There are two words in the Greek translated “one,” the words are hen and heis. Both are significant. I will use Strong’s numerical numbers for these words to make it clearer for all of us. Heis (1520) means numerically one while hen (3391) means one in essence. In John 10:30 Jesus said “I and the Father were one (3391).” He did not mean they were one individual as some of the denominationalists teach who think there is only one in the Godhead, He meant by the definition of the word, one in essence. If the wrong word for “one” was used in the translation of the text you could easily see how false doctrine could be taught!! “There is ONE (1520) body.” This is a quantitative definition of singularity, it is a clear definition, one is one there cannot be differing doctrines in a faith that is from ONE (3391) GOD!! Those who try to make it mean all the churches are one in believing that Jesus is the Christ and that therefore qualifies all them as believers—have mishandled the truth. “Now, are there many members, yet but ONE (1520) body.” 1 Corinthians 12:20 “And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 In the Mount of Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared to discuss the death of Christ which should occur outside the city of Jerusalem, Peter said “Lord, it is good for us to be here, if Thou wilt, let us build three tabernacles. One (3391for Thee, One (3391) for Moses, and one (3391) for Elijah. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” Matthew 17:4-5 It seems to me everyone should understand God, the Father’s position in sharing the essence of authority He was to given His Son!!
“A man shall leave father and mother his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one (3391) flesh.” Genesis 2:24 To show this same truth is taught in the Old Testament we will look at the word “one” in another tongue. The word “one” in the Hebrew for unity or sameness of purpose is echad while the word for one numerically is yachid. When you count in Hebrew you start yachid, deuterous, and so forth; one never starts echad, deuterous!! Adam and Eve were to be ONE in essence, unity, purpose, and agreement, not meld back into one being from which they had come.
Adam’s operation would have been ridiculous, wouldn’t it?? Again, there is ONE (3391) faith. Ephesians 4:4 Not a faith I like, one you like, and one somebody else approves: it is ONE, this “faith” always teaches the same thing!! Again, there is ONE (1520) baptism. Baptism is in water, for the remission of sin. There is no Holy Spirit baptism, water baptism, baptism in fire—pick your choice!! All the references to baptism are ONE (1520) for the sinner to become a saint. It is for the same purpose.
If we were to put the numbers be each word in Ephesians 4:4 to make it more absolute in your mind, it would look like this: “There is one (1520) body, and one (1520) Spirit, even as you are called in one (3391) hope of your calling: One (1520) Lord, one (3391) faith, and one (1520) baptism, One (1520) God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Let us look the same way at 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. “For as the body is one (1520), and has many members, and all the members of that one (1520) body, being many, are one (1520) body: so also is Christ. For by one (1520) Spirit are we all baptized into one (1520) body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond of free: and have been all made to drink into one (1520) Spirit.” How about 1 Corinthians 12:20? “But now are they many members, yet but one (1520) body.”
