THE COMPOSITE ONENESS OF GOD 
(ECHAD ELOHIM) (cont.)
by Dave R. Mode, Jr.

Elohim is used more than any other Hebrew term to describe the Most High (Yehowah) as deity.  More than 2,300 times the word elohim is used to directly refer to Yehovah. For example, look at Genesis 1:1. 

“In the beginning God (elohim) made the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). 

In the first verse of the Sacred Scriptures which refers to the Most High, elohim is the Hebrew term that was translated "God".

III. ELOHIM TRANSLATED "GOD" INSTEAD OF "GODS" WITH REFERENCE TO YEHOVAH 

In the Septuagint, the first translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, the term elohim was not literally translated when used to refer to the Most High. As a means of preserving the monotheistic concept of Yehovah, elohim was translated to theos in Greek. Theos literally translated means "God" in the singular sense. (Note: Although the word theos is used to refer to the Most High in the Greek New Testament, the proper understanding of the Most High’s composite nature has its foundation in the Hebrew term elohim.) 

The monotheistic concept of Yehovah was based upon the "shema" found in Deut. 6:4. 

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD (Yehowah) our God (elohanu), the LORD (Yehovah) is one (echad)” (Deut. 6:4 NIV). 

The basis for Moses making this statement regarding the Most High was to reveal God as a unity. With the tendency of the ancient Israelites to revert to Egyptian polytheism, it was important for them to view the Most High from a monotheistic perspective. 

Therefore, when the time came for the Hebrew Scriptures to be translated into Greek, elohim was purposefully translated as “God” in the singular sense to maintain the monotheistic concept of the Most High. 

IV. EVIDENCE OF GOD’S PLURALITY IN THE SCRIPTURES 

Although the Most High is to be viewed and worshiped from a monotheistic concept, the Scriptures reveal his composition as a plurality. Look at some the following scriptures. 

“Then God said, Let us make man..." (Gen. 1:26). 

“And the LORD God said, The man has now become like one of us..." (Gen. 3:22). 

“The LORD said, If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other" (Gen. 11:7). 

(cont. page 3)

<1, 2, 3, 4>