Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, the term "deities" primarily refers to the various gods and goddesses worshiped by different cultures and peoples surrounding the Israelites. The Bible consistently emphasizes the existence and supremacy of the one true God, Yahweh, while acknowledging the presence of other so-called gods, which are often depicted as false or powerless in comparison to the God of Israel.Monotheism and the One True God The central tenet of biblical theology is monotheism—the belief in one God. This is foundational to the faith of Israel and is articulated in the Shema, a key declaration found in Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One." The Bible presents God as the Creator of the universe, sovereign over all creation, and the only deity worthy of worship. Isaiah 45:5 states, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me." False Gods and Idolatry Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly warned against the worship of other deities, which is considered idolatry. The first of the Ten Commandments explicitly prohibits the worship of other gods: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). The Bible often portrays these deities as powerless and the idols representing them as mere objects made by human hands. Psalm 115:4-8 describes the futility of idol worship: "Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see." Deities of Surrounding Nations The Bible mentions several deities worshiped by the nations surrounding Israel. These include Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech, Dagon, and others. Baal, for instance, was a prominent Canaanite god associated with fertility and storms. The worship of Baal often involved rituals that were abhorrent to the Israelites, such as child sacrifice and temple prostitution. Judges 2:13 notes, "For they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths." The Powerlessness of Other Deities The Bible frequently demonstrates the powerlessness of other deities in contrast to the might of Yahweh. In 1 Kings 18, the prophet Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel to prove whose god is real. Despite their fervent prayers and rituals, Baal's prophets are unable to elicit any response from their god. In contrast, Elijah's simple prayer to Yahweh results in fire descending from heaven, consuming the sacrifice, and proving the LORD's supremacy. New Testament Perspective In the New Testament, the emphasis on the one true God continues, with the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of idolatry in his letters, urging believers to turn away from false gods. In 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Paul acknowledges the existence of so-called gods but affirms the Christian belief in one God: "We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one." Spiritual Warfare The New Testament also introduces the concept of spiritual warfare, where false deities are often associated with demonic forces. Ephesians 6:12 states, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This underscores the belief that behind the worship of false gods lies a spiritual battle against evil. Conclusion The Bible's portrayal of deities is clear: there is only one true God, and all other gods are false and powerless. The consistent biblical message is a call to exclusive worship of Yahweh, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, who alone is worthy of honor and praise. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (n.) Plural of Deity.Greek 2463. iris -- a rainbow ... rainbow. Perhaps from ereo (as a symbol of the female messenger of the pagan deities); a rainbow ("iris") -- rainbow. see GREEK ereo. (iris) -- 2 Occurrences. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2463.htm - 6k 2060. Hermes -- Hermes, the name of a Gr. god and a Christian at ... 735. Artemis -- Artemis, the name of the Gr. goddess of the hunt 1140. daimonion -- an evil spirit, a demon Library But, Says My Opponent, the Deities are not Inimical to You... The Sinister Deities Preside Over the Regions on the Left Hand ... Are Then Your Deities Carried Off by Force, and do they Seize by ... If Some One, Despising the Deities, and Furious with a Savagely ... Of Certain Deities Peculiar to Barbarians, and their Sacred Rites ... The Original Deities were Human --With Some Very Questionable ... The Deeds of Heathen Deities, and Particularly of Zeus. An Argument for the Exclusive Worship of this God, Who, While He ... And Since, as You Dare not Deny that These Deities of Yours once ... The Constellations and the Genii Very Indifferent Gods the Roman ... Thesaurus Deities (1 Occurrence)... (n.) Plural of Deity. Multi-Version Concordance Deities (1 Occurrence). Acts 17:18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. ... /d/deities.htm - 6k Images (158 Occurrences) Demon (26 Occurrences) Demonology Demoniac (7 Occurrences) Moon (70 Occurrences) Chaldees (13 Occurrences) Aryan Gods (310 Occurrences) Ur (5 Occurrences) Resources Is there any validity to the Zeitgeist movie? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is ditheism? What is bitheism? | GotQuestions.org Is there a mother god? | GotQuestions.org Deities: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Deities (1 Occurrence)Acts 17:18 Subtopics Related Terms |
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