ÿþ <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>The Shema ONE!</TITLE> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=UCS-2"> <META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="NetObjects Fusion 8 for Windows"> <LINK REL=STYLESHEET TYPE="text/css" HREF="../html/style.css"> <LINK REL=STYLESHEET TYPE="text/css" HREF="../html/site.css"> <STYLE> </STYLE><NOLAYER> <STYLE ID="NOF_STYLE_SHEET"> <!-- DIV#LayoutLYR { position:absolute; top:0; left:0; z-index: 1; visibility:inherit; } DIV#NavigationBar2LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:1952; left:221; z-index:1 } DIV#BuiltWithNOFLYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:1952; left:46; width:80; height:49; z-index:2 } DIV#LayoutRegion3LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:47; left:163; width:659; height:112; z-index:3 } DIV#Text2LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:15; left:106; width:487; height:55; z-index:1 } DIV#Picture3LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:32; left:72; width:91; height:114; z-index:4 } DIV#Picture4LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:33; left:822; width:91; height:114; z-index:5 } DIV#LayoutRegion4LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:159; left:163; width:659; height:1659; z-index:6 } DIV#Text43LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:24; left:35; width:591; height:1578; z-index:1 } DIV#LayoutRegion5LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:1818; left:163; width:659; height:75; z-index:7 } DIV#Picture5LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:1815; left:72; width:91; height:114; z-index:8 } DIV#Picture6LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:1815; left:822; width:91; height:114; z-index:9 } DIV#Picture7LYR { position:absolute; visibility:inherit; top:159; left:0; width:126; height:46; z-index:10 } --> </STYLE> </NOLAYER> </HEAD> <BODY NOF="(MB=(Menbreth, 17, 156, 0, 0), L=(TheShemaONELayout, 998, 1912))" STYLE="background-image: url('../assets/images/Sinaibg2.JPG');"> <!-- Start of StatCounter Code --> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> var sc_project=1625515; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_partition=15; var sc_security="6a38cd2a"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/frames.js"></script><noscript><a href="http://www.statcounter.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://c16.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=1625515&amp;java=0&amp;security=6a38cd2a&amp;invisible=1" alt="counter hit make" border="0"></a> </noscript> <!-- End of StatCounter Code --> <DIV ID="LayoutLYR"><LAYER ID="LayoutLYR" TOP=0 LEFT=0 VISIBILITY=INHERIT WIDTH=998 HEIGHT=2085 Z-INDEX=1><DIV ID="LayoutRegion3LYR" STYLE="background-image: url('../assets/images/scrollbg.bmp');"><LAYER ID="LayoutRegion3LYR" VISIBILITY=INHERIT TOP=47 LEFT=163 WIDTH=659 HEIGHT=112 Z-INDEX=1 background="../assets/images/scrollbg.bmp"> <FORM NAME="LayoutRegion3FORM" ACTION="" METHOD=POST> <DIV ID="Text2LYR" CLASS="TextObject"><LAYER ID="Text2LYR" VISIBILITY=INHERIT TOP=15 LEFT=106 WIDTH=487 HEIGHT=55 Z-INDEX=1> <P><SPAN STYLE="font-size: xx-large;">THE&nbsp; SHEMA-- ONE!</SPAN></P> </LAYER></DIV> </FORM> </LAYER></DIV><DIV ID="Picture3LYR"><LAYER ID="Picture3LYR" VISIBILITY=INHERIT TOP=32 LEFT=72 WIDTH=91 HEIGHT=114 Z-INDEX=2><IMG ID="Picture3" HEIGHT=114 WIDTH=91 SRC="../assets/images/autogen/a_scrollcap-left.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="scrollcap-left" TITLE="scrollcap-left"></LAYER></DIV><DIV ID="Picture4LYR"><LAYER ID="Picture4LYR" VISIBILITY=INHERIT TOP=33 LEFT=822 WIDTH=91 HEIGHT=114 Z-INDEX=3><IMG ID="Picture4" HEIGHT=114 WIDTH=91 SRC="../assets/images/autogen/a_scrollright.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="scrollright" TITLE="scrollright"></LAYER></DIV><DIV ID="LayoutRegion4LYR" STYLE="background-image: url('../assets/images/Scrollbody4.bmp');"><LAYER ID="LayoutRegion4LYR" VISIBILITY=INHERIT TOP=159 LEFT=163 WIDTH=659 HEIGHT=1659 Z-INDEX=4 background="../assets/images/Scrollbody4.bmp"> <FORM NAME="LayoutRegion4FORM" ACTION="" METHOD=POST> <DIV ID="Text43LYR" CLASS="TextObject"><LAYER ID="Text43LYR" VISIBILITY=INHERIT TOP=24 LEFT=35 WIDTH=591 HEIGHT=1578 Z-INDEX=1> <P><U><SPAN STYLE="font-size: medium;">What is the meaning of Echod? (Ð×Ó)</SPAN></U></P> <P>Some Messianic teachers have asserted that echod-- Hebrew for one-- means not one but a  composite unity. This is their well-intentioned attempt to dispel the Jewish impression that the Christian <A HREF="../html/trinity.html">Trinity</A> is not more than one god. </P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; The whole notion of trinity is actually ironic considering the word or concept cannot even be found in the New Testament. Rather, it is more or less of a Christian Mishnaic extrapolation. A bit minhag here, a bit gezeirah there, and now we have  trinity. More than this it stems from a Latin concept of Triad, three closely related gods working in efficacious unity. The Capitoline Triad of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva is a famous example. Temples to the Capitoline Triad were in every Roman city of the empire. Perhaps this fact inspired early Church fathers in drawing analogies. Philosophically, however, it is more than likely that the concept actually derives from the Greek Naasene Gnostics in Asia Minor.</P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; In any event, Trinity is not accurate and no one should compromise when preaching and teaching God s word. Echod means  one. Where does our first bible reading lesson begin-- B reshith. How does the first day of creation end? Vayhi-erev vayhi-voker, yom composite unity?</P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; Another argument used to support  composite unity is the scripture referring to Adam and Eve s union  and two shall be one flesh. The problem with this argument is that echod still means one. <I>Contextually</I> the statement means a composite unity, just as it does in its English translation (or any translation, for that matter). ONE in English does not mean  composite unity. It means  one. One cannot mean more than 1 on its own, but the context of the statement modifies the word.&nbsp; <SPAN STYLE="font-family: Greece,sans-serif;"></SPAN></P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; The Shema is not worded so that echod modifies a meaning in that context.  Hear, O Israel, the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: x-small;">ORD</SPAN> our God is one L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: x-small;">ORD</SPAN>. The context means a sole entity. </P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; Perhaps some of the confusion is engendered by use of L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: x-small;">ORD</SPAN> in place of God s name. God s name, of course, does not mean L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: x-small;">ORD</SPAN>. The meaning of the tetragrammaton is rather complex and deep. Scholars and translators have struggled to find its equivalent in other languages. The English attempt  I am that I am is a try; but it, like so many others, cannot convey everything. Jewish scholars at Alexandria, Egypt, in the 3rd century <SPAN STYLE="font-size: x-small;">BC</SPAN> finally opted for <SPAN STYLE="font-family: Greek,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ego eimi o Wn </SPAN>Omega + Nu. Literally this means <A HREF="../html/the_name_of_god.html">The BEING</A>. This is probably the best of all attempts. Not because it says it all, but because it allows us to elaborate and proceed in a correct manner. </P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; The concept of Being, while used as a noun (unfortunately) is originally (and should have remained) exclusively a verb human being is a human in the present state of existence; he is not past or future. He is. The difference with a human is that we had a beginning and we will have an end. God is THE BEING. He generates life within himself. He is independent of time, space and matter. When you understand we are beings and that he is, as rendered in Greek THE BEING, you see the creationary relationship. He is not a force or concept, an energy field or some base to tie in with. He is the living, thinking entity from which life itself comes forth. Considering that we are made in his image, one can fully identify with love, justice, mercy, loving kindness, patience, etc. because they are attributes that God possesses. He does not possess them because he prefers them; they exist because they are part of his own nature. Thus we too have them. </P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; Understanding this it becomes possible to understand the wording and significance of the Shema. It is not saying  the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: x-small;">ORD</SPAN> our God is one God as is most everybody s impression of its meaning. When understanding that it is speaking of THE LIVING BEING who lives because he lives one understands  BEING our God is one BEING. Essentially <A HREF="../html/the_name_of_god.html">BEING I am BEING</A> is probably the best translation of the name s meaning. God has life in himself. He takes in no energy. He is self generating, always constantly existing. Only the word in each language that stands for the present state of living existence reflects the concept of his name. God identified himself as ehyeh asher ehyeh&nbsp; (ÐÔÙÔ Ðéè ÐÔÙÔ) to Moses and this basically in the prime root of any extrapolation of his name.  I shall be which I shall be. Basically, it is saying  I am that which shall always be. </P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; BEING our God is ONE BEING.</P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; This was so far above the heads and imaginations of people during the age of idolatry it must have been awesome and, frankly, almost not comprehensible when Moses first told them the NAME. Idols were reflection of finite gods and superstitions you had to appease and cut deals with. The God of the Hebrews, our fathers, now identified himself in a way no man could: I AM. I AM that which always SHALL BE. Absolute authority. No dealing. Not was or will be, always AM. . .but <I>always</I> AM.</P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; Since he does fill heaven and earth, as he declared unto Jeremiah, it is easy for him to place his spirit in his inner sanctum and yet, of course, still be everywhere. No Jew was ever so dumb he couldn t comprehend that. Just as easy as this he can fashion himself a body and walk, breathe and talk with us, even though he fills heaven and earth. The Universe cannot contain him. His Spirit goes forth to order his right ways, and yes he can walk among us. Yes, the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: x-small;">ORD</SPAN> is one. He is not many. He IS. And just as sure as he could call that temple his house, his same pure spirit can come forth and dwell amongst us.</P> <P><SPAN STYLE="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0,51,153);">Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: 10pt;">ORD</SPAN>. And many nations shall be joined to the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: 10pt;">ORD</SPAN> in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: 10pt;">ORD</SPAN> of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: 10pt;">ORD</SPAN> shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the L<SPAN STYLE="font-size: 10pt;">ORD</SPAN>: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.</SPAN> </P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp; Indeed he did come forth from his Temple (holy habitation) and dwelt among us . . .and many nations have come unto him, the God of Israel, because of it. 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