Happy_Heretic Wrote:
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> "Elohim?" Only Mormons use that term to refer to
> a single god. The elohinim is a pantheon of gods
> referred to in the Old testament. The bomber must
> be mormon.
Not necessarily! It can be complicated though. And confusing. Christians believe in the triune nature of God (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) but they consider Elohim to be a singular noun referring to God the Father.
Christian artists sing about Elohim. It's definitely a term I've heard in Christian churches.
It can be very confusing, no doubt. As noted in one of the articles I've linked below: Elohim is a plural form but Christians understand it in a singular sense.
Interestingly, the article below outlines the Christian view on the terminology and a little blurb on Mormonism is included. Predictably, the 'c' word is used as to Christians, Mormonism is a cult.
From Christianity.com:
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/what-elohim-teaches-about-god.htmlExcerpts:
“Hebrew scholars translate Elohim as God in modern English Bibles. Elohim comes from the Canaanite word El, which means “mighty one.” Elohim is the third word in the Bible in its original Hebrew. "In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth." (Gen. 1:1)
“The name "Elohim" is a Hebrew word used in the Bible to refer to God. It is one of the most commonly used names for God in the Old Testament. The exact meaning of the name "Elohim" is a topic of theological and scholarly discussion.
“In Hebrew, "Elohim" (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural noun, but it is often used in a singular sense when referring to the God of Israel.
“In Christian theology, "Elohim" is sometimes seen as an early indication of the triune nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While this interpretation is more specific to Christian theology, it recognizes the plural nature of the name.
“Some scholars propose that "Elohim" is a plural form used in a singular sense, perhaps as a form of honor or to convey God's transcendence. In this view, it emphasizes the idea of a singular, all-powerful deity.
“The precise meaning of "Elohim" can vary depending on the theological tradition, and it has been the subject of extensive discussion and interpretation over centuries. It's important to note that understanding the name "Elohim" is closely tied to the Hebrew Bible's broader theological and cultural context and the monotheistic beliefs of Judaism and Christianity.”
Hebrew Meaning of Elohim
“Elohim means God—or gods, depending on the verbs around it. Hebrew verbs change to indicate how many subjects the verb is referring to. When Elohim is used as a name of God, the verbs around it are singular. When it refers to members of the divine council or angelic realm, it will typically be surrounded by plural verbs.”
Where Did the Word Elohim Come from?
“Elohim is the plural form of the Canaanite and Hebrew word El, which means mighty one. El is a general name for a deity throughout the Old Testament.
“Another example comes from Genesis 35, where Jacob builds an altar and calls it “El Elohe Israel.” This means “The God of Israel is God.”
“Elohim appears in the Hebrew Bible over 2500 times, most of which refer to the YHYH, the God of Israel. Elohim appears in some of the most important passages to the Hebrews. These are the Shema and the Ten Commandments.”
What Do Mormons Think About Elohim?
“Mormons have a different view of who Elohim is. In their view, Elohim fathered Jehovah (the pre-mortal Jesus) and Lucifer. The Holy Spirit is a third being entirely. Mormon views of God are completely tritheist, meaning that the three persons of the Trinity are separate. This view agrees with the Mormon doctrine of exaltation—that one day, humans will be like Elohim, the God of planet Earth. Mormons believe they will one day receive their own planet.
“Definitions matter when dealing with people in cults and splinter religious groups like Mormons. To have effective conversations, we need to define our terms. A good way to start this is to ask, “What does that word mean in your view?” The Mormon view of who Elohim is does not fit with the Biblical narrative.”
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Elohim - from Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Elohim“Elohim, (Hebrew: God), the God of Israel in the Old Testament. A plural of majesty, the term Elohim – though sometimes used for other deities, such as the Moabite god Chemosh, the Sidonian goddess Astarte, and also for other majestic beings such as angels, kings, judges, and the Messiah – is usually employed in the Old Testament for the one and only God of Israel, whose personal name was revealed to Moses as YHWH, or Yahweh. When referring to Yahweh, elohim very often is accompanied by the article ha-, to mean, in combination, “the God,” and sometimes with a further identification Elohim hayyin, meaning “the living God.”
“Though Elohim is plural in form, it is understood in the singular sense. Thus, in Genesis the words, “In the beginning God (Elohim) crated the heavens and the earth,” Elohim is monotheistic in connotation, though its grammatical structure seems polytheistic. The Israelites probably borrowed the Canaanite plural noun Elohim and made it singular in meaning in their cultic practices and theological reflections.”