Trinity On Trial

TRINITY ON TRIAL

The truth revealed in God's Word gives us an understanding of who God is. When you view God from the Scriptures as the One Spirit who revealed himself in "divers manners", Hebrews 1:1-3, he is easily understood!

The relatively few verses that could conjure speculation about the existence of a trinity are by far easier to explain (in light of God as one Spirit manifest in divers manners) than for a Trinitarian to explain the verses that contradict any possible existence of "God in three persons!"

How do you explain the trinity? Listen to Catholic theologian Richard P. McBrien from his book, Catholicism, Study Edition, Harper & Row, San Francisco, 1981, page 351. "The Trinity is an absolute mystery in the sense that we do not understand it even after it has been reveal."

Do you think that God wants you to be in the dark as to who he is? NO! Go to "Trial" and find out for yourself!

In most any trial there is usually evidence to support both sides. Yet only one side is true. For instance the O. J. Simpson trial. There was enough evidence to acquit him in the state trial and convict him in the civil trial. Yet, we know that either he did, or didn't commit the murders. Only one side is true.

The Bible has just enough bones of a skeleton of the Trinity after being clothed with the creeds to create a doctrine that has stood for almost 1700 years. How? Consider some of the facts from the time that it was first presented. Shortly after Nicea, an "anathema" clause was added to the Athanatius Creed. Thus in 385 A.D., Priscillian Avilla was put to death for failing to believe. It was around this period of time that the Bible was taken away from the laity. Only the Priest would have access to the Scriptures. A non-authorized person found in possession of a Bible would be killed. All the way to 1536 A.D. Tyndale was killed for translating the Bible into the vernacular. And mass was held in Latin so the people could not question.

Think about that. The Roman Catholic Church had the full support of the Emperor. Why, you could teach 2+2=5, and eventually everyone that was still alive would believe it! In fact, you could make Mary as important as Jesus without a single verse to go on! And they did! It was in this climate the Trinity flourished. You were told what to believe, and you believed it or died! Thank God for religious freedom! And the truth of His Word!

There are many varying views of the Trinity. Some say Co-equal, Co-eternal. Other say simply three distinct persons. We will examine each of these possibilities.

Exhibit A: Co-Equal. To have three distinct persons that have equal power would be a challenge in any set up. Particularly when the Scripture is clear that this is not the case.

Item 1: John 14:28, Jesus said, "…the Father is greater than I."

Item 2: John 13:16, Jesus said, "The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. Jesus said on numerous occasions that, "the Father… hath sent me." John 5:37 The Holy Ghost was also sent by the Father, John 14:26, thus making the Holy Ghost inferior as a co-equal distinct separate person also.

Item 3: John 10:29, Jesus said, "My Father… is greater than all."

Exhibit B: The Holy Ghost: Missing In Action. If the Holy Ghost were a distinct "third person," then there are several occasions in Scripture that its absence defies all reason!

	Item 1: 1 Cor. 8:6, "But to us there is but one God, the Father all, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." When Paul defined the "one God" he failed to mention the Holy Ghost!
	Item 2: Mark 13:32, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." It's as if Mark goes through the list of possible candidates to know, yet omits the Holy Ghost!
	Item 3: John 16:32, Jesus said, "…I am not alone, because the Father is with me." If the Holy Ghost were a distinct "third person," wouldn't he be with Jesus? Also, Matt. 11:27, LK. 10:22

Exhibit C: Jesus Christ was NOT "God the Son!" When Jesus came to earth he did not do so in and of the power of the "second person" of the Trinity!

	Item 1: Jesus tells us "the Son can do nothing of himself." John 5:19. This is repeated in verse 30. "I can of mine own self do nothing." This thought is expressed in John 5:17, 19, 30, 36; 8:28, 29; 9:4; 10:25, 32, 37; 14:10,11, 31; 17:4; Fourteen times John records this fact, the works* Jesus did were not his own*, but they were the Fathers!
	Item 2: Jesus tells us the words* he spoke were not his own*. In John 12:49, Jesus says, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." This thought is expressed in John 7:16-18; 8:28, 29, 38; 12:49, 50; 14:24,31; 16:15; Nine times John records Jesus revealing the words he spoke were the Father’s!
	Item 3: John 12:44, Jesus said, *"He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me."*

Exhibit D: The Father was not the father!

Item 1: Matt. 1:18, "…Mary… was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

	Item 2: Matt. 1:20, "…for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."
	Item 3: Luke 1:35 "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee…"

Exhibit E: The absence of key terminology necessary for understanding the Trinity.

Item 1: Key words missing from the Bible but found in the creeds. "God the Son," "God the Holy Ghost," "persons," "Eternal Son," "Co-Equal," "Co-Eternal," "God in Three Persons," "Trinity," "Substance," "Essence," etc.

Exhibit F: The people who wrote the Bible, who understand the original language, do not believe in a Trinity!

Item 1: The Jews are a very strict monotheistic nation. They cannot even begin to conceptualize "God in Three Persons." And Jesus said that they were correct in their worship of God! John 4:22, "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews."

Exhibit G: Miscellaneous texts that the "Trinity" should be mentioned in.

Item 1: The Lord's Prayer. Here Jesus is teaching his disciples to pray. Does it not defy all logic not to mention the Son or Holy Ghost here? Matt. 6:9-13.

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtor. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Just an incredible place not to mention the Trinity! Colossal! Huge!

	Item 2: On the Mount of Transfiguration. Here Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. And Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus? Wouldn't it seem more logical for the Father and Holy Ghost to appear here? Did Peter know about the Trinity? If so, why build temples for Jesus, Moses and Elijah? Mark 9:2-10
	Item 3: Jesus calls the Father, the ONLY true God! John 17:1-3 Wouldn't the Son and Holy Ghost be included?

So what is the verdict? Does the Trinity stand up under examination from the Scripture? Or is it time to re-examine your faith? One day we will all stand before the White Throne. It's best to make the acquaintance before you get there!

Appendix
The Creed of Athanatius

"Whosoever will be in a state of salvation, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic [Apostolic or Universal] faith, which except everyone shall have kept whole and undefiled without doubt he will perish eternally."

"Now the Catholic faith is that we worship One God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is One, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal."

"Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit; the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated; the Father infinite, the Son infinite, and the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet not three eternal but one eternal, as also not three infinites, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one infinite. So, likewise, the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty; and yet not three Almighties but one Almighty."

"So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet not three Gods but one God. So Father is Lord, the Son is Lord and the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet not three Lords but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be both God and Lord; so are we forbidden by the Catholic religion to say, there be three Gods or three Lords."

The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made nor created but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son, not made nor created nor begotten but proceeding. So there is one Father not three Fathers, one Son not three Sons, and one Holy Spirit not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, but the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal."

"So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Trinity in Unity and the Unity in Trinity is to be worshipped. He therefore who will be in a state of salvation, let him think thus of the Trinity."

One of the most incredible things about this Creed (as well as the others) is it contains NO Scripture references! Think of that! What facts can a writer present to you today with any anticipation you would believe it without some sort of bibliography? And yet all of the Creeds omit this very critical aspect of Scriptural support! And while it is understood that the Bible was not divided into chapters and verses until the 16^th century, those individuals who believe such creeds have had over 400 years to do so, and yet have NOT!