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Perhaps the most widely known verse in the Bible stressing the oneness of God is Deuteronomy 6:4, known as the Shema. This verse supports a fundamental principle of both rabbinical Judaism and mainstream Christianity. Rabbinical Judaism teaches that God is only one while fundamental Christianity teaches that God is a oneness in unity or a compound unity.
In this verse, the Hebrew word for 'one' is echad, Strong's Concordance 259. Though this word can refer to only one, there are a number of instances in the Bible where it refers to a oneness in unity. One example of this can be found in Genesis 1:5, the first time this Hebrew word is used in the Scriptures: "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first (echad) day." In this verse, the evening and morning make up one (echad) day. This is a compound unity!
Another example where echad is used with respect to a compound unity can be found in Genesis 2:24, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one (echad) flesh." Here, a man is described as leaving his father and mother, cleaving to his wife, and both of them becoming one (echad) flesh.
Another clear example where echad illustrates a compound unity can be found in Ezekiel 37:19. It states, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one (echad) stick, and they shall be one (echad) in mine hand." Here the Lord GOD instructs Ezekiel that there will come a day when the House of Israel and the House of Judah will once again become one (echad) nation, demonstrated by the two sticks becoming one (echad) stick.
These examples show that although there are times when echad does not refer to a oneness in unity, there are some cases when it does. It should also be mentioned that, if God was only One, the Hebrew word yachiyd, Strong's 3173, would have been used. As a general Bible principle, yachiyd means 'only one' while echad can, at times, refer to a compound unity. Since echad is used in Deuteronomy 6:4 with respect to the LORD our God as one (echad) LORD, it should therefore be considered inconclusive to claim that God is only one based on this verse alone.
Furthermore, in Genesis 1:26, God refers to Himself in the plural as follows, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."
In this verse, God could not have been talking to the angels since there is no indication in the Scriptures that the angels were made in the image of God. Additionally, there is no verse to indicate that man was made in the image of angels. However, the Bible is clear that man was made in God's image:
The logical conclusion with respect to Genesis 1:26 is that God must have been talking to someone who had His same image before He created man. God could not have been talking to the angels because the Scriptures do not indicate that the angels were made in His image.
Here are some other examples where God refers to Himself in the plural:
The following are seven clear illustrations provided in the Hebrew Scriptures to demonstrate that the Messiah is the LORD, Almighty God in the flesh. Though this fact is firmly established and fully developed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament, this position is contrary to the prevailing beliefs held by rabbinical Judaism.
The most obvious single verse in the Bible that points directly to the Deity of the Messiah is Isaiah 9:6. It states as follows, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Many consider this to be a messianic verse. Regarding this child, Isaiah 9:7 states, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
Isaiah 9:6-7 refers to a King, a Prince of Peace, who will sit on the throne of David. He will establish judgment and justice upon the earth, and He will have an everlasting kingdom of peace. In the past, no earthly king of Judah had been able to accomplish this, but the Messiah will!
One of the titles that this child, who is the Messiah, is given is "The mighty God" (in Hebrew, el gibbor). This is a name reserved for God alone. In Isaiah 10:20-21, one chapter later, the LORD is referred to as 'el gibbor:'
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. (21) The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God (el gibbor)."
According to Deuteronomy 6:4 there is one LORD, not two. Also, if anyone makes the claim that the child born in Isaiah 9:6 and the LORD are two separate beings, one would be admitting that there are two mighty Gods, the child according to Isaiah 9:6 and the LORD according to Isaiah 10:20-21. To acknowledge more than one God is considered polytheism and is a violation of Deuteronomy 6:4, the Shema.
There can be only one correct conclusion with respect to this matter: According to Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah refers to the child as 'el gibbor'. In Isaiah 10:20-21, Isaiah refers to the LORD God as 'el gibbor.' The Shema teaches that there is one God. Therefore, the Messiah is the LORD!
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6
In this verse, the Messiah will also be called "The everlasting Father" (in Hebrew 'abi 'ad). This title further verifies His Deity. According to Exodus 4:22, the LORD calls Israel His firstborn son, "And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn."
Exodus 4:22 emphasizes God's Father-son relationship with the children of Israel. Since Isaiah 9:6 indicates that His people will call the Messiah "The everlasting Father," He must be the LORD Himself. After all, how many fathers can a son have? Malachi 2:10 states:
"Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?"
According to Malachi, the children of Israel have one father, not two! Isaiah 9:6 indicates that the child to be born will be called "The everlasting Father." Therefore, the Messiah is the LORD!
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." -Malachi 3:1
In this verse, the LORD of hosts states that there will come a day when the Lord shall suddenly come to His temple. Malachi 3:2-3 continues to explain what will happen on that day: He will purify and purge the sons of Levi like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap:
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: (3) And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."
An interesting connection is depicted in Zechariah 3:8-9 which portrays the BRANCH, described as the stone laid before Joshua the high priest, directly involved in the removal of the iniquity of the land in one day. In the Scriptures, the BRANCH refers to the Messiah:
"Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. (9) For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day."
Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the Hebrew adon is always used with reference to God when the definite article is present, i.e. ha'adon35. In Malachi 3:1-3, the prophet uses these terms to show that the LORD is coming to His temple to purify the priests, the sons on Levi. According to Zechariah 3:8-9, the BRANCH comes before Joshua the high priest, who represents the entire priesthood, to remove iniquity in one day. Therefore, The LORD and the BRANCH are one in the same. The Messiah is the LORD!
One of the strongest arguments in support of the Deity of the Messiah is the fact that when God sets up His kingdom that will never end, the Scriptures indicate that there will only be one King who will reign over all the earth. Zechariah 14:9 and Ezekiel 37:22 confirm:
Since there will be only one King over all the earth, the following Scriptural evidence establishes the indisputable fact that the Messiah must be the LORD. According to the Bible, when God establishes His kingdom, it is He Himself who will reign forever in Zion as King over all the earth. Psalm 132:13-14, Zephaniah 3:15-17, Zechariah 8:23 and Zechariah 14:16-17 all confirm:
The Scriptures are blatantly clear that the LORD God fully intends to dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever as the ONE King over all the earth. For those who deny the Deity of the Messiah, this is where a major reconciliation dilemma begins: According to the Scriptures, it is He who will reign forever as the ONE King over all the earth. Isaiah 9:6-7, Ezekiel 37:22,24-25 and Daniel 7:13-14 state the following:
These three passages all apply to the Messiah. The Ezekiel passage was written approximately 400 years after king David had died. Considering the obvious context of the passage, most generally believe that these Scriptures refer to the Messiah, who is sometimes called 'David.' These Biblical references teach that the Messiah will be King and that His kingdom will last forever. Accordingly, Psalm 132:13-14, Zephaniah 3:15-17, Zechariah 8:23 and Zechariah 14:16-17 all reveal that the LORD will be King and have an everlasting kingdom. Since there will be only one King over all the earth, logic dictates that the Messiah is the LORD!
As we have seen, there are instances in the Scriptures when the Messiah is called 'David.' Other examples can be found in Jeremiah 30:9, Ezekiel 34:24, Ezekiel 37:24-25 and Hosea 3:5. In Ezekiel 37:24, the prophet states, "And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them."
According to this verse, there will come a day when the children of Israel will have one shepherd. He is called David, with reference to the Messiah. However, the Scriptures also teach the following:
These Scriptures clearly reveal that the LORD, Almighty God Himself, is the Shepherd. Since Ezekiel 37:24 refers to the Messiah as Israel's one shepherd and the preceding verses demonstrate the LORD is Israel's Shepherd, it follows that the Messiah is the LORD!
"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (14) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." -Daniel 7:13-14
According to this passage, the Son of man, who is the Messiah, is brought before the Ancient of days. The Ancient of days is the LORD. The Son of man is given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve Him.
Daniel 7:22 further confirms the Deity of the Son of man. Though He is portrayed as coming with the clouds of heaven in Daniel 7:13-14, Daniel 7:22 refers to Him as the "Ancient of days:"
"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."
According to this verse, it is the Ancient of days who comes while verse 13 reveals that it is the Son of man, the Messiah, who comes to set up His kingdom. In conclusion, the Son of man who comes with the clouds of heaven and is brought before the Ancient of days according to Daniel 7:13-14 is called the Ancient of days in Daniel 7:22. Therefore, the Messiah is the Ancient of days. The Messiah is the LORD!
"Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations." -Psalm 82:8
Keeping this verse in mind, Psalm 24:1 indicates that the earth and everything in it belongs to the LORD. It states, "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
Although Psalm 24:1 clearly teaches that all things belong to the LORD, Psalm 82:8 shows that God, in Hebrew Elohim, will inherit all nations. In Psalm 82:8 the Hebrew word nachal, Strong's Concordance 5157, refers to one 'taking possession by inheritance.' This word was first used in Exodus 23:30 describing Israel, God's firstborn son according to Exodus 4:22, inheriting the land.
Why would nachal be used with reference to God inheriting anything? Unless, of course, God is a firstborn Son!
Though Psalm 82:8 teaches that God will judge the earth and inherit all nations, the Bible also teaches that the Messiah will judge the earth and inherit all nations. Psalm 2:6-8 and Jeremiah 23:5 provide the evidence of this critical illustration:
Since Psalm 82:8 teaches that God will judge the earth and inherit all nations and Psalm 2:6-8 and Jeremiah 23:5 reveal that the Messiah will do the same, the conclusion is clear: The Messiah is the LORD!
In order to come to a greater intellectual understanding regarding the identity of Jesus the Messiah, it is important to realize who He is with respect to the creation issue. Genesis chapter one describes the creation process; God brought creation into existence with His spoken Word:
While the Scriptures reveal that God created all things with His spoken Word, Isaiah 44:24 provides some additional information. This verse states that God created all things by Himself, "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself."
Additionally, in John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-17 and Revelation 3:14, the New Testament teaches that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, created all things:
According to John 1:1-3, God created all things with His Word. This position is in perfect harmony with Genesis chapter one which states that God created all things with His spoken Word by speaking creation into existence, i.e. "And God said", etc. Additionally, Isaiah 44:24 shows that God made all things by Himself. In other words, God created all things, by Himself, WITH His Word.
John 1:14 continues regarding God's Word, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Jesus Christ is the Word of God that was made flesh. According to John 1:14, He is "the only begotten of the Father." The Father, with His spoken Word which was made flesh, made all things. Certainly one God created us as Malachi 2:10 states, "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?"
Notes
| 35. | According to Dr. Michael L. Brown in his book, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000) Vol. 1, p. 77, he states the following: "We see from the passage that the Lord (in Hebrew ha'adon, is always used with reference to God in the Hebrew Bible when it has the definite article)." And on p 223 of this book, other verses where ha'adon is used with reference to the Lord God are as follows: Exodus 23:17, Exodus 34:23, Deuteronomy 10;17, Isaiah 1:24, Isaiah 3:1, Isaiah 10:16, Isaiah 10:33 and Isaiah 19:4. |