Two Powers in Heaven
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Last updated
Book: Two Powers in Heaven by Alan F. Segal
Alan F. Segal was a professor of religion and Ingeborg Rennert professor of Jewish Studies at Bernard College.
The "two powers in heaven" hypothesis is based on several Old Testament passages that seem to suggest the existence of two divine figures. Here are some of the key verses and the arguments surrounding them:
(Symbolic)
9 “As I looked,
“thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
This passage describes two divine figures - the "Ancient of Days" and "one like a son of man":
Arguments for: This clearly shows two distinct divine figures, with one approaching the other and receiving authority.
Counter-arguments: This could be symbolic imagery rather than literal divine figures.
(Divine Agency)
"Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens."
Arguments for: This verse mentions "the Lord" twice, suggesting two divine figures.
Counter-arguments: This could be a literary device emphasizing God's action rather than indicating two separate beings.
20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.
Arguments for: The angel seems to have divine authority, suggesting a second divine figure.
Counter-arguments: Angels often speak with God's authority without being divine themselves.
"The Lord says to my lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'"
Arguments for: This appears to show one divine figure speaking to another.
Counter-arguments: "My lord" could refer to a human king rather than a divine figure. Lord just means that the entity is above the one who is speaking. Kings are lords to their people, land owners are lords to their workers, husbands are lords to their wives.
This passage personifies Wisdom as being present with God at creation.
Arguments for: Wisdom is portrayed as a distinct divine figure alongside God.
Counter-arguments: This is poetic personification, not a literal second divine being.
Arguments for: The plural pronouns suggest multiple divine figures.
Counter-arguments: This could be a "royal we" or God addressing the heavenly court.
Genesis 18 (See sub-heading in menu)
(Divine Agency)
(Poetic Personification)
22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23 I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. 24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; 25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, 26 before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. 27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, 29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. 30 Then I was constantly[] at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, 31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
(Royal We)
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”