Is God one or is He three?

[DavidTree]

"I and my Father are one. " (John 10:30)

And, yet, they are two:

"In the beginning was the Word, and THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. " (John 1:1)

Again:

"It is also written in your law, that THE TESTIMONY OF TWO MEN IS TRUE. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. " (John 8:17-18)

As far as Jesus and the Father being "one" is concerned, we need to consider the following:

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; AS THOU, FATHER, ART IN ME, AND I IN THEE, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE: I IN THEM, AND THOU IN ME, THAT THEY MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17:20-23)

When Jesus prayed that we may be "one", even as he and the Father are "one", was he praying that we would become God the Father, even as many allege that Jesus is God the Father?

Of course not.

Instead, he was praying that we would be "one", AS IN UNITED, as he and the Father are "one".

In other words, there are several instances in scripture where the word "one" does NOT mean a singularity.

Instead, it oftentimes means "united".

Here are some Biblical examples of this truth:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" (Deuteronomy 6:4)

The underlying Hebrew word which is here translated as "God" is 'ĕlōhîm which is the PLURAL form of the Hebrew word 'ĕlôha:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h430/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Transliteration

'ĕlōhîm

Pronunciation

el-o-heem'

Part of Speech

masculine noun

Root Word (Etymology)

Plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (H433)

Throughout the Old Testament, beginning with the very first verse of the Bible, God is presented to us in the PLURAL or as a PLURALITY.

How then can this PLURALITY be "one"?

Well, again, the answer is quite simple.

As I rightly mentioned earlier, there are several instances in scripture where the word "one" does NOT mean a "singularity", but instead it refers to some sort of "unity".

Before I cite you some additional examples of this truth, let's first look at the underlying Hebrew word which is translated as "one" in Deuteronomy 6:4.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h259/kjv/wlc/0-1/

The underlying Hebrew word which is translated as "one" in Deuteronomy 6:4 is 'eḥāḏ, and there are clearly instances where this Hebrew word is used in the Old Testament where it is NOT describing a "singularity", but rather a oneness as in "unity".

Here are a couple of examples:

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one H259 flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

Here, TWO PEOPLE are said to be "one" (eḥāḏ) flesh.

Again, we read:

"And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, H259 and they have all one H259 language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." (Genesis 11:6)

Here, we have an example where the underlying Hebrew word eḥāḏ appears twice within the same verse, and where it clearly has TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS within a single verse of scripture.

in the first instance, God describes A GROUP OF PEOPLE who were gathered together to build the tower of Babel as being "one", as in "united" in purpose.

In the second instance, God mentioned how this GROUP OF PEOPLE had "one" language, as in a SINGULARITY, before he confounded their speech.

Seeing how this same underlying Hebrew word can mean TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, context is very important.

Going back to Deuteronomy, we read:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: " (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Again, here, a PLURAL "God" ('ĕlōhîm), or PLURALITY, or Godhead is said to be "one" (eḥāḏ) as in "united".

Then we also have this example from the New Testament:

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:7)

Here, we see that “three are one” as in “united”.

Anyhow, when Jesus said “I and my Father are one”, he was NOT saying that he and the Father are the same person (for lack of a better word). Instead, he was saying that he and the Father were “united” in that he never said or did anything independently or apart from the Father.

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19)

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30)

“Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28)

Etc., etc., etc.

without THREE you cannot SEE

remove any ONE and we have no Gospel and no Salvation

 

[justahumanbeing]

In the 4 Gospels, you will read that Our Lord Jesus Himself prays to the Father and talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit after He leaves the Earth. The New testament, especially the Gospels discuss in detail about the triune nature of Our God. How Mary conceives Jesus by the power of The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus when John the Baptist baptizes Jesus. Jesus Himself talks about both the Father and the Holy Spirit throughout the Gospels. In Acts, of course you have the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the believers.

What I am saying is that Our God is one. But there are 3 persons. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

To say simply, Our God is one God. The true God.

 

[wattie]

Help to answer this question using such scriptures as:

John 10:30
“I and my Father are one.”

Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (This scripture says that God purchased the church but we all know is Christ who shed his blood) (scriptures such as this is the reason for the title of this thread)

Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; (in some circles they say that the Trinity was discussing the formation of man)

I understand that this is a difficult subject for most to discuss. So I asked please lay aside any preconceived notion of whether or not you are Trinitarian, Baptist Oneness Pentecostal, Catholic or any other religion. Seek the guidance from God in prayer to answer this thread. Thank you all for your wonderful replies and God bless.

There is one God.. who is expressed in 3 persons.. these persons though are not seperate beings but different expressions or images of the one being, God.

This is so because Jesus is fully God.. so are the Holy Spirit
and the Father.

Looking at Revelation is a good illustration of this

Jesus is called the Alpha and Omega... which is also used for the Father... and Jesus is speaking to the churches, which is also the Spirit.

Jesus didnt become God but was the Word in the beginning with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

So not three Gods.. not separate.. but one being.. God in three expressions or persons.

All three operating at the same time. All equally and fully God.

Jesus did say the Father is greater than I.. but what happened after He said it?

He ascended to be with the Father as one.

Greater position... but not a greater being.