According to God's word at Isaiah 44:6, there is no God besides the Lord of hosts. According to God's word at 2 Corinthians, the god of this world blinds the minds of unbelievers. How are we to reconcile these two scriptures in God's word? Does he contradict himself? Are there other gods or is there only one?
Isaiah 44:6: Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (King James Version)
2 Corinthians 4:4: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 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. (King James Version)
2007-09-07 01:11:37 · 26 answers · asked by Hannah J Paul 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The bible lists three types of God / Gods.
1st and most known:
The only true God, whose name is Jehovah.
2nd 'False Gods'
Satan, Baal, money, food, Zeus to name a few.
3rd and these are the ones that cause much confusion.
"Those called Gods"
These are neither false nor true, One of the definitions of the word 'God' is mighty one.
Who are these acceptable Mighty ones?
Moses is called God at Ex 7:1
The angel of Jehovah is called God at Judges 13:21, 22.
The judges of Israel are called gods at Ps 82:6
Jesus is called God at Isa 9:6
These are not false Gods, because they are called such by Jehovah himself or called Gods in an approved manner.
This last group can become false gods if we start to worship them.
.
2007-09-07 10:58:01 · answer #1 · answered by TeeM 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There isn't any contradiction it is simply being read wrong. As in the word of Isaiah there isn't any other God but the Lord of Hosts and that is true. He is the real God, which is what that is conveying. There are many false gods but the real God, the God of men, is only one and he is the real God.
The word of God does blind the mind of unbelievers and it is very true. If a person that does not believe begins to read the bible the words will not make much sense, none of the text will sink in and none of it will seem worth reading.
Even in today's world people create their own God's, even the true God and even Jesus Christ are sliced and diced to fit into a person's lifestyle. There are devil worshippers who worship Satan as the true God but they are worshipping a false god, a god of darkness. Some people worship statues, some pray to statues, some pray to the sun god and the whole time they are praying to man made gods.
What the bible is trying to say is that there is only one real God. It is true that there aren't any other gods. However, people tend to water down God, water down the bible until such a point that they have created another totally different god.
If a person truly believes and follows the bible to the letter then there will be only one God and it will readily be seen. However, that is a difficult path to follow and it is very narrow the path to the true God, the Lord of hosts.
To answer your question, There is only one true God.
2007-09-07 08:30:21 · answer #2 · answered by morganjlandry 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Are there other gods or only? In the broad sense, 1 Cor. 8:6 says: "There are many “gods” and many “lords,” there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are."
Each scripture must be taken in context to ascertain its meaning. In other words, the surrounding verses must be taken into consideration
One of the powers of the true God is the ability to accurately predict the future. At Isa. 44:7, Jehovah challenges the Babylonians and their powerless gods to predict the future. "Let him call out, that he may tell it and present it to me. From when I appointed the people of long ago, both the things coming and the things that will enter in let them tell on their part." Naturally they can't because they are not real gods. They failed at predicting future events with such accuracy that it appears as if they are already happening. Only ‘the first and the last,’ who existed before all the false gods were thought of and will still be there when they are long forgotten, can do such a thing. (Isa. 44:6)
2 Cor. 4:4 does not conflict wit Isa. 44:6. The word "god" means "mighty one." At John 1:1, Jesus is called a god, although not Almighty God. Satan is indeed the god of this world. At 1 John 5:19, it says of Satan: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." However, just like the false gods of the nations that were opposed to Jehovah, Satan will eventually be destroyed and forgotten. Only Jehovah, the true God, will remain.
2007-09-07 08:27:42 · answer #3 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
In the 10 Commandments YHWH acknowledges that there are other gods, tho' not real, living, or Benevolent.
There is no contradiction;
Isa 44:6 is speaking of the one true God, YHWH.
And the other, 2 Cor 4:4 is speaking of Satan the Devil.
Satan is the god of this system of things;
real & living tho' Not Benevolent.
A person can make anything into his/her god;
tho' not a real god or living god, and definately not benevolent.
It could be ur stomach, ur spouse, ur family, money, whatever.
None of these listed last, are real gods.
None of these are good for u to make into ur god.
There is only one true God that is real,
living and benevolent and that is YHWH aka Jehovah.
He is the only God that can help us, save us,
and He cares for & loves us.
Praise Jah YOU people!!
2007-09-07 11:27:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The Arkady -
Wow, would you look at that JWs, "The Arkady", who isn't a Christian and probably hasn't even read the bible has the common sense to understand it straight away! lol. You've got more discernment than 95% of Christians out there...maybe you should become one? Maybe you could set a few Trinitarians straight (bible referring to Jesus as a "god") too.
Anyway, basically, 2 Corinthians is referring to Satan (God of this system), but Isaiah is referring to Almighty God (Jehovah).
The bible refers to anything that is Idolized as a "god". This is why Idolatry is bad in the bible, it detracts the worship away from the rightful sovereign; Jehovah God. So you better stop watching Pop Idol all you sad people out there...lol
2007-09-07 13:36:35 · answer #5 · answered by Paul S 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
In Islam, The Qur'an describes Oneness of God in Sura 112:
“1. Say: He is God, the One
2. God, the Eternal, Absolute
3. He begetteth not, nor is he begotten
4. And there is none like unto him.„
2007-09-07 08:41:03 · answer #6 · answered by mas2all 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Okay, I'm no Christian, but I see no contradiction here.
Within the monotheistic logic, there is only one true god; that one true god, however, would be fully aware of teachings of false, non-existant gods rampant in the world of the 1st millenium BC.
Also, personally, I'm a bit curious if maybe 2 Cor should be taken metaphorically to have more meaning in the present, possibly hinting at the "god" that is called "dollar" in the secular world today.
2007-09-07 08:26:30 · answer #7 · answered by The Arkady 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
My thoughts: There is only one TRUE God and it's God the Almighty, Creator of Heaven & Earth, and His name is YHWH/Jehovah God. Only ONE God in Heaven. The other God is Satan; the one that rules the earth (temporarily). Satan is taking in as much recruits as he can. Turning people into "human devils" doing his works: false prophet's, lover's of money than lover's of God, insinuative & manipulative people, corruption, killing with no conscience, fighting war's in the name of God. All of that come's down to Armageddon.
"I am coming quickly."
Yes Lord Jesus, come quickly! Amen & Amen
Sorry to go off your question. I just felt the need to say what I said.
2007-09-07 11:49:09 · answer #8 · answered by Debs 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
There is only one God. God punishes those who worship deities and mutiple gods or idols.
In the Quran it states
"Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
("Ah!") they say, "If it had been the will of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, we should not have worshipped such (deities)!" Of that they have no knowledge! they do nothing but lie!
2007-09-07 08:41:47 · answer #9 · answered by Queen B 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's funny to me how people say "there is only one true God" when throughout countless years of history every culture has a different view of God and how many there should be. Would you walk into those countries from years past and present and say "you're wrong and I'm right?" I doubt it. Not to mention neither party has a way of proving it. You can say, "God said this and that" all you want, but the fact is he is only the voice of people speaking for him. So using that as reference is simply quoting someone who at one time said, "God said this." It's really easy to do actually, "God said let pigs eat to fatten so man can eat them." Don't quote me on that, quote God.
2007-09-07 09:19:27 · answer #10 · answered by Ryan P 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋