By Donald O'Keefe

I do not have an advanced degree in mathematics, but I did study some algebra and geometry. I did take a lot of business mathematics and did pretty good in those courses. Consequently, I learned the basics of mathematics. I learned that 1 does not equal 3, and I learned that 1 = 1. Now I realize that this is not very profound. In fact, it is obvious and elementary. Yet, strangely enough in the field of theology that point is considered debatable.

Many times the Bible states that there is only one God. For instance, in the book of Isaiah chapter 43:10-11 it reads, "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." Notice the writer says that "before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me" and "beside me there is no saviour". Next, read Isaiah 44:8 where it is declared that God knows no God beside himself.

In Isaiah 44:24 it says that God stretched forth the heavens alone, that he did it by himself. Again, read in Isaiah 45:5 the Word says, "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me." Then in Isaiah 45:6 it says, "...there is none beside me, I am the LORD, and there is none else." See Isaiah 45:21 "...there is no God else beside me—there is none beside me." Verse 22 of the same chapter says "I am God, and there is none else." Yet again, read Isaiah 46:9 "...I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me." Many times in the Bible He is called the Holy One, but He is never called the Holy Three.

What language must God use to explain to mankind that He is one? What stronger words could be used to express this truth? If these words are inadequate then I do not know of other words that could make it clearer. In these verses He is called the Holy One. He has said that there is none beside Him, that he is alone, that He is by himself, that there is none else, no God beside me, none like me, that there was no God formed before him, and that none would be formed after him. It sure seems to me that He is saying that there is only one God. The Jews that wrote the Bible have always believed in only one God. The foundational statement of faith in the Old Testament was,"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD."

In spite of the abundance of scripture teaching that there is only one God, there are many theologians that teach that there is something called a "Trinity". Now, the classic definition of the trinity is that there is one God existent in three persons that are co-eternal and co-equal. Again, I didn't get a degree in mathematics, but I find that definition incomprehensible and self-contradictory. If each of the persons in a trinity is an eternal God, and if each of them is equal to the others, it would seem that there are three Gods, in that case 3 = 3. The doctrine of the trinity seems to be teaching that God is a committee, but the Bible doesn't teach that. Rather it says that he is alone, by himself, that there is none else, that he is one, that there is none beside Him, etc.

I may be simple, but I still believe that 1 = 1, that the One Great God that is an omnipresent Spirit was the Father in creation, overshadowed the virgin Mary causing her to give birth to a human son that was the Son of God, that the Father then dwelt within that Son as a living vessel for God to walk among men, and that the Father poured out His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, on the Day of Pentecost. Only One God, but one God ministering to mankind in different ways, as the Father in creation, in the Son for redemption, and as the Holy Spirit through the emanation of His Spirit.

Jesus was a man, but what dwelt within him was the Father. See John 14:9-10. He was human, yet He was divine. He was man, and yet He was God. He was the Son, yet he was the Father. See John 14:6-9. Read John 8:19-27.

In His humanity he was subject to weakness, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, pain, and temptation. He even had to pray. Humanity praying to divinity. Never the less, he is the express image of the invisible God, and only in the face of Jesus Christ shall we ever behold the glory of God. As much as man shall ever see of God is what they see when they behold Jesus our Lord and our God. See II Corinthians 4:4-6 and Colossians 1:15.

Many times in the Bible Jesus is called God. See Titus 2:13 and John 20:28. If Jesus is called God, and if there is only one God, then Jesus must be that one God.

Finally, let me say that I am aware that some theologians take the word "one" to refer to a corporate one, but not a single time in the entire Bible is the Greek or Hebrew word for one applied to God as a corporate one. Clearly, God meant one when he said one.