Isaiah 43:10

Criticism

Most Christians view God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost as the Trinity. Mormons believe they are three separate beings. Critics use Isaiah 43:10 to demonstrate that God addresses himself as only singular and not as three, showing that Mormon beliefs in God are not Biblical:

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Response

Although unique compared to most Christians, the Mormon view of the Godhead does not conflict with any scripture from the Bible. While the Bible is inspired text, it is subject to interpretation like any other document.

Context is an important factor in getting a proper interpretation of any scripture. Taking scripture out of context is called "proof-texting." In its original context, Isaiah 43:10 is surrounded by several chapters where Isaiah speaks out against worshiping idols. Idolatry (worshiping idols) was a common practice which Israelite prophets, such as Isaiah, spoke out against. The second of the 10 Commandments prohibits the worship of idols as a part of worshiping God. One practical reason for this was to keep individuals from merging the teachings of other religions with what the Israelites believed and then corrupting it.Template:Ref

So although critics would love for this scripture to conflict with Mormonism, they can only accomplish this by taking it out of context.

Endnotes

1. Template:NoteTemplate:Edward M. Curtis, "Idol, Idolatry," in Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 3:379.

References

For more on how the Latter-day Saint view of the Godhead fits with what the Bible teaches, see "The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent"...