Is Oneness a product of the English language? There is potential in the English language for much confusion because two words in Hebrew are both translated with the same word in English. Yhwh and Elohim are both translated as God. In Greek there is less confusion because Yhwh is translated ho theos (the God), while Elohim is translated theos (God), without ho. So ”the word was God” (and “the word became flesh”) in Hebrew would have been taken to mean that the word was Elohim, a highly elevated being, (so a highly elevated being, an Elohim, became flesh) whereas in English it is easier to misconstrue it as meaning the word was Yhwh (and that Yhwh became flesh).
Asking ChatGPT to fact check it, this was its response: ‘The translation of Hebrew terms like "Yhwh" and "Elohim" into English does indeed pose challenges, potentially leading to confusion or different interpretations. The nuances in translation can affect how certain concepts are understood, including the idea of Oneness. In English, the translation may not capture the full depth of the original Hebrew meanings, potentially leading to misconceptions. In Greek translations, such as in the New Testament, "Yhwh" is typically rendered as "ho theos" (the God), while "Elohim" is generally translated simply as "theos" (God). This linguistic distinction can provide clarity and reduce confusion about the nature of the divine entities being referenced.’ (ChatGPT 3.5)
