The Old Testament Supports Polytheism

The Old Testament is not exclusively Polytheistic. There is a strong claim that, for instance, the lord our god is one or the portrayal of other gods as false gods and this is a repeated idea that I will challenge. Angels and demons fit typical definitions of gods so it’s only that Jehovah is a chief or head god but it does not stop there. The Old Testament supports both Polytheism and monotheism Depending on the passage. Israelites acknowledged many other Gods in the old Testament. Dagon, Asherah and Baal to name a few. Jehovah was not presented as the only god but rather the strongest among the gods in a book that describes a polytheistic world view. From Webster: God 1: capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: such as a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe b : Christian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind 2: a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality Greek gods of love and war Polytheism belief in or worship of more than one god It’s the second definition for God that is popular for polytheists and there are many gods described in the old testament. In fact, at the time all rival tribal groups opposed to the Jewish god worshiped gods, for the most part, and they were mentioned and acknowledged as rival gods. From the Old Testament: Psalm 82:1 God stands in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he passes judgment. When Elyon divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he established the borders of the nations according to the number of the sons of the gods. Yahweh’s portion was his people, [Israel] his allotted inheritance. (Deut. 32:8–9) (Elyon was considered the chief among canaanites [1]) For [Jehovah] is the great God, and the great King above all gods (Ps. 95:3). All the gods bow down before [Jehovah] (Ps. 97:7). I know [Jehovah] is great, and our Lord is superior to all gods. (Ps. 135:5) But you must not turn away from all the commandments I am giving you today, to either the right or left, nor pursue other gods and worship them (Deut. 28:14–15). Many Gods are mentioned in the Old Testament and acknowledged as rival deities: Amon, the chief god of Egypt See also Jer 46:25 [2] Asherah, a Canaanite goddessEx 34:13-14Asherah was the consort of El, the chief Canaanite god. Wooden poles, perhaps carved in her image, were often set up in her honour and placed near other pagan objects of worship. See alsoDt 7:5; Jdg 6:25-30 Gideon destroys an Asherah pole; 1Ki 14:15,23; 1Ki 15:13; 1Ki 16:33; 1Ki 18:19 Elijah summons 400 prophets of Asherah to Mount Carmel. King Josiah’s reforms:2Ki 23:4-7,13-16 Isa 27:9; Jer 17:2; Mic 5:14 Ashtoreth, a goddess of war and fertilityJdg 2:12-13Jdg 10:6; 1Sa 7:3-4; 1Sa 12:10; 1Sa 31:10; 1Ki 11:5,33 Baal, a Canaanite and Phoenician god of fertility and rainJdg 2:10-13 Baal-Zebub, a popular deity of the PhilistinesMt 12:24 pp Mk 3:22 pp Lk 11:152Ki 1:1-6,16-17 Bel, the chief deity of BabylonIsa 46:1Jer 50:2; Jer 51:44 Chemosh, the chief god of Moab1Ki 11:7Nu 21:29; 1Ki 11:33; 2Ki 23:13; Jer 48:7,13,46 Dagon, worshipped in Babylonia and PhilistiaJdg 16:231Sa 5:2-7; 1Ch 10:10 Molech, the chief deity of Ammon1Ki 11:4-5Lev 18:21Lev 20:2-5; 1Ki 11:7,33; 2Ki 23:102Ki 23:13; Isa 57:9; Jer 32:35; Jer 49:1,3; Zep 1:5; Ac 7:43 Tammuz, a Babylonian fertility godEze 8:14 Zeus and HermesAc 14:12Z ArtemisAc 19:24-28Castor and PolluxAc 28:11’ Gods are often mentioned and acknowledged as gods. It was a common understanding that there were other gods and that it was dangerous or immoral to worship them. Later they were called false gods but this was not a statement that they did not exist. The rival gods around jehovah required worship and demonstrated supernatural ability clearly matching typical definitions for god. The supernatural abilities of biblical gods Egyptions were able to create miracles confirming their supernatural deities existed. Angels demontrated God like abilities when blinding citizens of Sodom In Genesis 19:9-11 Gabriel has omnicient knowledge about the virgin birth of a Messiah in Luke 1. Satan, angels and other gods are a major theme in the Old Testament. Multiple gods are referenced and acknowledged. The Old Testament clearly states that multiple gods exist. [1] http://www.pat... heos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2013/02/polytheism-in-the-bible/ [2]https://www.biblegateway.com...