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1 Corinthians 8:5 – Paul’s Shema
We’re the first century Jewish believers in Jesus monotheistic? Yes. Did they believe Jesus to be Divine? Yes. How did they reconcile that God is one, and yet both the Father and Son are God?
First, if you look at the Shema in the LXX, which is the Old Testament version quoted in the New Testament, you wouldn’t see “Yahweh”, but rather “Lord” – “The Lord our God is one Lord”.
Also, many have pointed out how “one” can mean either numerically one, or a united one. Being how Christianity is monotheistic as is Judaism, consider how Paul repurposes the Shema in combating idolatry when writing to the Corinthians as compared to Moses’s original declaration:
1 – FALSE GODS VERSUS THE TRUE GOD
Deuteronomy 6:14 – You shall not walk after other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you,
1 Corinthians 8:5 –
For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our GOD, the LORD is ONE!
1 Corinthians 8:6 – yet for us there is one GOD, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him, and one LORD, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
2. ONENESS:
1 Corinthians 8:6 – yet for us there is ONE God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him, and ONE Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
3. EXISTENCE:
Deuteronomy 6:12 – beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
1 Corinthians 8:6 – yet for us there is one God, the Father, FROM WHOM ARE ALL THINGS AND WE EXIST FOR HIM, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, BY WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, AND WE EXIST THROUGH HIM.
4. NAME:
Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!”
1 Corinthians 8:6 – yet for us there is one God, THE FATHER, from whom are all things and we exist for Him, and one Lord, JESUS CHRIST, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Is there any practical living from the Shema?
1. Truth
2. Unity
3. Allegiance
4. Relationship
Theology is not meant for the ivory towers because it is made for everyone, in every level, in all places, and in our hearts, minds, and body.
Notice how Paul is still monotheistic, carries the language of the LXX into his inspired writing, and fills in the Shema showing how the Father and Son are one: THE LORD OUR GOD IS A ONE LORD.
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