>>>That there is one God, a personal, spiritual being, the creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal, infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and mercy; unchangeable, and everywhere present by his representative, the Holy Spirit. Psalm 139:7. FP1872 4.2

📖 Bible Study Guide

The One True God

Key Text

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” — Psalm 139:7

I. The Oneness of God

Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”

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 is not an abstract force but a personal being. He is the one true God, distinct from idols and false gods.

II. God as Creator of All Things

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Nehemiah 9:6 – “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein.”

👉 The foundation of our faith is God as Creator. All life, matter, and existence come from Him.

III. The Attributes of God

• Omnipotent (All-Powerful)
  Jeremiah 32:17 – “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”
  
  

• Omniscient (All-Knowing)
  Psalm 147:5 – “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
  
  

• Eternal
  Psalm 90:2 – “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
  
  

• Infinite in Wisdom

Romans 11:33 – “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”

• Holiness

Isaiah 6:3 – “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts.”

• Justice

Deuteronomy 32:4 – “All his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

• Goodness & Mercy
  Psalm 100:5 – “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting.”
  
  

• Unchangeable

Malachi 3:6 – “For I am the LORD, I change not.”

👉 God’s attributes give us confidence that He is both all-powerful and all-good, the perfect balance of justice and mercy.

IV. God’s Presence Through the Holy Spirit

Psalm 139:7–10 – David acknowledges that no one can flee from God’s presence.

John 14:16–18 – Jesus promises the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, to represent His presence with believers.

2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

👉 Though God the Father is in heaven, His presence fills the universe through His Spirit, His divine representative.

Reflection & Discussion Questions

• What does it mean for you personally that God is a personal, spiritual being rather than an impersonal force?

• Which attribute of God (power, wisdom, justice, mercy, etc.) do you most need to experience in your life today?

• How does the truth that God is everywhere present by His Spirit bring comfort and accountability to daily living?

• Why is it important to maintain the distinction between the one God, the Father, and His representative Spirit?
  
  

Conclusion

The declaration of faith that there is one God, the Father, the Creator of all, is the foundation of Scripture. He is a personal, eternal, all-wise, all-powerful, and merciful Being whose presence fills the universe through His Spirit. To know Him is life eternal (John 17:3).

📖 THE MEANING OF the Word “ONE” (’Echad)

1. Key Text: Deuteronomy 6:4

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one (’echad) LORD.”

This verse, known as the Shema, is Israel’s daily confession of faith in the one true God. But what does ’echad mean?

2. Meaning of ’Echad

The Hebrew word ’echad simply means “one” in the sense of unity, singularity, or uniqueness.

It is the cardinal number one in Hebrew, the same as in English.

It is not inherently plural. It can describe:
- a single individual (Genesis 42:13 – “one man” ’echad),
- a unique entity (Ezekiel 33:24 – “Abraham was one” ’echad),
- or a compound unity (Genesis 2:24 – “they shall be one flesh” ’echad).

3. Examples of ’Echad in the Bible

Singular Usage (one person or one thing):

Genesis 42:11 – “We are all one (’echad) man’s sons.”

Ecclesiastes 4:8 – “There is one (’echad) alone, and there is not a second.”

👉 Here ’echad means simply “single, only.”

Collective or Unity Usage:

Genesis 2:24 – “They shall be one (’echad) flesh.”

Exodus 24:3 – “All the people answered with one (’echad) voice.”

👉 ’Echad can describe many parts forming a single unit.

Unique Usage:

Ezekiel 33:24 – “Abraham was one (’echad), and he inherited the land.”

Song of Solomon 6:9 – “My dove, my undefiled is but one (’echad).”

👉 Here ’echad emphasizes uniqueness—the only one of its kind.

4. Theological Significance in Deuteronomy 6:4

When the Shema says “YHWH our God is one (’echad) LORD”, it emphasizes:

• God’s singularity (not many gods).

• God’s uniqueness (He is incomparable).

• God’s unity (His attributes, will, and purposes are one).
  
  

This is not a text teaching a “compound unity of persons in one God” (as Trinitarians often argue). Rather, it is Israel’s confession against polytheism—that YHWH alone is God.

5. Comparison with Another Word for “One”: Yachid

Hebrew also has yachid (יָחִיד), meaning “only, solitary, unique in the sense of alone.”

Example: Genesis 22:2 – “Take now thy son, thine only (yachid) son Isaac.”

Yachid stresses absolute singleness or only one of its kind.

👉 The Bible uses echad in Deuteronomy 6:4 instead of yachid because God is not solitary in existence. He has a Son (John 3:16; Proverbs 30:4; Daniel 3:25). God is one, but not alone.

6. New Testament Connection

Mark 12:29 – Jesus quotes the Shema: “The Lord our God is one Lord.”

1 Corinthians 8:6 – Paul explains: “To us there is but one God, the Father.”

👉 The NT consistently interprets “one God” as the Father, not a “one essence in three persons.”

7. Practical Application

God is one in being and purpose, so our devotion must also be undivided and whole.

Just as Israel was called to love Him with all heart, soul, and strength (Deut. 6:5), we are called to give God our exclusive loyalty.

✅ Summary:
The Hebrew word echad in Deuteronomy 6:4 means “one” in the sense of unity, uniqueness, and singularity. It affirms that there is only one true God—the Father, not many gods. He is one, not divided, and yet not solitary, because He has a Son who shares His divine nature.

The Meaning of Elohim

I. What Does Elohim Mean?

• Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is the most common Hebrew title for God in the Old Testament.

• It is grammatically plural, coming from Eloah (“God”), yet often refers to the one true God.

• At first glance, this seems contradictory — why would the Bible use a plural word for the one God?

II. The Plural of Majesty and Fullness

• Hebrew sometimes uses plural forms to express greatness, majesty, or intensity, not number.

• Example: in English, a king might say, “We decree…” (the royal we), even though he is one person.

• Likewise, Elohim conveys God’s majesty, power, and fullness.

III. Grammar Shows the Meaning

• Hebrew verbs and adjectives connected to Elohim reveal whether it means singular or plural.
  
  

  • When referring to the true God: the verbs/adjectives are singular.

    • Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God (Elohim) created (bara – singular verb) the heavens and the earth.”

    • Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God (Elohim) is one LORD.”
      
      

  • When referring to false gods, angels, or human judges: the verbs/adjectives are plural.

    • Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods (elohim) before me.”

IV. Elohim as Singular

1. The One True God

   • Genesis 1:1 – Elohim created (singular verb).

   • Deuteronomy 6:4 – Elohim is one LORD.
     
     

2. A Single False God

   • Judges 11:24 – Chemosh called elohim though one deity.

   • 1 Kings 11:33 – Ashtoreth called elohim.
     
     

3. Moses as God’s Representative

   • Exodus 7:1 – “I have made you a god (elohim) to Pharaoh.”

👉 In these cases, Elohim functions as a singular noun even though it is plural in form.

V. Elohim as Plural

1. False gods (many deities)

   • Exodus 20:3 – “No other gods (elohim).”

   • Deuteronomy 13:2 – “Let us go after other gods (elohim).”
     
     

2. Angels (heavenly beings)

   • Psalm 8:5 – Man made “a little lower than the elohim” → quoted in Heb. 2:7 as “angels.”

   • Psalm 97:7 – “Worship him, all you gods (elohim),” applied to angels in Heb. 1:6.
     
     

3. Human Judges / Magistrates

   • Exodus 21:6 – A servant brought before the elohim (judges).

   • Exodus 22:8–9 – Disputes judged by the elohim (magistrates).

   • Psalm 82:1, 6 – God stands in the congregation of the elohim (rulers/judges): “I said, You are gods (elohim).”

👉 In these cases, Elohim clearly refers to plural beings — whether angels, rulers, or pagan gods.

VI. Why Does This Matter?

• The plural form of Elohim does not mean Israel believed in many gods — the grammar and context show they worshiped one God.

• Elohim highlights the majesty, power, and fullness of the one true God.

• Its flexibility also allows Scripture to apply the word to others (angels, rulers, false gods), showing that only YHWH, the LORD, is the true Elohim.

• Some Christian interpreters see in Elohim a hint of God’s triune nature — not explicit proof, but consistent with later revelation of Father, Son, and Spirit.

VII. Reflection & Discussion

1. How does the use of Elohim with singular verbs in Genesis 1 emphasize God’s unity?

2. Why do you think God allowed the same word elohim to describe angels, rulers, and false gods?

3. What does the plural majesty of Elohim teach us about God’s greatness?

4. How does this study strengthen our confidence in Deuteronomy 6:4 — “The LORD our God is one LORD”?
   
   

✅ Summary:
Elohim is plural in form but its meaning depends on context and grammar. When joined with singular verbs, it refers to the one true God. When used with plural verbs/adjectives, it can mean false gods, angels, or judges. This shows both the majesty of God and the flexibility of Hebrew language, while firmly upholding the biblical truth: there is only one true Elohim.