Ideas change, the human ability to understand God develops
Polytheism – many gods exist (even if one is superior)
Henotheism – exclusive relationship with one god while acknowledging the existence of others
Monotheism – denial that other gods exist
Limitations of human mind and language
Symbol and metaphor as tools
Abuse of tools – taking them literally as constraints
Is God human?
Is God male?
Can female imagery and metaphors apply to God?
Biblical verses that assume polytheism, henotheism, or monotheism
Hear, O Israel, the LORD, our God, the LORD is one.
O Israel, obey the LORD, our God, the LORD alone.
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods.
Ah, all of them are nothing, their works are nought, their idols, empty wind!
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
The LORD your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear. Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you, because the LORD your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God.
Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?
You are the LORD, you alone; You made the heavens, the highest heavens and all their host, The earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them. To all of them you give life, the heavenly hosts bow down before you.
For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome
Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.
The LORD said to me [Hosea] again, “Go, love a woman who has a lover and is an adulteress, just as the LORD loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”
Come and assemble, gather together, you fugitives from among the nations! They are without knowledge who bear wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save. Come close and declare; let them take counsel together: Who announced this from the beginning, declared it from of old? Was it not I, the LORD, besides whom there is no other God? There is no just and saving God but me.
Biblical verses that assume polytheism, henotheism, or monotheism
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