“The most fundamental and the most important teaching of Prophet Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) is faith in the

unity of God.”

Abul A'La Mawdudi, Towards Understanding Islam

Lesson #2: The Oneness of God

Guiding Question #1:

Is the doctrine of the trinity biblical?

Video Presentation:

“The Mystery of the Trinity”with R.C. Sproul

Section 1: Monotheism

“The New is in the Old concealed, the Old in in the New revealed.”

(St. Augustine)

Progressive Revelation

“A plural ending with a singular verb.”

Two Different Names for God

God’s Nature or Essence

God in the Creation Account

The ‘Shema’

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”

(Deut. 6:4)

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Two Hebrew Words for Two Hebrew Words for ‘ONE’‘ONE’

 

One of Rabbinical Judaism’s most revered sages, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam) wrote his 13 Articles of Faith in his commentary on the Mishnah, in the 12th century from Egypt. The original text was in Arabic and then translated into Hebrew. Below is a translation of the Hebrew text into English.

 

ך שמו ,הוא ר1 ב3 א ית5 בור8 ה1 ה ש: מ3 ל8 ה ש5 מונ3 א= ין ב: מ@ Aא י מ1 אנ@ינו לה8 דו א= ב3 הוא ל5 ים ו5 נ@ מוהו בשום פ3 ידות כ3 ח@ ין י5 א8 יד ו5 ח@ י3

ה י: יה5 ה ו5 ו: ה ה, י3 ה3 

“I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is unique and there is no likeness to Him in any way, and that He alone is our God, who was, and is, and is to

come.”

  

ECHAD UNIFIED ONE HEN

Gen 2:24          two become one      

Man + WomanMatt 19:5

Deut 6:4          God is one      

Father + Son + Spirit

Mk 12:29

                                         

   

ONE                                           

Hebrew vs. Greek Translations of ‘ONE’

Word Definition/texts UsageEchad

OTunified one: Gen. 2:24; Deut. 6:4absolute numeric one: Ezekiel 33:24

Used of God’s oneness

YachidOT

Always absolute numeric one: Judges 11:34

Never used of God’s oneness

BadOT

Absolute numeric one: Isaiah 37:20

Used of God’s oneness

HenNT

Unified one: John 10:30; Matthew 19:5; Mk 12:29absolute numeric one: Galatians 3:20

Used of God’s oneness

MonosNT

absolute numeric one: Matthew 24:36; 1 Timothy 1:17

Used of God’s oneness

An Opposing ViewIsaiah 44:6, "I am the first and I am the last and besides Me there is no other." While Judaism believes that G-d manifests Himself to His creation (humanity) in many ways, (i.e. as a judge or a protector) G-d's essence itself is indivisible and therefore without any possibility of distinction. Something that transcends both time and space cannot be described as consisting of three different aspects. The moment we attribute any such distinctions to G-d's essence, we negate His absolute Oneness and unity.

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body , whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." (1Corinthians 12:12-14).

The Unity of God’s Essence

The Greek word translated "one" in this passage is hen, which means "one in essence." This Greek word makes it clear that Paul is speaking of spiritual unity, not physical unity. The spiritual body of Christ is "one" not because its individual members are physically assembled in one congregation, or are enrolled in one church organization, but because all its members are united by the "one Spirit" of God.

Paul emphasizes that the Spirit of God, although dwelling in many individuals who are separate entities, is "one Spirit." Paul's inspired words show that the Spirit of God the Father and the Spirit of Jesus Christ are the same Spirit. Paul tells us that it is Jesus Christ Who apportions the Spirit for various services or ministries, not through a hierarchical ministry but directly to individual Christians as it pleases Him. Paul also declares that it is the Father Who energizes the work of the Spirit in individuals.

“In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance,

power, and eternity.”

(Westminster Conf. Chap 2. Par. 3)

One in essence, Three in Person

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall

cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

(Gen. 2:24)

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“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord

our God is one Lord.”(Mark 12:29)

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“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and

they shall be one flesh.”

(Gen. 2:24)Return

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he

which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain

shall be one flesh?”(Matt. 19:4-5)

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“Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for

inheritance.”

(Ezekiel 33:24)Return

“And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him

with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.”

(Judges 11:34)Return

“Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know

that thou art the LORD, even thou only.”

(Isaiah 37:20)Return

“I and my Father are one.”

(John 10:30)Return

“And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they

twain shall be one flesh?”(Matt. 19:5)

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“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is,

Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

(Mark 12:29)Return

Note: Jesus quoted Deut 6:4 in Mk 12:29 and chose the "unified oneness" word "hen" which is the same word used by Jesus in Mt 19:5, "the two shall become one (hen) flesh. It is significant that Jesus did not use "mono" in Mk 12:29. The word "hen" directly corresponds to "echad" which was used in Deut 6:4. Both texts used "unified oneness" words rather than absolute numeric oneness to the exclusion of all others.

“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.”

(Gal. 3:20)Return

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

(Matt. 24:36)Return

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise

God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

(1 Tim 1:17)Return