Bible Quote by Bart D. Ehrman
““Henotheism is the view that there are other gods, but there is only one God who is to be worshipped. The Ten Commandments express a henotheistic view, as does the majority of the Hebrew Bible. The book of Isaiah, with its insistence that “I alone am God, there is no other,” is monotheistic. It represents the minority view in the Hebrew Bible.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Triumph of Christianity” by Bart D. Ehrman, 2013
Henotheism acknowledges many deities but privileges one for worship; the Hebrew Bible mixes henotheistic and monotheistic passages.
In simple terms: Some parts of the Bible treat one god as supreme while recognizing others.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the diversity of ancient religious thought.
Themes
religion
theology
biblical studies
historical context
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
explanatory
scholarly
When to use this quote
- academic lecture
- religious education
- interfaith dialogue
- personal study
- theological debate
Key Concepts
Henotheism
monotheism
scriptural interpretation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view affect modern interfaith relations?
- What evidence supports monotheistic versus henotheistic readings?
A Different Perspective
The classification can oversimplify complex ancient beliefs.
