Of course any simple or complex answer falls short of describing Almighty God. But the Apostles’ Creed adds:
Maker of Heaven and Earth.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3 excerpt KJV
The Lord God created every thing and all life!
God — ONE God.
There IS no other being — an Existing One — capable of speaking any created being of substance into existence.
Therefore, THE LORD GOD is neither plural, as in, “gods,” nor is ‘god‘ in all creation and creatures, as some falsely claim.
Hear – šāmaʿ -שְׁמַע
Do you hear what I hear? – a well-known Christmas song
You with ears to hear, let him hear… – Jesus, the Messiah
Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. – Hebrews 3:15
And oft-repeated by sons of a chosen people of all the earth — our spoken truth of monotheism (One God worshiped):
Hear, O Israel: Our God YHWH—YHWH [is] one!
Deuteronomy 6:4 LSV
Hear, H8085 O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
שָׁמַע shâmaʻ, shaw-mah’; a primitive root;
to hear intelligently
(often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.):
.. witness
God IS ONE!
There are no other gods (though the world worships them).
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
WHY is the One God of monotheism the first key doctrine of the Apostles’ Creed?
To begin, God speaks authoritatively through Scripture. The word ‘God’ occurs more than 20,000 times in the BIBLE.
Jesus, born of a Jewish mother, Mary — through Joseph to whom she was betrothed, a son of the house of David — received His covenantal circumcision on the eighth day
— the incarnate Messiah of Israel would have recited the šāmaʿ and later taught directly from it.
the MANY gods of a polytheistic world
Like the Jews, the early saints lived in a polytheistic world, as do Christians now in the Common Era.
ROMANS worshiped many gods.
GREEK gods were created from their ancient myths.
(Even Zeus was born from other gods, therefore created and not an eternal being.)
330 million gods, ~20 deities of India,
(where Hinduism remains practically the State religion).
Largest number of Buddhistslive in ‘modern‘ China plus Buddhism is the State religion of at least four Asian nations
and practiced in other countries —
yoga, meaning “to yoke” or “union” (from the Sanskrit root yuj), has its genesis in ancient India,
Karma Yoga (the yoga of action),
Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion), and
Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge) – source: yoga.org
The Father Almighty
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him,
I am the Almighty God;
walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Genesis 17:1 KJV
Hear of Israel (Jacob, that is), sons of David, of Moses, of Jacob and Isaac — and ALL sons of our father Abram, who the LORD named, Abraham:
Creator of heaven and earth
Not only is the One God and Father of all fathers, including the Father of Israel, Abraham, the ALMIGHTY, IS Creator of the heavens and the earth.
God is NOT the earth. Nor is the Almighty many gods of the heavens named for suns and planets and meteoric phenomena beyond the reach of man’s understanding.
Have we not all one father?
hath not one God created us?
why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Malachi 2:10 KJV
Yet THE LORD GOD will bring a Redeemer to Israel and reveal a new covenant to the nations in a Person who was from the beginning.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
False religions: idols as gods in the image of man.
In his first letter to the saints of the church at Corinth the Apostle instructs these new believers in cultural freedom and expected behavior of Christ followers as witness to the community in which we live.
Paul has already addressed a need for church unity between the Jews and Hellenists, as well as their obligation of humility modeling Christ our Lord.
He has just addressed the rampant immorality of church members and guidelines concerning marriage and singleness.
Now Paul will take on the general celebratory festive culture of the city where many feasts and pilgrimages provide indulgence of the flesh at temples of idols for which Corinth is famous.
Some Bible translations begin this 3-chapter section with helpful headings pointing to a question the Apostle received from a saint in Corinth to which the Apostle responds in his letter to Corinth:
Concerning Food Offered to Idols
Food Sacrificed to Idols
Be Sensitive to Conscience
Take Care with Your Liberty
The problem is not that of food or festivals, but the question of celebrating idolatry as saints identified with Christ.
The Apostle Paul, Hebrew of Hebrews as he sometimes describes himself, must also address social behaviors of the Hellenist (Greek and Roman) believers about how their Gospel grace intersects with the Law and Commandments of Almighty God.
'But we are free to go to their festivals and feasts, their homes and their parties.. aren't we?'
AND what IF I can get them to come to our Sunday gathering to grow our church (here in Corinth)?
Pushback! Whether AD 55 or AD 2025, modeling religious freedom in a community all-inclusive of every idol and practically every sin challenges cultural perceptions concerning our witness of Jesus Christ.
So what advice does the Apostle offer?
Paul provides examples of most of the people we meet both in the worship community of the Church and community gatherings where we live.
In other words he instructs us to look at those around us, for all are not alike.
7 But this knowledge is not in all.
And some, by habit of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak, it is defiled.
8 But food will not commend us to God;
neither if we should eat do we come short,
nor if we should not eat, do we have an advantage.
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
9 But be careful, lest somehow this right of yours becomes an occasion of stumbling to those being weak.
WHY?
Prepositions: he & brothers also applies to she and sisters (in Christ) *in the AD 1st century men only addressed other men, husbands addressed only their own wife, who could address other women.
10 For if anyone sees you, having knowledge,
eating in an idol’s temple,
will not *his conscience,
being weak,
be built up so as to eat the things sacrificed to idols?
11 For the one being weak is destroyed through your knowledge—the brother for whom Christ died.
The leader of your local Sunday gathering receives and reads a letter from the very founder of your church.
Do your ears perk up? Is the Apostle’s coming exhortation and instruction something important? Could Paul’s examples point to some you know well?
metaph. to see with the mind’s eye
to have (the power of) understanding
to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand
to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine
‘You with eyes to see and ears to hear,’ Jesus would say.
NOT everyone worshiping with you will see or hear the Spirit speak to what is right and what is true.
Paul has already introduced this watchful humility of self to the Corinthians in working out their salvation in daily life.
For consider G991 your calling, brothers, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful G991 how he builds on it.
The Apostle is laying a foundation here in Corinth not simply for a second letter which Paul will send, but more importantly for other reliable church leaders, specifically Timothy who Paul will mention later.
the Stumbling Blocks of culture
But see to it that this authority of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Is YOUR authority in FREEDOM in Christ a STUMBLING BLOCK to other weaker believers?
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be built up to eat things sacrificed to idols?
1 Corinthians 8:10 LSB
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. – Acts 17:22
The Apostle’s introduction and approach are most gracious in addressing a crowd of men whose religious celebrations of their gods and goddesses would seem most sinful to every Jew in Athens.
Addressing Athena & the men who idolize her
The Apostle Paul, a Roman citizen who has also been speaking with the Jews of Athens has been brought to the Areopagus in town to address a ruling council of Hellenist leaders and crowds of interested listeners. His already spirit provoked about the overt and godless idolatry he observed [v.16]
Athena, goddess of the city is prominent to all but she is just one of many revered gods and goddesses of the myths of ancient Greece.
The Areopagus a rocky height in the city of Athens, opposite the western end of the Acropolis toward the west to which these men of the city agora have brought Paul is not only an ancient military outpost but has an idolic connection to Greek mythology as well.
Ἄρειος πάγος – From Ares
(the name of the Greek deity of war)
Recall, however, that Rome has long-established its rule of law and officials in the FREE ROMAN CITY of Athens ACHAIA.
The Hill of Mars, Roman god of War
Allow me to set the mythological stage of the GREEK & ROMAN gods behind the history of Athenian & Roman worship and festivals with music suited to the continuing 'religion' celebrating the passions of men as idols of worship.
Mars Bringer of War – Listen
This hill belonged to (Ares) Mars and was called Mar’s Hill; so called, because, as the story went, Mars, having slain Halirrhothius, son of Neptune, for the attempted violation of his daughter Alicippe, was tried for the murder here before twelve gods as judges.
We cannot fully appreciate the dilemma and provocation of the spirit of the Apostle to the gentiles without recognizing as Paul did the seriousness of the sinful culture of idolatry of these men of Athens to whom he now will address himself concerning this ‘strange teaching’ of One God and the resurrection.
So before we proceed with Paul’s speech let’s take a quick look at the mythology behind these compelling legends of gods such as Mars, Neptune, Zeus, Apollo and goddesses such as their patron mother of Athens – Athena.
ancient Greek gods & goddesses
(Try to keep score on the who’s doing what with whom as best you can.)
The Olympian Zeus was son of the Titan god Chronos. ZEUS, who has taken the lordship of the throne of heaven, is known for ‘perpetually falling in love, wooing and usually raping beautiful women, both mortal and immortal, who would then give birth to gods and demigods… [Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea, p.17]
The goddess Hera is Zeus’ wife! And HERA naturally gets jealous. Plus in an additional soap-opera-esque twist, the goddess Hera is also Zeus’ sister!
IF (unlike Paul) you are unaware of where ATHENA fits in here, this hometown goddess is one of the 12 Olympians which include:
Without pursuing these Greek gods and goddesses further (many long forgotten, as Paul & Roman inscriptions will note) their idolic family-tree and extra-worldly adventures come from ancient Greek literature, including Theogony, a poem by Hesiod from ~700 B.C.
The Hellene Pax Romana from the bringer of War
Who are the ROMAN gods of the Roman free city of Athens?
Derived from the Greek words ‘πᾶν’ pan – all, and ‘θεός’ theos – god, pantheon literally means ‘of all gods’.
King of the gods is Zeus – or his Roman equivalent, Jupiter – who rules over Mount Olympus and is the god of thunder and lightning, as well as law and order.
Hera or Juno.. is the goddess of marriage, childbirth and fertility.
Ares or Mars This Romano-British statuette shows Mars, the god of war, fully decked out in his characteristic armour, missing the original spear and shield he would once have held.
Athena or Minerva – Ares’ [Mars’] half-sister is the Greek goddess Athena. Goddess of reason, handicraft, wisdom, and war, she is the daughter of Zeus
Aphrodite or Venus [very popular idol of men and women alike in every century] Goddess of love, sex, and beauty, Aphrodite – or Venus – is said to have emerged from the white foam generated when the Titan Cronos [father of ZEUS] threw the severed testicles of his father, Ouranos, into the sea.
Aphrodite is an ancient Greek goddess associated with love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion, procreation, and as her syncretized Roman goddess counterpart Venus, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory.
Hermes or Mercury The messenger of the gods was Hermes, known as Mercury in ancient Roman religion, and he was also a pastoral god, protecting livestock and travellers.
Do you recall how on their first missionary journey they thought that Paul was Hermes who spoke for Zeus i.e. Barnabas?
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city [Lystra in Pamphylia], brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and was wanting to offer sacrifice with the crowds. – Acts of the Apostles 14:13
YOU could learn much more about these Greek and Roman gods, many long forgotten -- and never gain any more wisdom of the One God who sent men like Paul into all the world with the Gospel of the Savior of sinners and hope of the resurrection, Christ JESUS!
Springtime in Athens
Disclaimer: Although this single illustration of typical events in Roman-ruled Athens is extra-Biblical and may not have taken place specifically during Paul's visit, I provide general descriptions mostly from SAILING THE WINE-DARK SEA to set the cultural stage for Paul's speech with some level of the Apostle's 1st century understanding of his audience.
Paul's stop in Athens may have been in A.D. 51, perhaps even in the spring.
Claudius, Emperor of Rome, had changed the calendar back in A.D. 46 and by A.D. 43 had conquered much of Europe including Great Britain. - RH
A classical culture that wasn’t what you thought.
The ANCIENT 5th century B.C. cultural of Athens had been that of a ‘democracy’ dependent on slaves. Democracy for ‘all’ was for ‘free’ MEN only, and that only of two basic Greek higher classes, one a ‘high office’ and the others ‘lower’ offices – a sort of competing middle class of free men who directly ruled over the affairs of Athens.
Athenians probably numbered no more than a quarter million, of which as many as 100,000 may have been slaves.. This would leave a citizen population of little more than twenty percent.
‘Why the Greeks Matter’ p.115
The political experiment of Athenian democracy (of its 20% citizenry) would end, of course, with their conquering by Alexander the Great. Later a similar political experiment of a Roman Republic would also fail as conquering heroes of the people made themselves to be Caesars and gods of the people.
Europeans.. are full of spirit but are somewhat lacking in intelligence and skill.. Asians.. though intelligent and skilled.. lack spirit.. The race of the Greeks, however, which occupies the center of the earth.. being both spirited and intelligent.. Thus does this race.. continue to be capable of ruling all humanity.
(Of course no sensible proponent of democracy could today speak of race rather than culture or imply any inequality of those incapable of governing themselves. Let the humanist religion of philosophy bring reason to all religions of humankind with equal participation of all flesh in the rituals of all gods celebrated together in the pax of humanity.
But this of course is a 21st c. religious take on ancient wise ways of 'classical' philosophers such as the excerpt quoted here from Cahill.) - RH
excerpt [The Politician and the Playwright p. 129 – How to Rule] from ARISTOTLE
Picture the Classical Greek citizens of Athens (and their slaves)or Hellenist Athenians in built back better ruins of their past with a Roman citizen Paul brought to their curious attention in A.D. 51:
“The continual buzz of conversation, the orotund sound of the orators, the shrill shouts from the symposia–this steady drumbeat of opinion, controversary, and conflict could everywhere be heard. The agora [marketplace].. was an everyday marketplace of ideas..
The word the Athenians used for their Assembly was Ekklēsia, the same word used in the New Testament for Church..”
Thomas Cahill – Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea p.118
Hellenist worship
At the springtime Dionysia, the Athenian festival in honor of Dionysus, three days.. began with a solemn religious procession of leading citizens, distinguished visitors, and all the choruses.. led by officials carrying.. sculpture of erect penises, symbols of the god, to his temple…
Why the Greeks Matter, Thomas Cahill pp. 129-130
Into the this idolatry walks a Roman citizen, Paul, who is invited to address the assembly of leading men of Athens, to whom the Apostle begins his logical argument with exceeding grace.
23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’
What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything…
NEXT: the Logic of Paul’s Theology
To be continued…
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