Divine Unity in the Abrahamic Religions
Christians, Jews, and Muslims embrace pluralistic language when referring to God. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity originate from the Abrahamic faith, emphasizing God’s oneness (Hermann and D.Min.). The element of divine unity runs parallel in these religions, forming the foundation of their faiths.
Religious unity is the undisputable faith that only one God exists, the master and creator of the universe and all its contents. Therefore, God is the only recognizable entity with supreme power. However, in the three religions, divine unity lies in a complex structure of God’s plurality, the many characteristics that ultimately end up in God’s existence as one being.
Elohim in the Old Testament
In the entire Old Testament, Elohim is the Hebrew word for God. Elohim is a plural noun in form but is customarily used as a singular noun and is always used with singular verbs when referring to the true God (Hermann and D.Min.). This is like how the term United States is used as a proper noun in plural form but singular in usage.
Eloah, which means the Mighty One, is the singular form of Elohim, which means the Mighty Ones in the plural. There are two Mighty Ones, the word and the Highest; however, they are used collectively as Elohim and are perceived as one God. However, whereas Christians use the term Elohim to refer to a single deity or the God of Israel, Jews and Muslims interpret Elohim to mean majesty and greatness or being equal to the Great God.
The Use of “Us” and “Our”
“Us” and “Our” are used in Hebrew to mean Elohim. These words do not indicate figures but show God’s ability, power, and might to do everything. In the Bible, there are many scenarios where “our” and “us” are used. For instance, in Genesis 1:26, God says, ‘let us make a man in our image and likeness (Hermann and D.Min.). If, in this case, “us” refers to the holy Trinity, it argues whether a human being looks like three beings.
However, in Christian academia, there have been a lot of opinions and discussions about what the words mean. The Bible does not specify what it means when it states the terms our or us. However, some researchers have indicated that it shows God’s power and sovereignty, while others say it means the holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Interpretations of Divine Plurality
First, God might refer to Himself and the angels on his throne. It could also be that God refers to Himself in a plural way to encourage or exhort Himself to mean the royal we used in most kings and rulers to refer to themselves, especially when making decrees. Lastly, Genesis 1:2 says the earth was desolate and void during creation, but the Holy Spirit moved on the waters. This verse might mean that during the creation of man, God used us to refer to the Holy Trinity, as Christians believe.
In the book of John 1:1-3, the Bible says that in the beginning, there was the word with God Himself, that word was God, and through it, creation came to be. In this verse, other than the word and God, nothing else seemed to exist before creation (Hermann and D.Min.).
The Jews did not and do not believe in the existence of the holy Trinity. In fact, the word trinity is not in the Bible but was coined by the First Council of Nicaea to show the oneness of God with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Bible does not clearly indicate whether God’s reference to “us” or “our” refers to the holy Trinity.
Work Cited
Hermann, Ray, and D.Min. “Why Did God Say: “Let US Make Man in OUR Image, After OUR Likeness?”.” The Outlaw Bible Student. 2019. Web.