Christianity & Zoroastrianism
One God: Ahura Mazda and the God of the Bible
Long before most of the world's religions, Zoroastrianism proclaimed one supreme God: Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, uncreated Creator of heaven and earth, of light and truth. In the Gathas, Zarathushtra addresses him as the maker of all and the source of good thought. Christians hear this with real recognition, for the Bible too proclaims one Creator God over all. The two are not identical: Christians confess the one God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made known and made near in Jesus Christ, and they understand the origin of evil differently than the Zoroastrian vision of two opposed spirits. But on the great confession that there is one wise Creator worthy of worship, Zoroastrian and Christian faith stand unusually close.
What Zoroastrianism teaches
The Gathas address Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, as the Creator who made and upholds all things, asking in wonder who else could have done it:
Ahura Mazda is the one wise Lord, the source of asha (truth and right order), worshiped with good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Zoroastrianism is among the oldest faiths to center worship on a single supreme Creator.
What Christians believe
Christians confess one God, the Creator of all, and know him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made near in Jesus.
Where they meet
Both worship one supreme, wise Creator, not many gods; both hold that this God is good, the source of light and truth; and both call human beings to honor him with a pure and truthful life. Among the world's religions, Zoroastrian and biblical faith stand remarkably close on the oneness and goodness of the Creator.
Where they differ
Christians confess the one God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made known and made flesh in Jesus Christ, and hold that the one good God is sovereign over all, with evil a corruption within his good creation rather than a second, coeternal power. Zoroastrian faith centers on Ahura Mazda over against a hostile spirit, and does not know God as the Trinity revealed in Christ. One wise Creator, worshiped in both, and yet a real difference over the Trinity and the origin of evil, stand side by side here honestly.
Zoroastrian sources: the Gathas of Zarathushtra and the wider Avesta; Gathic renderings follow widely published translations (L. H. Mills, Sacred Books of the East vol. 31, public domain, and later scholars such as Mary Boyce), which vary, compare others. Bible: King James Version. Every reference on this page was checked against its source.
The word itself
Ahura Mazda (ahura mazda) → the Wise Lord → God the Creator
Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, is the one supreme Creator worshiped in Zoroastrianism, maker of heaven and earth and the source of truth (asha). Christians also confess one Creator God (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4), and know him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made near in Jesus Christ.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ahura Mazda?
- Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, is the one supreme God of Zoroastrianism: the uncreated Creator of heaven and earth, of light and truth (asha), worshiped with good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Zoroastrianism is among the oldest faiths to center worship on a single supreme Creator.
- How close is this to the God of the Bible?
- Remarkably close on the great point: both worship one wise, good Creator over all. The differences are real too: Christians know the one God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made flesh in Jesus (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:14), and hold that the one good God is sovereign, with evil a corruption within his creation rather than a second eternal power.
Come and see
Zoroastrianism awaits a savior yet to come and calls you to choose truth over the lie; the Gospel tells of the Savior who has already come, and of wise men from the East who came seeking him. The most direct way to know Jesus is to read his words for yourself. There is no pressure here.
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