THE ONE AND THE MANY

1 CORINTHIANS 12:12–20

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ

(1 Corinthians 12:12).

“In the beginning God created.…” The word God here is the Hebrew word Elohim. This word is plural, but it refers to the one God. It is the plural form of the Hebrew word El, which is also occasionally used for God.

The fact that God is one and also plural has been a problem for philosophers, but not for believers. Even in idolatry we always find that there are many gods, but one ultimate force behind all the gods, called Fate, or Mana, or (in Star Wars) The Force. This phenomenon is just a distorted reflection of the triunity of the true God.

Philosophers, however, have tended to want to say that God is one and not many. They have felt that “manyness” is inferior to “oneness.” In the nineteenth century, evolutionary approaches to religion said that religions evolve from a primitive polytheism to a sophisticated monotheism, from many gods to one god. The use of the word Elohim in the Bible was held to be a hangover from an earlier polytheistic religion that supposedly existed among the Hebrews.

Some scholars have, with more sense, suggested that Elohim reflects a “plural of majesty,” as when the Queen of England refers to herself as “we.” There is, however, virtually no evidence of such a use of the plural in ancient times.

Orthodox Christianity has usually seen the plural of Elohim as a reflection of the triunity of God. The full revelation of the Trinity did not come until late in redemptive history, but it was hinted at throughout the Scriptures. This view is ultimately true from a theological standpoint, but it probably does not accurately explain the root meaning of the Hebrew word itself. More likely, Elohim is used for God because God is a unity of all His persons and attributes. God is holy, just, and loving. He is light, truth, and fire. He is Father, Son, and Spirit.

Humanity, created as God’s image, reflects this uniplurality. Each of us is an individual with certain gifts, but we are all one in Adam. The church, the new humanity, is composed of many people and gifts, but is one in Christ.

CORAM DEO

2 Kings 18–20

Whether a plural of majesty, a reflection of triunity, or a description of His persons and attributes, worship the God Elohim today for the greatness of His being. Be thankful that not only has He told us about His name but that He knows your name as well.

For further study: Gen. 11:1–9 • Deut. 6:1–9 • Zech.14:6–9

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