ONE

In a study of the Godhead there must be a clear definition of the terms being used. This becomes especially important in any kind of discussion particularly when the Godhead is in view. A good example of this is found in the understanding of the term, MONOTHEISM. The dictionary defines `monotheism' as the doctrine or belief that there is but one God. Of all the religions of the world only three proclaim themselves monotheistic: the Hebrew, the Moslem and the Christian. For the purpose of our study we will not consider the Moslem, and consider only the first and last mentioned, Hebrew and Christian.

Since the dogma of the Church sprang from the cradle of the Hebrew faith it would only seem logical that the teaching of the Church would maintain the monotheistic teachings of their Hebrew forefathers. After all, those who were first added to the Church were Hebrews. The worshipers of one God. While we hold this to be the fact in the true Church, we must recognize an erroneous form of monotheism that has appeared and spread through the ranks of Christendom to the point that it is today considered by the vast majority as being orthodox.

"This form of monotheism, unlike the True Monotheism of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Prophets, declares God to be a COMPOUND ONE. By “compound” is meant (composed of, or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts). This teaching, called “The Trinity,” confesses to believe in ONE GOD made up of three different elements, namely: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

These different elements are freely termed by the Trinitarian as Persons, or even Beings. Here the term “ONE” has been redefined to no longer refer to the cardinal numeral, but instead to a compound one. So, any study on the subject of the Godhead, in order to be fruitful, must include an investigation of the legality of the definition of the term “ONE.” Do the scriptures which teach that God is One mean to say God is ONE in a SOLITARY sense? Or do these scriptures intend to teach God to be ONE in a COMPOUND sense!?

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

The Hebrew concept of God is clearly seen in the Shema of Israel;

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

The ONE, here referred to is a Solitary ONE, and not a Compound ONE. This can be clearly noted in another verse in Deuteronomy; 32:39. Consider closely this scripture:

"See now that I, {even} I, {am} he, and {there is} no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither {is there any} that can deliver out of my hand."

The spokesman is the LORD. We know this from verses 19 and 20 that it is the LORD (Jehovah) that is speaking. We also know from Psalms 83:18 that Jehovah ALONE is the MOST HIGH: That {men} may know that thou, whose name alone {is} Jehovah, {art} the most high over all the earth. In Deuteronomy 32:39 Jehovah, the Most High, spoke of himself as a single being. This is seen from the following:

A). I - (Hebrew is “aniy”). This word is the first person singular personal pronoun.

B). he - (Hebrew is “huw”). This word is the third person masculine singular personal pronoun.

C). with me - (Hebrew is “immade”). Immade is the preposition “immad” suffixed with the first person singular personal pronoun. The personal pronouns in an abbreviated form are affixed to nouns, prepositions, etc. to express the genitive and objective cases. Therefore the object of the preposition is a single person.

D). my hand - (Hebrew is “meyade”) Meyade is the noun “YAD” suffixed with the first person singular possessive pronoun. The hand was the possession of one Person!

E). All of the verbs of this verse are in the first person singular form. In Hebrew the verb must agree with its subject in number and gender. The conclusion of this rule is: All of the actions of Deuteronomy 32:39 refer to only one Person. The divine person in this verse spoke of Himself as a single person and stated that no other person of Deity existed.

It is abundantly clear that Hebrew “Monotheism” was a belief in one SOLITARY God. It was not an understanding of “ONE” in a compound sense. To believe in God as a Solitary Being is of so much importance that Jesus taught it to be the first of all commandments. When Jesus was asked, by a young man, which of the commandments was the first of all he was told by Christ that the first commandment was Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord - Mark 12:29.

HEIS - MASCULINE `ONE'

In Mark 12:29 the word Jesus used to indicate the number is the Greek masculine word for “one.” This word is “heis.” The use of this particular word is very important in our study of the true meaning of the term “one” as this term relates to God. The interest here lies in the fact that this word “heis,” did not have to be the word used. Other Greek words could have been employed, such as “hen,” “tis,” or even “mia.” There are reasons why “heis,” and not any other words for ONE are used to describe the number for God. For example, “mia” could not have been used because it is of the feminine gender; if the word “mia” was used it would mean that God was feminine. The word “hen” could not have been used because it is of the neuter gender. If “hen” would have been used it would mean that God was a compound One. The choice of the masculine “heis” is descriptive of just how God is one. The following is a list of scholars and their comments on the Greek masculine ONE.

THAYER: Heis means the cardinal numeral; One. Where the word “heis” takes the place of a predicate it means one person (Page 186. A Greek, English Lexicon of the New Testament).

A. T. ROBERTSON: One, when masculine sets forth the idea of the cardinal numeral “one;” When referring to people or beings always the numeral “one” is implied (Page 186 vol. 5; pages 526, 527, vol. 4; page 299 vol, 4, Word Pictures of the Greek New Testament).

BAUER: The masculine “one” means, A single; Only one (Page 230, Bauer's Greek Lexicon).

GINGRICH: the masculine “one” is equivalent to “protos” which means “first.” Only one; Single (Page 57, Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament).

The amazing truth is that “heis” is found over 90 times in the New Testament relating only to people, and never is this word used for more than one person.

HEN - NEUTER “ONE”

The neuter “one” (“hen”) is the word used when it is a compound “one” that is in view. It would seem that this word would be very important to the Trinitarian doctrine of the compound One instead of a Solitary One. It is this Greek word that is used when a number of things, or beings are said to be one. Such as a husband and wife, etc.

The Scholars give us their understanding of the Greek language for a better understanding of this word:

YOUNG: “One” when neuter means “one thing” (Page 719 Young's Analytical Concordance of the Bible).

THAYER: “One” when neuter means to be “united” in one will or spirit (Pages 186, 187, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament).

A.T. ROBERTSON: “One” when neuter shows a unity; A oneness of identity ( vol. 4; page 186 Word Pictures of the Greek New Testament).

VINE: “One” when neuter may be used to show a numeral one of a thing, or it may be used to show UNITY of more than one of someone or thing.

The form of the numeral used when two or more persons are said to exist as “one” is the Nominative Neuter form “hen.” This is very pronounced in the following scriptures:

JOHN 11:52,

"And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."

In this verse we are told that many people are to be made “one;” therefore it is the nominative neuter form of the word “one” which is used. “Hen” would have been the only proper word to have used.

1 Corinthians 3:6-8,

"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour."

In this passage the word “one” is “hen” because two people are said to be one in the sense of unity.

Ephesians 2:14,

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition {between us}."

Here “both” means Jews and Gentiles. These two groups of people are made “one.” Because it is a union of more than one person the neuter word Hen is required to describe the Oneness. The importance of all this to our question: How is God one? Compound or Solitary? is that the Oneness of God is NEVER referred to with the neuter word (which must be the case if a plurality of persons being one in unity is in view). The oneness of God is, however, always referred to with the masculine word “heis” (which must be the case if the oneness means a solitary one in number).

1. The nominative masculine form “heis” is used throughout the New Testament to indicate only one person.

2. Scholars confirm that “heis” means only one person.

3. No other evidence in scriptures or otherwise has been presented in Trinitarian controversies to indicate that “heis” ever refers to a plurality of persons.

4. Whenever two or more persons are stated to be one in the scripture, their state of unity is described by “hen.” This form is used to depict the “one body” which consists of many members. 1 Corinthians 12:12.

5. Scholars verify that “hen” is used when persons are involved.

6. “hen” is never used in scripture to modify God.

7. Each time the Greek New Testament speaks of God as being one, it employs “heis” to describe that oneness. Eleven (11) times the New Testament speaks of God as ONE PERSON.

8. The above facts might be contested, but they cannot be disputed. In plain simple Greek, God conveys to the world that He is One, and the evidence is overwhelming that the word chosen by Him to assert His oneness means “one person” or “one solitary Being.”

ELEVEN WITNESSES

The following eleven scriptures declare God to be one Person, a solitary Being. This is shown by the usage of the Greek masculine “one” (“heis”). The truth becomes obviously clear each time the Greek New Testament uses the word “one” in reference to God it always employs the numeral “heis.” The eleven passages:

1). "Why doth this {man} thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" - Mark 2:7

2). "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? {there is} none good but one, {that is}, God." - Mark 10:18

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

4). "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none {is} good, save one, {that is}, God." - Luke 18:19

5). "Seeing {it is} one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith." - Romans 3:30

6). "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol {is} nothing in the world, and that {there is} none other God but one." - 1 Corinthians 8:4

7). "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." -1 Corinthians 8:6

8). "Now a mediator is not {a mediator} of one, but God is one." - Galatians 3:20

9). "One God and Father of all, who {is} above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:6

10). "For {there is} one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." - 1 Timothy 2:5

11). "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." - James 2:19

Perhaps no where in the Word of God does the masculine “one” demonstrate its power to convey the idea of “one person” as strongly as Galatians 3:20 and 28.

"Now a mediator is not {a mediator} of one, but God is one."

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

This passage states: "But God is one" (heis)... "For ye are all one (heis) in Christ."

Jesus makes this statement in John 10:30 to the Jews, who were doubting His claims. Now, men may attempt to explain away this statement by stating that Jesus is speaking here of one in “unity,” one in “purpose.” Some in attempting to explain their Trinitarian dogma compare this verse to the husband-wife relationship - that they are one flesh. They are one in unity, one in purpose, etc. But Jesus said, in John 14:9,

"he that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

Regardless of our love for our companion, we would never make such a statement. It could never be said: When you have seen me, you have seen my wife!

While the Trinitarians who attempt to explain their triune dogma try to say this verse means Jesus shared a co-equal relationship with His Father, it is evident that the Jews, who heard the Lord make this statement that day, fully understood what He meant. The next verse informs us that. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. When asked for what good work they were attempting to stone Jesus, their reply was that they were not intending to stone Him for some good work which He had done, but because that thou, being a man, doth make thyself God, (v. 33). They fully realized what Jesus said in verse thirty. The only thing wrong with their reasoning was that they were claiming that He was man making Himself God. He was really God who had taken on manhood in order to woo man back up to Himself again.

Jesus was not another person of God. There was no council meeting in heaven to decide who would come down to this earth and die for man, with Jesus being the one who was chosen. The term “persons” is never employed in the Word of God relative to the Godhead. There are no persons in the Godhead! Jesus was God in person form. He was the image of the invisible God. Paul informs us in 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.”

He was the express (expression) image of His person (substance). Hebrews 1:3 tells us this:

“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.”

Jesus is not God separate and apart from another person whom we know in the Old Testament by various names. God who had appeared in so many forms and manners in the Old Testament, God who had manifested Himself by so many names in the Old Testament, had now manifested forth Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. Since Bethlehem, God has been identified by one name - Jesus!

John 8:24,

“For if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.”

In the original text the word “He” was not found. To appreciate the claim Jesus was making here, we must understand the significance of the title “I AM,” that God employed in the Old Testament.The name “Jehovah” is a transliteration of the Hebrew name “Yahweh.” The divine disclosure of the meaning of this name is “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14) He is the self-existing, unchangeable “I AM.” Thus when Jesus employed this term relative to Himself, He was stating that He was the “I AM” in three places in this chapter in John, Jesus employed this term: In Verse 24, 28, and 58.

REVELATION REVEALS IT:

"And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and {one} sat on the throne." - Revelation 4:2

Now it is true that the word “one” in this verse is not in the original writings, as evidenced by the word being in italics. But the next verse let's us know there is only One sitting on that throne.

"And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and {there was} a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." - Revelation 4:3

It is always “He”, NEVER they.

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.", - Revelation 5:1

"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. Even those who feel the wrath of Almighty God during the tribulation, admit that there is but One they are seeking to hide from." - Revelation 6:16

"And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne." - Revelation 7:10

"And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia." - Revelation 19:4

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." - Revelation 20:11

'And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." - Revelation 21:5