How many gods are there? Let’s see what the Bible has to say about this important question. We invite you to find the true living God. please watch the Great News video on this page and feel free to connect with us. God loves you and we care.
When Jesus walked the earth, Athens was a center for learning. The Apostle Paul visited there, proclaiming the gospel message that Jesus had risen from the dead:
“Therefore he (Paul) disputed in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to there” (Acts 17:17)
People of great learning gathered there to satisfy their thirst for knowledge. They must have been independently wealthy because they evidently had no jobs. Instead, they sought the latest theories:
“For all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing else, but either telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21).
The Unknown God
As Paul toured the city, observing all the altars and idols built to honor various gods, one dedication stood out:
“For as I passed by and looked up at your objects of worship, I found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom you therefore unknowingly worship, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23).
Despite creating tributes to all the gods the people could imagine, they instinctively knew their pantheon was incomplete. None of these manufactured icons could represent the one true God and His Son Jesus:
“We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one” (1 Corinthians 8:4).
Paul acknowledged that there are other so-called gods.
“For there are those who are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there are many gods and many lords” (1 Corinthians 8:5).
Jesus is Above All
Some are angelic powers, but Jesus is above them:
“Seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion (different ranks of angels), and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21).
Some modern religions believe there are thousands of gods. Some even believe people can become gods or become gods when they die.
There is No Other God then the God of the Bible
But there is no power or other god than the God of the Bible. He is uncreated and eternal. All others are created and temporal.
The first of the Ten Commandments emphasizes who He is and that He’s the only God:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:2-3).
Centuries after God gave these commandments, the Jews fell away and worshiped other so-called gods. The Lord brought them back by demonstrating His Almighty power over the false gods they were tempted to follow. When the people saw the false gods’ failure to bring fire on an altar and then God’s mighty work to bring the fire, they returned to Him:
“When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).
There are Many False Gods
The Apostle Paul gave us the bottom line. There are many so-called or false gods:
“But for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist. And there is one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not everyone has this knowledge” (1 Corinthians 8:6-7).
No, not everyone has this knowledge.
We invite you to find the true living God. please watch the Great News video on this page and feel free to connect with us. God loves you and we care.
