GOD IS ONE, BUT DOES THIS CONTRADICT THE NT

JEWSFORJUDAISM.ORG understandably argues against the Christian interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Admittedly, they can site many verses that God is One:

·       “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ESV)

However, this verse fails to prove their point. The NT also proclaims the Oneness of God:

·       “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6)

(Of course, Jesus is also God, but perhaps He is called “Lord” here, instead of “God,” because He has submitted Himself to the will of the Father.)

Christians also recognize that there are two Hebrew words for one, and the “one” cited in Deuteronomy 6:4 represents a composite of one – two or more things or people that are one, but this is contradicted by the rabbis:

·       Missionaries incorrectly argue that the use in Deuteronomy 6:4 of the Hebrew word for One (Echad), rather than the word unique (Yachid), teaches that G-d is a “composite unity” instead of an “absolute unity.” They claim that the Trinity is a composite unity, similar to a physical object that includes many different individual aspects, (eg. one pen, composed of ink, plastic and metal). This reasoning is incorrect, since physical objects that exist within the context of time and space cannot be used to describe G-d who transcends these dimensions. Prior to Creation, G-d was alone and concepts of time, space and the plurality of numbers did not exist. The term unique (Yachid), correctly describes G-d’s existence prior to Creation since it indicates the absence of any plurality or of rapport with any created object. https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/god-as-one-vs-the-trinity/?fbclid=IwAR3EL6tBAUJU3t1XEIhb0maBjMUNUOsK3S_S6NWykUsA2pGriniKB8T1r6M

However, the “one” of Deuteronomy 6:4 can also describe the composite oneness of a husband and his wife:

·       “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

Interestingly, Deut. 6:4 mentions LORD and God three times! Why? Isn’t one time enough? Perhaps this represents a cryptic reference to a deeper truth?