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Answer
Deuteronomy 6:4 states, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” The New Testament continues this theme (1 Corinthians 8:4;Galatians 3:20;1 Timothy 2:5). However, Christianity teaches that Jesus is God. How can these apparently conflicting views coexist?
First, it is crucial to grasp the meaning of Deuteronomy 6:4 when it states, “LORD is one.” The Hebrew word translated as “one” in Deuteronomy 6:4 is echad. It signifies “unity,” not “singularity.” This term is also used in Genesis 2:24 when describing a husband and wife as being “one” flesh. A husband and wife are not one as a singular being, but they are in unity with each other. While there is a Hebrew word that denotes “absolute singularity,” yachid, it is never used in the Hebrew Scriptures in relation to God.
Having said that, it is essential to affirm the biblical teaching of one God. Right from the opening words of Scripture, we are informed that there is only one God who created the heavens and the earth «In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. », (Genesis 1:1). The debate is not about whether there is only one God versus two gods, but rather about how Christians perceive Jesus as this one true God. Christians believe that the Bible presents one God who exists in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity does not contradict Deuteronomy 6:4. As mentioned earlier, the Hebrew word echad means “unity,” not “singularity.” Christians believe that the Persons of the Trinity are united in the Godhead.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus instructs His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” He refers to all three Persons functioning as
The same God. Another occasion that shows all three Persons of the Trinity operating simultaneously is the baptism of Jesus. Luke 3:21–22 reads, “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” God the Father speaks from the sky to Jesus, who is on earth, while the Spirit comes down from the sky upon Jesus. We see the same three Persons equated in Paul’s benediction to the Corinthian church «The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.», (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Each Person of the Trinity is clearly referred to as God. In addition to the Father being called God, Jesus is referred to as God in John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8–9; and 1 John 5:20. The Holy Spirit is also referred to as God in Acts 5:3–4 and 1 Corinthians 3:16.
Some argue that God cannot have a Son. Although God did not give birth to a Son as humans understand birth, God chose the Father/Son relationship to help us understand the inner workings of the Trinity. The Son and Spirit, together with the Father, have existed from eternity past. There is perfect eternal fellowship within the Trinity among all three. God exists in both perfect unity and community.
The presentation of Jesus as God was a challenging teaching for the Jews to accept during the time of Jesus. However, the resurrection of Jesus provided full evidence that He is both fully human and fully divine. Jesus is the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament who is equal with the Father: “I and the Father are one”” «I and my Father are one. », (John 10:30).
