If Jesus and the Father are “one” (John 10:30), doesn’t that conflict with strict monotheism elsewhere in Scripture? Definition and Scope The statement “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) often raises concern about how such a declaration aligns with the foundational principle of “one God” expressed throughout Scripture (see Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5). This entry addresses the theological, textual, and interpretive cohesion of these passages to demonstrate their consistency under strict monotheism. Biblical Monotheism in the Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:4 – The Shema • “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.” • This pivotal proclamation forms the core of Israel’s faith, emphasizing there is only one God. In Hebrew, the word for “one” here is ’eḥād, which can imply both singularity and unity within oneness. Isaiah’s Emphasis on the Uniqueness of God • “I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me.” (Isaiah 45:5) • The prophet Isaiah consistently reinforces the unrivaled nature of God, rejecting every notion of competing deities. The text’s repeated insistence on divine uniqueness remains fully intact even when later New Testament revelations speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Use of “Elohim” in the Old Testament • “Elohim,” the common Hebrew word for God, is grammatically plural; yet, throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, it is used with singular verbs to refer to the one LORD. This phenomenon suggests a complexity within God’s unity, though it never implies a pantheon of separate gods. Christ’s Unity with the Father in the New Testament John 10:30 – Immediate Context • “I and the Father are one.” • The immediate response of the Jewish audience was to accuse Jesus of blasphemy (John 10:31–33). They recognized His claim to deity, signifying that Jesus was identifying Himself with the very essence of the one God declared in the Shema. Greek Considerations • The phrase “are one” in Greek is ἕν ἐσμεν (hen esmen). The word ἕν (hen) is neuter, pointing to a unity of essence or nature rather than simply a unity of purpose. This contrasts with any notion that Father and Son are merely two persons who agree; instead, it affirms a shared, single divine nature. John’s Emphasis on Jesus’ Divine Status • The Gospel of John opens with: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) • John 1:18 also affirms that Jesus, who is “at the Father’s side,” reveals God perfectly. This consistent theme upholds Jesus as fully God while never denying the Father’s unique person. Navigating the Alleged Contradiction One God, Distinct Persons • Scripture repeatedly outlines that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share in the one being of God, a concept expressed in later creedal language as “Trinity.” While the term “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture, the consistent portrayal of God’s three distinct persons is found in passages like Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14, yet always under the umbrella of monotheism. Adoration of Jesus without Undermining Monotheism • After the resurrection, Thomas addresses Jesus as “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus neither rebukes nor corrects him, affirming that such worship does not violate the Shema. • Acts 14:14–15 describes the apostles rejecting worship from the crowds, underscoring that worship is due to God alone. Yet Jesus, unlike the apostles, receives worship in multiple Gospel accounts (Matthew 14:33; 28:9). Historical and Manuscript Evidence Early Biblical Manuscripts • Papyrus fragments such as P66 and P75 confirm the text of John’s Gospel dating to the late second and early third centuries. These manuscripts include John 10:30 in essentially the same wording found in modern translations. • This attestation underlines the doctrinal consistency regarding Jesus’ identity as recorded from antiquity. There is no textual variant suggesting that Jesus’ statement “I and the Father are one” was a later addition. Archaeological and Documentary Corroboration • Early Christian artifacts (e.g., inscriptions, symbols of deliberate worship of Christ) point to a community that understood Christ in divine terms without compromising the harsh monotheistic stance inherited from Judaism. • Church fathers in the second and third centuries, such as Ignatius of Antioch and Tertullian, cite John 10:30 to affirm Christ’s deity, yet maintain unwavering devotion to the one God of Scripture. Philosophical and Theological Implications Divine Nature vs. Personhood • The doctrine of strict monotheism remains intact because Christians do not assert three separate gods. Rather, they maintain one God (one essence) in three persons. This abstract distinction between essence and person aligns with the complexity suggested in the Old Testament language and carried through New Testament teachings. Consistent Witness of All Scripture • Genesis 1:26 (“Let Us make man in Our image”) offers an early glimpse of relational dialogue in the Godhead, though never teaching multiple deities. • The New Testament completes this picture: the Father sends the Son, the Son redeems humankind, and the Holy Spirit indwells believers (John 14:26; 15:26). The oneness of God is never violated—even as the distinct persons interact. Practical Understanding and Application Worship and Prayer • Believers address the Father in the name of the Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18), reflecting confidence that they approach one God who exists in three person distinctions. • This framework upholds the worship of the Father “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24) without neglecting the honor and praise that belong equally to the Son (John 5:23). Clarity in Gospel Proclamation • The New Testament frequently affirms salvation through Christ while acknowledging the eternal life offered by the Father (John 10:27–28; Romans 6:23). Telling people that God’s nature is triune aligns with Christ’s unity with the Father and does not introduce a second God; it explains God’s self-revelation. Summary Jesus’ statement “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) does not violate the strict monotheism declared in the Old Testament. Rather, it clarifies that Jesus shares the same divine nature as the Father, in harmony with every scriptural affirmation of a single, unique God. Early manuscripts, church writings, and archaeological evidence corroborate that this has been a consistent teaching from the earliest days of the faith. As the Old and New Testaments consistently reveal, God is one in being and three in person—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—without contradiction or compromise of monotheism. |
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