Originally Posted by Ronzo
All One.
One, by the joining of many... not 'persons' but rather attributes or character qualities... like threads of a rope, or facets of a diamond.
NOTHING is singular in this world. Even a rock is made up of many components. It's made up of different compounds. Those compounds are made up of elements. The elements are made up of atoms. The atoms are made up of particles. The particles are made up of sub-particles, etc...
Biblical Hebraic thought is much different than our westernized modern thought. They use the word Ekhad to describe God being 'one'. It means one by the joining of many. It's exactly the picture I just described. One, not singular in number, but combined, by the joining of many. And again, it's not referring to 'persons'. It's referring to attributes. This is why the Hebrew word for God is Elohim. It's multiples. It's the word they use for the one true God and also for gods. When referring to God himself, it's still used in plural sense. Not because they see him as a bunch of gods, but because they recognize that there's just SO MUCH to him that you can't simply say "God" and include it all. It's taking into consideration his infinite attributes, too many to number.
When they use the word "face" they are really saying faces, because we all have many faces. When you look at someone, they are rarely ever making the exact same face. It moves, it morphs, it changes as you or they speak. Same concept.
There is a huge object lesson here.
People, being made in the image (a faint image mind you) of God, are the same way. You are not just you. You're made up of all the different things that make you YOU. Your wants, your needs, your desires, your experiences, your history, your environment, your emotions, your thoughts... everything combines to make you who you are.
Each thread of the rope is different, but they all combine to make one rope. The rope does not exist without the threads. Each thread ties into the next to make the rope stronger and more robust.
Each facet of a diamond adds to the beauty of the stone. They enhance one another and play off one another as the light sparkles within it. Each one plays a part in making the diamond gorgeous, yet the diamond does not exist without them.
To limit God to 'three' strands or facets is showing a lack of understanding of his nature. It's over simplifying him. It's doing him an injustice, and it's insulting to him.
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