Topical Bible: God: None Beside Him

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The phrase "None Beside Him" is a central tenet in the monotheistic understanding of God as presented in the Bible. This concept emphasizes the uniqueness, sovereignty, and exclusivity of God as the one true deity, rejecting the existence or worship of any other gods. This theme is woven throughout the Scriptures, underscoring God's unparalleled nature and authority.

Old Testament Foundations

The declaration of God's singularity is prominently featured in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 4:35, Moses reminds the Israelites, "You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him." This statement is part of a larger narrative where God reveals His power and presence to Israel, affirming His exclusive divinity.

Isaiah, a prophet who spoke extensively about God's nature, reiterates this truth. In Isaiah 45:5, God declares, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me." This assertion is part of a series of proclamations where God distinguishes Himself from idols and false gods, emphasizing His role as the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

The Shema

The Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:4, is a foundational declaration of faith for the Jewish people: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One." This verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of the Hebrew faith, affirming that God is singular and unique. The Shema serves as a daily reminder of God's exclusive claim to worship and allegiance.

New Testament Affirmation

The New Testament continues to affirm the Old Testament's teaching of God's singularity. In Mark 12:29-30, Jesus cites the Shema when asked about the greatest commandment: "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" Jesus' affirmation of this commandment underscores the continuity of this truth across both Testaments.

The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the uniqueness of God in his letters. In 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, he writes, "We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many 'gods' and many 'lords'), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

Theological Implications

The assertion that there is "None Beside Him" carries profound theological implications. It establishes the foundation for the worship of God alone, rejecting idolatry and polytheism. This exclusivity demands total devotion and allegiance to God, as He alone is worthy of worship and obedience.

Furthermore, this concept underscores God's sovereignty and authority over all creation. As the sole deity, God is the ultimate source of power, wisdom, and justice. His will is supreme, and His purposes are unchallenged by any other force or entity.

Practical Application

For believers, the recognition that there is "None Beside Him" calls for a life of worship, obedience, and trust in God. It challenges individuals to examine their lives for any form of idolatry or divided allegiance. This truth invites believers to deepen their relationship with God, acknowledging His rightful place as the center of their lives and the object of their highest devotion.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 4:35
To you it was showed, that you might know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 44:6
Thus said the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

From the World to God
... "I am not." Oh words that lead us. Back to God again! ... All she would is given,.
None on earth hath she beside Him,. None beside in heaven. ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter lviii from the world.htm

Argument. --That God is the Founder of all Things, their Lord and ...
... Lord on account of His power, Parent on account of His discipline"Him, I say ... Who
says by the prophet, "I am God, and there is none beside me." [5027 ...
/.../chapter iii argument that god is.htm

The Unity of God
... Some drops of love may run beside to the creature, but ... of our love, but we must keep
the cream for God. ... There is none on earth whom I desire in comparison of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/11 the unity of god.htm

The Designation of the one God in the Prophetic Scriptures ...
... that Christ should not be supposed to have come from another God, but from Him who
had already said, "I am God and there is none other beside me," [7987] who ...
/.../tertullian/against praxeas/chapter xviii the designation of the.htm

Nicholas at Rome
... Where, in God the Father's glory,. Christ has waited long,. There to find that none
beside Him. God's delight can be; NOT BESIDE HIM, NAY, BUT IN HIM,. ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xlv nicholas at rome.htm

The Gospel According to Paul
... Where in God the Father's glory. Christ has waited long; There to find that none
beside Him. God's delight can be". NOT BESIDE HIM, NAY, BUT IN HIM,. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/the gospel according to paul.htm

The Soul that Loves God Finds Him Everywhere
... That were indeed a dreadful lot; But regions none remote I call,. Secure
of finding God in all. ... I feel thee good"feel nought beside. ...
/.../the soul that loves god.htm

Of the Unity of the Godhead and the Trinity of Persons
... O let this be engraven on your hearts, that your inward affections and outward actions
may express that one Lord to be your God, and none other beside him! ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xiii of the unity.htm

A God-Given Field (1894-1900)
... IV A GOD-GIVEN FIELD (1894-1900). "Lord, there is none beside thee to help, between
the mighty and him that hath no strength; help us, O Lord our God; for we ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/iv a god-given field 1894-1900.htm

Rest
... rest.'. "Then only can we be faithful witnesses for Him, for the truest
witness is that God is all, and there is none beside. "It ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bevan/three friends of god/chapter xxii rest.htm