When reading 1 Corinthians 8:6, many Christians begin to wonder: “Does this mean Jesus is not God? How can there be only one God, namely the Father, but also one Lord, namely Jesus?” The verse says: “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” This is not an easy verse to understand if read without the full context of the Bible.
Not a Division of Classes, But an Emphasis on Relationship
This verse is not dividing God and Jesus into two separate entities in essence, but rather showing the function and relationship between the Father and the Son. God is called the “source” of all things, and Jesus as the “mediator” or “instrument” through whom all things were made. This aligns with John 1:3 which states that all things were made through the Word, and the Word is Jesus (John 1:1,14).
The context of 1 Corinthians 8 is about clarifying who should be worshiped by believers amidst a polytheistic world. The Apostle Paul is affirming that there are not many “gods” and “lords” as the beliefs of that time, but only one true God and one true Lord known in Christianity, namely God the Father and Jesus Christ. This is not a statement that Jesus is inferior to the Father, but that both work together in creation and salvation.
Jesus is Lord, But Also God
When the Bible calls Jesus Lord, it is not merely an honorary title. In the Old Testament, the title “Lord” (YHWH) is used for God. In Philippians 2:10-11, it says that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that confession glorifies the Father. This means that the acknowledgment of Christ’s divinity does not rival the Father, but rather declares who God fully is.
One in Essence, Different in Role
The understanding of the Trinity helps us here: one God who is singular, yet revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” This is not merely unity of vision, but unity in essence.
Jesus is not a “Lord” different from God, but He is God who became incarnate as a human. The Father and the Son do not compete; they are one in mission and power. So when Paul says “one God” and “one Lord,” he is breaking down the concept of polytheism, not diminishing the divinity of Jesus.
A Conclusion That Strengthens Faith
So, the meaning of 1 Corinthians 8:6 is not to separate the divinity of Jesus from God, but to affirm their unity and function in the Trinitarian relationship. The Father is the source of all things, and Jesus is the Lord who reveals God’s love and salvation to the world. They do not compete, but work in perfect unity to save us.
With this understanding, we can read verses like 1 Corinthians 8:6 not with confusion, but with awe at the beauty of the relationship between the Father and the Son, and His great love for us.
