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One God ánd One Lord...

1 Corinthians 8:5-6
(SVV) "'For though there be what are called "gods," whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet to us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we in Him, ánd one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things, and we by Him'. ."

Why it is important to read these Bible verses ?
1 Corinthians 8 is actually about the eating of meat that has been sacrificed to pagan gods, but this is not the reason why I emphesize these lines; the 'casual information' which is given at the same time is thé reason! Information that is just as truthful as the theme and so we can learn from this 'information-on-the-side' as well.

Examined from 'close-by'
We can learn three important things from this Bible-passage:

• That there are many Gods and Lords both in Heaven and on Earth or -at least- they are called 'Gods and Lords'.
• That there is only one God; The Father.
• That there is also one Lord; Jesus Christ the Son of God.

But this Bible-passage gives us even more information, because it also tells us:
'there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things, and we by Him'."

Clearly this tells us, that:
A - There is one God (the Father) from whom are all things and we in Him
B - There is (also) one Lord -Jesus- by whom all things are (created); us included.

"A" from 'close-up'
The KJ-says: "'yet to us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we in Him' In short: everything comes forth from God and we belong to God; joined to Him by His Spirit. Mind you: Jesus also came forth from God!

In short: there is only one God; the Father. Everything was created from Him and everything has been created in His honour! [mind you: the Bible doesnot say 'a trinity-god'...]

"B" from 'close-up'
Besides the only God there is also one Lord the Bible says. This Lord is Jesus; the Son of the only God. And of course there are a number of differences between the only God and Jesus and these differences are mentioned in this Bible-passage as well.

Under "A" you have read, that 'all things are from GOD and that all things are created to honour Him. Under "B" you have read, that all things -us included- were created by God through Jesus.

From Proverbs 8:22-31 we known, that Jesus was created by God before everything else was created. We also know from 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, that Jesus is also called 'Gods Power and Wisdom'. Proverbs 8 is titled 'the Wisdom'...clearly no coincidence!

I am inclined to translate 'Wisdom and Power of God' with 'The Holy Spirit of God' from which Jesus was created according to Proverbs 8.

Seeming contradictions between Proverbs 8 and 1 Cor.8:5-6 ?!
Still Proverbs 8-22:31 seems to be in contradiction with 1 Cor. 8:5-6, because Proverbs 8:27-31 tells us:
'When He prepared the heavens, I was there; when He set a compass upon the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep, when He gave to the sea His decree that the waters should not pass His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth— then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him, and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and my delights were with the sons of men'.

1 Cor.8:6 -however- says: 'and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things, and we by Him'.

Where Proverbs 8 tells us it is God that created through Jesus 1 Cor 8:6 tells us it was Jesu s by whom all things are created. These Bible-passages seems to be in conflict, but my inspiration tells me, that it was God -the Father- that created with His Spirit ('Ruach') and that Jesus was created from the same 'Ruach'. And we know from Proverbs 8, that Jesus was with his Father when He created everything.

Knowing that God is Spirit and that Jesus came forth from the same Spirit wouldn't it be truthful to say that all has been created by the same Spirit, so also by Jesus?! Of course Proverbs 8 also tells us, that Jesus was brought up with God and with what God was creating and had created...so they were doing things together?! .

Bible passages that underline this conclusion
The most important are:

• Bible passages about how Jesus came forth of God (also Proverbs 8)

John 1:1 " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
1John 1:2 " for the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us".

• The Bible passage, that Jesus had the form of God
• The Bible passage, that Jesus has been exalted by God because of the cross-death
• The Bible passage, that Jesus has been given the exalted name 'Lord'
  Philippians 2:5-11 " " Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross. Therefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "