There are around 10,000 religions in the world, and almost all of them include the concept of God. However, each religion has its own beliefs and views about who or what God is. Some religions believe in just one God, while others believe in many.
For example, the ancient Greeks worshiped 12 gods, Buddhism recognizes 7 different deities and 28 lords, and Hinduism has 33 supreme gods along with millions of gods and goddesses. The number of gods varies widely across different religions, making it difficult and confusing to determine which belief is correct.
To make this easier to understand, let’s start by asking a basic question:
Is there only one God, or are there many gods?
By exploring this, we can begin to gain a clearer understanding of what God truly means.
Is there only one God or are there many gods?
Regardless of the religion one practices or even if one identifies as an atheist, there is an underlying acknowledgment of the existence of fundamental forces, such as cause and effect, action and reaction. These concepts point to the necessity of an initial force or origin that sets everything in motion. To believe that the universe, with all its complexities and interactions, came into existence without an initial cause is both illogical and irrational.
Some may refer to this origin as God, others may describe it as gods, or perhaps as a chemical process that catalyzed the existence of all matter, visible and invisible, in the universe. Nonetheless, this leads us to consider that behind this origin, whether described as a deity or a scientific process, there must be a governing force responsible for orchestrating all these elements. This force—whether one calls it God, the gods, or something else—fits the core definition of a supreme being. The fundamental concept of God is that of a being who possesses absolute will, power, knows all things, present everywhere, and requires no learning or external influence. God, by definition, is self-sufficient and omniscient, with an ability to act independently of any external stimuli or inspiration.
If there were more than one God, this would inevitably lead to disorder. Multiple gods with equal power would result in conflicts, as their wills and actions would not always align. The essence of will is that it is exclusive to the individual and independent of any external influence. If one god were influenced by another, this being would no longer qualify as God, as divinity entails complete autonomy and infinite knowledge without any need for external validation or discovery.
Furthermore, the nature of true omnipotence (all-powerful), omniscience (all-knowing), and omnipresence (present everywhere) is incompatible with the existence of multiple gods. If two or more gods existed, their powers would either conflict or overlap. If they were equally powerful, neither would have true supremacy, which negates the idea of absolute power. For the universe to remain in harmony, there must be perfect unity of will and purpose. The existence of multiple gods would inevitably lead to conflicting wills, and thus universal chaos, rendering harmony impossible.
Therefore, the belief in one all-powerful, singular God is not only logical but necessary to resolve these contradictions and maintain the order and unity of the universe.
If we believe there is only one God, then who is this God?
Since God possesses infinite might, power, and wisdom, it is beyond the capacity of humans—who are limited in these qualities—to fully understand or know Him on their
own. For man to truly know God, it is essential that God reveals Himself to humanity. Without such divine revelation, it would be impossible for human beings to grasp the nature or identity of their Creator.
God, who created the heavens and the earth, has revealed Himself to us through His creation. This is often referred to as General Revelation. The skies, the earth, the air, the water, and everything within them proclaim the existence of a Creator. The sheer complexity and order of nature point to an intelligent and powerful force behind it all.
However, while nature reveals that there is a Creator, it does not provide enough information for us to fully know who God is. The beauty and order of the universe may lead us to believe in a higher power, but this understanding remains incomplete. To truly know God’s character, intentions, and will, we need more than just the witness of nature. For this reason, God chose to reveal Himself more specifically through Special Revelation, which is found in the Sacred Scripture, particularly in the Bible which we believe is the Word of God. This is where God communicates directly to humanity, making Himself known through His word. The Bible provides us with the knowledge of who God is, what He desires, and how we can have a relationship with Him.
Outside of these revelations, any attempt to understand God would be based only on human assumptions, limited by our own thinking and inspiration and sinful nature. Thus, the only true way to know God is through where He has chosen to reveal Himself. Without this, our understanding would remain incomplete and speculative.
What is His Name?
Giving a name to someone signifies authority over that person. Therefore, no name that humans create or assign to God can truly reflect His identity unless He Himself reveals it. God, being all-knowing and all-powerful, has chosen to make His name known to us in order to reveal His nature and authority.
When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses asked God what name he should give to the people. God responded by saying, “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). This name, often referred to as Yahweh or Jehovah, emphasizes God’s self-existence and sovereignty. It shows that He is not dependent on anything or anyone and does whatever pleases Him, always acting in accordance with His perfect will. Scripture makes it clear that God is holy, and nothing evil can come from Him, which means all that He does is good (Ps. 5:4, Jam. 1:17).
Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself by various names that reflect His character and attributes, such as Elohim (Creator, Mighty One), El Shaddai (God Almighty), and Immanuel (God with us). These names help us understand different aspects of who God is and how He interacts with His creation. This reveals that the Creator of all things desires for His creation to know and worship Him. God explicitly commands us, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 19:2, 1-Peter 1:16). This not only indicates that God wants us to know Him but also to live in a way that reflects His holiness. By doing so, we set good testimony before others, living out the values of righteousness and holiness that God calls us to uphold.
In summary, God’s names reveal His nature, power, and holiness. He desires for us to not only know Him but to live in accordance with His character, becoming living examples of His will on earth for His glory.
Trinitarian God: The Bible presents a progressive revelation of God, meaning that over time, God gradually reveals more about Himself to humanity. In the Bible, God—who is one—chooses to make Himself known in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. These three persons, known as the Trinity, are equal in divinity, glory, and majesty. The New Testament clearly refers to each as “God” (Matt. 28:19, John 10:30, Acts 5:3-4), and each shares the same divine attributes and honor.
Because of human sinful nature and limited understanding, it is impossible for us to fully comprehend this mystery of the Godhead unless God opens our hearts and minds to grasp it. God’s purpose in revealing Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is for His glory and to deepen our relationship with Him. The Bible teaches that although it seems they are three distinct persons, they are one in essence, power, and will (Deuteronomy 6:4, 1-Corinthians 8:6).
One of the rational attempts to understand the Trinity is through the analogy of water (H2O). Water can exist as ice, liquid, or steam, but in all forms, it is still water. Similarly, God is one, even though He reveals Himself in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). While this analogy is limited to define unlimited God, it helps illustrate the oneness of God in three persons.
Ultimately, the Trinity is a profound mystery. We know only what God has chosen to reveal to us, and this is sufficient for our understanding in this life. As Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.”
Therefore, we trust what God has revealed, knowing that His knowledge is infinite and perfectly good for His people and for His glory.
Suleman Shahzad
Suleman Shahzad is a Bible student and the founder of the platform “Reformed by TRUTH”, He is pursuing a Master of Divinity from Reformation International Seminary, Florida, USA. After moving to Europe in 2017, he completed a Master’s in Business Management in France. Driven by a deep passion for the gospel and inspired by early reformers and puritans, Suleman is committed to making sound biblical teaching accessible, particularly in the Hindi/Urdu languages where it is greatly needed. He believes that Christ’s truth not only frees people from the bondage of sin but also from false doctrines. His mission is to serve the church of Christ by bringing biblical truth to underserved communities.
