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Bible Q

“the LORD … from the LORD out of heaven.” Genesis 19:24

The Hebrew text of Genesis 19:24 contains et- (from) plus a duplication of YHWH which some have misread as meaning that there are two YHWH.

Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. (Genesis 19:24)

The idea occurs in the Babylonian Talmud and was popularised for modern audiences by Alan F Segal as part of his exploration of “two powers” theology in Judaism, where power is delegated to an angelic viceroy. This is then taken up by Trinitarians, Oneness and Arians seeking evidence of Jesus existing before his conception.

“… two powers interpretation of Genesis 19:24 , which Justin cites to prove that Christ was the angel who punished Sodom. Justin’s christology grows out of pre-Christian, Jewish angelology ; the rabbinic response , which takes issue with such exalted angelology , probably has Christians like Justin in mind .” (Rebecca’s Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World 1986 p160)

However the et- here is probably simply emphasis.

 

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