God Or Gods

How many believe there is only one God? Is it possible there are more than one god? Let us investigate.

Dictionary.com defines god (lowercase ‘g’) as: Noun 1. one of several deities, especially a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs. 2. an image of a deity; an idol. 3. any deified person or object. 4. a nebulous powerful force imagined to be responsible for one's fate.

It further defines God (uppercase ‘G’) as: Noun 1. the Supreme Being, worshiped as the creator or ultimate source of the universe. 2. the Supreme Being according to a particular religion or conception:

She called upon Allah, the God of Islam, for help. 3. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute: May the God of mercy comfort you.

According to the dictionary, there is more than one god (lowercase ‘g’). One of several deities.

What is identified as several deities, a differing god? Only man, with his great desire to have identifiers for every thing, creates different gods. (#3. any deified person or object.) Let us notice the verse in 1 Cor. 8:5. Look for the phrase: ‘that are called’. Paul speaks of the origin of several deities–gods. Strong’s Lexicon defines this phrase: ‘that are called’, to call by a name, to call, name. This implies humans have called these deities by a name, or named idols as a deified name.

Let us turn to scripture to define god (lowercase ‘g’) and God (uppercase ‘G’). Apostle Paul, in 1 Cor. 8:5-6 says, 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Paul says man has called things gods (lowercase ‘g’). God Almighty has not so identified these human gods as Himself. They are pagan unto Him. What does Paul mean by ‘For though there be that are called gods’? They are not gods; just called gods. They are called gods by humans for identification's sake. They have no supernatural power; just assumed power. Humans assume they have given them some great privilege and are watching over them for their divine protection. Therefore, mankind calls them god. However, even though the Almighty does use His divine power for his children’s care, those who have created their own gods believe the same from their god.

God Almighty knows there are many gods. (lowercase ‘g’) Ex. 20:3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. He also knows they are called gods by humans and cannot do anything for mankind. God warned His children of the many gods of the heathen nations which would become snares unto them.

Which of these human made gods has a son named Jesus who died and shed his innocent blood for the redemption of mankind? Not one! To a righteous believer, Apostle Paul said, to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. There was and is only one living God who made all we see. It is through him we move and breathe and have our being. No manmade god has done this nor can do this.

So, to a Christian, does anything pertaining to human made gods mean anything? Do these gods have any power over anything we do, eat, breathe and move? No! Therefore, anything associated with them should not impair our lives by us coming in contact with them. Our power comes from the Almighty God, Jehovah. He can overpower all things pertaining to earthly gods. We should never fear any earthly god. We should never be in fear of anything assuming what these earthly gods control. We should never shy away from anything others offer to these earthly gods for a form of worship unto them. They are nothing and can do nothing for us. They are harmless.

Let us learn the power these earthly gods hold over mankind and what we should do if we come in contact with any or their provisions.

1 Cor. 8:1,4. 8 Now as touching things offered unto idols,; 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

Jews were taught from an early age not to touch the unclean thing (of which included idols of earthly gods). Gentiles were not instructed in this rule. Therefore, the Jews appear to be concerned about the Gentile converts violating God’s laws. Perhaps the Jews needed instruction concerning the nothingness of idols and earthly gods. All their lives they were told to have nothing to do with idols and meats offered unto idols. They soon began to believe these meats offered unto idols were sacred and could actually harm them because God Almighty told them not to touch anything as such being an unclean thing. Perhaps a twist of the truth developed into more deception among Jews. Now Apostle Paul has to teach the Jews all over again the real truth concerning idols and meats offered to them.