Spitfire

Is this thread about proof of those gods' non-existence? I am explaining what those statements are understood to mean, rather or not you find that understanding reasonable is another matter entirely.

Though I might point out that those once mighty gods could not withstand the test of time while still today despite everything a sacrifice is offered to the God of Israel every day according to the prophecy of Malachias.

Loomis

…And even after Yahweh appeared to him on two occasions.

Isn’t it funny how believers will flaunt the “wisdom of Solomon” but overlook the gods he worshipped?

Gosh, how come Roger Pearse never talks about this stuff?

Loomis

I don’t think “the authors of the OT” shared a unified "view" about Yahweh.

Joan of Bark

I think what Stinger meant to ask was what proof do you have that YHWH did not believe in them?

Spitfire

I think it logically follows that if God is the creator of the universe and there is nothing contained within that he did not create, then there isn't room for other gods. Why didn't the Jews understand this? Well, that is precisely what God was so unhappy about.

In the prophecy of Baruch (though this is one of the deutero-canonical texts which does not appear in most modern Bibles) there are many explicit references to "false" gods that do not in fact exist.

"For seeing they are but of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false things, by all nations and kings: and it shall be manifest that they are no gods, but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them." - Baruch 6:50

Merlin

There have been (and are) many gods.
YHWH claims to be above them. a God.
The OT is full of examples where God proves He is God over the other gods

John Kesler

Yahweh wasn't always viewed as the only, or even the head, god. El was the chief god of the West Semitic pantheon, and two of his appellatives are "creator of creatures" and "the father of the gods," the latter idea preserved in Deuteronomy 32:8-9, a passage which I referenced in my previous post. Also, it is debatable whether the Israelites believed in creation ex nihilo. Even the Genesis account assumes that watery chaos existed before God started ordering it.

Joan of Bark

Other Gods are frequently mentioned in the OT (especially in the Torah). The first or second commandment -- depending on how you count them -- reads: "you shall have no other Gods before me". It does not say: "you shall have no other Gods", or "I am the only God". YHWH is a jealous God because he doesn't want the Israelites worshipping someone else.

And again look at my post #10 and the quote from the wise King Solomon.

Spitfire

All the examples you are giving certainly present logistical difficulties for someone who insists on always interpreting the Bible in the most literal sense possible without any consideration for what can be inferred from the words. Though, if you don't want the Bible to make sense, that is certainly way to do it.

When God says that he is greater than all the other gods, not the least of the reasons for this is that those other gods are, per Baruch, just gold and silver, the work of men's hands. False. Imaginary.

Chris Weimer

No, the claim is that those gods are false gods - no where does it say that those gods actually existed.