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