Who are these "other gods" in the universe, the Bible speaks of?
The Bible emphasizes the existence of only one true God, the Creator of the universe, while acknowledging the existence of other gods, but asserting that they are false and not to be worshipped.
Deuteronomy 32, notes the very important use of a lowercase "g" when referring to other gods. There is only one God. But there were many things which humanity turned into gods (with a lowercase g). This applies also to Psalm 82.
Baal, from 1 Kings 22, was exposed as an imposter god in 1 Kings 18, yet still, the Bible said foolish mankind returned to worship it. This does not make it God. It makes it a god.
Baal was a prominent deity in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia, associated with fertility, rain, and storms. In the Hebrew Bible, Baal is presented as a false god or idol, in contrast to the one true God, Yahweh.
Monotheism vs. Henotheism:
While the Bible, particularly the OLD TESTAMENT, acknowledges the existence of "other gods" worshipped by other nations, it ultimately promotes one true God, a concept known as monotheism.
The One True God:
The Bible consistently portrays the God of Israel as the supreme and only true God, the creator of the universe and all that is in it.
False Gods:
The Bible refers to other gods as "false gods" or idols, emphasizing that they are not real or worthy of worship.
Scriptural Examples:
Exodus 20:3: "You shall have no other gods before me".
Isaiah 44:6-8: "Thus says the LORD, Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me, there is no God.
Psalm 82:1: "God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods, He sits in judgment".
When the Bible speaks of "gods" outside the context of idolatry, it refers to divine beings or powers that are not the true God the Bible refers to. These "gods" can be false deities, demons, or even human leaders or institutions that people mistakenly elevate to a position of worship or authority.
The Bible frequently warns against worshipping or serving false gods, which are entities or objects that people mistakenly believe to be divine and worthy of worship.
In some passages, the Bible uses the term "gods" to refer to demons, who are spiritual beings that are opposed to God and who can be worshipped or serve as idols.
Sometimes, the Bible uses the term "gods" in a metaphorical sense to describe human leaders or institutions that people mistakenly rely on or worship, instead of God.
The first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me," emphasizes the importance of worshipping only the true God and not any other entity or power.
Idolatry, in a biblical context, is the act of worshipping or serving something or someone other than the true God, and it is a serious sin.
Examples in the Bible:
The Israelites repeatedly fell into idolatry by worshipping false gods of the surrounding nations.
Jesus warned against putting worldly possessions or ambitions before God, which is a form of idolatry.
The apostle Paul wrote about the dangers of idolatry, in the context of false teachings and practices. The Bible also strongly emphasizes the words of Jesus, as He condemns idolatry, which He confirms as the worship of anything or anyone, other than the one true God, Yahweh.
Idols as Man-Made Objects:
The Bible repeatedly portrays idols as being crafted by human hands, often from materials like wood, stone, silver, or gold. Here are some examples from the Bible on this:
Exodus 20:4-5: "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them..."
Psalm 115:4-8: "Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak; eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear; noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel; feet, but cannot walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them."
Isaiah 44:9-20: This passage mocks the futility of worshipping idols made by human hands, highlighting their inability to help or protect their worshippers.
Idolatry as a Deviation:
The Bible views idolatry as a rejection of God and a turning towards false gods, often associated with the practices of surrounding pagan nations.
While the specific idols of the past may be different, the principle remains the same. Anything that we place above Jehovah God in our lives, whether it's material possessions, relationships, or other pursuits...can be considered an idol.
"For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5
"For there is no other name under heaven, by which we must be saved."
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@edtur61 Yes, and I'm sorry to say, made by human hands out of various materials or else derived from one's mind. However, Jesus showed Himself, even living amongst the people and performing great miracles and then over 500 people watched him ascend into heaven, when his mission was complete.
@edtur61 These gods were idols. Egyptians worship Cat. People worship cow, Cowdung, cat poop, dog poop, air, water and what not. These are not gods. These never were.
Human beings worshipped everything that looked scary. That tells you the mentality of human beings.
@edtur61 It is funny only when one is 'beer or drug' headed. Reality hits you stronger than ever; when you think in depth about it. To count a few here
1) When you think Why other religions gave their gods name and why our God's name is "Yahweh". What does Yahweh mean?
2) Why do other gods of religions have weapons in their hands? What will they do with weapon? Are they so weak that they would carry weapons?
3) Why no other God could show what Jesus had shown to his gentiles.
Historical, scientific, archeological, and eyewitness evidence. It doesn't get better than eye witness evidence... especially when over 500 people witnessed Christ, His death, and resurrection. The only "proof" you have of your Spider-Man is some guy dressed up in a suit for a movie.
@LadyGrace who were the eye witness? It’s all tales passed on down the line. No proof to back up any stories about said events, bible written over hundreds of years by many people stories based on word of mouth tales.
@edtur61 Give me some examples of that. Jesus' disciples we're so convinced that he was their Lord and Savior, that they were willing, even after they saw him die and resurrect, they didn't back down even though their lives were threatened with death. They knew exactly who he was and they saw his miracles. They were faithful to him even unto death. If he was not real, look at the evidence, they would not have died for a lie, every one of them.
Are you seeking to find Jesus so He can save your soul, or not? I noticed you had nothing whatsoever to say about the miracle that God gave my daughter. She was healed instantly and there were many witnesses. Even the doctors were shocked. So your theory that all witnesses are delusional is totally unsubstantiated and delusional in itself. It seems to me you just want to find fault, instead of a reason to believe, even after proof is given you. Those who are not seeking Christ, will find fault in anything believers say, no matter what they say. I'm not interested in that game.
in the beginning there was man, man created god in his own image to explain all unknown phenomena
Man created god??? Where did you get that information? Man created gods....false idols. The Bible says just the opposite and God is no liar. That is not his character.
Genesis 1:27. ... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
@edtur61 People prepare for everything else in life, but the biggest mistake they'll ever make, is not preparing their own soul for eternity. Eternity is an awfully long time to not have prepared your soul. You do that by being truthful and admitting that like all people on earth, you have sinned and therefore need Jesus to save your soul. When you go to him and ask him for forgiveness of your sins, with a truthful heart, He is more than willing to save you and forgive your sins. And not only that, he not only forgives you, but he forgets your sins, and you can start a brand new life in Christ. Just as if you had never sinned in your life. He never turns anyone away.
