The King Eternal

2021-08-25

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

What is the difference between the God Jehovah and anything else that is called God? Three interrelated things come to mind, though we could discuss many. He is eternal (He always existed and always will exist), He created all things out of nothing (ex nihilo), and He is holy (wholly distinct from everything).

If you have a god that began to exist, you have a different god. For example, the Mormon religion’s Elohim started off as a man, and became a god; he had a beginning. He is not the God of the Bible.

If you have a god that is the creation or is a part of creation, you have a different god. All the pantheistic religions have gods like this.

There are three general world religions that have gods that might fulfill the requirements I first declared: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. But only one has a Savior:

Islam

And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. (Sura 4:157-158, Sahih International translation)

Judaism

He [Onqelos] went and brought up Jesus the Nazarene (Yeshu hanotzri)/ the sinners of Israel (posh’e Yisrael) out of his/their grave(s) by necromancy and asked him/them: Who is important in that world?
He/they [Jesus/the sinners of Israel] answered: Israel!
[Onqelos:] What then about joining them?
[Jesus/the sinners of Israel:] Seek their welfare, seek not their harm. Whoever touches them is as though he touches the apple of his [God’s] eye!
[Onqelos:] What is your punishment?
[Jesus/the sinners of Israel:] With boiling excrement. (Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 57a, as found in Peter Schäfer’s Jesus in the Talmud)

Christianity

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Truly, there is a difference.