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  • From: Rolf Furuli <r.j.furuli AT east.uio.no>
  • To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Monotheism was: "admittedly syncretistic..
  • Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 11:40:38 +0100



Dear Jonathan,

As to the concept "monotheism" it depends on what you mean. In 2. Corinthians 4:4 (New Testament) we read about "the god (QEOS) of this age" who is identified as Satan. The writer and his audience believed in the *existence* of many gods, but they did not worship them; so these Christians neither advocated polytheism or henotheism. To abandon monotheism one must, as I understand the concept, both believe in and worship more than one god.

I find exactly the same situation in the Pentateuch. The commandment against )E:LOHIM )A:XERIM in Exodus 20:2 implies that other (living) gods existed, but it need not necessarily imply polytheism. In Deutronomy 32:17 and Psalm 106:36,37 the writers tell that behind the carved images were living gods, the $EDIM. We find exactly the same thought in 1 Corinthians 8:5,6 and 10:20 where the Greek equivalent DAIMONIOIS is found.

I am not aware of a single passage in the Pentateuch where the writer writes in favor of polytheism or henotheism (even though angels are called "gods" both in the Tanach and in the NT (Psalm 8:6- Hebrews 2:7, Psalm 97:7; 138:1), or where he himself implies that he has abandoned monotheism and in reality is a polytheist.

I believe that one of the most important sides of the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4 is that it is directed against polytheism , because the most natural translation of YHWH )E:LOHENU YHWH )EXFD is not. "YHWH our God is one." but rather "YHWH our God is one YHWH:" The expression "one YHWH" can be directed against Ba`al Peor, Ba`al Berit, YHWH Shomron, YHWH Tema etc. So the writer wants to stress: There is just one YHWH for us.

Regards

Rolf

Rolf Furuli
University of Oslo


In view of all the studies on ANE suzerainty treaties, does anyone still
seriously claim that the Ten Commandments are monotheistic?
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College







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