The One God - The Shama

INDUCTIVE BIBLE TOPIC STUDY

THE ONE GOD - THE SHAMA

By Dennis Schmidt 1/2007

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This paper discusses the One God key scripture in the Old Testament. Judaism & Christianity both use the Deuteronomy 6:4 scripture as the key verse for the one God doctrine, but Christianity believes in a plurality within the Godhead. All scriptures are from the King James' version Bible.

INDUCTIVE COMMENTS:

THEME: There is one God Who is a plurality from eternity which the scriptures teach so that the believer can understand the Godhead.

1 John 5:4-8 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. {5} Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? {6} This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. {7} For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. {8} And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." Three are one

PURPOSE: How does scripture answer that God appears as more than one.

Genesis 19:24 "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;" Jesus, as the angel of the LORD, is on earth calling for fire from the Father which is in heaven. The LORD, or Jehovah, is the personal name of God used to both.

Psalms 45:6-7 "Thy throne, O God, <is> for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom <is> a right sceptre. {7} Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." God the Father calls Jesus God then says He is God to Jesus. Hebrews 1:8 shows one God who is both the Father & Jesus.

Hebrews 1:8-9 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. {9} Thou hast loved righteousness, & hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

John 14:8-10 "Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. {9} Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? {10} Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." Jesus can not lie. Jesus told His disciple to see Him is to see the Father.

KEY VERSE: This verse is referred to as the Shama (Shema) or hear, which proclaims, obeys, and understands that God is one.

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"

Literal Translation: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our Gods the LORD is one compound unity:

WHO: God mainly by Bible authors Moses, Isaiah, Matthew, Luke, John, and Paul

TO WHOM: Elected Jews and Christians

WHAT:

The words Trinity and Triunity are not found in the Bible. However, the Triunity theological doctrine or teaching is found in the Bible to support one God, one essence, one being, one nature, and one divine Spirit who is indivisible which manifests Himself eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit three distinct equal substances. The three manifestations always act in unity and agreement, and they have an order of Father to Son to Holy Spirit. They are not divided since there is a qualitative unique oneness acting in three separate personalities. What is most important is God can not be divided into three persons (as humans) which is not found in the Bible. If you see Jesus, you see the entire Godhead bodily (see Colossians 2:9). He is one God eternally always Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who shows Himself in these three characteristic ways. God is seen in His creation as in Romans 1:19-20, but His unique oneness can not be compared to or conceived by observing the created or nature order. His oneness is seen by His word the Bible.

The Godhead should not be compared by earthly element. Nonetheless, to try to explain the Triunity to a Jewish person who thinks that Christians have multiple gods, I am going to try comparing the Triunity (Single one compound God) to water in its three states of gas (boiling), liquid, and solid (ice) at the same time and same place. The water could be equated with the Triunity Godhead. The three states of water could represent the Father (Liquid), Son (Ice), and Holy Spirit (gas) who are manifested together eternally. The water could be a liquid form in which heat is applied and its starts to boil emitting steam. These two states of water exist together. A cube of ice could be dropped into liquid which has the three states of water: liquid, gas, and solid in the same place at the same time. The Godhead always (eternally) exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit everywhere (Omnipresent) in the same time and same place.

Mark 12:29 "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:"

Romans 1:19-20 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. {20} For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power & Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" Nature in the creation shows there is a God. The Bible shows who the unique one plurality compound Godhead attributes are and His characteristics.

WHY: How does scripture answer that God appears as more than one.

Psalms 110:1 "A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." God the Father calling Jesus His Lord.

WAY: What does the Bible Prophets teach about the Triunity?

Isaiah 48:16 "Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there <am> I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me." Jesus is speaking. The Father and Holy Spirit have sent Jesus. Presented is the united one God in His three manifestations.

Isaiah 63:8-10 "For he said, Surely they <are> my people, children <that> will not lie: so he was their Saviour. {9} In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. {10} But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, <and> he fought against them." The Father is calling them His children, who becomes their enemy, and fights against them. Jesus is the angel who saved and redeemed them. The Holy Spirit is vexed by them.

Romans 15:30 "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;" Prayer to Godhead.

1 Corinthians 12:3-6 "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. {4} Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. {5} And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. {6} And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." The Apostle Paul shows the Triunity Godhead in dispensing the gifts by the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." The Apostle Paul gives equal authority to each manifestation of the Godhead. Note placement of Jesus 1st then God Father and Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:18 "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." The Apostle Paul shows the way God's manifestations provide a Christian's access to the Godhead.

WHEREAS:

Isaiah 9:6 "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." This scripture provides many names for one Godhead.

WHERE: Everywhere as He is omnipresent in the universe, hell, heaven and earth at the same time.

WHEN: God is One eternally plurality Godhead Who always existed and exist forever.

WHILE: Jesus was equal within the Godhead from all eternity as is the Holy Spirit.

John 1:1-3, 14 "In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} The same was in the beginning with God. {3} All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. {14} 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 left His Godhead glory & became as human the Son of man & Son of God.

1 John 1:1-2 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; {2} (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, & was manifested unto us;)"Jesus is the eternal life of God

WANT: God wants His elected saints to know Him.

PAPER OUTLINE:

I) GODHEAD HEBREW MEANINGS:

II) JEWISH TEACHINGS:

III) GODHEAD IN OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES:

IV) GODHEAD IN CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS:

V) GOD REVEALED HIMSELF BY HIS CREATION:

VI) TRIUNITY:

A) ONE GODHEAD ONLY BUT PLURALITY IN OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES:

B) GOD PRONOUN HIMSELF AS US AND OUR ; I AND US:

C) ONE GODHEAD AS PLURALITY OF TWO OR MORE AT THE SAME TIME/PLACE:

B) TRIUNITY SCRIPTURES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

VII) FATHER, JESUS, AND HOLY SPIRIT AS ONE GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES:

A) FATHER IS ONE GOD:

B) HOLY SPIRIT IS ONE GOD:

C) JESUS IS GOD:

VIII) OTHER NAMES FOR ONE PLURALITY GODHEAD THAT SHOW HIS ATTRIBUTES:

IX) THE UNIQUE COMPOUND ONE GODHEAD BECAME FLESH IN JESUS:

I) GODHEAD HEBREW MEANINGS:

This verse is referred to as the Shama (Shema) or hear, proclaim, obey, & understand God is one.

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"

Literal Translation: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our Gods the LORD is one compound unity:

Hebrew words for Deuteronomy 6:4:

shama':H8085 . yisra'el:H3478 . yehovah:H3068 . 'elohiym:H430 . 'echad:H259 yehovah:H3068

H8085. shama', shaw-mah'; a prim. root; to hear intelligently (often with impl. of attention, obedience, etc.; caus. to tell, etc.):-- X attentively, call (gather) together, X carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear (-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim (-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell, understand, whosoever [heareth], witness.

H3478. Yisra'el, yis-raw-ale'; from H8280 and H410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: --Israel.

H3068. Yehovah, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God: --Jehovah, the Lord. Comp. H3050, H3069.

Jehovah/Yahweh/Yahway or YHVH/YHWH: LORD meaning: He will be, eternal, to be, to exist, & always is. He is unchangeable. This is His unique name alone. God say His name is: I AM THAT I AM. It also emphasizes God as a covenant keeper. El Shaddai shows God as covenant maker. The Old Testament uses this form 6528 times.

H430. 'elohiym, el-o-heem'; plur. of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but spec. used (in the plur. thus, esp. with the art.) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: --angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty PLURAL FORM OF WORD

Psalms 18:31 "For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?" H433 ; H430

H259. 'echad, ekh-awd'; a numeral from H258; prop. united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first: --a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any (-thing), apiece, a certain [dai-] ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together. COMPOUND UNITY

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." The married two are one compound (H259) flesh.

H258. 'achad, aw-khad'; perh. a prim. root; to unify, i.e. (fig.) collect (one's thoughts): --go one way or other. SINGLE FORM FOR 'ECHAD

Elohim: Plurality form (i.e. 3 in 1) - LORD Gods; Strong or mighty and object of fear. The Old Testament uses this form over 2605 times. The compound emphasizes God as: creator, governing man, authority over man, and redeeming man. Also God's direct connection with the nation of Israel. See Genesis 2:24 for its use with man & woman becoming one in marriage.

H433. 'elowahh, el-o'-ah; rarely (short.) 'eloahh, el-o'-ah; prob. prol. (emphat.) from G410; a deity or the Deity: --God, god. See H430. (Found 56 Times) SINGLE FORM FOR 'ELOHIM

Deuteronomy 32:17 "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not." Both: God = H433; gods = H430

There are many more verses with the these two Hebrew words together in them.

H136. 'Adonay, ad-o-noy'; an emphatic form of H113; the Lord (used as a prop. name of God only):--(my) Lord. Used for God 432 times USED of GOD ALWAYS IN PLURAL FORM.

Exodus 4:10 "And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." LORD = H3068 ; Lord = H136

Judges 6:22 "And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. {23} And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die." Gideon Saw God's face & would die. First LORD = H136 ; second Lord = H3068 Lord ; GOD = H3069 ; LORD = H3068

H113. 'adown, aw-done', or (short.) 'adon, aw-done'; from an unused root (mean to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine): --lord, master, owner. Comp. also names beginning with "Adoni-". Used for God some of the 331 times, but most times for a master of house or king.

Psalms 97:5 "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." LORD = H3068 ; Lord = H113

Psalms 110:1 "A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." LORD = H3068 (Father) ; Lord = H113 (Jesus)

II) JEWISH TEACHINGS: Only one God who is a unity & not a compound Godhead.

Maimonides (Ramba'm) wrote thirteen foundation principles on the Mishnah:

#2) I believe with perfect faith that G-d is One. There is no unity that is in way like His. He alone is our G-d He was, He is, and He will be.

III) GODHEAD IN OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES:

See my paper: "Godhead Relationship" for more information on this subject.

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" Key one God scripture

Deuteronomy 4:35, 39 "Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. {39} Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."H3068

Exodus 20:2-3 "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. {3} Thou shalt have no other gods before me." God & gods = H430

Isaiah 44:6 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." One God (H430) & LORD (H)

IV) GODHEAD IN CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS: God is one, but He is a plurality compound one Godhead.

Mark 12:29 "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:"

See my Paper: "Triunity - Father, Son, & Holy Spirit" for more information on this subject. Much more details & scriptures are shown in this paper on unique one Godhead.

V) GOD REVEALED HIMSELF BY HIS CREATION:

VI) TRIUNITY:

A) ONE GODHEAD ONLY BUT PLURALITY IN OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES:

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"

The Hebrew is within ( ): "our God" (Elohim) is a plural word meaning our Gods; "one" (echad) is a compound one shown also in one flesh in Genesis 2:24 of marriage of the man & woman.

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." The man and his wife are two people yet one together.

B) GOD PRONOUN HIMSELF AS US AND OUR ; I AND US:

Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." The us & our can not be angels since: God created man, not angles, and made him in His image not the image of an angel.

Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here <am> I; send me." I send, not we send. I & us show a plurality Godhead.

C) ONE GODHEAD AS PLURALITY OF TWO OR MORE AT THE SAME TIME/PLACE:

Psalms 110:1 "A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." God the Father calling Jesus His Lord.

Hebrews 10:12-13 "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; {13} From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool."

D) TRIUNITY SCRIPTURES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: What does the Bible Prophets teach about the Triunity?

VII) FATHER, JESUS, AND HOLY SPIRIT AS ONE GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES: What does Jesus & apostles teach about the Triunity?

See my paper: "Triunity - Father, Son, & Holy Spirit" for more information on this subject.

Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Jesus gives equal authority to each manifestation of the Godhead showing that they are equal & each the single God.

Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." God has purchased with His own blood. Jesus blood is that of God, because Jesus is God.

Romans 15:30 "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;" Prayer to Godhead.

Ephesians 2:18 "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." The Apostle Paul shows the way God's manifestations provide a Christian's access to the Godhead.

1 Peter 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." The Apostle Peter gives equal authority to each manifestation of the Godhead.

Revelation 1:4-6 "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; {5} And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, {6} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." The Apostle John shows the eternal Godhead with more information of the Holy Spirit (see Isaiah 11:2) & the manifestation's of the Godhead.

A) FATHER IS ONE GOD:

Deuteronomy 32:6 "Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?"Lord, Father & creator

Psalms 89:26 "He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation." We have both a earthly father and heavenly father who is our personal God.

Malachi 2:10 "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?"FatherGod

Matthew 6:9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." God is our personal Father in heaven.

1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." God created all things.

B) HOLY SPIRIT IS ONE GOD:

Acts 5:3-4 "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? {4} Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." The Holy Spirit is clearly called God in this scripture.

Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" The eternal (always exists) Spirit is God. This scripture also shows the Triunity.

See my paper: "Holy Spirit Baptism" for more information on this subject.

C) JESUS IS GOD:

See my paper: "Jesus in the Old Testament" for more information on this subject.

See my paper: "Messianic Prophecies that Jesus Fulfilled" for more information on this subject.

John 12:44-45 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. {45} & he that seeth me seeth him that sent me." To see Jesus is to see God.

John 17:21-23 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. {22} And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: {23} I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." Jesus is the one & only God since God can not be divided.

2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Jesus as man shows the image of God who is spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

Colossians 1:14-17, 19 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: {15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: {16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: {17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. {19} For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" Jesus is the creator in image of God.

Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Jesus is full God.

Hebrews 1:3 "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high"Only scripture to refer God to person since Jesus is man.

See my Paper: "Just Who is God?" for more information on this subject.

VIII) OTHER NAMES FOR ONE PLURALITY GODHEAD THAT SHOW HIS ATTRIBUTES:

Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Jesus means He shall save His people or savior.

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, & bear a son, & shall call his name Immanuel." Virgin=Mary; Son=Jesus; Immanuel=God with us.

See my Paper: "Names of God" for more information on this subject.

See my Paper: "Gospel in the Genealogy of Adam" for more information on this subject.

IX) THE UNIQUE COMPOUND ONE GODHEAD BECAME FLESH IN JESUS:

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