Mark Goodacre recently posted some thoughts on and links to some of Paula Fredriksen’s articles in which she challenges the idea of monotheism in antiquity. Sean from Primal Subversion weighed in with a few comments of his own, seeking a more careful definition of monotheism. I have to agree with Sean that “surely within the Judeo-Christian worldview it designates loyalty or worship to one god, not just belief in one god. What made Paul a monotheist, was not just his belief but his adherence, allegiance and devotion.”
My own thoughts on the issue are quite simple. As the Psalmist said: “For all the gods of the nations are worthless idols, but Yahweh made the heavens” (Ps. 96:5). It’s not that ancient Jews didn’t believe in other gods (or things that they called gods) – Yahweh is called the ‘God of gods’ (Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:2; Dan. 2:47; 11:36) — it’s that they didn’t believe that these were ‘true’ gods and therefore didn’t devote themselves to them lest they become idolaters (and we do know that Israel had a sordid history of idolatry). For Paul the thought is the same which is why he can speak to the Galatians and say: “formerly when you didn’t know God you were enslaved to those that are by nature not gods” (Gal. 4:8). To borrow Bauckham’s designation of ‘divine identity’ these so-called gods were never identified as true gods, they didn’t share the divine identity with Yahweh. To use the post-Nicene terminology, these gods do not possess or share in the divine ousia/hypostases.
Articles of Interest:
Mandatory retirement: Ideas in the study of Christian origins whose time has come and go — Paula Fredriksen
Gods and the One God — Paula Fredriksen
What Do We Mean By “First Century Jewish Monotheism”? — Larry Hurtado
Paul’s Christology of Divine Identity — Richard Bauckham
Monotheism: A Misused Word in Jewish Studies? – Peter Hayman
B”H
Update (5:37 PM): This article may also be of interest.
‘Two Powers’ and Early Jewish and Christian Monotheism — James McGrath & Jerry Truex
10/24/07 Update (4:33 PM): More articles of possible interest.
Visions of the Heavenly Council in the Hebrew Bible — Paul Sumner
Monotheism and the Hierarchy of Divine Beings in Second Temple Judaism – Blake Olster
The Construction of Biblical Monotheism: an Unfinished Task — Chiara Peri
2 Corinthians 4:4: A Case for Yahweh as the ‘God of this Age’ – Donald E. Hartley
10/25/07 Update (1:05 AM): One more from James McGrath
Are Christians Monotheists? The Answer of St. John’s Gospel — James F. McGrath
10/25/07 Update (2:27 PM): A few more articles.
Monotheism, Polytheism, Monolatry, or Henotheism? Toward an Honest (and Orthodox) Assessment of Divine Plurality in the Hebrew Bible — Michael S. Heiser
Michael S. Heiser also has a number of other articles related to the issue at http://www.thedivinecouncil.com/
10/26/07 Update (8:18 PM): James Crossley of Earliest Christian History offers his view on Moses and Monotheism to which Jim West replies.
10/31/07 Update (12:26 PM): Chris tilling throws his hat into the ring with a post on Monotheism where he offers up some book recommendations and a few quotes from my personal favorite book (Hurtado’s Lord Jesus Christ).
11/2/07 Update (10:40 AM): Mark Goodacre blogged yesterday about the absence of the Paul and monotheism posts from the latest Biblical Studies Carnival. I also have just come across another post from Sean at Primal Subversion where he gives a very helpful quote from Thiselton.
11/6/07 Update (9:40 PM): Chris Tilling offers some more thoughts on monotheism. And another article of interest is:
First Century Jewish Monotheism — Larry Hurtado
This is essay is a re-write of the article linked to above. Both are worth checking out.
Posted in Biblical Studies, Christology, Theology, Trinity
