Christians respond by affirming the biblical truth of one God existing in three persons, not three separate gods.
Les Feldick addresses the charge of polytheism by pointing to Scripture's clear teaching that God is one, yet manifest in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that this is a mystery to be taken by faith, not something fully comprehensible to the human mind. The accusation fails because Christians, like the Bible, affirm the unity of God while acknowledging His triune nature.
2 Corinthians 13:14 — Les Feldick calls this 'the clearest statement concerning the Trinity' in Paul's epistles, mentioning all three persons.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6 — Explicitly states 'there is no other God but one' and that for believers there is 'one God, the Father' and 'one Lord, Jesus Christ.'
Scripture clearly affirms the oneness of God while simultaneously revealing three distinct persons. In Deuteronomy, Moses declares, 'Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD' (Deuteronomy 6:4). Yet at Jesus' baptism, all three persons are present simultaneously: the Father speaks from heaven, the Son is baptized, and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 13:14, invokes all three persons in one blessing: 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.'
Les Feldick confronts the polytheism accusation by explaining that the Trinity is a fundamental biblical truth, not a contradiction. He points to 2 Corinthians 13:14 as the clearest New Testament statement of the Trinity, alongside the baptism of Christ. When Jewish objectors cite Deuteronomy's 'God is One,' Les affirms that this is absolutely true, but clarifies that God exists in three persons — a truth revealed throughout Scripture. He emphasizes that while this is beyond human comprehension, believers accept it by faith, trusting what God has revealed. He also rebukes the notion that Paul contradicted Jesus' teachings, asserting that both preached the same God and the same Christ, just to different audiences or economies.
The Trinity's Clearest Statement
Les points to 2 Corinthians 13:14 as Paul's clearest mention of all three persons of the Godhead, and notes that Christ's baptism also shows the Trinity together.
One God in Three Persons
Les explains that skeptics, including Orthodox Jews, cannot comprehend the Trinity, but Scripture reveals God is One yet in three persons, which we accept by faith.
Why Aaron Failed: Leadership, Idolatry, and the Golden Calf
Now, it's interesting that if you go to 1 Corinthians chapter 10, and here is again where the scoffers come into the picture, and they say, see, the Bible just contradicts itself all the time. Well, as a rule, the scoffer doesn't know their Bible.
Why Did Paul Spend Three Years Alone Before Preaching? — Galatians Explained
And so they glorified God in me. Of course, why not? Because after all it's the same God, it's the same Christ, but whereas the Jewish believers had come in by virtue of the Kingdom economy and the Kingdom Gospel, yet this man now is going in a different direction, but still serving the same God.
One God and One Lord
Les underscores from 1 Corinthians 8 that there is no other God but one, and for believers there is one God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator.
Why Moses Was Forbidden From the Promised Land — The Real Reason
When they commingled them, it was a spiritual adultery. And God hated it. Now, it's no different today. When the Christian church, when the body of Christ begins to commingle with other doctrines, and here again, the New Age movement is going to come into the picture. You can't help it. When the true church begins to commingle with some of these New Age things, it's spiritual adultery.
Why Israel Was Blinded — Romans 11 Explained Verse by Verse
Let's go back to Romans chapter 1, and it's been a long time since we've been back there, so it's a good time to review. Let's go back to Romans chapter 1, and I think it takes us all the way back to the Tower of Babel when all this junk really began, and all of the roots of the Oriental religions and idolatry and paganism started back there at the Tower of Babel.
Did the Disciples Understand the Cross? Luke 18 Explained
They come from every which direction down to that pond where they can get their water. And he said, that's the way it is with all these churches and their religions. They're all coming a different direction, but they all come to get that same drink of water. Imagine, here in the Bible belt, a man who's been in church all his life making a statement like that. I just couldn't believe it.
2 Corinthians 13:14: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Les cites this as the clearest New Testament reference to all three persons of the Trinity together.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6: As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
This passage directly refutes polytheism by affirming one God and one Lord, while distinguishing the persons.
Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
This is the Old Testament verse that objectors use, which Les affirms while explaining its fuller meaning in light of the Trinity.
Yes, Les Feldick points to 2 Corinthians 13:14 and Christ's baptism as key evidences. While the word 'Trinity' is not in the Bible, the concept of God in three persons is clearly taught, and Les says it is the clearest statement of the Godhead.
Les agrees that God is one, as Moses wrote, but explains that the rest of Scripture reveals He exists in three persons. He says we cannot fully understand this mystery, so we accept it by faith.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law, Under Grace — Galatians 1 Explained Verse by Verse