As we continue the God’s Image study through the Ten Commandments, we begin with the One who speaks:
“I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
— Exodus 20:2, ASV
Then comes the command:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
— Exodus 20:3, ASV
To understand this command, I believe we need to examine something that can easily be passed over: Scripture uses the word god for more than one recipient.
Who are the many? How are they related to YHWH (יהוה)? And how do we honor each role while preserving His place?
“Gods Many, and Lords Many”
Paul addresses this language while discussing food sacrificed to idols. He affirms that there is no God but one, then writes:
“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many”
— 1 Corinthians 8:5, ASV
We need to keep both statements in view. Paul speaks of one God while acknowledging the language of many gods and many lords. His next words distinguish the Father and Jesus Christ:
“yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.”
— 1 Corinthians 8:6, ASV
The distinction between “of whom” and “through whom” is central to my understanding.
The Father is identified as the one God, of whom are all things. Jesus Christ is identified as the one Lord, through whom are all things.
I understand the Father here as the Source and Jesus as the one through whom the Father works. Both belong in the passage, with their relationship and roles preserved.
Others Are Called “Gods”
Psalm 82 gives us another passage to examine:
“I said, Ye are gods,
And all of you sons of the Most High.”
— Psalm 82:6, ASV
The psalm places those called gods under judgment. They are answerable for their conduct, including their treatment of the afflicted and needy.
That matters to this study. The title does not make them independent of the One who judges them. The passage calls them sons of the Most High, preserving a relationship that we need to notice.
I want to examine each use in its own setting. Paul’s discussion of idols and those called gods does not automatically identify every figure in Psalm 82. The shared word gives us a reason to compare; the context helps us distinguish who is being described.
Jesus Is Called God
Thomas addresses Jesus with the words:
“My Lord and my God.”
— John 20:28, ASV
That wording belongs in the study. I also want to keep Jesus’ own words about the Father beside it:
“the Father is greater than I.”
— John 14:28, ASV
In context, Jesus is speaking about going to the Father. His statement preserves a distinction that is important to my understanding.
I read these passages together: Jesus is called God, Paul distinguishes the Father from the Lord Jesus Christ through the language of of and through, and Jesus says the Father is greater than he is.
My conclusion is that being called God does not itself establish equality with the Father.
Honoring the Roles
This is why I do not understand the Father and Jesus as coequal within a triune God. In my reading, that conclusion does not preserve the distinction these passages give between the Source and the one through whom all things are.
I want to show the reasoning behind that understanding so readers can examine the passages for themselves.
Honoring Jesus requires paying attention to what Scripture says about him—including what he says about the Father. The role of the Son carries its own significance. We need to understand that role faithfully rather than assume that sharing a title settles every question of identity, authority, or relationship.
That same care will matter throughout this series. Father, Son, Mother, and children must each be examined in context. A title alone cannot do all the work of identifying the relationship.
Returning to the First Command
When I return to “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” I therefore bring a more precise question:
How do we recognize those called gods while preserving the unique place of Jehovah?
For me, the answer begins with distinguishing the One from whom all things come and the roles of those who receive, serve, or act through authority given to them.
This continues an important thread from the God’s Image study: receiving from God does not make the recipient the Source. Relationship, likeness, and participation need to be examined with that distinction intact.
Before moving to the command concerning images, I want this foundation to remain visible. We must pay attention to who is speaking, who is receiving, and how Scripture describes their relationship.
Threads to Follow
The One and the many: Examining who is called God or gods in each passage.
Of whom and through whom: Preserving Paul’s distinction between the Father and Jesus Christ.
Sons of the Most High: Their relationship, responsibility, and accountability.
Jesus’ own words: Keeping his statements about the Father beside the titles applied to him.
Honoring the roles: Recognizing each relationship without making its participants interchangeable.
The books were opened…
🌿 By Maria Emilia
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