Divine Unity
There is only one God.
This doctrine defines Christian orthodoxy. Denial places one outside the historic faith.
Who binds this (creedal)
Every affiliated congregation inherits its denomination's position. Follow a chip to see the confession's language.
Key scriptures
- 1Cor 8:4 — As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
- 1Tim 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
- Deut 6:4 — Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
- Eph 4:6 — One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
- Gal 3:20 — Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
- Isa 45:22 — Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
- Isa 45:5 — I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
- Isa 46:9 — Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
- James 2:19
- John 17:3 — And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
- Mal 2:10 — Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
- Mark 12:29 — And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
- Ps 86:10 — For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
- Rom 3:30 — Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
What the confessions say
Articles of the historic confessions that address this doctrine.
- Reformed Westminster Shorter Catechism Q5 — Are there more Gods than one?
- Reformed Westminster Larger Catechism Q8 — Are there more Gods than one?
- Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion Article 1 — Of Faith in the Holy Trinity
- Ecumenical Athanasian Creed text — Athanasian Creed
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 2.1 — Of God and of the Holy Trinity
- Lutheran Augsburg Confession Article 1 — Of God
The Church Fathers
The earliest Fathers who commented on the Scriptures above.
And concerning food, bear what thou art able; but against that which is sacrificed to idols be exceedingly on thy guard; for it is the service of dead gods.
Truly, then, the Scripture declared, which says, "First of all believe that there is one God, who has established all things, and completed them, and having caused that from what had no being, all things should come into existence:" He who contains all things, and is Himself contained by no one. Rightly also has Malachi said among the…
Such, then, being the case, the Greeks ought by the Law and the Prophets to learn to worship one God only, the only Sovereign; then to be taught by the apostle, "but to us an idol is no, thing in the world," since nothing among created things can be a likeness of God; and further, to be taught that none of those images which they…
We have, I think, faithfully carried out our plan of showing in how many different ways the sin of idolatry clings to the shows, in respect of their origins, their titles, their equipments, their places of celebration, their arts; and we may hold it as a thing beyond all doubt, that for us who have twice renounced all idols, they are…
These things then, brethren, are declared by the Scriptures. And the blessed John, in the testimony of his Gospel, gives us an account of this economy (disposition) and acknowledges this Word as God, when he says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." If, then, the Word was with God, and was…
Hence he also fittingly adds in what follows: "Or is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. Since indeed there is one God, who justifies the circumcision from faith, and the uncircumcision through faith." For those who would have the God of the Jews to be one and the God of the Gentiles…