Politely - Would you agree that the 10 commandments IMPLY more than one god?

Question

.
Thou shalt not worship any OTHER god BEFORE me. For I am A vain and A jealous god.

This sounds like there's more than one. What do you think, and more importantly...WHY DO YOU THINK THAT? I don't want any lame answer like, "There's only one God" without explanation.

Answer 1

The original word for God that was used in the Hebrew text for Genesis actually means something like "a God" or "Gods" or something along those lines, I forget which. Anyway, the point I'm trying to say, is that the very early Jews were still slightly paganistic, and they basically were like "the pagans gods exist, but OUR God is greater than any of them" The ten commandments is another example of this. God doesn't outright say "those pagan's gods don't exist" he says "don't worship them, I'm YOUR God, the others are for the pagans"

Answer 2

This question has been asked, and answered, before.

There are other "gods," in a manner of speaking. But they are "gods" of our making!

Back in Old Testament times, these "gods" could be idols and statues and whatnot.

Today, many of us worship the "god" known as money, or power, or sex, or fame, or popularity.

God's words in the First Commandment mean that we are not to worship Him ahead of these other "gods" because they are not gods after all -- no matter how much we may want them to be.

When reading the Bible, it's not usually a good idea to read it like a 21st-century lawyer. It's not a good idea to try to find loopholes in it, like that.

Reading the Bible very much requires us to "think outside the box" at times -- to read verses in a way OTHER than how we, through the lens of modern-day society, would normally read them.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention -- there are verses in the Bible that very clearly state that God is the only true God. When read in light of these verses, the First Commandment is telling us that worshipping other gods is bad because ... they're not real.

Answer 3

True, there are other "gods" but only 1 Almighty God who was the Creator. The other "gods" are images and idols that people worshipped. They were manmade gods, like when Moses came back down from Mount Sinai and saw the golden calf that the Israelites were worshipping. God is a Spirit and must be worshipped with spirit and truth, not by a physical thing, eg. cross, deity, etc.

Answer 4

No, it doesn't mean there are other gods, just that there were a bunch of loons running around worshipping statues. Look at Egypt, they had tons of statutes of so-called gods. God was just trying to clue people in to the fact that not only were those statues nothing but statues, but that it would really tick Him off if they bowed before some stupid statue and worshipped it. This is during a time in history that people sacrificed children to these idols.

Answer 5

There cannot be ONLY ONE. That's a fascist male idea that he is the only one and therefore in control of everything. And "GOD" is a male. Figures.
I believe that there is a whole patheon of entities, who do their part in some fashion of creation, but after that, we are free to evolve. I don't believe in the 'decendant from apes', or 'created from clay', but we were created for we are like no other creature on this planet. And the planet was not made just for us, and we are not the only lifeforms capable of travel. How screwed would that be if we were the only planet with life on it in the vastly huge universe?? We are not alone, and we will meet other species. We will see the future that only exists in movies.
There are worlds within worlds, time laspes, and anonomolys that undo everything we think is normal.
There is too much to be explained, and no lifeform will ever understand everything there is to know for as long as existance is in existance, there will always be something new to discover.

Answer 6

There is one TRUE God. However, one can fabricate "gods" for themselves. Whatever they, for example, devote most time and engery into could become something that consumes them, thus becoming their "god". One could hold, say, money, or another possesion, above all other things, thus making it their "god". Of course, these are known as false gods; mainly because they are FALSE. Kinda obvious. There is one TRUE God. As Psalm 115 says,

Psalm 115:4-8
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;

6 they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;

7 they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.

Hope this helps, God bless!

Answer 7

Great question! Let's see...I believe that there is only one God. I also believe that as God was setting up his earthly kingdom, the people he was speaking to was the Isrealites who came out of the bondage of Eqypt. They needed guidelines and rules and God was able to speak to them 'through' his chosen. The people would not have been able to stand the power and presence of the Almighty at that time. The gods He referenced would be the 'gold', 'silver' women and men that the Isrealites would come up against as they fought their way to their promised land. God brought them out of Egypt into a land he promised and He did not want them to forget all his benefits. There would be other gods that they would have to contend with, gods that the heathens along the way believed in, and whom they gave certain names. (historically, there have always been gods for earth, wind, fire, health, reproduction, etc.) that were believed by others. He did not want his children to fall into worshipping these idol gods. Even today, we have gods that we worship - money, cars, clothes, children, lovers, etc. anything that is put before the Almighty would be considered a god.

Answer 8

By any other god, he means made up gods. Steps:

1. make up a a hero in your mind.
2. name him "God"
3. There. ther's a god. But he's not real, even though you claled him a god. So all these gods are imaginary, but the real god knows that we still think they are gods even though they r just imaginary friends so to speak. That's why he says other gods. He is the one and only. OF course if you want to get technical there is the Holy spirit God and jesus. they are all gods that are part of one god, so technically there are four God. Confused? Good. Don't ask stupid questions. If you really want to know go cal Dr. James Dobsin or talk to a well known preacher.

Answer 9

I agree, I have often wondered about that myself. There are several phrases in the bible that make it sound that way and I don't think the Trinity is a good answer since it is not in the bible and was invented by man to explain these issues.

If there were no other gods why didn't he say I am the ONLY god.

Answer 10

There is only ONE GOD. Humans made man made stone like gods to worship, and I am sure any other gods are along the line of Satanic. Satan can give illusions and we still have to deal with him. So could satan make people think there are other gods? I suppose so, only, they are not GOD ALMIGHTY. Only GOD ALMIGHTY is the creator of the Universe and only GOD is worthy of worship. He is the ONLY GOD that will be able to save those who choose to follow Christ. All others WILL perish.