see the work of the Lord [Yahweh], for it is a fearful thing that I am doing with you.
“Obey what I am commanding you this day. I am going to drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you. Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles. For you must not worship any other god, for the Lord [Yahweh] , whose NAME is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:4-14 NET)
God is here describing His nature and character. So we see that The Name of Yahweh represents His very presence, His nature, His character and His glory. ALL of this is in Yahweh's Messenger.
You have been taught that the Lord [Yahweh] alone is God [elohim] – there is no other besides him. From heaven he spoke to you in order to teach you, and on earth he showed you his great fire from which you also heard his words. Moreover, because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants who followed them and personally brought you out of Egypt with his great power (Deuteronomy 4:35-37 NET)
Yahweh personally brought Israel out of Egypt, an act equated with Yahweh's Messenger.
The Lord’s angelic messenger [Yahweh's Messenger] went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, “I BROUGHT YOU UP FROM EGYPT and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my agreement with you, but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’ But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing? At that time I also warned you, ‘If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.’”
When the Lord’s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. (Judges 2:1-4 NET)
Note, these are the very words spoken by Yahweh in Exodus 34 now being spoken by Yahweh's Messenger, and He is saying that He is the one who brought them up out of Egypt, made a covenant with them and said He would drive out the other nations, all things Yahweh said He will do:
He [Yahweh] said, “See, I am going to make a covenant before all your people. I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. All the people among whom you live will see the work of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am doing with you.
“Obey what I am commanding you this day. I am going to drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you. Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles. For you must not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:10-14 NET)
“Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. In the dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Here I am!’ I replied. Then he said, ‘Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you. I AM THE GOD OF BETHEL, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.’” (Genesis 31:10-13 NET)
And here's the event if you are in doubt:
Meanwhile Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Haran. He reached a certain place where he decided to camp because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones and placed it near his head. Then he fell asleep in that place and had a dream. He saw a stairway erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it and the Lord [Yahweh]stood at its top. He said, “I am the Lord [Yahweh], the God [elohim] of your grandfather Abraham and the God [elohim] of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using your name and that of your descendants. I am with you! I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!”
Then Jacob woke up and thought, “Surely the Lord [Yahweh]is in this place, but I did not realize it!” He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than the house of God [elohim] ! This is the gate of heaven!”
Early in the morning Jacob took the stone he had placed near his head and set it up as a sacred stone. Then he poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel [house of God], although the former name of the town was Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God [elohim] is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord [Yahweh] will become MY God [elohim]. Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.” (Genesis 28:10-22 NET)
So here we see, Yahweh's Messenger is claiming to be the God who appeared to Jacob at Bethel. He is claiming to be Yahweh.
Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, although he was the younger. Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Then he blessed Joseph and said,
“May the God [elohim] before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked –
the God [elohim] who has been my shepherd
all my life long to this day,
the Angel [Messenger] who has protected me
from all harm –
bless these boys.
May my name be named in them,
and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.
May they grow into a multitude on the earth.” (Genesis 48:14-16 NET)
Jacob / Israel, this same Jacob, speaks of the God of his fathers and calls him the Messenger who protected him from harm, calling God and His Messenger Yahweh! Notice also that this is spoken long after the preceding events when he is an old man, and he acknowledges that Yahweh indeed did protect him and did become his elohim.
The Lord’s angelic messenger came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash’s son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress so he could hide it from the Midianites. The Lord’s messenger [Yahweh's Messenger] appeared and said to him, “The Lord [Yahweh] is WITH YOU, courageous warrior!” Gideon said to him, “Pardon me, but if the Lord [Yahweh] is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Did the Lord [Yahweh]not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord [Yahweh] has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” Then the Lord [Yahweh]himself turned to him and said, “You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! Have I not sent you?” Gideon said to him, “But Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.” The Lord [Yahweh] said to him, “Ah, but I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army.” Gideon said to him, “If you really are pleased with me, then give me a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. Do not leave this place until I come back with a gift and present it to you.” The Lord [Yahweh] said, “I will stay here until you come back.”
Gideon went and prepared a young goat, along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. God’s messenger said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed. The Lord’s messenger [Yahweh's Messenger]touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The Lord’s messenger [Yahweh's Messenger] then disappeared.
When Gideon realized that it was the Lord’s messenger [Yahweh’s Messenger], he said, “Oh no! Master, Lord! I have seen the Lord’s messenger [Yahweh’s Messenger] face to face!” The Lord [Yahweh] said to him, “You are safe! Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!” Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.” To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:11-24 NET)
Here is a very interesting text. The Messenger comes and says that Yahweh is with Gideon who questions whether this is true. Then we are told Yahweh Himself turns to Gideon and speaks! Gideon asks for a sign that it is actually Yahweh speaking to Him. When He brings the proof, the Messenger vanishes yet Yahweh still speaks. Here we have Yahweh distinguished as two yet united as one. Furthermore, this event becomes an affirmation of the first thing that Yahweh’s Messenger said, for by being there, Yahweh truly WAS with Gideon.
The messenger of Yahweh and Yahweh are distinct yet both referred to directly as Yahweh.
So to summarise:
* The Hebrew Bible/OT contains clear suggestions of a Godhead (Yahweh as two figures)
* The "Name" is another way of referring to Yahweh (as Jews do today)
* The Name is within the Messenger of Yahweh
* The Messenger is Yahweh in human form!
THE WORD
After these things the word of the Lord [Yahweh]came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.” (Genesis 15:1 NET)
Not a message, but the Word of Yahweh Himself comes to Abram, appears visibly and speaks as Yahweh. Messages themselves don't just speak, but are spoken. We are told the Word came in vision, appearing to Abram and speaking.
Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord [Yahweh]under Eli. And the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh] was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord [Yahweh] , and the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh] had not yet been revealed to him.... And the Lord [Yahweh] called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord [Yahweh] was calling the young man. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord [Yahweh] came and STOOD, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears."
And Samuel grew, and the Lord [Yahweh] was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord [Yahweh] APPEARED AGAIN at Shiloh, for the Lord [Yahweh] REVEALED HIMSELF to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh]. (1 Samuel 3:1, 7-10, 19-21 ESV)
So several things. The Word of Yahweh was rare, meaning He did not appear visibly or in visions! Samuel is said to not yet know Yahweh and that the Word hasn't been revealed to him. Later we see that after Samuel grew, Yahweh appears AGAIN. When did He appear the first time? When He stood calling to Samuel. Samuel recognises Yahweh because Yahweh has previously revealed Himself BY THE WORD OF YAHWEH. In other words, Yahweh revealed Himself to Samuel because the Word of Yahweh appeared to Samuel. The Word is not an abstract reference to a message or prophecy or scripture, for how could Samuel be under the tutelage of a prophet and yet not know any scripture? No, rather it is a reference to the actual physical presence of Yahweh, yet this Word is distinct from Yahweh in the text. There are two who are both Yahweh.
Now the word of the Lord [Word of Yahweh] came to me, saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God [Elohim]! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord [Yahweh]said to me,
"Do not say, 'I am only a youth';
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord."
Then the Lord [Yahweh] put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord [Yahweh] said to me,
"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. (Jeremiah 1:4-9 ESV)
The Word of Yahweh comes, and speaks. Messages don't speak and they don't physically interact. The Word of Yahweh appears physically, claims to be Yahweh and touches Jeremiah, yet scripture tells us that none have seen God at any time. So who did Jeremiah see? He say the Word of Yahweh.
THE CLOUD RIDER
There is no one like God [elohim], O Jeshurun,
who rides through the sky to help you,
on the clouds in majesty. (Deuteronomy 33:26 NET)
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God [elohim]!
Sing praises to the Lord [Yahweh], (Selah)
to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times!
Look! He thunders loudly.
Acknowledge God’s [elohim] power,
his sovereignty over Israel,
and the power he reveals in the skies! (Psalm 68:32-34 NET)
Praise the Lord[Yahweh], O my soul!
O Lord [Yahweh] my God [Elohim] , you are magnificent.
You are robed in splendor and majesty.
He covers himself with light as if it were a garment.
He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,
and lays the beams of the upper rooms of his palace on the rain clouds.
He makes the clouds his chariot,
and travels along on the wings of the wind. (Psalm 104:1-3 NET)
Here is a message about Egypt:
Look, the Lord [Yahweh] rides on a swift-moving cloud
and approaches Egypt.
The idols of Egypt tremble before him;
the Egyptians lose their courage. (Isaiah 19:1 NET)
So here we have language used to describe Yahweh as the cloud rider. Note there is none like Him who rides on the clouds of heaven. This is a theological statement and it was also a challenge to those who worshipped the idol Baal who was said to ride on the clouds. Only Yahweh is the one who rides on the clouds. But look here:
“While I was watching,
thrones were set up,
and the Ancient of Days [that is, Yahweh] took his seat.
His attire was white like snow;
the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool.
His throne was ablaze with fire
and its wheels were all aflame.
A river of fire was streaming forth
and proceeding from his presence.
Many thousands were ministering to him;
Many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him.
The court convened
and the books were opened.
I was watching in the night visions,
“And WITH THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY
one like a SON OF MAN was approaching.
He went up to the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.
All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him.
His authority is ETERNAL and will not pass away.
His kingdom will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:9, 10, 13, 14 NET)
Notice that more than one throne is set up. The Ancient of Days takes His seat. The Son of Man takes His seat also.
Can eternal authority be possessed by any other than Yahweh? No. But more so, this Son of Man comes rising on the clouds, something only Yahweh can do. He has a throne and it is next to Yahweh.
THE THIRD BECOMES VISIBLE
I will tell of the faithful acts of the Lord [Yahweh],
of the Lord’s praiseworthy deeds.
I will tell about all the Lord [Yahweh] did for us,
the many good things he did for the family of Israel,
because of his compassion and great faithfulness.
He said, “Certainly they will be my people,
children who are not disloyal.”
He became their deliverer.
Through all that they suffered, he suffered too.
The messenger sent from his very presence [Messenger of Yahweh] delivered them.
In his love and mercy he protected them;
he lifted them up and carried them throughout ancient times.
But they rebelled and offended his HOLY SPIRIT,
so he turned into an enemy
and fought against them.
His people remembered the ancient times.
Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea,
along with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is the one who PLACED HIS HOLY SPIRIT AMONG THEM, (Isaiah 63:7-11 NET)
Here we see the first mention of the Holy Spirit. Notice that the Holy Spirit is personal, He can be offended and rebelled against. He became the enemy of the disobedient. But notice next we are told that Yahweh placed HIS Holy Spirit among the people, language also used to describe the Messenger of Yahweh. So we now have three, all equated with Yahweh yet distinct. Bear in mind also that again the Holy Spirit here CANNOT be Muhammad, for Muhammad was not born when Israel was delivered from Egypt and wandered in the wilderness. He certainly wasn’t placed among them because Muhammad was a prophet among ARABS!
Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and THE SPIRIT lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley. Then he said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north." So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations." (Ezekiel 8:2-6 ESV)
So we first have a description of one who has the form of a man yet is glorious, a description used by Ezekiel to describe Yahweh:
As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north – an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. In the fire were what looked like four living beings...Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man. I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire. There was a brilliant light around it, like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord [Yahweh]. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking. (Ezekiel 1:4, 5, 26-28 NET)
Next we are told that this being takes him by the lock of his hair, yet then The Spirit lifts him up. Both Yahweh, yet distinct, but look further. He is brought to a place where He sees the Glory of God, the presence of Yahweh. So we have three, all Yahweh yet distinct.
So,
* The Hebrew Bible identifies another figure besides Yahweh with Yahweh's essence.
* This "Second Yahweh" figure is also distinguished from Yahweh.
* This "Second Yahweh" figure was frequently described in human form; at times even embodied.
* This "Second Yahweh" figure "was but wasn't" Yahweh - just as Christians had to speak of Jesus.
* 1st century Jewish writers speculated a great deal about the identity of the Second Yahweh.
* Jews were therefore used to the idea of "two in one" before Christianity, and could embrace that theology without violation of the Shema.
* Therefore it can't be argued that the idea of the Godhead was late or foreign to Judaism.
* The "Second Yahweh" was distinct from and superior to other Elohim because He was Yahweh.
So now let's bring it all face to face with the New Testament:
THE WORD
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. (John 1:1-3, 14, 18 NET)
The Word of God, distinct from God yet fully God having the glory of God.
The Word of Yahweh, distinct from Yahweh, yet fully Yahweh having the glory of Yahweh.
THE ANGEL
Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 1:5 NET)
“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. (Exodus 23:20 NET)
The Lord’s angelic messenger went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, “I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my agreement with you, (Judges 2:1 NET)
Jesus saved His people from Egypt and destroyed those who didn't believe.
Yahweh's Messenger saved His people from Egypt and destroyed those who didn't believe.
THE NAME
“I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.
When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.
I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.” (John 17:6, 12, 26 NET)
Jesus has the name of God in Him and revealed that name to His disciples.
Yahweh's Messenger has the name of Yahweh in Him and revealed that name to Israel.
That name is the character, nature, presence and glory of Yahweh.
There is no one like God [elohim], O Jeshurun,
who rides through the sky to help you,
on the clouds in majesty. (Deuteronomy 33:26 NET)
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God [elohim]!
Sing praises to the Lord [Yahweh], (Selah)
to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times!
Look! He thunders loudly.
Acknowledge God’s [elohim] power,
his sovereignty over Israel,
and the power he reveals in the skies! (Psalm 68:32-34 NET)
Praise the Lord[Yahweh], O my soul!
O Lord [Yahweh] my God [Elohim] , you are magnificent.
You are robed in splendor and majesty.
He covers himself with light as if it were a garment.
He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,
and lays the beams of the upper rooms of his palace on the rain clouds.
He makes the clouds his chariot,
and travels along on the wings of the wind. (Psalm 104:1-3 NET)
Here is a message about Egypt:
Look, the Lord [Yahweh] rides on a swift-moving cloud
and approaches Egypt.
The idols of Egypt tremble before him;
the Egyptians lose their courage. (Isaiah 19:1 NET)
So here we have language used to describe Yahweh as the cloud rider. Note there is none like Him who rides on the clouds of heaven. This is a theological statement and it was also a challenge to those who worshipped the idol Baal who was said to ride on the clouds. Only Yahweh is the one who rides on the clouds. But look here:
“While I was watching,
thrones were set up,
and the Ancient of Days [that is, Yahweh] took his seat.
His attire was white like snow;
the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool.
His throne was ablaze with fire
and its wheels were all aflame.
A river of fire was streaming forth
and proceeding from his presence.
Many thousands were ministering to him;
Many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him.
The court convened
and the books were opened.
I was watching in the night visions,
“And WITH THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY
one like a SON OF MAN was approaching.
He went up to the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.
All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him.
His authority is ETERNAL and will not pass away.
His kingdom will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:9, 10, 13, 14 NET)
Notice that more than one throne is set up. The Ancient of Days takes His seat. The Son of Man takes His seat also.
Can eternal authority be possessed by any other than Yahweh? No. But more so, this Son of Man comes rising on the clouds, something only Yahweh can do. He has a throne and it is next to Yahweh.
THE THIRD BECOMES VISIBLE
I will tell of the faithful acts of the Lord [Yahweh],
of the Lord’s praiseworthy deeds.
I will tell about all the Lord [Yahweh] did for us,
the many good things he did for the family of Israel,
because of his compassion and great faithfulness.
He said, “Certainly they will be my people,
children who are not disloyal.”
He became their deliverer.
Through all that they suffered, he suffered too.
The messenger sent from his very presence [Messenger of Yahweh] delivered them.
In his love and mercy he protected them;
he lifted them up and carried them throughout ancient times.
But they rebelled and offended his HOLY SPIRIT,
so he turned into an enemy
and fought against them.
His people remembered the ancient times.
Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea,
along with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is the one who PLACED HIS HOLY SPIRIT AMONG THEM, (Isaiah 63:7-11 NET)
Here we see the first mention of the Holy Spirit. Notice that the Holy Spirit is personal, He can be offended and rebelled against. He became the enemy of the disobedient. But notice next we are told that Yahweh placed HIS Holy Spirit among the people, language also used to describe the Messenger of Yahweh. So we now have three, all equated with Yahweh yet distinct. Bear in mind also that again the Holy Spirit here CANNOT be Muhammad, for Muhammad was not born when Israel was delivered from Egypt and wandered in the wilderness. He certainly wasn’t placed among them because Muhammad was a prophet among ARABS!
Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and THE SPIRIT lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley. Then he said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north." So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations." (Ezekiel 8:2-6 ESV)
So we first have a description of one who has the form of a man yet is glorious, a description used by Ezekiel to describe Yahweh:
As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north – an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. In the fire were what looked like four living beings...Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man. I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire. There was a brilliant light around it, like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord [Yahweh]. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking. (Ezekiel 1:4, 5, 26-28 NET)
Next we are told that this being takes him by the lock of his hair, yet then The Spirit lifts him up. Both Yahweh, yet distinct, but look further. He is brought to a place where He sees the Glory of God, the presence of Yahweh. So we have three, all Yahweh yet distinct.
So,
* The Hebrew Bible identifies another figure besides Yahweh with Yahweh's essence.
* This "Second Yahweh" figure is also distinguished from Yahweh.
* This "Second Yahweh" figure was frequently described in human form; at times even embodied.
* This "Second Yahweh" figure "was but wasn't" Yahweh - just as Christians had to speak of Jesus.
* 1st century Jewish writers speculated a great deal about the identity of the Second Yahweh.
* Jews were therefore used to the idea of "two in one" before Christianity, and could embrace that theology without violation of the Shema.
* Therefore it can't be argued that the idea of the Godhead was late or foreign to Judaism.
* The "Second Yahweh" was distinct from and superior to other Elohim because He was Yahweh.
So now let's bring it all face to face with the New Testament:
THE WORD
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. (John 1:1-3, 14, 18 NET)
The Word of God, distinct from God yet fully God having the glory of God.
The Word of Yahweh, distinct from Yahweh, yet fully Yahweh having the glory of Yahweh.
THE ANGEL
Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 1:5 NET)
“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. (Exodus 23:20 NET)
The Lord’s angelic messenger went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, “I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my agreement with you, (Judges 2:1 NET)
Jesus saved His people from Egypt and destroyed those who didn't believe.
Yahweh's Messenger saved His people from Egypt and destroyed those who didn't believe.
THE NAME
“I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.
When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.
I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.” (John 17:6, 12, 26 NET)
Jesus has the name of God in Him and revealed that name to His disciples.
Yahweh's Messenger has the name of Yahweh in Him and revealed that name to Israel.
That name is the character, nature, presence and glory of Yahweh.
CLOUD RIDER
Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered....So the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy! (Matthew 26:57, 62-65 NET)
Jesus here claims to be the Son of Man who will come on the clouds of heaven an sits at the right hand of God.
In Daniel we read of a Son of Man who comes on the clouds of heaven and sits on a throne beside Yahweh.
Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered....So the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy! (Matthew 26:57, 62-65 NET)
Jesus here claims to be the Son of Man who will come on the clouds of heaven an sits at the right hand of God.
In Daniel we read of a Son of Man who comes on the clouds of heaven and sits on a throne beside Yahweh.
Yahweh alone is the cloud rider.
Caiaphas recognised Jesus’ statement as a claim to be Yahweh
because he knew that only Yahweh rode on the clouds of heaven. For Jesus to
claim to sit at Yahweh’s right hand was to make Himself equal with Yahweh.
Hence, He was charged with BLASPHEMY.
* By identifying Jesus as the Second Yahweh of the OT, the NT writers expressed the theology that Jesus was Yahweh incarnate.
* Jesus was therefore NOT an angel in the sense of a lesser heavenly being, because like Yahweh He was unique among the elohim.
So there we have it.
Now just to recap Nasiru, you have claimed that:
1) The theology of the plural Godhead is "Alien to the Semitic concept of God"
I have demonstrated from the Hebrew scriptures, that the concept of a plural Godhead was NOT alien to the theology of the Hebrew scriptures.
2) Nobody knows where it came from.
Anyone who knows their Bible, knows history and knows about the extra-biblical speculations of the Jews between the periods of the Old and New Testaments would know where this theology came from. I have demonstrated that it comes from the Old Testament and the Revelation of Jesus in the Gospels.
3) This "philosophy" has nothing to do with God.
This theology has everything to do with Yahweh as it is how Yahweh Himself has revealed Himself.
Now let's look at some other NT passages in light of what we've learnt:
Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?” The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God [theon /elohim].”
Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods [elohim]’? If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods [elohim]’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform the deeds of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 10:22-38 NET)
Jesus does deeds in the NAME of the Father (Yahweh).
The fact that He does these things in the name of Yahweh says something about who He is.
Those around Him won't listen because they are not His people. His people hear Him, listen to Him and follow Him. Jesus Himself gives them eternal life. How can He do this unless He Himself has eternal life? He is claiming to be Yahweh. He says no one will snatch His people from His hand. He then goes on to say that the Father gave Him His people and that no one can snatch them from the Father's hand. He and the Father are one. They are one in the sovereign act of redemption and salvation, and they are one in their ability to save their people.
Jesus is claiming here to be Yahweh, specifically the second person, the Messenger of Yahweh, the Word of Yahweh. He and the Father are one in purpose and one in their ability to not let anyone take their people from them.
The Jewish leaders pick up stones to stone Jesus because they believe He has made a claim to be God.
Jesus then quotes Psalm 82:6. If you've been paying attention, you'll remember this Psalm:
God [elohim] has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods [elohim] he holds judgment:
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, "You are gods [elohim],
sons of the Most High [bene elyown], all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince."
Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations! (Psalm 82:1-8 ESV)
The "people" Jesus is referring to are the Elohim of Yahweh's divine council. The "word" that came to them is the pronouncement of judgement "like men you shall die" If they were simply other men, it would be redundant for God to say "like men you shall die" because they would already be men who would die.
So what is Jesus saying? He is reminding the Jewish leaders that there are other "Elohim" besides Yahweh in scripture. So for Him to claim to be the "Son of God" is not blasphemous. Those Elohim in Yahweh's divine council were bene elohim, sons of God, but Jesus is taking it a step further. He is making a unique claim, a claim to be THE Son of God. Just as Yahweh is THE God, the unique Elohim, Jesus is saying He is THE Son of God, the unique Ben Elohim. He is claiming to be more than a man, He is claiming to have come from Yahweh, and the proof is the deeds that He does because they show that He is in Yahweh and Yahweh is in Him. He is claiming to be the Messenger of Yahweh, in whom is the NAME of Yahweh, His very character, nature, glory and presence.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you – just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.
“I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you, because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I am praying on behalf of them. I am not praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me, because they belong to you. Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me, and I have been glorified by them. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart. (John 17:1-16, 18, 19 NET)
Jesus asking the Father to glorify Him at His side with the glory He has with Him before the world began, is Jesus asking the Father to reveal who Jesus is, that He is Yahweh with the Father and has always been, so that Jesus may therefore reveal the Father as Yahweh also.
He claims to have revealed Yahweh's name, his character, his nature, his glory and his presence. He gave them the words Yahweh gave Him, as Yahweh's Messenger.
He claims that everything He has belongs to Yahweh and everything Yahweh has belongs to Him.
He asks the Father to keep His people safe IN HIS NAME, that is, in his character, nature, glory and presence. So how is the Father going to protect His people? With His very presence:
But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.
“I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you. But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment – concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you. In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me.”
Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is the meaning of what he is saying, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they kept on repeating, “What is the meaning of what he says, ‘In a little while’? We do not understand what he is talking about.”
Jesus could see that they wanted to ask him about these things, so he said to them, “Are you asking each other about this – that I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me’? I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. When a woman gives birth, she has distress because her time has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. At that time you will ask me nothing. I tell you the solemn truth, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.
“I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father. At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech! Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you have come from God.”
Look, a time is coming – and has come – when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone, because my Father is with me. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world.” (John 16:4-30, 32, 33 NET)
I've quoted part of this scripture already in this discussion but I produce it again for you in fuller depth.
Again, Jesus is speaking of the Advocate whom He will send, the Spirit of Truth.
This Spirit is NOT a man.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)
Because of sin, no man can be called the "Spirit of Truth" except the sinless Son of Man, Jesus.
This Spirit of Truth will prove the world wrong about sin, righteousness and judgement. Sin because they didn't believe in Jesus, righteousness because He is going back to the Father (Yahweh) proving He came from Yahweh and is Yahweh. Judgement because they think like Satan and Satan has been condemned.
The Spirit of Truth guides to all truth. He doesn't speak on His authority but speaks what He hears from Jesus. He speaks on Jesus' authority.
He will glorify Jesus because He receives what Jesus gives Him and gives it to His followers.
All that Jesus has He gives to the Spirit and all that Jesus has the Father has, indicating that the Spirit also has the name of Yahweh, his character, nature, glory and presence.
* By identifying Jesus as the Second Yahweh of the OT, the NT writers expressed the theology that Jesus was Yahweh incarnate.
* Jesus was therefore NOT an angel in the sense of a lesser heavenly being, because like Yahweh He was unique among the elohim.
So there we have it.
Now just to recap Nasiru, you have claimed that:
1) The theology of the plural Godhead is "Alien to the Semitic concept of God"
I have demonstrated from the Hebrew scriptures, that the concept of a plural Godhead was NOT alien to the theology of the Hebrew scriptures.
2) Nobody knows where it came from.
Anyone who knows their Bible, knows history and knows about the extra-biblical speculations of the Jews between the periods of the Old and New Testaments would know where this theology came from. I have demonstrated that it comes from the Old Testament and the Revelation of Jesus in the Gospels.
3) This "philosophy" has nothing to do with God.
This theology has everything to do with Yahweh as it is how Yahweh Himself has revealed Himself.
Now let's look at some other NT passages in light of what we've learnt:
Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?” The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God [theon /elohim].”
Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods [elohim]’? If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods [elohim]’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform the deeds of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 10:22-38 NET)
Jesus does deeds in the NAME of the Father (Yahweh).
The fact that He does these things in the name of Yahweh says something about who He is.
Those around Him won't listen because they are not His people. His people hear Him, listen to Him and follow Him. Jesus Himself gives them eternal life. How can He do this unless He Himself has eternal life? He is claiming to be Yahweh. He says no one will snatch His people from His hand. He then goes on to say that the Father gave Him His people and that no one can snatch them from the Father's hand. He and the Father are one. They are one in the sovereign act of redemption and salvation, and they are one in their ability to save their people.
Jesus is claiming here to be Yahweh, specifically the second person, the Messenger of Yahweh, the Word of Yahweh. He and the Father are one in purpose and one in their ability to not let anyone take their people from them.
The Jewish leaders pick up stones to stone Jesus because they believe He has made a claim to be God.
Jesus then quotes Psalm 82:6. If you've been paying attention, you'll remember this Psalm:
God [elohim] has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods [elohim] he holds judgment:
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, "You are gods [elohim],
sons of the Most High [bene elyown], all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince."
Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations! (Psalm 82:1-8 ESV)
The "people" Jesus is referring to are the Elohim of Yahweh's divine council. The "word" that came to them is the pronouncement of judgement "like men you shall die" If they were simply other men, it would be redundant for God to say "like men you shall die" because they would already be men who would die.
So what is Jesus saying? He is reminding the Jewish leaders that there are other "Elohim" besides Yahweh in scripture. So for Him to claim to be the "Son of God" is not blasphemous. Those Elohim in Yahweh's divine council were bene elohim, sons of God, but Jesus is taking it a step further. He is making a unique claim, a claim to be THE Son of God. Just as Yahweh is THE God, the unique Elohim, Jesus is saying He is THE Son of God, the unique Ben Elohim. He is claiming to be more than a man, He is claiming to have come from Yahweh, and the proof is the deeds that He does because they show that He is in Yahweh and Yahweh is in Him. He is claiming to be the Messenger of Yahweh, in whom is the NAME of Yahweh, His very character, nature, glory and presence.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you – just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.
“I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you, because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I am praying on behalf of them. I am not praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me, because they belong to you. Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me, and I have been glorified by them. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart. (John 17:1-16, 18, 19 NET)
Jesus asking the Father to glorify Him at His side with the glory He has with Him before the world began, is Jesus asking the Father to reveal who Jesus is, that He is Yahweh with the Father and has always been, so that Jesus may therefore reveal the Father as Yahweh also.
He claims to have revealed Yahweh's name, his character, his nature, his glory and his presence. He gave them the words Yahweh gave Him, as Yahweh's Messenger.
He claims that everything He has belongs to Yahweh and everything Yahweh has belongs to Him.
He asks the Father to keep His people safe IN HIS NAME, that is, in his character, nature, glory and presence. So how is the Father going to protect His people? With His very presence:
But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.
“I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you. But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment – concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you. In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me.”
Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is the meaning of what he is saying, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they kept on repeating, “What is the meaning of what he says, ‘In a little while’? We do not understand what he is talking about.”
Jesus could see that they wanted to ask him about these things, so he said to them, “Are you asking each other about this – that I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me’? I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. When a woman gives birth, she has distress because her time has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. At that time you will ask me nothing. I tell you the solemn truth, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.
“I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father. At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech! Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you have come from God.”
Look, a time is coming – and has come – when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone, because my Father is with me. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world.” (John 16:4-30, 32, 33 NET)
I've quoted part of this scripture already in this discussion but I produce it again for you in fuller depth.
Again, Jesus is speaking of the Advocate whom He will send, the Spirit of Truth.
This Spirit is NOT a man.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)
Because of sin, no man can be called the "Spirit of Truth" except the sinless Son of Man, Jesus.
This Spirit of Truth will prove the world wrong about sin, righteousness and judgement. Sin because they didn't believe in Jesus, righteousness because He is going back to the Father (Yahweh) proving He came from Yahweh and is Yahweh. Judgement because they think like Satan and Satan has been condemned.
The Spirit of Truth guides to all truth. He doesn't speak on His authority but speaks what He hears from Jesus. He speaks on Jesus' authority.
He will glorify Jesus because He receives what Jesus gives Him and gives it to His followers.
All that Jesus has He gives to the Spirit and all that Jesus has the Father has, indicating that the Spirit also has the name of Yahweh, his character, nature, glory and presence.
The Spirit of Truth is the very presence of Yahweh.
Jesus goes on to talk about asking things from the Father in Jesus’ name, his character, nature, glory and presence.
Jesus goes on to talk about asking things from the Father in Jesus’ name, his character, nature, glory and presence.
Jesus confirms that they will receive what they ask from the Father and Jesus showing that they are both capable of doing this. They are both Yahweh.
Jesus claims that He came from the Father into the world and is going back to the Father. If He came from the Father and thus is one with the Father and is going to send the Holy Spirit who has everything that Jesus and the Father has and thus comes from Jesus and the Father, then all of them are Yahweh. This Holy Spirit, the very presence of Yahweh, will protect His people and reveal all truth to them.
So we've seen several things:
* Jesus claims to be the unique Son of God, the unique Ben Elohim in similar language to how Yahweh described Himself as the unique Elohim. There is none like Him and likewise there is none like Jesus.
* Jesus claims to have the very name of the Father, the name of Yahweh. He is thus claiming to have and to reveal the character, nature, glory and presence of Yahweh. He is claiming to be the Messenger of Yahweh incarnated in human form.
* Jesus claims to have had the glory of Yahweh from eternity past. He says He shall send the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of Yahweh, to His disciples. This Spirit of Truth has everything He and the Father have, I.e the Name of Yahweh. Thus, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Yahweh and is Yahweh. Thus the eternal Son is not a creation of Yahweh as He has eternally existed with Him. Other elohim did NOT eternally exist as Yahweh Himself declares.
So we see clear teaching from the Old Testament to the New of not only the plural Godhead, but the revelation of The Father, Son and Holy Ghost as all being distinct yet being Yahweh.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful! (Revelation 1:8 NET)
(Look! I am coming soon,
and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done!
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the first and the last,
the beginning and the end!)
Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral, and the murderers, and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood!
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!” (Revelation 22:12-16 NET)
In the first chapter of Revelation, God (Yahweh) makes the statement that He is the Alpha and the Omega, One who is eternal and all powerful. Since He is unique and there is none like Him, for Jesus to say the same thing in the last chapter of Revelation is for Jesus to also be claiming that He is unique and there is none like Him, more so, he is Yahweh.
Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God [theon / elohim] and your God [theon / elohim].’” (John 20:17 NET)
I want to focus on this one since it’s a favourite of Muslims. But given everything we've learnt, what could be said about this passage?
Compare it to the Shema:
"Hear, O Israel, Yahweh your God [elohim], Yahweh is one"
Remember this language of possession? It's an expression of uniqueness, of the incomparability of Yahweh.
But also remember that from the OT scriptures, Yahweh is an elohim like no other, hence Israel says Yahweh is their Elohim, the unique one worthy of worship because He alone, as Yahweh, is the creator and sovereign Lord.
Jesus is here expressing the same statement that His Elohim is the Father, the unique one worthy of worship and adoration because He is Yahweh. Because the Shema is NOT a denial of divine plurality in the Godhead, it does not follow that Jesus is here claiming that He is not Yahweh, nor that Yahweh could be a plurality. The statement is entirely true for Jesus as a man and as the second power, the second person, the Son of God, the Word of God, the Messenger of Yahweh!
I'm going to leave it there because I could go on and on. I believe I've laid enough foundation for you to search the rest of the scriptures yourself because I have shown you from the OT of the passages that speak about Jesus. I have shown you examples from the Gospel and from Revelation where He claims to be Yahweh.
Now it is down to you to refute this entire presentation.
