I remember watching the Science Fiction television series, Battlestar Galactica. It was about an advanced human civilization that was in a prolonged war with a race of robots called Cylons. The humans had a polytheistic religion. They worshiped the Lords of Kobol. In their conversations with each other, they often spoke of "the gods" and not God. Unlike the humans in this Science Fiction show, most advanced Earth cultures are monotheistic and not polytheistic. Monotheists say that there is only one God.
There are three major monotheistic religions in the world today: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Christians and Jews often cite the Old Testament passage in Deuteronomy to prove that there is only one God.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deut. 6:4,5)
There are passages in the New Testament that also teach that there is only one God.
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. (I Cor. 8:6)
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. (Gal. 3:20)
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19)
These passages are considered to be authoritative to Christians, since they come from their Sacred Scriptures. In the Koran, it says:
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that men of understanding may take heed. (Koran 14:52, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, p. 190)
Muslims believe that this is authoritative because they believe the Koran is a divine revelation of God.
Although Jews, Christians, and Muslims may disagree on the subject of what constitutes the Sacred Scriptures for man to read, learn, and understand, they all agree in saying that there is only one true God.
In the Third Book of Maccabees, God is called the Supreme God.
But the Jews, at their last gasp, since the time had run out, stretched their hands toward heaven and with most tearful supplication and mournful dirges implored the supreme God to help them again at once. (III Macc. 5:25, RSV)
The Canons of the Holy Apostles called the Third Book of Maccabees "holy and venerable." (Canons of the Holy Apostles, Canon 85, vol. 7, p. 505, Ante-Nicene Fathers) The Quinisext Council (692 A.D.), an extension of the Fifth and Sixth Ecumenical Councils of the Church, accepted the Canons of the Holy Apostles in its Second Canon. (See vol. 14, p. 361, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series.) So, this holy and venerable book of the ancient Christians calls God "the supreme God."
Lactantius wrote:
Who can doubt that he would be a most powerful king who should have the government of the whole world? And not without reason, since all things which everywhere exist would belong to him, since all resources from all quarters would be centred in him alone. But if more than one divide the government of the world, undoubtedly each will have less power and strength, since every one must confine himself within his prescribed portion. In the same manner also, if there are more gods than one, they will be of less weight, others having in themselves the same power. But the nature of excellence admits of greater perfection in him in whom the whole is, than in him in whom there is only a small part of the whole. But God, if He is perfect, as He ought to be, cannot but be one, because He is perfect, so that all things may be in Him. Therefore the excellences and powers of the gods must necessarily be weaker, because so much will be wanting to each as shall be in the others; and so the more there are, so much the less powerful will they be. Why should I mention that this highest power and divine energy is altogether incapable of division? For whatever is capable of division must of necessity be liable to destruction also. But if destruction is far removed from God, because He is incorruptible and eternal, it follows that the divine power is incapable of division. Therefore God is one, if that which admits of so great power can be nothing else. (The Divine Institutes, Book I, chapter 3, by Lactantius, 260-330 A.D., vol. 7, pp. 11-12, Ante-Nicene Fathers)
So then, if there are more gods than one, then each god would have less power than what would be the case if there is only one God. Each god would have to divide the power and authority among themselves.
Ancient Christians had a saying: "God is not, if He is not one."* To say that there is not one God is to say that there is no Supreme God. The nature of God Himself is to be supreme. If He has to share his power and authority with other gods, then He cannot be supreme. Therefore, He cannot be God, but only one of the gods.
Since there is only one God who is supreme, we should pray only to that one God -- and not to any other so-called "deity.".
Steve
* But the Christian verity has distinctly declared this principle, “God is not, if He is not one;” because we more properly believe that that has no existence which is not as it ought to be. In order, however, that you may know that God is one, ask what God is, and you will find Him to be not otherwise than one. (Five Books Against Marcion, Book I, chapter 3, by Tertullian, 145-220 A.D., vol. 3, p. 273, Ante-Nicene Fathers)
There are three major monotheistic religions in the world today: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Christians and Jews often cite the Old Testament passage in Deuteronomy to prove that there is only one God.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deut. 6:4,5)
There are passages in the New Testament that also teach that there is only one God.
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. (I Cor. 8:6)
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. (Gal. 3:20)
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19)
These passages are considered to be authoritative to Christians, since they come from their Sacred Scriptures. In the Koran, it says:
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that men of understanding may take heed. (Koran 14:52, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, p. 190)
Muslims believe that this is authoritative because they believe the Koran is a divine revelation of God.
Although Jews, Christians, and Muslims may disagree on the subject of what constitutes the Sacred Scriptures for man to read, learn, and understand, they all agree in saying that there is only one true God.
In the Third Book of Maccabees, God is called the Supreme God.
But the Jews, at their last gasp, since the time had run out, stretched their hands toward heaven and with most tearful supplication and mournful dirges implored the supreme God to help them again at once. (III Macc. 5:25, RSV)
The Canons of the Holy Apostles called the Third Book of Maccabees "holy and venerable." (Canons of the Holy Apostles, Canon 85, vol. 7, p. 505, Ante-Nicene Fathers) The Quinisext Council (692 A.D.), an extension of the Fifth and Sixth Ecumenical Councils of the Church, accepted the Canons of the Holy Apostles in its Second Canon. (See vol. 14, p. 361, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series.) So, this holy and venerable book of the ancient Christians calls God "the supreme God."
Lactantius wrote:
Who can doubt that he would be a most powerful king who should have the government of the whole world? And not without reason, since all things which everywhere exist would belong to him, since all resources from all quarters would be centred in him alone. But if more than one divide the government of the world, undoubtedly each will have less power and strength, since every one must confine himself within his prescribed portion. In the same manner also, if there are more gods than one, they will be of less weight, others having in themselves the same power. But the nature of excellence admits of greater perfection in him in whom the whole is, than in him in whom there is only a small part of the whole. But God, if He is perfect, as He ought to be, cannot but be one, because He is perfect, so that all things may be in Him. Therefore the excellences and powers of the gods must necessarily be weaker, because so much will be wanting to each as shall be in the others; and so the more there are, so much the less powerful will they be. Why should I mention that this highest power and divine energy is altogether incapable of division? For whatever is capable of division must of necessity be liable to destruction also. But if destruction is far removed from God, because He is incorruptible and eternal, it follows that the divine power is incapable of division. Therefore God is one, if that which admits of so great power can be nothing else. (The Divine Institutes, Book I, chapter 3, by Lactantius, 260-330 A.D., vol. 7, pp. 11-12, Ante-Nicene Fathers)
So then, if there are more gods than one, then each god would have less power than what would be the case if there is only one God. Each god would have to divide the power and authority among themselves.
Ancient Christians had a saying: "God is not, if He is not one."* To say that there is not one God is to say that there is no Supreme God. The nature of God Himself is to be supreme. If He has to share his power and authority with other gods, then He cannot be supreme. Therefore, He cannot be God, but only one of the gods.
Since there is only one God who is supreme, we should pray only to that one God -- and not to any other so-called "deity.".
Steve
* But the Christian verity has distinctly declared this principle, “God is not, if He is not one;” because we more properly believe that that has no existence which is not as it ought to be. In order, however, that you may know that God is one, ask what God is, and you will find Him to be not otherwise than one. (Five Books Against Marcion, Book I, chapter 3, by Tertullian, 145-220 A.D., vol. 3, p. 273, Ante-Nicene Fathers)
Bibliography
Ante-Nicene Fathers, edited by Alexander Roberts, D.D. & James Donaldson, LL.D., volumes 1-10, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, edited by Philip Schaff, D.D., LL.D., volumes 1-14, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, Massachusetts
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, edited by Philip Schaff, D.D., LL.D. & Henry Wace, D.D., volumes 1-14, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, Massachusetts
The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, translated by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, New American Library, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019, copyright under the Berne Convention
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, edited by Philip Schaff, D.D., LL.D., volumes 1-14, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, Massachusetts
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, edited by Philip Schaff, D.D., LL.D. & Henry Wace, D.D., volumes 1-14, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, Massachusetts
The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, translated by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, New American Library, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019, copyright under the Berne Convention
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