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Hebrew
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
Are the Father, Son and Spirit “one”?
What does it mean that they are “one”?
How can they be one, yet also three?
How is this "are one" language used in the Bible?
VIEWS TO CONSIDER:
EVANGELICAL VIEW: The Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three separate persons that are literally one, meaning that they are one God, one being, equal in substance and essence.
LATTER DAY SAINT VIEW: The Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three separate beings that are metaphorical “one”, meaning that they are unified in all they do, say, in purpose, in authority over mankind, in representing each other etc.
CONTENTS:
Passages that describe multiple Godhead members as together being “One”
One God?
“One” language in the Bible
Christians are to be “one “as the Godhead members are “one”
One in creation
One in deed
One in love
One in prayer
One in purpose
One in redemption
One in truth
One in will
One in witness
One in worship
Equal in kind/family/nature
Equal involvement in ordinances
Equal in form/exalted or godly form
Equal in representation/speaking
PASSAGES THAT DESCRIBE THE GODHEAD MEMBERS AS TOGETHER BEING “ONE”:
John 10:30 I and my Father are one
1 John 5:7 For there are three… in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one
ONE GOD? The Bible never refers to all three Godhead members as “one God”, for example, there is no passage that says something like, “The Father, Son and Spirit are one God“. While the Bible does indeed teach that there is only one God, since the title “God” is given to many different beings in scripture (the Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit , Moses, Satan, righteous angels, judges, mortal rulers etc.), each application of the title must be viewed within it’s own limited context. See the page, “God: How Many Gods?” for a more fully study of how many Gods there are according the Bible. Here below are passages that show that the Father, Son and Spirit are each called "God" in the Bible.
John 17:1-3 Father… this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (Father)
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (Jesus)
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?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. (Holy Ghost)
See the link below for a much more comprehensive list of who is called "God" in the New Testament, which shows that the Father is called "God" 130+ times, Jesus around 7 times and the Holy Ghost 1 time. While this inequality in how many times each is called God exists, the fact is that each member is called "God", each has a level of Godhood (of divine power and authority).
“ONE” LANGUAGE IN THE BIBLE: (As seen below, the word “one” is repeatedly used throughout scripture to express metaphorical unity between separate beings, not literal unity of being/essence/substance)
1 Cor. 3:6-8 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase… Now he that planteth and he that watereth ARE ONE: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
1 Cor. 6:16 Know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is ONE body?
1 Cor. 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is ONE spirit
1 Cor. 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and ONE body: for we are all partakers of that one bread
1 Cor. 12:12 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.
1 Cor. 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but ONE body
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are ONE
2 Chron. 30:22 the hand of God was to give them ONE heart to do the commandment of the king
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of ONE heart and of ONE soul
Eccl. 3:19 As the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, THEY have all ONE breath
Ezek. 11:9 I will give them ONE heart
Ezek. 37:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and THEY shall become ONE in thine hand
Ezek. 37:22 And I will make them ONE nation… they shall be no more two nations
Gal. 3:28 Ye are all ONE in Christ
Gen. 11:6 Behold, the people is ONE
Gen. 2:24 [Husband]… cleave unto wife… THEY shall be ONE flesh
Jer. 32:39 I will give THEM ONE heart, and ONE way
Philip. 1:27 Stand fast with ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together
Rom. 12:5 We, BEING MANY, ARE ONE body in Christ
CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE ONE AS THE FATHER AND SON ARE ONE (clearly metaphorically):
John 17:21-22 Father… that they also may be one in us… that they may be one, even as we are one
ONE IN CREATION:
Col. 1:13-17 Son… Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (Jesus)
Gen. 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Spirit)
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Spirit)
Eph. 3:9 God… created all things by Jesus Christ (Father)
ONE IN DEED:
John 5:7 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
John 5:36 The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 10:25 the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father
John 10:37-38 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him
John 14:10 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.
John 14:!6 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for.
ONE IN LOVE:
2 John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love
2 Thess. 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace
Eph. 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Rom. 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Rom. 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
ONE IN PRAYER:
Eph. 2:18 For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
ONE IN PURPOSE (to give grace, salvation and peace to mankind):
Rom. 1:7 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
1 Cor. 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world
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
1 Thess. 1:1 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
1 Tim. 1:2 Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord
2 Thess. 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
2 Thess. 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace
2 Tim. 1:2 Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord
2 Cor. 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ
2 Cor. 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
2 John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love
Col. 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Eph. 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ
Eph. 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Gal. 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ
Luke 22:42 Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done
Matt. 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
Philipp. 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ
Philemon 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Rom. 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
Titus 1:4 Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior
ONE IN REDEMPTION:
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?
ONE IN TRUTH:
2 John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love
ONE IN WILL: While this passage clearly indicates that the Father and Son have separate wills, Jesus always submits his will to the Father’s will, therefore they are unified in will.
Luke 22:42 Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done
ONE IN WITNESS:
John 15:26 When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me
ONE IN WORSHIP: The Father and Son are specifically described as being worshipped in the Bible. The Holy Spirit is not specifically described as being worshipped, but one could debate that such is inferred.
FATHER IS WORSHIPPED
John 20:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (Father)
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Note: Likely referring to the Father since Christ and the spirit are also mentioned here separately).
Rev. 7:10-11, 19:4 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen... And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
JESUSIS WORSHIPPED
Acts 17:23-24 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To the Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Note: This is likely referring to Jesus since He is specified as the creator of heaven and earth in the New Testament).
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Luke 24:51-53 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy
Mark 5:6-7 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him (Note: The man is who worshipping Jesus here is a demon-possessed man. Interesting).
Matt. 2:11 And when they (the wise men) were come into the house, they saw the young child (Jesus) with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh
Matt. 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matt. 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest
Matt. 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him
EQUAL IN KIND/FAMILY/NATURE:
John 5:18 (Jews speaking) He (Jesus) said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God
EQUAL INVOLVEMENT IN ORDINANCES:
Matt. 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
EQUAL IN FORM/EXALTED FORM:
Phill 2:5-9, 12 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God…he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name
EQUAL IN REPRESENTATION/SPEAKING:
Heb. 1:2 God… hath… spoken unto us by His Son
John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name
John 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 12:45 He that seeth me seeth him that sent me
John 12:49 Even as the Father said unto me, so I speak
John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak
John 12:50 Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak
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