Question
Galatians 4:26
From the above scripture, some people tend to have the misconception that "Jerusalem" and the pronoun "she" stiplulates that there is "god the mother" how do we explain and help them realise that there is only one God which is God the Father
From the above scripture, some people tend to have the misconception that "Jerusalem" and the pronoun "she" stiplulates that there is "god the mother" how do we explain and help them realise that there is only one God which is God the Father
Answers
GPT 3.5
It is important to clarify that in the Bible, Jerusalem is often used as a symbol or metaphor for the people of God or the church, rather than a literal reference to a separate deity or goddess. The use of the pronoun "she" does not automatically mean that Jerusalem is being equated with a female deity.
In Galatians 4:26, the Apostle Paul is using poetic language to emphasize the spiritual significance of Jerusalem as the mother of believers, representing the community of God's people. This does not mean that there is another divine being or deity called "god the mother."
To help individuals understand this, we can emphasize that the Bible consistently affirms the belief in one God, as taught in passages such as Deuteronomy 6:4, which states, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." We can also point to other scriptures that clearly teach the monotheistic nature of God, such as Isaiah 43:10-11 and 1 Corinthians 8:6.
By providing a broader context of biblical teachings on the oneness of God and the symbolic use of language in the Bible, we can help clarify any misconceptions and reaffirm the belief in the singular, all-powerful God who is the Father of all.
In Galatians 4:26, the Apostle Paul is using poetic language to emphasize the spiritual significance of Jerusalem as the mother of believers, representing the community of God's people. This does not mean that there is another divine being or deity called "god the mother."
To help individuals understand this, we can emphasize that the Bible consistently affirms the belief in one God, as taught in passages such as Deuteronomy 6:4, which states, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." We can also point to other scriptures that clearly teach the monotheistic nature of God, such as Isaiah 43:10-11 and 1 Corinthians 8:6.
By providing a broader context of biblical teachings on the oneness of God and the symbolic use of language in the Bible, we can help clarify any misconceptions and reaffirm the belief in the singular, all-powerful God who is the Father of all.