Jesus declared that He and His Father were one in John 10:30. He did not mean that they were the same person. He meant they were united in purpose, plan and thought. This was clarified when He stated, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father… believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?” (John 14:9-10). They were so united that seeing one meant the other had been seen. They spoke the same thing. They meant the same thing. They thought the same thing.
This idea of unity of the Godhead was revealed in the Old Testament. There are two Hebrew words for “one.” One of those words is yo-chid. This word is used for absolute aloneness, single and individual. An example of this word being used is when God told Abram to take his only son (Genesis 22:2). The word “only” is yo-chid. Isaac was the only son living with Abram.
The other Hebrew word is e-chod. This word has the idea of unity. It is used to refer to at least two, but with oneness in thought, action, or expression. A verse to show this usage is Genesis 2:24, where it is said a man and a woman leave parents and become one flesh. Marriage is being addressed. The man and the woman do not literally fuse together into one person. They join together in thought and action.
The word e-chod is always the word used in the Old Testament when referring to God. There can be no mistaking that God is not one person; God is a plurality of persons. The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit have always been separate individuals working together as God. Deuteronomy 6:4 reads, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord.”
The discussion of One Lord can be a little confusing. However, remember that God used specific terms when talking about God (the Godhead). He made it plain to those in Old Testament times that there was a plurality in the Godhead. Jesus continued that thought when He was on earth. It is clear that there are three individuals who are God.
Study your Bible. Learn all you can about God. Obey God. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
