Scripture
Isaiah 43:10
The LORD declares that no god was formed before him and none will come after him.
“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come.
No other formed gods
Isaiah’s monotheism is not a claim that the LORD is merely first among gods. No god was formed before him, and none will come after him.
Where this passage comes up
- Families can be together forever through temple sealingThe Bible shares the hope of reunion with those we love, grounds it in Christ by grace, and records Jesus saying resurrection life goes beyond marriage.
- God was once a manThe Bible and the Book of Mormon both describe God as God from all eternity. The Bible promises likeness to God, not a God who was once a man.
- John 1:1 says "a god"The missing article in John 1:1 marks what the Word is, not a lesser god; John separates the Word from all created things and ends with Thomas calling Jesus 'my God.'
- The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus ChristAn inward witness cannot settle whether a book is scripture. The Bible's test is whether a message matches the apostles' gospel, even when an angel brings it.
- Biblical monotheismIsaiah denies that any god was formed before or after the LORD. That rules out a family of gods and gods who were once creatures, and it sets the test for every later claim.