Everlasting Good News of Yahweh

For thousands of years, from the days of ancient Babylon, men have believed in a triune god. This concept of a triad of deities is a universally recognized doctrine. Whether speaking of Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism or Christianity, all believe in a trinity. The Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity states that all three “persons” of the “Godhead” are co-eternal. In order for Christianity to continue to support such a belief they had to show that the Messiah, who in their mind is the second person of the trinity (“God the Son”), always existed. Since there could never be a time when one of the three persons (“God the Father”, “God the Son”, “God the Holy Spirit”) existed without the other two, the doctrine of the Savior’s pre-existence came about.

Almighty Yahweh has been calling many people out of Babylon, out of false Babylonian teachings, into the true faith. Many of His people have started out the door, however their foot seems to be caught on the pre-existence doctrine. The purpose of this study is to open the door of truth wider by revealing the correct understanding and translation of those scriptures used to support the pre-existence.

Yahweh Sent His Son 

The New Testament uses several phrases that would suggest that our Savior existed as a being in heaven prior to his earthly birth. Among those phrases are; “sent His Son,” “sent into the world,” “not of this world,” “came into the world,” and “came down from heaven.” Let’s examine “sent His Son” and “sent into the world” first, since both phrases appear in 1 John 4:9,10; “In this was manifested the love of Yahweh toward us, because that Yahweh sent his only begotten Son into the world , that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved Yahweh, but that he loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” A superficial reading would lead one to believe that Yeshua was at Yahweh’s side somewhere out of this world and eventually was commanded by Yahweh to come to our planet which he obediently did.

In Psalm 78:45 it says Yahweh sent flies upon the Egyptians prior to the exodus of Israel. Are we to believe that these flies were living in heaven prior to their arrival in Egypt? John 1:6 tells us that John the Baptist was also “sent from Yahweh.” Surely none believe that John pre-existed at Yahweh’s side. Notice this verse does not say “sent by Yahweh,” but “from Yahweh.” A word study of how “sent” was used in Scripture will reveal how Yahweh sent many earthly messengers and prophets to do His will. None of them, however, pre-existed in heaven.

John 17:18 helps us to understand the phrase “sent into the world.” It reads, “As thou hast sent me into the world , even so have I also sent them into the world. ” Obviously, the disciples were not living outside of this world prior to Yeshua sending them into the world. Neither should we believe that Yeshua existed in some other world before being sent by Yahweh into this world.

“Came into the world” is used in 1 Timothy 1:15; “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Messiah Yeshua came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” The same phrase is used of all men when they are born. John 1:9 reads, “That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. ” And again in 1 Timothy 6:7; “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” So when Hebrews 1:6 says, “And again, when he brings in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of [Yahweh] worship him,” it is talking about the Messiah’s earthly birth.

In John 8:23, Yeshua said, “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.” This certainly seems to indicate an existence in another world before coming to this world. This verse is to be understood the same way we are to understand John 15:19; “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world , but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Yeshua chose his disciples out of the world, therefore, they were not of this world. Yeshua said similar words in John 17:14; “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world , even as I am not of the world.” Yeshua is not of this world because Yahweh chose Him out of the world.

Yeshua Came Down From Heaven 

The phrase “came down from heaven” is difficult for many to understand. The Jews did not understand either as we read in John 6:42; “And they said, Is not this Yeshua, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?” There is no doubt that Yeshua was emphasizing his heavenly and paternal origin, but in what sense was he declaring this? We have already seen that the phrase “sent from [Yahweh]” does not necessarily mean to exist side by side with and then leave Yahweh’s presence. Neither does “came down from” mean something similar.

Was Yeshua a pre-existent spirit being living side by side with Yahweh that was transformed into an embryo placed in Miriam’s womb or was he actually “inside” Yahweh? John 17:8 teaches the latter. It reads, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gave me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee , and they have believed that thou didst send me.” The Greek word “exerchomai” translated “came out” specifically means to go out of something that you were inside of. In this case, Yeshua existed “inside” of Yahweh in a similar sense that Levi existed inside the “loins of his father” before he was born (Hebrews 7:5-10). In that passage, Levi was not born yet, nor was his father Jacob. Yet, Levi was said to be in Abraham’s loins (in the sense of future lineage). (The lineage of Messiah is spoken of in Micah 5:2 and it traces all the way back to his Father Yahweh). While it is difficult to perceive of the Almighty having an “inside,” that is what the text is saying. Yet, this, too, is figurative and equates with the mind of Yahweh.

There will be those who will totally misunderstand my words, so let me clarify this. I am not suggesting the Almighty has “loins.” Nor am I suggesting Yeshua was conceived in any manner similar to the manner in which all men are conceived (through procreation/copulation). Yahweh is Spirit. His Holy Spirit “came upon” Miriam and miraculously caused her egg to receive the necessary DNA to create a 100% male child in her womb.

Luke 1:35 says, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Yeshua declared this truth in John 16:27-30 as well. “For the Father himself loves you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from [Yahweh] . I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speak thou plainly, and speak no proverb. Now are we sure that thou know all things, and need not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou came forth from [Yahweh].” Yeshua could not come from Yahweh’s side and from inside of Yahweh at the same time. Only one can be true.

A verse that goes hand in hand with the phrase “came down from heaven” is John 6:62; “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” Yeshua’s origin is not in question here. Those who reject the pre-existence doctrine should not reject Yeshua’s heavenly origin or that his father was Yahweh. Yeshua was, at one time, in heaven. He existed in the loins of His Father Yahweh (in the sense of future lineage) until the appointed time of his earthly birth. Through Yahweh’s miraculous Holy Spirit power He then created in Miriam’s egg a 100% man. The belief that Yeshua was a spirit being that was miniaturized and placed directly into Miriam’s womb without her egg being involved is unscriptural. If that were true, Miriam would merely be a surrogate mother and Yeshua would not be from the blood line of David.

John’s Predecessor?

John 1:15 certainly suggests a pre-existence as it appears in the KJV; “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.” First, the idea of preference is not found in the Greek. The word translated “preferred” is the Greek “ginomai”. Of the 678 times it was used in the New Testament, it was translated “preferred” three times, once here and in verses 27 & 30 where the same verse is repeated. The word should have been translated “come to be”; “He that comes after me has come to be before me.” As for the latter part of the verse, the word “before” is from the Greek “protos”. Of the 105 times this word was used, it was never translated “before”. The most common rendering is “first,” however, based on the context, it should be translated as the Emphatic Diaglott has it, “for he is my Superior.” “Protos” was also translated “chief” nine times in the New Testament. 

Yahweh’s Foreordained Plan

A favorite verse of pre-existence proponents is John 17:24. It reads, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou loved me before the foundation of the world .” It would seem that the Father and the Son had a loving relationship before the earth was created. Understanding this verse in that way leads to complications in understanding Ephesians 1:3,4. Paul says, “Blessed be the Mighty One and Father of our Master Yeshua Messiah, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Messiah: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Using the same line of thinking as in John 17:24 we would be led to believe that all believers were chosen back in the days when they pre-existed before the earth was created. Both of these verses pertain to Yahweh’s foreordained plan, not to pre-existent beings. 1Peter 1:20 says, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world , but was manifest in these last times for you.” Why wasn’t the “pre-existent Yeshua” made manifest back in Old Testament times? Because he didn’t exist at that time except in the foreordained plans of Yahweh. Other references such as Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 reveal Yahweh’s plan as well.

Old Glory

Following on the heels of the above, John 17:5 states, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Was this glory as the second person of the “Trinity” or is there something here that many people miss?

Yeshua is said to be the Lamb which was slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), yet we have the Bible also saying, “Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:25-26) Clearly, the Hebrews passage states that Yeshua was not literally slain from the foundation of the world, but rather was slain in the mind or plan of Almighty Yahweh. This is akin to John 1:1 which speaks of the very word of Elohim being with Elohim in the beginning. This spoken word or plan of Yahweh existed throughout the ions of time. From the beginning of time, Yahweh had Yeshua’s sacrifice in His plan for all humankind. For it was through Yeshua that we would receive our justification (Romans 4:25). 1 Peter 1:18-20 continues to explain this by saying:

“For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Notice the use of the word foreordained. Yeshua was foreordained from the foundation of the world, but was made manifest or revealed in these last times. He did not exist as a person or being in former times, but in these last times Yahweh allowed him to be born of a woman (Galatians 4:4) and speaks through him (Hebrews 1:1-2).

It is especially intriguing to find Yeshua praying to the Father, that He would let the disciples share in this glory (John 17:24) and then he in turn mentions the foundation of the world. The disciples would indeed share in the glory of the crucifixion by having their sins washed away, but they definitely did not share Yeshua’s glory by themselves being involved in a trinitarian being.

The glory that Yeshua had was as the slain lamb of Yahweh, in the mind of Yahweh, and Yeshua was praying for that glory to be brought about literally, so as to give unto all those who would accept, eternal life. This is why Yeshua began in John 17:1-2 by saying, “These words spake Yeshua, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.’ ” Yeshua wanted to bring about the fruition of eternal life by Yahweh glorifying him as the ultimate sacrifice, and Yeshua in turn glorifying the Father.

Seeing the Father

John 6:46 states Yeshua saw his Father Yahweh. He said, “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of Yahweh, he hath seen the Father .” Does this mean Yeshua physically saw Yahweh with his eyes or can it be understood a different way? Yeshua spoke the following words to two disciples, Thomas and Philip, in John 14:7-9; “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him . Philip saith unto him, Master, shew us the Father, and it suffices us. Yeshua saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father ; and how say thou then, Shew us the Father?”

The disciples saw Father Yahweh because they saw Yeshua who is one with Yahweh (not a oneness of being, but a oneness of character, will, Spirit). They had only to look upon Yeshua and see his character to have it said of them, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Yeshua had only to look at himself, his character, his determination to carry out Yahweh’s will, etc., to see his Father in himself. The disciples did not have to pre-exist in order to see the Father and neither did Yeshua.

The Greek word translated “seen” in John 6:46 is #3708 in Strong’s Concordance, meaning “to discern clearly (physically or mentally ).” In both of these cases, it was not a physical sighting of the Father, but a mental perception of His character that they were seeing.

Several names and titles have been used in reference to the being that spoke to men in the Old Testament. Among them are Spokesman, Dabar, and Metatron. We are led to believe that they are all references to the pre-existent Son of Yahweh. This, of course, is only an assumption since the Scriptures only identify that being as “the Angel of Yahweh.” If the Angel of Yahweh was Yeshua, then Yeshua pre-existed as an angel. This would contradict Hebrews 1:1,2,5,7,8,13. Hebrews 1:1,2 implies that the Son did not speak “in times past unto the fathers.” The remaining verses imply that none of the angels were exalted as Yeshua was. Verses 7 & 8 make a clear distinction between Yeshua and angels; the angels were made ministering spirits, but the Son was made King of Yahweh’s Kingdom. It is interesting to note all the different ideas as to who Yeshua pre-existed as in times past. Pre-existence proponents have a hard time deciding between the Angel of Yahweh, the Captain of the Host, a second Yahweh, Michael, Melchizidek, and even the Heavenly Father Himself!

What about Daniel’s account of the sighting of “the Son of God” in Daniel 3:25 (KJV)? It reads, “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” The Revised Version rightfully translates the Hebrew “a son of the Gods.” The article “the” is not in the Hebrew. This was an angel sent by Yahweh as revealed in verse 28. What knowledge would this pagan king have of the “form” of Yahweh’s Son even if he did pre-exist? In his mind it could only be the form of any divine being.

The Wisdom of Yahweh 

Proverbs 8:22-36 have been used quite often to prove the pre-existence. One need only read verses 1-12 to realize that a pre-existent Son is not speaking in verses 22-36. The Scriptures declare the speaker to be wisdom. The glorious wisdom Yahweh possessed before He created all things is personified in these verses. Notice, also, that wisdom is personified as a female, not a male. Proverbs 8:1 reads, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” And Proverbs 9:1 says, “Wisdom has built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.” If Yeshua pre-existed as the epitomy of wisdom, why does Revelation 5:12 say he is worthy to receive wisdom? Surely an all-wise pre-existent being has no need of further wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But of him are ye in Messiah Yeshua, who of [Yahweh] is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” This verse declares that Yeshua was “made unto us wisdom.” It does not say he existed as wisdom in the past. Psalm 104:24 says, “O Yahweh, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” Yahweh used His great wisdom in the creation of all things. It was like a workman at His side.

Yahweh’s Firstborn

Two scriptures are often used to show that Yeshua was the very first act of creation by Yahweh. Everything else is said to have been created by, or with the help of, Yeshua. Those scriptures are Colossians 1:15 and Revelation 3:14. Let’s look at Colossians 1:15 first. “Who is the image of the invisible Elohim, the firstborn of every creature :” What does the latter part of this verse mean? Does “every creature” include the angels that rejoiced at creation?

To understand this verse, you must first understand that Yahweh is in the process of creating a new world; “the world to come” as Hebrews 2:5 puts it. Isaiah 65:17,18 speaks of “new heavens and a new earth.” Those that will rule in the new earth are those that will be resurrected or “born from above” (John 3:7). Psalm 102:18-20 puts it very clearly; “This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise Yahweh. For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did Yahweh behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;” These people will be created , or born, at the resurrection.

To clarify even further, we read the following in Psalm 104:29,30; “Thou hide thy face, they are troubled: thou take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou send forth thy spirit, they are created : and thou renew the face of the earth.” Yahweh will resurrect the dead through the power of His Holy Spirit. It is said of those that are resurrected that they are “created .”

The first person to be created, or born again from above, was Yeshua. Therefore, he is called the “firstborn.” Since there are many that will be born again at the resurrection, he is the “firstborn of every creature (that will be resurrected).” Colossians 1:18 elaborates further by telling us what Yeshua is the firstborn of; the dead. This takes place at the resurrection. It is also said of Yeshua that he is “the beginning” (Colossians 1:18). This is the same term used in Revelation 3:14 which reads, “And unto the angel of the assembly of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of [Yahweh]; ” Does this beginning refer to a time before the angels were created or does it refer to the new creation? Some would argue that the word “new” is not in the text. Yahweh has shown us, however, that He does not always use the word “new” in describing this new creation. Notice Isaiah 65:17,18; “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” This is speaking of New Jerusalem, yet the word “New” is not used by Yahweh.

Continuing in Colossians to verse 17 we read, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” As a result of this translation, we are led to believe that Yeshua existed prior to anything else, including the angels. The same Greek phrase, “before all things,” is also found in James 5:12 and 1 Peter 4:8. Both of those texts read “above all things.” That is because the Greek word “pro,” translated “before,” also carries the meaning of superiority or pre-eminence. Since Colossians 1:15-18 proclaims the pre-eminence of Yeshua in all things (vs.18), translating verse 17 as “above all things” would fit the context.

It is said that the phrase “according to the flesh,” in Romans 1:3, proves Yeshua’s pre-existence. It reads, “Concerning his Son Yeshua Messiah our Master, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;” It is implied from this that Yeshua existed as a spirit being before he was born according to the flesh, for why else would Paul say this? The simple reason is because Yeshua did not have an earthly father. Therefore, whether he was true flesh and blood and David’s seed would come into question. Paul adds “according to the flesh” for the same reason he adds “was made of the seed of David.” Even though Yeshua did not have a flesh and blood father, he is still flesh through Miriam. He is not a spirit being or an angel that appeared in the flesh as did those who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18:2; 19:1.

Yahweh’s Son

The Trinity doctrine states the Son is coeternal with the Father. Others believe the Son was the first being Yahweh created. Either view believes the “Son” pre-existed prior to his earthly birth. If that is true, how are we to understand the following words Yahweh commanded Nathan to give to David?

“When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be My son.” (2 Samuel 7:12-14)

Although these words primarily applied to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:6), ultimately the reference is to Yeshua the Messiah, the “Son of David” (Luke 1:32,33; Hebrews 1:5). Hebrews 1:5 reads, ” For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

Since the New Testament clearly links the words, “I will be his father, and he shall be My son” to Yeshua, note well the future tense used. If Yeshua pre-existed as Yahweh’s coeternal Son or as Yahweh’s first act of creation, the words “I am his Father,” and “he is my son,” should have been used. Therefore, this prophetic reference to Yeshua clearly teaches that he became Yahweh’s Son at a specific time in history. He did not always exist as Yahweh’s Son as the Trinity doctrine teaches. Nor could he have existed as the first act of creation since 2 Samuel 7:14 places his becoming the Son at a time that was in David’s future.

The Root of David

Revelation 5:5 reads, “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” A brother recently asked me what “the root of David” meant. He believed Yeshua (the root) preceded David thereby confirming his preexistence. Revelation 22:16 says something similar; “I Yeshua have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

Isaiah 11:10 uses the concept of a root as follows “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” This is a messianic prophecy in which Yeshua is the “root of Jesse,” Jesse being David’s father.

To understand how Yeshua can be the root of both these men and yet not preexist, we need only to look at nature. What comes first, the seed or the root? Obviously the seed. Jesse is the seed out of which comes forth a root (or offspring). In this case it is David. David, then, is the seed out of which comes forth another root or offspring. In this case it is Messiah Yeshua.

When John calls Yeshua the “root and the offspring of David”, both terms mean the same thing, a root is an offspring. That is why Messiah is called “the Son of David” in such verses as Matthew 1:1 and 22:42. Matthew 1:20 tells us that Joseph is also a “son of David”. Joseph is also a root of David and an offspring of David. The root always follows the seed in time and the seed always precedes the root. David preceded Messiah. 

The Form of Elohim

This brings us to the most difficult passage of Scripture to understand. The key to understanding it lies in your stand concerning the pre-existence doctrine as a whole. If you reject what has been written up to this point and continue to hold unto a belief in the pre-existence, you will most likely fail to comprehend this last passage as well. Those that are not locked into a preconceived idea will grasp its meaning much easier.The passage in question, Philippians 2:5-9, reads as follows; “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Messiah Yeshua: Who, being in the form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be equal with Yahweh: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore Yahweh also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (KJV)

To begin with, what does verse 5 mean? Does it mean that we should have the same mind as Messiah Yeshua before or after his earthly birth? Paul is telling the Philippians to have the same mind as Messiah Yeshua . If Yeshua pre-existed, he certainly did not carry the name Messiah Yeshua. That name can only be applied to the historical Yeshua, not the being who supposedly pre-existed as “the Word.” Yeshua did not officially become “the Anointed” or “the Messiah” until he was baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38).

As a child, Yeshua “waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of Yahweh was upon him” (Luke 2:40). Even at that time Yeshua knew who he was, knew who his Father was (Luke 2:49), and knew what he had to do. By the time of his baptism he was so filled with wisdom, knowledge, Spirit, and power that Paul says he was “in the form (or likeness) of Elohim.” It does not say he “was Elohim.” Yet, Yeshua did not allow that power and wisdom to corrupt him. Nor did he, for one moment, consider himself Yahweh’s equal. He knew his Father was greater than himself (John 10:29; 13:16; 14:28). The RSV and many other versions correctly translate Philippians 2:6 as follows; “Who, though he was in the form of [Elohim], did not count equality with [Yahweh] a thing to be grasped.”

Yeshua did not strip himself of any pre-existent power or glory. He simply humbled himself and made himself of no reputation even though he was far more knowledgeable and powerful than any of his contemporaries. Instead of glorifying himself and expecting others to serve him, he chose to become a servant. He became like most men, common and unassuming as compared to the politically powerful and famous.

In addition to not exalting himself in the eyes of man, he further humbled himself by becoming totally obedient to the laws and will of His Father Yahweh. As a reward for his obedience, Yahweh has highly exalted him. A future exaltation will be the reward of all true believers if they, too, will humble themselves as Yeshua did.

This study has only touched upon certain aspects of the pre-existence doctrine. For additional information, please see the study entitled “Yeshua the Messiah is not Almighty Yahweh.” Also found here. That study will explain many other verses used to support the pre-existence. Among the verses discussed are; Genesis 1:26; 19:24; Psalm 110:5; Zechariah 12:10; Micah 5:2; John 1:1,10; 8:58; 12:37-41; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 10:4; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16; 1 Timothy 3:16; and Hebrews 1:2. The study also explains such terms as elohim and echad.