Uhm, I beg to differ here about the one God thingy....
You are using the english bible here... and that one is really obsolete becouse english is really a simplistic language...
I think you should take those verses back to hebrew or greek, the language they were written in.
For example, where Jesus asks John(John 21:15-18)
bible wrote:
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." 18
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
do you love me 3 times, in the original, the greek version, there are two words used.
I highlighted the first word for love with red. Which means the following
meaning of love 1 wrote:
Strong's Number: 25
Original Word
ajgapavw
Transliterated Word
Agapao
Phonetic Spelling
ag-ap-ah'-o
Definition
1. of persons
a. to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2. of things
a. to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
This one is highlighted green
meaning of love 2 wrote:
Strong's Number: 5368
Original Word
filevw
Transliterated Word
Phileo
Phonetic Spelling
fil-eh'-o
Definition
1. to love
a. to approve of
b. to like
c. sanction
d. to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend
2. to show signs of love
a. to kiss
3. to be fond of doing
a. be wont, use to do
You see, in english, it appears the same, whilst in the original language, different words were used.(check it up if you want *grin*)
I'm not sure, but I think with the gods question there's also a different word used.
Notice how other gods in the bible are always written with a lower g. not a capital G when it talks about our God.
nowhere in the bible does it deny existance of other gods. it just states that there is no other True God worthy of worship...
I am not saying that those gods are worthy of worship, I'm not stating that it is right to worship those, I'm just not denying that they existed or exist. They are the created gods, not the creating gods.
Put me off if I'm wrong in the last line, but I don't know how to formulate it elsehow.
Just like the bible does not deny the existance of magick and similar things.
Michael