THE ANCIENT REOCCURRING QUESTIONS: WHO IS GOD AND WHO ACTUALLY IS YOUR GOD? Viewed from the angles: OF MONOTHEISM, THE GODHEAD, THE TREE & SUN WORSHIP
Our home base text will be DEUTERONOMY 6:4
“HEAR, ‘O ISRAEL THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE,” NAS, ESV, NIV. That’s the translation of the Hebrew words used in the main text of 60% of English versions of the Holy Scriptures. With this text as the foundation, we will review Monotheism, the Godhead, the Tree and Sun worship, seeing them not as disjointed revelations but as streams on a river delta flowing into, out of, and again in to each other.
Deuteronomy 6:4: This is the famous monotheistic text of Judaism who’s understanding was retained and further restricted by Muhammad, of Islamic repute, as he started to preach on the singularity of God, in his initial attempts to reform the falling Christian church some 600 years after Christ. This concept was latter taken up by Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and many Pentecostals. So let’s take a closer look at this text on monotheism since it’s possible a partial truth promulgated as a whole truth can become an untruth. We’ll start by splitting it into its three parts, (a), (b), & (c).
Starting with part (a) “Hear ‘O Israel.” “Hear”: meaning to gain a knowledge of by ear; “‘O”: an expression of divine desire; “Israel”: since family names in Near Eastern peoples were nearly nonexistent, names were of individuals to which great significance &/or expectations of character were attached. God’s new name for Jacob after a night of symbolic wrestling, in Ge 32:28, was “Israel,” and thus each individual descendant of Jacob would be divinely encouraged/desired/expected to have the same character – Israel & Israelites are the same Hebrew word. Thus the nation of Israel was and is more correctly thought of as a collection of Israelites. The meaning of “Israel” was defined by divinity as : “prevailed by persistence or overcomer” (Strong’s Concordance, NIV, The Bible Basic English and the meaning of over 100 English translations using “prevailed, won, victorious, or overcomer” ). Thus each descendent was divinely desired to be an overcomer. A name that we may also have, by chosen commitment per Romans 8:15; 9:6,24-26; 1Cor 10:18; Gal 6:16, which calls Christians, “the Israel – or Israelites – of God.” Names influence personalities, important decisions, create meaning and affect how we feel about ourselves (Psych today July 19,2021, Insight June 2022). A reality God knew. The individual reality in the name [overcomer] is necessary to inherit the kingdom of heaven Rev 2:7,11; 3:17,21;15:2. “He who overcomes [as I overcame Rev 12:11] will inherit all this.” Rev 21:7.
Dt 6:4’s “Hear ‘O Israelites” – is divinity’s burning desire for us – not as a part of an ancient, nor current nation, but foundationaly then and now as individual overcomers by persistence in a chosen commitment for & to the invitation of the God of selfless love.
Parts b and c of this verse are best and most clearly translated from the Hebrew words used in the text, the immediate context, and the larger scriptural context as “The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.” Listen carefully to the difference: “The LORD is one” or ” the LORD alone.”
This less common translation, “The LORD is our God, the LORD ALONE,” OR “ONE AND ONLY” OR “ONLY GOD” is used as the text of 22 of the 55 English translations or 40% (1), plus given as an alternate in the the margins of a number including the NIV & ESV, NKJV. This wording, “The LORD is our God, The LORD alone” is in line with the possible wording of all versions since “one” per Strong’s Hebrew lexicon equally means “ALONE OR ONLY”. This along with the immediate context [Dt. 4:35,39; 5:7; 6:13-14; 8:19; 10:17; 11:16; 32:12,,16,39; Ex. 20:3]; and the larger context of scripture [Isa. 43:10-12; 44:6,8; 45:11-12, 18-22; 46;9; 57;12; Jer. 7:6; 25:6; Ge. 1:1; Jos 22:34; 24:16-23; Judges 2:3, 11-13; 3:7; 6:10; 10:13; Joel 2:27; Rev. 4:11; 19:1]. All contexts meaning: the Lord alone/only.
“The LORD is our God, the LORD alone” also aligns with the word “God” in the text (meaning: Maker) used in scripture greater than 4,400 times, and “LORD,” used twice in this text (meaning: “He who causes to exist,” thus Creator) used over 7,600 times – together greater than 12,000 times in scriptures. Both parts b & c of Dt 6:4 state – He alone is our progenitor (forefather, first ancestor Gen 1:26 (“Let us make man…). Our nascency, meaning birth origin, as noted again in Lk. 3:38 “Adam the son God,” and in Jesus’ words in Mt 6:9 & 24 “our Father which art in heaven”. Here Christ addressing our birth origin). This translation of Dt 6:4 is also consistent with Christ’s words in Lk 12:29 given to the adversary in the wilderness of temptation where He quotes Dt 6:13 to the deceiver. “It is written you shall worship the Lord (He who causes to exist) your God (Maker) and Him only shall you serve.” Again in Mt 12:29 when questioned about the most important commandment Jesus answered,“Hear ‘O Israel, “The Lord our [relationship] God (YLT) “The Lord alone” (your Bible could read “is one,” yet again Strong’s dictionary gives ‘alone’ as an equal translation of the Greek word “one” used here). “The Lord alone.” The NEB’s compatible translation of this same verse is, “The Lord our God is the only God.”
Deuteronomy 6:4’s word & contextual meaning of phrase (b) (“the Lord is our God”) address’ and reveals the LORD our God’s unique ontologic specificity (ontologic meaning the reality & nature of relationships of being – here our originator) and phrase (c) “the Lord alone” addresses God’s numerical singularity – the LORD, the One, the Genuine, the Only – because He was/is our progenitor.
Further, the English word “LORD” in this text comes from the Hebrew Elohim – singular in the plural form – and is used twice here in this verse to imply one single. Phrase (b) points strongly to the ontologic (relational) specificity while again phrase (c) the numerical singularity. A numerical single takes the quantity in its meaning from the base to which it is attached. Monocular has a base of one eye, one hour has a base of sixty minutes, one day has a base set of 24 hours. Monophonic being not a single note but an unaccompanied (alone) melody line of more than one note. The numerical singularity (not ontologic – relational – specificity) must be determined by and from the source describing its base or base set. A base set is the number of things of the same or similar kind that belong together ie: a week has a base set of composed of ‘days’. Some will try to limit the number of elements in this base set in question by texts such as Jn 1:14,18; 3:16,18 which state, “one and only” or only begotten” or Lk 1:32 which says, “will be called the Son of the Most High” using these to deny Christ’s preexistence. Letting the scriptures be their own expositor we first note the temporal timing in, “today I have become your Father,” or “today I have begotten thee” Ps 2:7, Acts 13:33, Heb 1:5 & 5:5. Today, is a temporal time factor [Genesis chapter 1 “and the evening and the morning were the x day”] not a heavenly factor where “a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years as a day” 2 Pe 3:8, thus the begotten event occurred on earth and as such recorded in Lk 1:26 – 2:11. Revelation 1:5 speaks of the “first begotten of the dead, and He was, in temporal time on earth, resurrected from the dead as noted in John chapters 20,21. Jesus who was the root and offspring of David Rev 22:16, in Lk 1:32-35 was introduced by “He shall/will be called the Son of God”. Note the tense is future, not present or past. Yes, He became God’s first born (and only born) Son by His choice in earthly time (“today”). A time inaugurated at the Creation of this world. A day in temporal time when the elements of the God set took a new reality – “begotten” – one becoming the only begotten Son, and the other, note this: God the Father – (“to become the father of” is a meaning of ‘begotten’ given in Strong’s Gk. dictionary). Yet some texts speak of the “Son of God” prior to the incarnation just like Rev 13:8 speaks of “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” KJV. This is true because when God says He’ll do something Gen 3:15, it is as good as done thereby – here, making a level salvation playing field of justification and sanctification for all from the fall to evil of the human race. The earthly titles, “Son of God” and “the only begotten Son” and even the Father, are God given handles to best communicate the eternity past, present and future, to fallen mankind. The early patriarchs of Ge 4:26 “publicly declared (margin ESV) the name (ie: righteous character) of God” – that’s Ge 4:26! Noah, the tenth patriarch was a preacher of [Christ’s Jn 1:3] righteousness 2 Pet 2:5. These patriarchs lived long before Christ walked on earth, while Moses was resurrected Jn 17:3 prior to Christ’s temporal death & resurrection, yet by divine promise in Ge 3:15 He was to crush the devils head and become, in temporal time, the first born of the dead of earth. John 1:1-14 identifies Christ as the co-Creator, first introduced in Ge 1;1 long before His earthly sojourn as Elohim (singular in plural form – a single set with plural equal elements] [see also 1Cor 2:7; Eph 1:3-6; 3:11-12; 1Pe 1:20; Mt 25:34; Titus 1:2; Isa 54:10; Micah 5:2]. Elohim is used as the name of the God set more than 3000 times in OT scriptures.
In summary here, Deuteronomy 6:4 home base text, parts a & b; along with Acts 2:34-35; Heb 1:5 & 5:5 speak with the rest of scripture, of 1) the ontologic (relational) specificity of the God-set 2) of the genuine single base of procreators whose elements are God, 3) with two of the elements taking on new role identities for our benefit in temporal time, for eternity, for communication, and to explain eternity past for our best potential of understanding. One becoming the Son of God and another element here in the God-set becoming ‘The Father’. This is also in line with the angels announcement to humans of the birth of Jesus in Lk 2:11 saying, “For unto you is born this day a Saviour who is Christ” (in Hebrew: “the Anointed One” “of God” {Strongs Gk dictionary & MW} ) “the Lord” (the Greek for Lord in this text is YAHWEH – the personal name of God). And Simeon in the same chapter of Luke verses 26-32, the devout man who met Mary & Joseph in the Jewish temple at the presentation of the infant Jesus, called Him “the Lord’s” (the Greek is possessive, YAHWEH’S – thus the Father’s) “Christ” (thus “Anointed One” yet to be). Here Christ is YAHWEH and the Father is YAHWEH. “It is the LORD (Elohim) your (relational) God (set) you shall (revere, respect, honor [S])….You shall not go after other gods…” Dt 6:13-14 — Which is the immediate scriptural contextual interpretation of Dt 6:4. To translate Deuteronomy 6:4 independent of overwhelming scriptural context has led, allows and leads many to go down devastating rabbit trails: “The LORD is our God, the LORD ALONE” – both in ontologic, or one could say relational specificity, and in numerical base set singularity. Even the Jericho prostitute Rehab knew, saying, “the Lord (Elohim) your God, He is God (Elohim, singular pleural form) in the heavens above and the earth beneath” Jos 2:11. Worship Him alone for He alone is worthy (see Rev 4:11; 5:12) – or “Serve Him alone (“only” meaning also “alone” S Heb. lexicon).” 1 Sam 7:4.
The above reality interdigitates closely with another revealed truth on the elements of the God-set or as the apostle Paul termed it: “the Godhead” in Ro 1:20 KJV, interpreted also “divine nature” (Weymouth), as the translators wrestle for the best English words available to match the OT Hebrew word ELOHIM, which again is singular in pleural form and used over 3000 times in OT scripture beginning with the introduction of the Godhead in Ge 1:1. This understanding Lucifer in heaven was the first to dogmatically refuse, denying the One whom we know as Jesus the Christ [both earthly titles] as part of the Godhead, and feeling that he himself was worthy to be a part of the God-set [see Isa 14:12-16; Ez 28:11-19; Rev 12:12-14; 20:2]. Envy leading, as recorded in Ge 3:1-5 to a first on earth, frontal attack on the character of Elohim at the single Edenic tree warned against by God. Lucifer’s envious defamation of the ontological (relational) specificity and numerical set singularity of the truthful, merciful, patient, kind, faithful, gracious, loving character of Elohim – the Godhead – is still echoing down through time both in and out of Christianity. Study carefully that multifaceted assault.
Others try to limit the elements of the base set in the Godhead to just these two, excluding the Holy Spirit. The three, Father, Son and Holy Spirit conspicuously appear together in the first chapters of 16 of the 66 Scriptural books (24%), to whit: Genesis, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Peter, 1 John, Jude, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ (YLT). The three appear together as well at the major adjustment in the human population occurring at the Noahic flood of Genesis 6 (recently reaffirmed by Nathaniel T Jeanson humans genetic history traced back on the Y chromosome to three men 4500 years ago published in his book TRACED 2021). The three are also noted together at Jesus’ temporal anointing at the Jordan River as He became the Anointed One (Gk Christ) [of God, S & MW] Lk 3:32, and spoken of together again by God’s Christ as He gave us His commission in Mt 28:19: “baptizing them in the” [singular article]. name” (Gk “onoma” – singular in the Greek – ‘name’ is a word MW defines as: “a word or phrase that constitutes a distinctive description of a person, and entity or [single] family) “of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” This was Christ, putting into Greek the Hebrew ‘Elohim.’ The elements of the same Greek word He used in Mt 6:9 teaching – “Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name” – (onoma), both defining the elements of the single ontologic and numerical singular base set. In the book The Revelation of Jesus Christ the last five verses of the last chapter in Scripture places the three (Spirit, God, Jesus) together Rev 22:17-21, thus bookending – Genesis 1:1-2 and Revelation 21:17-21 – the entire Scriptures with the full elements of the Godhead set! In Jn 15:13-14 Jesus personifies the Holy Spirit by “the” & “he will guide…he hears, he will speak..he will declare…he will take”. And in Mt 28:19 Jesus revealed that the Holy Spirit is named, and in Jn 14:17, he is identified as a helper/counselor, and in Lk 12:12 the Spirit teaches – together revealing the Spirit has attributes typical of a person.
For those who have been blessed through the Adventist progression of the Protestant Reformation, it is helpful to note the Bible commentator EGW’s comments on the Holy Spirit’s 1) importance – such as “God’s image” (what we lost with our fall) “is restored in men through the Holy Spirit” TM 378, along with more than 2500 references on the important works of the Holy Spirit and asking “ministers to dwell more on the (importance of) Holy Spirit” 1SM 156-7. 2) Yet regarding the nature of the Holy Spirit she states in AA 52: “it is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is …The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery men cannot explain.” Some in various faiths (including the Adventist faith) will voice that originally their newly forming denomination did not believe in the three part Godhead (sometimes termed at least in Adventism, Historic Adventism). To hold this position would be to deny Mk 4:28 defining the reality of growth thus negating among other things, in the Adventist faith – the health message leading Christians back to Genesis 1:29; 2:15 & 3:18 & 1Tim 4:3 [“foods created to be eaten”] and the weekly day of His faithful divine visitation, the Seventh-day Sabbath of the Lord Ge 2:2-3, – [early advent believers commonly ate “foods not created to be eaten” and as well honored the sun along with most Christians who still do]. Yes, here in these areas of understanding the men & women of the Adventist faith, along with Bible commentator Ellen White progressed in knowledge, wisdom and practice ‘for our best good’ Dt 10:13 as noted in places such as 5 BC 1110 to review a few, “the three holy dignitaries of heaven” (ms 92,1901), and “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, powers infinite and omniscient” (ms 22 1/2, 1900), “the three dignitaries and powers of heaven” (ms 85,1901), “those who are baptized in the threefold name [base set] of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost” [the elements] (ms 27 1/2, 1900), or again “the three great powers in heaven” (ms 57,1900).
THE TREE: Some others will reject a truth, & specifically this revealed truth, on the basis that wayward denominations down through the centuries following Christ earthly sojourn have come to believe that specific truth. Not appreciating the reality of Genesis 2:9,17 which reveals that truth is often mixed in with error to improve its palatability by naming the tree – the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil”. That’s why God through Paul told us to “test all things, hold fast to what is good” but “Abstain from every form of evil” 1 Thes 5:21-22. Yes, there are truths that each denomination hold in common with other Christian denominations and even non-Christian religions [marriage for instance]. The original apostles too grew [see Acts 15:1-35] before the downward slide as predicted & noted in places such as 1Jn 2:18 & Rev 6: 1-10. Note that new truths build on, or remind us of older truths without denying their validity.
In conclusion here, what we term the trinity (set), the elements of which are revealed to us as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, seems to be the best working concept of the Godhead. Not understanding, or an honest misunderstanding of this or any revealed truth will not keep you from heaven Ex 3:5; Jos 5:15; 6:25; Eze 45:20; Acts 3:17; 1Ti 1:13. A right understanding will not save you [Eph 2:8 makes it plain we are “saved by grace through faith”]. But a militant dogmatic wrong understanding of this or any revealed truth will exclude you, as demonstrated by Lucifer turned adversary and those angels who followed him. Pray, study then pray before respectfully speaking even the truth, as you see it, in love.
The truth of this textual interpretation of Dt 6:4, “Hear ‘O Israel, The LORD (Hebrew: He who causes to exist) is our God (Hebrew: Maker), the LORD (He who causes to exist) ALONE” lies closely with another related practice – sun worship. “Sunday: a day of exposing oneself to the rays, the glory, of the sun,” “a Christian analog (similar but different in structure and origin) of the Creator’s 7th day Sabbath,” “resembling but essentially different” (all definitions of ‘Sunday’ and ‘analog’ from the Merriam Webster 9th New Collegiate Dictionary). Plainly stated, sun worship in recorded secular history dates readily back to Mesopotamian’s sun & usually chief god under the names of Shamash, Shamshu and Amar-Sin, and Egypt with RA. RA being the Egyptian sun god and chief god for much of their history. One of the greatest of ancient Egyptian cities was Heliopolis or Sun City. Today built upon its ruins is Baalbek, translated in Arabic as “a minister or ambassador” of Baal or nature worship. In Hebrew recorded history the use of the created in worship began with Cain in Gen 4. Then Job (circa 1800 BC) spoke against sun worship in Job 31:26. 400 years later the Hebrew people exiting Egypt (circa 1445 BC) were warned three times against sun worship in Dt 4:19, Dt 17:3 and again in Dt 23:1 yet 80 years later Judges 2:4,17 record them serving the Baals – created things. Then in 2 Kings 23:5-9 (circa 1000 BC ,another 400 years) as well as the prophet Ezekiel in 18:16 revealed that Israel’s religious leaders had led the people into worship of the sun among other ‘deities of nature’. The emerging Christian church was warned about worshiping “things made”(S Gk lexicon) in Romans 1:25 [see Gen 1:14-19 for what was made on the 4th day of creation]. Worship your one and only Maker, HE alone is your God.
In recorded language history, the English word Sunday, literally “the day of the sun,” was derived from Hellenistic astrology where it was the “day of the sun,” It was then introduced to Rome and on to the Germanic peoples as Sonntag (sun’s day) from the Latin dies Solis (“day of the sun”). Old English picked it up before 700 AD as Sonnandaeg or (“sun’s day”). In most Indian languages the word for Sunday is derived from Sanskrit’s day for Surya (“the Sun deity”). Chinese, Korean and Japanese all term the first day “sun day of the week”. InHebrew, Arabic,Persian and related languages all names of the day mean “first”. In Slavic languages our Saturday is always literally, or in its derived meaning “Sabbath”, meaning a “time of rest” (MW). Christian worship on “the day of the sun” slowly entered the Christian scene through various secular, political and life protection modes and reasons. Christ’s resurrection was not used as a reason until at least the second century. It wasn’t until 363 AD with the 29th canon of the Laodicean Council of the Roman Catholic Church that Christians were prohibited – by Christianity – to worship on the seventh day as the Sabbath and strongly, even forcefully encouraged to rest and worship on “the day of the sun,” – Sunday. The day’s name was then changed around the 13th century in the modern Greek and romantic languages as well as French, Romanian and Spanish to “the Lord’s Day”. [the above mostly taken from Wikipedia: Sunday, summer 2023]
Worship of “things made” Ro 1:25, like the ancient Baal [nature deities] worship – now as well as then – includes the sun. Worship of the sun is still, via smoke and mirrors, thriving through the father of deceit (Mt 24:11; 2Tim 3:13; Rev 20:8; 2Cor 11:3; Rev 20:10; Jn 8:44) far beyond the confines of Egypt’s Baalbek to this day. The next to the last call in Rev 12:17 of scripture for humanity to return to respect/admiration/adoration of their progenitor, their nascency, their originator, their Creator (Genesis 1: 27; 2:2-3; 3:8; Lk 3:38, Isa 1:2-3), and to meet with Him on His day (Mk 2:28; Lk 6:5) is implicit (understood but not expressed) via its reference to “those who keep the commandments of God”, commandments which include a reminder, a call, a repeated invitation to: “Remember the Sabbath day (of Ge 2:2,3) by keeping (cherishing [S]) it holy. Six days shall you labor… but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord (Elohim) (literally possessive “the LORD’S Sabbath) … for in six days the LORD (Elohim) made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that in them is (Ge 1,2) but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD (Elohim) blessed the Sabbath day (literally “the day of Yahweh) and made it holy” Ex 20:8,9,10a,11 (‘it and ‘the’ are definite, not general, articles and are the literal translations as noted in YLT).
Scriptures last call to worship in Rev 14:6-7 becomes no longer implicit but explicit [leaving no ambiguity, no question as to the intent] in this matter – “worship Him who made heaven and earth (Jn 1:1-18), the sea and springs of water.” Only He is “worthy” of worship Rev 5:9,12.
Of monotheism, the Godhead, the tree & sun worship – back to the fountain head.
Because God does not coerce there is no demand in His command but only a plea and invitation for our best good Dt 10:13; Dt 6: 3,24; Mt 11:28. (A truth again picked up by Muhammad who wrote the Quranic verse, “There is no force in religion” Al-Baqara 2”256. A truth not practiced in Islam any better than in historic Christianity. Jeremiah 5:31 cautions: “The prophets (preachers – ones who give instruction in religious matters MW) encourage obedience to falsehoods (Heb. S lexicon), and My people love it so but what will you do at the end of it all (Moffit).” A true cautionary note for all who make forgiveness/belonging or works their end goal with out making knowing/understanding & understanding written truth along with confession and repentance their penultimate goal and their ultimate goal, His truthful selfless love internalized by in submission inviting the Anointed One of God , the living TRUTH to live within thus making living the truth His righteousness in us possible.
God’s first commandment [instruction, prescription (S)] from Mount Sinai as recorded in Exodus 20: 3 and Deuteronomy 5:7 is – “You shall have no other gods besides me” in eleven English versions plus a number of marginal readings including NIV & ESV). We are reminded of again in Revelation 22:14 by Christ’s statement, “Blessed are they who do (obedience through his indwelling) His (“no other gods besides me”), commandments (no other god’s instructions) so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” This again is consistent with Deuteronomy’s 6:4’s (a), (b) & (c) phrases best word and full contextual translation. Can it be any plainer?
“Hear ‘O Israelite (Overcomer), The LORD is our God, the LORD ALONE”.
May He in His fullness be, and He alone, in every aspect of our overcoming lives.
References include Strongs Concordance & dictionaries (S), Merriam Websters Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (MW), unreferenced Scripture may include NIV, KJV, NKJV, YLT or ESV.
- NLT ,NRS, CEB, GNT, GWT, LET, NCT, NIVREADERS, NRV, NJPST, Tyndale, GW, ICB, ISB, TLB, MSG, NABRE, NCV, NCB, NIRV, NRSVAC, NRSVUE, VOICE.
- Bold, italics, underlined words or those in parentheses are mine, used in hopes to enhance understanding.
LIFE EXCOGITATIONS 