Are There Many Gods or One?

Are There Many Gods or One?

From ancient times to the present, humanity has wrestled with the question: are there many gods or one? The Bible gives a definitive answer: there is only one true God, who alone is worthy of worship. Yet throughout history, polytheism—the belief in many gods—has lured nations and even the people of God themselves into error. This question is not only theological but practical: what we believe about God shapes how we live, worship, and trust.

The Belief in Many Gods

Polytheism is the most common religious belief in human history. The ancient world—from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Greece and Rome—teemed with gods and idols. Each had domains: fertility, war, sea, sky. Israel lived surrounded by polytheistic nations, and temptation to worship these so-called gods was constant.

In modern times, polytheism persists in forms like Hinduism, neo-paganism, and certain cults. Even within the broader Christian sphere, distortions have emerged—such as the idea that saints or spiritual beings share in divine honor, blurring the uniqueness of the one God.

The History of Heresy

Within Christianity, heresies sometimes arose that undermined God’s oneness:

• Gnosticism (2nd century): Claimed multiple emanations or lesser divine beings.

• Mormonism (19th century): Teaches that the Father, Son, and Spirit are separate gods and that humans may become gods themselves.

• Subtle Polytheisms: In popular spirituality, people treat angels, ancestors, or even created powers as objects of worship.

Each of these reflects the same root error: refusing to honor the one true God as He has revealed Himself.

Misused Scriptures and Their Correction

Throughout history, false teachers and cults have twisted certain passages to argue for the existence of many gods. Yet when read in context, these verses affirm the opposite—there is only one true God.

• Psalm 82:6 / John 10:34–36 – “I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.’”

• Misuse: Some claim this proves humans are divine or that the Bible affirms multiple gods.

• Correction: The psalm is addressing human judges, sarcastically calling them “gods” because of their authority, while warning they will “die like mortals” (Psalm 82:7 NASB). Jesus quotes this passage in John 10:34–36 to show it does not mean humans are literally divine, but instead highlights God’s ultimate authority over them.

• Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness…’”

• Misuse: Some argue the plural “Us” indicates multiple gods creating.

• Correction: The church has always understood this as either a plural of majesty or a foreshadowing of the Trinity. The very next verse reaffirms the singular: “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27 NASB). Scripture is clear: one God created all things.

• Psalm 82:1 (NASB): “God takes His position in His assembly; He judges in the midst of the gods.”

• Misuse: Claimed as acknowledgment of other divine beings alongside Yahweh.

• Correction: The Hebrew word ’elohim can mean “gods” or “mighty ones” and is often applied to human rulers or angelic beings. The point is not that they are gods, but that the one true God stands above them as judge.

• Exodus 20:3 (NASB): “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

• Misuse: Taken to mean other real gods exist but should not be worshiped.

• Correction: This refers to the false gods of the nations, which Scripture repeatedly calls empty and powerless. “Those who fashion an idol are all futile, and their treasured idols are of no benefit” (Isaiah 44:9 NASB).

• 1 Corinthians 8:5–6 (NASB): “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 only one God, the Father… and one Lord, Jesus Christ.”

• Misuse: Claimed as Paul’s admission of many gods.

• Correction: Paul says “so-called gods,” acknowledging pagan claims but denying their reality. He is emphatic: for Christians, there is only one God and one Lord.

• Revelation 3:21 (NASB): “The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne.”

• Misuse: Some groups (like Mormonism) twist this to mean believers will become gods.

• Correction: Sharing Christ’s throne means sharing in His reign and authority as heirs (Romans 8:17 NASB), not becoming divine in essence. God alone is eternal, uncreated, and unique.

In each case, the Bible is not teaching polytheism but confronting idolatry, arrogance, or false worship. When read in full context, Scripture consistently reaffirms the Shema: “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NASB).

Refuting the Error: Biblical Foundation

The Bible is emphatic:

• The Shema: “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NASB). This was Israel’s daily confession.

• Isaiah’s Testimony:

• “I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5 NASB).

• “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me” (Isaiah 43:10 NASB).

• Paul’s Clarity: “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 only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him” (1 Corinthians 8:5–6 NASB).

• James’ Simplicity: “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19 NASB).

Scripture never flinches: though others may claim divine status, only one true God exists.

Theological Reflection

The uniqueness of God matters because:

1. Worship: Only the true God deserves glory. To divide worship among many is to commit idolatry.

2. Salvation: Only the one God has provided redemption in Jesus Christ. Polytheism cannot save; it enslaves.

3. Truth: God’s oneness is foundational for understanding the Trinity. Christians confess not three gods, but one God in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Historical Witness

Early church fathers fiercely opposed polytheism:

• Justin Martyr argued that pagan gods were demons masquerading as divinities.

• Athanasius defended the oneness of God in debates against Arianism, insisting that only one true God existed, fully revealed in Christ.

• The Nicene Creed (AD 325) begins: “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.”

This confession anchored the church against polytheistic pressures.

Implications for Today

Even in societies shaped by Christianity, modern idols abound. People worship money, sex, power, or self. Others syncretize Christian faith with cultural spirituality, treating God as one option among many. But Scripture leaves no room: there is one Creator, one Savior, one Spirit. Anything else is idolatry.

Christ-Centered Conclusion

The Bible’s witness is clear: there is one God. The Father sent the Son, and the Spirit testifies of Christ. To believe in many gods is to walk in deception; to trust in the one God revealed in Scripture is to walk in truth. As Paul proclaimed to the Athenians, “The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by human hands” (Acts 17:24 NASB).

There are not many gods—there is only one. And in Jesus Christ, we come to know Him fully, worship Him rightly, and live for Him eternally.