This is part 7 of the One God Over All class.
In the bible we encounter a strange phenomenon. Sometimes beings other than Yahweh are called Gods. How can we square that with monotheism–the idea that the Father is the only true God? Although most Christians are aware that the bible calls Jesus God a couple of times, most have never noticed that the scriptures also use the term for Moses, angels, judges of Israel, the divine council, and the king of Israel. What do all of these individuals have in common? They are all agents commissioned to do God’s will on earth. In this episode we’ll explore the principle of agency so we can better understand Jesus’ role as God’s supreme representative.
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Isaiah 63:9b which states ‘… and the Angel of His presence saved them’.
Who is the Angel of His presence?
Sean, I really appreciate the content that you put out on this subject. You work has been a tremendous resource during a very difficult time for our group. There is one question that I would love to get your take on that you sort of touched on during this podcast episode. The questions “Is Jesus God?” which eventually leads to “how many Gods are there?” is a very challenging conversation to navigate. I suppose you could really condense these questions down to one: if Jesus is God, and the Father is obviously God, how can we say there is one God? I know what my take is on the subject but I’m interested to hear yours.
May God bless you, your family, and your ministry
-Dustin
Dustin,
As you know, in the Bible elohim, theos (god) can be applied to humans (Moses, Ex 4.16l 7.1, etc.)
A better question for you to search and ponder is if the Son is ever called “the one God” or “the only God”.
The so-called “Church Fathers” up to the “Cappadocian Fathers” of the 4th century all identified the one God as the Father alone, the Creator Almighty.
2nd c. AD., Polycarp calls the Father:
“O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus.”
NOTE: The Son is never called Lord God Almighty by any church father before Nicea!
Irenaeus identifies the Father as “the One God Alone, the Creator….the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Justin Martyr:
“The most true God, the Father and Creator of all….men and gods.”
Add to this the historical fact that all known early church council creeds, starting with the Nicene creed of 325AD., begin with the biblical confession:
“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty.”
NOTE: what these early ecumenical creeds do not say: ‘We believe in one God, Father, Son, and HS!’
The Cappadocians had “a general view of the Father as the absolute God, the divine ousia,” according to the noted Catholic scholar Karl Rahner in his Theological Investigations, 1961, p 147.
You will find that this was the standard view up to the so-called Athanasian Creed, the first official trini creed of the church adopted by Rome as late as the 11th century AD.
Lastly, in the introduction to “The Trinity” book Rahner adds:
“Despite their orthodox confession of the Trinity, Christians are, in their practical life, almost mere monotheists.”
“We must be willing to admit that, should the doctrine of the Trinity have to be dropped as false, the major part of religious literature could well remain virtually unchanged.”
Hope this helps,
carlos@thehumanjesus.org