How many gods are there?

Answer

Various religions provide different responses to the question “How many gods are there?” Religions with a monotheistic perspective believe in the existence of only one true God. On the other hand, polytheistic religions acknowledge the possibility of multiple gods. The Bible explicitly states that there is only one God who created, sustains, and surpasses all things.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are the primary monotheistic worldviews that affirm the existence of a single God exclusively, rejecting any other deities. While monotheism acknowledges the existence of other supernatural beings, it does not consider them as true gods and refutes the idea that any being could rival the power of the one genuine God.

Atheism is a worldview that denies the presence of God, the spiritual realm, or any form of gods. According to atheists, there is no divine, personal entity responsible for the creation of the material world.

Polytheism is a worldview that believes in the existence of multiple finite gods. Polytheism manifests in various forms, where gods may be viewed as equals or part of a hierarchical structure. Examples of polytheistic belief systems include Hinduism (which acknowledges millions of gods), certain branches of Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, Paganism, and Mormonism. While Mormons dispute this classification by claiming to worship only one God, their belief system still implies a belief in an unspecified number of gods.

Pantheism is a worldview embraced by many Hindus, Buddhists, and followers of New Age religions. Pantheists assert that God “is all and in all,” permeating, encompassing, and being present in everything. As per pantheistic beliefs, God is infinite and inseparable from the world, with all things interconnected with God. In pantheism, the world is God, and God is the world, emphasizing an infinite yet immanent divine presence.

Sonal—all is God, and God is all.

Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all teach the existence of a singular, personal, transcendent, preexistent, self-existent, omnipotent, sovereign, and eternal God. Jewish and Christian Scripture says, “I alone am God. There is no other God—there never has been, and there never will be” (Isaiah 43:10; NLT; see also Isaiah 44:6,8).

But Christianity sets itself apart with a distinct perspective on God’s nature. God has revealed Himself to be triune: the one God exists in three co-existent, co-eternal, co-equal Persons who share the same nature. The three Persons of the Trinity are God the Father (John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2), God the Son (John 1:1,14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4; Mark 1:10-11; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

It’s important to understand that the Trinity doctrine does not imply three Gods. The Bible is clear that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5). But He exists in tri-unity.

People have imagined for themselves many gods, given them names, fashioned their images, and drawn up elaborate stories of their feats and foibles. But “we know that ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There is no God but one’” «As concerning therefore the eating of those things thatAre offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.” (1 Corinthians 8:4). The myriad of gods and goddesses that have come and gone in the history of the world are nothing but inferior imitations of the One who is truly in charge. Demonic deception is behind false gods and their idols, as Satan continues to lead people astray from the truth: “The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God” “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” (1 Corinthians 10:20).

The Bible states that the one true God is the sovereign Creator of the universe (Isaiah 42:5; Ephesians 1:11). He is eternal “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2); He is personal “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.” (Deuteronomy 34:10); He is holy “Let them praise thy great and terrible name; For it is holy.” (Psalm 99:3). The Bible describes this one God as all-knowing “declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:10).

a>, all-powerful «But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. », (Matthew 19:26), and present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10). The one true God never changes «Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. », (James 1:17). Scripture confirms the presence of many false, so-called gods «They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; To gods whom they knew not, To new gods that came newly up, Whom your fathers feared not. », (Deuteronomy 32:17), but none of these counterfeits possess the unsurpassed excellence of the Lord God Almighty. He alone is worthy of worship, honor, and glory «saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. », (Revelation 5:12).