God or Gods...

[VoteJP]

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

Something occurred to me the other day. In the ten commandments, at least the versions I've been socialized with (Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian) on of the commandments says that you shall worship no other gods before him (him being Christian God of course) and I've also heard the version with the jealous god. So, if the 10 commandments were God's word is this an admission (maybe that's the wrong word but you can figure it out) that there are in fact other gods, more than one god?

Exodus 20:2-3
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. KJV, link.

So where it says "the LORD thy God" the Hebrews words are "Yahweh Elohim" which means the "Father of the Gods" and so the answer is yes, the commandment is referring to other Gods that are lesser in rank.

This is why Jesus later said; "Our Father, which art in Heaven", because Jesus is a lesser God than the Father.

[mAlice]

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

Something occurred to me the other day. In the ten commandments, at least the versions I've been socialized with (Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian) on of the commandments says that you shall worship no other gods before him (him being Christian God of course) and I've also heard the version with the jealous god. So, if the 10 commandments were God's word is this an admission (maybe that's the wrong word but you can figure it out) that there are in fact other gods, more than one god?

I've never thought about it, but yes, I'd understand it that way.

[pixiegirl]

Originally Posted by SShewbert

No I have always taken that to mean to me and what I have been taught is that is meaning anything else that you put above God, be that money, animals, your family.... It would be idolatry (or however it is spelled).

But those aren't gods. Its not written to not put anything else above God but specifically to not put other gods above God.

In saying that I'm not trying to be confrontational or say you're not correct, only thinking out loud (or in writing in this case). I believe that everyone is absolutely entitled their own beliefs.

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

That was always my interpretation as well.

Pix, if you're interested in reading the Bible, pick up the New Student Bible. It has annotations, historical references and explanations so you can understand what's going on instead of having to slog through the KJV archaic language, which always made my head spin and caused me to lose interest rather quickly.

I'm not particularly interested in reading the bible. It was just something that randomly popped into my head the other day and I'd been thinking about it. I was curious to others thoughts or interpretations of it.

Originally Posted by Penn

Pixie, another option would be to check out the local churches in your area, that may offer night classes.

My church offers a course that's called "Disciple", whereby a group study takes apart(?) every book of the Bible, book by book, and chapter by chapter, right down to every applicable verse. I found it very informative.

It takes about 34 weeks, to go through the entire Bible, but it is very interesting. My Pastor was our leader, our guide, and he helped us to understand what was being said.

\

Thanks for the option but I'm not really into a church's interpretation of the bible. Not to be contrite but churches have an agenda, to promote their religion.

Originally Posted by mAlice

I've never thought about it, but yes, I'd understand it that way.

What gets me is all the interpretation required. The bible was written in a time when people were not nearly as smart, educated, what have you, as they are now.

[Nickel]

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

What gets me is all the interpretation required. The bible was written in a time when people were not nearly as smart, educated, what have you, as they are now.

You also have to take into consideration that speech patterns and language have evolved, so sometimes older writings are hard for "laymen" to decipher. For example, I'm reading a biography of Anne Boleyn. They've included some letters and notes that were written by or about her, which are very confusing. And that was only about 500 years ago.

[Beta84]

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

Something occurred to me the other day. In the ten commandments, at least the versions I've been socialized with (Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian) on of the commandments says that you shall worship no other gods before him (him being Christian God of course) and I've also heard the version with the jealous god. So, if the 10 commandments were God's word is this an admission (maybe that's the wrong word but you can figure it out) that there are in fact other gods, more than one god?

Interesting interpretation, I hadn't really thought of it that way before. I don't think that's necessarily what is being said, but it's interesting nonetheless.

As basically the #1 law of any of the Judeo-Christian religions, I think it's saying that if you're going to follow that religion then you must worship that God, first and foremost. If you don't then you might as well go elsewhere. It's talking more about the need to believe than it is making an admission to there being others.

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Pix, if you're interested in reading the Bible, pick up the New Student Bible. It has annotations, historical references and explanations so you can understand what's going on instead of having to slog through the KJV archaic language, which always made my head spin and caused me to lose interest rather quickly.

There is a wacky group of people who say that the King James Version is the only right one but that is NOT so. It was easy to understand in the 1600's in the time of Shakespeare when they spoke that way but not today.
I'm really glad you're making an effort to read it Vrai. The New International Version is also very good and you should always look for a "study Bible" in whatever version you get. The study version give explanations for most (not all) of the verses and cross references to further expalin what is being said. You've made my day lady!!

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

But those aren't gods. Its not written to not put anything else above God but specifically to not put other gods above God.
What gets me is all the interpretation required. The bible was written in a time when people were not nearly as smart, educated, what have you, as they are now.

As people have explained on here, a god is anyone/thing that a person places more value in than the real God of the Bible. A god doesn't necessarily have to be an image or statue that people bow down to, it can be money, a job, a person, power, an animal, etc. Good observation Pixie...

[Beta84]

Originally Posted by ItalianScallion

There is a wacky group of people who say that the King James Version is the only right one but that is NOT so. It was easy to understand in the 1600's in the time of Shakespeare when they spoke that way but not today.
I'm really glad you're making an effort to read it Vrai. The New International Version is also very good and you should always look for a "study Bible" in whatever version you get. The study version give explanations for most (not all) of the verses and cross references to further expalin what is being said. You've made my day lady!!

As people have explained on here, a god is anyone/thing that a person places more value in than the real God of the Bible. A god doesn't necessarily have to be an image or statue that people bow down to, it can be money, a job, a person, power, an animal, etc. Good observation Pixie...

Whoever thinks the King James version is the only "right" version is

As for the definition of a god, I disagree to some extent. You're making the claim that it's any person or item that people put ABOVE the real God of the Bible. I would think it could be anything that they put on some sort of pedestal. That doesn't mean it needs to supersede the God of the Bible. However, the commandment itself dictates that it is only those items valued above the God of the Bible that are not allowable.

Honestly, I interpret it more as there's only 1 God and that's that. No minor Gods or any other crap, because then you can make the argument that the Greek or Roman Gods are acceptable where Zeus/Jupiter is the Supreme God and as long as you view him as #1 then you can have a plethora of lesser Gods that you pray to. That makes no sense.

[libertytyranny]

I always just assumed because it was written in a time when many worshipped multiple Gods..it was just stating that hey..God is the one true God..not the other ones. Not that the other gods are real..but not to be worshipped..but that they don't really exist. Only God does. That's how I have always seen it.

[Penn]

Originally Posted by libertytyranny

I always just assumed because it was written in a time when many worshipped multiple Gods..it was just stating that hey..God is the one true God..not the other ones. Not that the other gods are real..but not to be worshipped..but that they don't really exist. Only God does. That's how I have always seen it.

Along those lines, you have to realise that there were other nations in that region, that had many gods, which were in fact, worshipped. The Egyptians had more than one, the Assyrians(sp?) and Babalonians(another(sp?) had multiple gods that were also worhipped by those people as well.

I think what God the Father was telling His people was that HE delivered them from their torment - out of Egypt/Pharoah's grasp, and that they needed to know and understand the fact that - if they were to be His People, they would have no other god, or gods in their lives, save for Him.

Does that make sense?

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Beta84

Whoever thinks the King James version is the only "right" version is

As for the definition of a god, I disagree to some extent. You're making the claim that it's any person or item that people put ABOVE the real God of the Bible. I would think it could be anything that they put on some sort of pedestal. That doesn't mean it needs to supersede the God of the Bible. However, the commandment itself dictates that it is only those items valued above the God of the Bible that are not allowable.

Honestly, I interpret it more as there's only 1 God and that's that. No minor Gods or any other crap, because then you can make the argument that the Greek or Roman Gods are acceptable where Zeus/Jupiter is the Supreme God and as long as you view him as #1 then you can have a plethora of lesser Gods that you pray to. That makes no sense.

I agree, but there is a group of people whom Christians call the "KJ ONLY group". I speak to some of them often and they are, as you say

In the second paragraph, I think I covered it with person/thing, same as what you're saying but I'll add that nothing should be worshipped or made equal to the one true God. Isaiah & Job mention that often.

In paragraph 3 I agree with your first line and, of course, I don't believe in the Greek & Roman "gods". I'm about to light into JPC with his wacky version of his own theology and these "lesser gods".