9. The_Most_High_and_Exclusive_Monotheism.m4a
This academic discussion focuses on the nature of early Jewish monotheism during the late Second Temple period, specifically through a detailed examination of the divine title "the Most High." The author argues that true monotheism, which is "exclusive" in maintaining an absolute difference in kind between the unique Creator God and all other created reality, has always been the foundation of Jewish tradition, even with the acceptance of supernatural beings like angels. The analysis highlights that the title "the Most High" was remarkably prevalent, especially in Palestinian Jewish literature, and was strongly associated with temple worship, cult, and the concept of God’s universal sovereign rule over all things and nations. Furthermore, the text addresses the distinction between this rigorous Jewish view and the potentially "inclusive" monotheism found in the surrounding Hellenistic culture, noting that Diaspora Jewish writers often avoided the Greek translation of "the Most High" due to its ambiguity regarding a supreme God who is merely the highest among others.
To our modern ears, "the Most High" sounds like a title for the chairman of a divine board. It implies a ranking, a cosmic hierarchy with God at the top. It seems to belong to a world of many gods, a system where one deity is supreme but not necessarily solitary. The surprising truth of history, however, is that for a pivotal period in early Judaism, this title meant the exact opposite.
This is the story of a paradox: how a seemingly polytheistic name was transformed into a powerful declaration of exclusive monotheism. Digging into the history of this single, often-overlooked title reveals that the development of Jewish monotheism was not a simple, linear march toward a pre-determined definition. It was a dynamic process of theological reflection, shaped by scripture, geography, and the ongoing dialogue with a pagan world. By solving the puzzle of "the Most High," we can uncover a much richer and more nuanced picture of ancient belief.
A common modern assumption is that a "rigorous" monotheism must deny the existence of any supernatural beings other than the one God. If other divine or spiritual entities exist, the thinking goes, it’s not truly monotheism. However, this is not how ancient monotheists saw the world.
Traditional Jewish, Christian, and Islamic monotheism has always accepted the existence of vast numbers of heavenly beings, such as angels who serve God and demons who oppose Him. The crucial distinction lies not in the existence of these beings, but in their nature. This is the difference between what scholars call "inclusive" and "exclusive" monotheism.