Benjamin Keach's Catechism, Q9: More Gods?

Q. 9. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God. (Deut. 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10)

Scripture Proofs

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deut. 6:4)

But the LORD is the true God;
      he is the living God and the everlasting King.
At his wrath the earth quakes,
      and the nations cannot endure his indignation. (Jer. 10:10)

After the last question, question 9 of the Baptist Catechism is a very easy one to answer. "Are there more gods than one?" The simple answer is "no." So why does this catechism not just say "no" rather than give the answer it gives? One answer is that it's a catechism, so it must give longer, more detailed answers than just "no." But I think the better answer comes in the wording used: God is the living and true God, as opposed to a living and true God. Not only does this mean that God is the only God, but it flies directly in the face of all others who would make claims to deity: they are non-existent and false.

Paul makes this clear when he says to the Corinthians:

We know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Cor. 8:4-6)

Note the phrase "so-called gods." Paul is stating that they are not real gods, but that people treat them that way and call them gods. Despite this, though. they have no power, they have "no real existence." They "by nature are not gods" (Gal. 4:8; cf. 2 Chr. 13:9; Isa. 37:19; Jer. 2:11; 5:7; 16:20). In contrast, there is "one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Eph. 4:6), "from whom are all things and for whom we exist" (1 Cor. 8:6), and "there is no other besides him" (Deut. 4:35).

The entirety of Scripture is very adamant about this. There are only two Scriptures given in the catechism as proof, but they are so clear and to the point that it hardly needs more. As Deuteronomy 6:4 says, "The LORD is one." I always thought that meant that God himself is one God, but this context makes sense to me; it refers to the fact that he really is the one God of all. Jeremiah affirms this when he says, "The LORD is the true God" (10:10). Note that he does not say "a true God" but "the true God." He is very specific that Yahweh is the only true God.

Now, one may wonder at this point how Paul can affirm that there is only one God, the Father, and also call Jesus Lord. Isn't there only one? Well, that's the next question, which directly addresses the doctrine of the Trinity.

May we worship our one true God and him only.

To read the full catechism, click here.