From Polytheism to E-Pluribus Unum: The Bible Does Not Deny The Existence Of Multiple Gods

    PRINCETON, NJ, April 17, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Freeware Bible project unveils truths that have been hidden for centuries. There are hundreds of English Language Bible translations and thousands of books and websites offering explanations of what those translations might mean. FreewareBible.com does something those sources do not; it provides translation tools that people can use to read the Bible for themselves.

"Reading the Word, word for word can be an enlightening experience," says Bill Jemas, founder of the Freeware Bible project and former President of Marvel Entertainment. "You expect the Bible to say something like, 'In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth.' You expect to hear the story of one super-powered male God creating everything from nothing - with nothing but the power of His words."

"But, a more faithful translation starts like this: 'In principles, the powers-that-be conceive the heavens and the earth.' Then, the Bible shows all of nature's powers and elements planning and working together for the common good."

Biblical scholars agree that the ancient Jews believed in many gods, but chose to worship only one. To identify the power(s) that formed the Universe, the ancient scripture uses a word with no synonym in the English language. It can be pronounced elohim or alhim but is difficult to translate, because it is both singular and plural.

"Mainstream translations, like the King James Bible turn alhim into two different words - sometimes making it into 'God' , as in: 'God created the heaven and the earth' and sometimes into 'gods' as in: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me,'" Jemas observes, "Translating alhim as 'God' hides its plurality, just as translating alhim as 'gods' hides its singularity, while using two different words obscures alhim's fundamental meaning and profound beauty."

The Freeware Bible shows how the concept of alhim is captured in the phrase 'powers that be' - a phrase which reflects the word's ancient Aramaic/Hebrew roots.
al - means 'power' or 'god'
hi - means 'to be'
im - indicates plurality

For the most part the Bible pairs alhim with singular verbs - indicating that the powers/gods act as one. But when alhim speaks, the verbs are first person plural: "let us make light" or "we make human beings' - showing alhim speaking for all.
The Bible's authors did not presume to define what alhim is, they simply observed that alhim exists and described what alhim did and does. In Genesis One, the powers-that-be visualize, vocalize and execute a series of covenants to promote the common good. Genesis One shows nature's powers and elements working together to create and develop the world. The idea of powers-that-be agreeing to common principles and working as one corresponds to the fundamental principle of democracy - E Pluribus Unum - from many, one.

"Reading things you did not expect to see in the world's most widely read book can be a bit unsettling," says Jemas, "but much of what you read is consistent both with democratic philosophy and with our modern, measured understanding of geological and evolutionary science - all of which is quite enlightening. And, for people who see God as the collective wisdom of all things, finding a similar spiritual vision in the world's most significant book can be quite uplifting."

About The Freeware Bible Database

The database shows you the Bible's first 1,600 words exactly as they appear in the oldest complete manuscript of the Aramaic-Hebrew Bible that has survived into modern times. For each word, The Freeware Bible presents all of its likely meanings along with annotations that put the word in textual and historical context.

The translation data comes right from traditional translations and their annotations, from articles and books by respected Biblical scholars, and from concordances (Bible dictionaries).

For more information contact:

Mike Martucci
360ie, llc
(609) 919-1007 ex. 221
[email protected]

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