Trinity

By: Bahram Khozairy

Copyright © 2018 by Bahram Khozairy. All Rights Reserved.

  AWARECS - ARTICLES

-    Introduction

The identity of each faith, cult or religion is determined by the nature of its deity.  The nature of their deity will determine what type of doctrine the followers of that cult, religion or faith will adhere to. 

In this article, we will examine the central and core belief of the Christian Theology and Christian faith, which is the nature of our God, namely the doctrine of Trinity.  Ever since the birth of Christ’s church, Trinity and the Deity of Christ, which Trinity fully embodies, are the doctrines that have been consistently and viciously attacked the most, by the non-Christian religions, cultist, ani-Trinetarian sects and heretical groups. 

One may wonder ‘why is this doctrine and teaching has always been under assault’?! Theologians vary in their responses.  I would answer for the simple reason that it expresses two basic principles:

1.    It defines the Core of the Christian faith.

2.    It sets the Parameter of the Christian faith.

It not only defines very clearly what the Christian faith stands on, namely the nature of our God and Christology, but it also marks out the teachings and doctrines that fall outside the Christian Faith and Christianity.

Its importance can also be categorized as twofold. 

First, it opposes the opponents of the Gospel of Christ and exposes their heretical and non-Christian view of God and His Nature.  It differentiates Christianity’s core belief from non-Christian faiths. It does that by its unique and exclusive definition.  It puts the spot light on their counterfeit teachings and doctrines, whether they are being proliferated purposely or accidentally.  Whether their leaders are deliberately spreading their erroneous view of God, or they are just confused without blame!

Second, it challenges the mind and heart of Christians to ponder on the nature of our God on a deeper level.  It brings forth the clearer picture of the complexity and unfathomable Nature of our Creator, which is beyond our limited mortal mind.  Since God is transcendent and infinite, His Nature is also beyond our full comprehension and finitude, but not necessarily our apprehension, for the reason that He has chosen to reveal in His word the Bible, the Who and the What of His nature, but not the How of His Nature; the How of His Nature translates to, How God is God.  He has not revealed that to us yet.  The answer to that question must wait until that day when we His children by His Grace, will meet Him face to face. That is the blessed hope of every true Christian.

 

 

Introduction

Definition

Biblical proof texts – First level

Biblical proof texts – Second level

Natural proof texts

Anti Trinitarian Objections

Index of Some Non-Trinitarian heretical doctrine of Trinity

Conclusion

Further Study on Trinity

 

 

-    Definition

Classical definition that Dr. Martin always used is this: 

Within the nature of one God, there exist Three Persons, The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit.

I amplified the definition slightly:

Within the nature of one Eternal God, there simultaneously exist Three Persons, The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit.

The definition brings the One-ness and Three-ness together.

So, in a very simple form, that’s what Trinity means to Orthodox Christians.  Orthodox not in terms of the Eastern Orthodox Faiths or denomination, but Orthodox in terms of the central, correct and fundamental Christian faith, which includes all the major sects and denominations of the body of Christ, including the Protestants and Evangelicals.

Incidentally, Orthodox simply means conservative, traditional, mainstream, and conventional.

 

Now for the term Trinity:

 

Trinity basically describes the Nature of our God.  It describes the “What” of God and “Who” of God.

It’s etymological root (much like many of the English terms) comes from the Latin term:  Trinitas.

Trinitas or Triad from Latin Trinus, literally means, threefold.   Which is basically a reference to oneness as to the nature of God and three-ness as to the Persons within this One God (also referred to as Godhead found in Colossians 2:9); thus, co-joining the Tree-ness and One-ness in one term. 

 

When described in syllogistic form, it portrays as such:

ONE GOD: 

Meaning, One Being, having One Nature who has revealed Himself to us in The Person of The Father, The Person of The Son, The Person of The Holy Spirit.  They are ONE in terms of the Nature but THREE in terms of Distinction or Persons. (Note the definite article “The” in front of The Father, Son & Holy Spirit, denoting Individuality or distinctiveness).

ONE: 

Meaning, One Substance, One Nature, one Essence (substance “Homoousion in Greek ὁμοούσιον”).  Note: It is the What of the Trinity or Godhead.

THREE PERSONS:

Meaning, Three Distinct Persons, Particular Persons (Hypostasis Greek ὑπόστασις).  Persons NOT in terms of human persons which are separate individuals, but Persons in terms of identity and distinction; All possessing the Same Nature, CO-Eternal, CO-Equal, CO-Substantial.  Note: It is the Who of the Trinity or Godhead.

PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD: 

Meaning The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit each have their unique roles and functions, but all work together, because they are ONE Being and share the SAME Essence (Substance).  Person implies personality and individuality (distinction). 

Note: Homousian and Hypostasis share some overlap meaning; Hypostasis is more distinct to the individuality, whereas Homoousion is more distinct to the Overall.

 

Being and Persons are basically Category distinctions.  The term “Person” is a convenient way to describe them from human perspective, because that’s how we can describe Personality.  The scriptures clearly teach both the distinction and union between the Persons of the Trinity.

 

To Sum up:

Only God understands the mind of God.  We humans are mortal, limited creatures.  We are limited in terms of what God Has revealed about Himself in His Word.  As Dr. Martin so often would say, “If we knew how God is God, we would be God; but it is obvious that none of us have those qualifications”. 

So True!! 

We don’t understand many things in this world and nature, but we believe in them. 

Who can explain what Gravity is? Do we deny Gravity because we can’t explain it?  Of course not! We believe in it and adhere by its rules. 

Who can explain the nature of Light?  No one has been able to fully explain what Light particles are; but we as humans, believe in Light and live based on its nature. 

There are millions of things that some people know and understand, and others don’t, but that doesn’t discount the truthfulness or reality of any of them.  If they are True, they are True; whether we understand them or not.

Do we understand How Jesus can be both God and Man at the same time?  He is Fully God, and Fully Man.  Does Bible ask us to understand (fully comprehend) the full Nature of Christ?  No.  And yet, Lord Jesus clearly and emphatically proclaimed that unless we believe He is God, which is Whom He claimed to be, we would be lost! We are not asked to understand how He was, but only to believe that He was!

Same principle holds true for the Nature of God.  We are NOT asked to understand the nature of our God; simply because we cannot.  But, we are asked to believe; believe by faith that God is The Father, God is The Son & God is The Holy Spirit, simply because His Word the Bible has revealed it to us.

The Nature of our GOD is a MYSTERY!

Question:

Can we prove the above from the Biblical Scriptures?  Where does all that information come from?  Is it a human made formula or description?  Is it an illusion or wishful thinking or belief?

Answer:

We will find out in the next segment.

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-    Biblical proof texts – First Level

It would be literally impossible to cover every single passage that deals with Trinity in this section.  The Bible is literally loaded with them and there are some great resources by some great theologians that cover them in detail. For further study on Trinity, please refer to the end section of this article.

However, in this section, I will only list out an instance of each passage for each sub-section as a proof text. 

 

Let’s define Trinity again:

Within the nature of one Eternal God, there simultaneously exist Three Persons, The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit.

 

There is a Person called God the Father

1 Peter 1:2

who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…”

 

There is a Person called God the Son

Hebrews 1:8

 “But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom”

 

There is a person called God the Holy Spirit

Acts 5:3-4

“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

 

And yet, The Bible tells us there is only ONE God

Deuteronomy 6:4

“ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

 

Therefore, from the above passages, we discern there are 3 Persons each is called God, and yet, even though, there is ONLY ONE GOD! 

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-    Biblical proof texts – Second Level

Note:  The Term Father is mostly referenced to God.  There are instances where the actual title “Father” is mentioned, and there are times where God is referred to the Father specifically in various passages.  Context will determine which is which.

 

Father is God

Ephesians 1:2

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

 

Father is The Creator

James 1:17

 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow”

 

Father Speaks

 Matthew 17:5

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

 Luke 3:22

and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

Mark 9:7

“Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”

 

Father Draws 

John 6:44

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 

Father Receives Worship

John 4:23

“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

 

Father Receives Prayer

Matthew 6:6

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

 

Father Glorifies The Son

John 17:5

“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

 

Father Resurrects The Son

Galatians 1:1

“Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),”

 

Father Sends the Holy Spirit

John 14:16-17

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

The word another (“allosGreek  ἄλλος), means another of the same kind.  Please note the Clear Triunity in this passage.  God the Son is speaking about God the Father sending God the Holy Spirit; distinctions of the Persons in this exact particular passage.

 

Son is God (Deity of Christ)

John 1:1

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Colossians 2:9

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”

John 8:58 

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

 

Son is The Creator

John 1:1-3

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

Colossians1:16

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

 

Son Speaks & declares to be the Son of God

Luke 22:70

“And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”

 

Son Draws

John 12:32 

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

 

Son Receives Worship

John 9:38

“Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.”

 

Son Receives Prayer

Acts 7:59

“They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

 

Son Glorifies the Father

John 17:4

“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” 

 

Son Resurrects Himself

John 2:19-21

“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”

John 10:17-18

“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

 

Son Sends the Holy Spirit

John 15:26

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,”

Again, the same note as in John 14:16-17 applies; the distinctions of the Persons of the Trinity is visible in this passage.

 

Holy Spirit is God

Acts 5:3-4

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

 

Holy Spirit The Creator

Genesis 1:2

“The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”

Job 33:4

“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

 

Holy Spirit Speaks

 Acts 13:2

“While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

 

Holy Spirit Himself Helps the Believer in Prayer

Romans 8:26

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”

 

Holy Spirit Himself Desires the Believers to Prayer in Him

Jude 20 

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”

 

Holy Spirit Dwells inside the believers

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”

 

Holy Spirit Distributes Gifts according to His will

1 Corinthians 12 (the entire Chapter)

 

Holy Spirit Resurrected The Son

Romans 8:11

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

 

Holy Spirit Glorifies The Son

John 16:13-15

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore, I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

 

Holy Spirit can be grieved 

Isaiah 63:10

“But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.”

 

Holy Spirit can be blasphemed

Luke 12:10

“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.”

 

Plurality (We, Us) and Unity of the Persons

John 10:30

“I and the Father are one.”

Correct Greek translation should read:  I and the Father, We are in Union.” 

Notice the plural personal noun “We”, designating more than One Person. The word Union resembles another a passage quoted earlier for the Oneness definition of God:

Deuteronomy 6:4

“ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

The word “ONE” (“echad” Hebrew ekh-awd”) translates to ONE Union.  Thus, concluding from John 10:30 that Father and Son have plurality/unity (WE, UNION) and from Deuteronomy 6:4 singularity/unity (ONE, UNION). 

John 14:23

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

 

Three Persons are mentioned in one instance

3 Persons mentioned with the article “the” in front of them in the same passages in critical events and important passages such as:

Hebrews 9:14

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

 

During Christ Incarnation

Luke 1:35

“The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”

 

During Christ Baptism

Luke 3:21-22

“Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

 

During the Great Commission

The One-ness and Three-ness are clearly mentioned in this one verse. 

Matthew 28:19

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

Further Note about this passage in the section Anti-Trinitarians Objection.

 

During Promise of the coming of The Holy Spirit

John 16:13-15

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

 

During Salutation

1 Peter 1:1-2

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

 

During Benediction

2 Corinthian 13:14

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”

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-    Natural proof texts

Knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt, that our God has created the world, His attributes would inevitably be visible throughout His Creation.  Let’s look at some:

·       Trinity in math:  1 x 1 x 1 = 1

·       Trinity in science:  Liquid – Solid – Gas = H2O (Note:  In Chemistry it is known as The Triple Point of Water (H2O) – Where all 3 substances can appear at the same time – 3 different forms, and yet, ONE substance (H2O).

·       Trinity in time:  Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow or Past, Present, Future.

·       Trinity in dimension:  Height – Width – Depth

And there are many others…

Note:  These are only finite illustrations of Trinity; and since God is infinite, He cannot be fully delineated in a finite way.

WARNING: Be careful when using finite illustrations.  Even though they are good in describing 3ness and 1ness at the same time, the 3ness can be separated in each instance, whereas God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit, though 3 Persons, CANNOT be Separated as they are ONE in ESSENCE and SUBSTANCE.

Again:  The Nature of our God is a mystery.

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-    Anti-Trinitarian Objections

For the sake of length of this article, I will address only 2 of the most common and 1 not so-common (in fact quite rare) objection here.

1.      The term Trinity is not in the Bible.

There are many terms or concepts or truths that are not in the Bible, but we believe in them.  For instance:

The circumference formula of a circle (2πR) is not in the Bible, but it is true and we believe and accept it.  Or the famous Energy Mass formula (E=MC2) is not in the Bible, and yet it’s the basis for the nuclear physics and many other scientific designs and intervention.  Thus, the argument that Trinity is not in the Bible doesn’t deter the fact that what it stands for is true and it is as true as the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

2.    Some Translations have different text(s) in those passages that proof the Trinity.

There are some corrupt and un-Orthodox (incorrect) translations of the Bible, which are not based on the main and original manuscripts.  They have utilized faulty hermeneutics during their translations and have deliberately changed the words and phrases in-order to alter the meaning of the passage, such as Jehovah Witness (NWT - New World Translation), Witness Lee and The Local Church (The Recovery Version), Moffatt New Translation (MNT) and others.  MNT version for instance attacks the Godhead and the Deity of Christ, much like NWT translation does. 

Look at Hebrews 1:8 as an example (there are many examples, but I will list only 1 here):

NASB Version

But of the Son He says,

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.

 

Moffatt Version

“But of the Son he says,
‘God is your throne forever and ever!

Be aware of which translation you are reading! 

I personally recommend NASB (New American Standard Bible) along with Greek & Hebrew Interlinear Versions (https://biblehub.com – Online Version).  Reading the Scriptures with NASB will not run into any of those errors.

 

3.    Matthew 28:19 long version has been altered by the early church fathers and therefore is not part of the original text.

NOTE: This is the least common of all objections, as it is only found among Heretical and Legalistic cults, namely the Seven Day Adventist, cult of Messianic Jews and Messianic Christians, which are part of the Hebrew Root Movements.  It is also an objection raised by Islam. 

 

Although Matthew 28:19 is proof text for Trinity (as discussed earlier), it is also the baptismal formula.  Moreover, the definite article “The” is in front of the Name, Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  The name (onoma Greek, ὄνομα) could also be translated as “authority”.

Below I offer 3 responses to this objection.

 

A.  Eusebius:

Eusebius of Caesarea, is mentioned by the critics, as never using the long term, instead the short term baptismal phrase, as is found in Acts 2:38, 3:6, 16:18 during his discourses and writings; meaning only in the Name of Jesus Christ and NOT in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. 

Acts 2:3

“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

First of all, this claim is totally false.  Eusebius of Cesserea (260-340AD), who himself was a Trinitarian by claim, though implemented abbreviations in many instances, references to various passages (not quoting them directly), did use and quoted the long term as is found in Matthew 28:19 in such places as:

Theophania 4.8

“…But He drew near to them, spoke with them, and said: "All power (both) in heaven and earth, is given to me of my Father. Go ye and make Disciples of all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And, behold! I am with you always even to the end of the world." Observe now, in these things…”

And in others, such as: Contra Marcellum I.1.9; I.1.36; Theologia III. 5.22; EpCaesarea 3 (Socrates,Eccl.Hist 1.8); Psalms 117.1-4.

 

Note: This is not an endorsement of Eusebius as a whole, but only to refute the idea that Matthew 28:19 was changed and its original form was a short statement of Baptism (such as the mentioned earlier) and not the long form (The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit) that appears in our Bibles.

 

B.  Manuscripts proof:

Critics claim that earlier manuscripts (Internal and External) do not contain the Matthew 28:19 long format.

Various Ante-Nicene (prior to Nicaea) church fathers have quotations and statements that date back as early as 96AD.  Note that the most scholarly consensus is that the Gospel of Matthew was written in 60’s AD, roughly 30 years prior to Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) document.  Here are some samples (please note the dates):

·       Didache 7:1 (96AD) – “Concerning baptism, you should baptize this way: After first explaining all things, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in flowing water”.

 

·       Tertullain (155-240 AD) On Baptism paragraph 13 – “Go, he says, teach the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

 

·       Tertullian (155-240 AD) Against Praxeas, chapter 2 - "After His resurrection…He commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost".

·       And others such as Gregory Thaumaturgus (205-265 AD) in A Sectional Confession of Faith, XIII , Hippolytus (170-236 AD says in Fragments: Part II.-Dogmatical and Historical.--Against the Heresy of One Noetus, Cyprian (200-258AD) in The Seventh Council of Carthage Under Cyprian.

 

C.  Coherent proof:

We can also reason that if one had willfully wiped out the so-called short form version in Matthew 28:19 and forged and inserted the long form instead, just to force the doctrine of Trinity and Baptismal formula, why didn’t the same alter the rest of the short forms found elsewhere in Acts (2:38, 3:6, 16:18)?  Why the same conspirator left the other so-obvious passages untouched?

Secondly, how come not one single manuscript ever found with the short form for Matthew 28:19?  There are 5800 manuscripts of the New Testament (full version or fragmented versions) with 10,000 Latin and 9300 in various other languages in our possessions today.  Not one of them has the short form version for Matthew 28:19. Finally, Matthew 28:19 is not the only verse that all three Persons are mentioned, as we saw in the previous sections.

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-    Index of Some Non-Trinitarian heretical doctrine of Trinity

Throughout the history of the Christian Church, there have been and continues to be opponents of the Gospel, that tries to attack the Nature of our God.  They do that by either denying the Trinity, or recreating their own version or description of the Nature of our God. 

A worthy of note fact: 

When examining and studying these Non-Trinitarian Cults and Groups, one cannot help but to come to a conclusion that in each instance, they tried to explain the Trinity based on the way their finite mind could comprehend it.  They forced the anti-definition so it would fit within their limited understanding. By doing so, they have totally disregarded the fact that Trinity is not fully comprehensible by the human mind.  They try to reason with their limited mortal mind the Nature of our Infinite and Transcendent God, thinking they have solved the mystery of Trinity or Nature of our God.  And as they did that, in each instance they fell short of the solid Biblical proof texts that we covered in the previous sections and thus, tumbled into the ditch of heresy and anti-Christian doctrines and theology!!

 

Here is the index of some of the Non-Trinitarians Heresies and their short definition:

 

Binitarianims: Teaching One Deity in two Persons only (Father, Son) and denying the Personality and in full distinct Deity of the Holy Spirit.  This heresy rejected by the Christian Scholars, misunderstands and confuses various texts such as Romans 8:9 and 1 Peter 1:10-11 (e.g. Spirit of Christ) as well makes use of non-Canonical anonymous works, such as Shepherd Hermas.  By utilizing faulty and erroneous Hermeneutics, it fully ignores the other clear texts that teach the distinction of the Person of the Holy Spirit such as Acts 13:2.   

Bitheism (Dualism):  Teaching 2 Separate Deities. 

Monarchianism: Teaching No Persons or Plurality of Persons within the One God.

Monarchanistic Modalisim: Teaching God changes Modes from One Person to another, based on each Biblical era (Old Testament, New Testament, and Church Period).  First, He is the Father, then He becomes the Son, Then He becomes the Holy Spirit.

Tritheism:  Teaching Three Separate Gods or Deities.

Polytheism:  Teaching multiple Separate Deities or Gods.

Pantheism: Teaching that all is God or Deity.  Denying any Personality of God, or Persons of the Godhead.

Panentheism: Similar to Pantheism, except that God is one step above Universe.  Universe is within God.  Denies the Persons of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit and fully rejects the Personality of God.

Monism: Teaching that all is one and one is all.  Unity of all things has the source and the source of all things has a Unity.  Totally reject any idea of Personality of God of the Bible (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Restrict Monotheism:  Teaching that though God has created the world, but rejects the Sonship of Christ, thus, totally denying the doctrine of Trinity.  Rejects the title, Son, Father for God and opposes the Personality of the Holy Spirit.  Islam embraces the Restrict Monotheism doctrine.

Unitarianism:  Teaching One Deity in One Person only. Denies the Deity of Christ.

Witness Lee’s Local Church (embraces Modalistic view + 1 more):  Teaching Trinity is Expanding to 4 parts: from God the Father, to God the Son, to God the Holy Spirit, and finally to the Church.

Esotericism: An antithesis to the Aristotelian logic, Rationalism and Christian Biblical Theology, Faith and doctrines.

Arianisms: an early 4th century AD heresy promulgated by a false teacher name Arius of Alexendria in Egypt.  Arius denied the deity of Christ and taught the false principle that Jesus was a created being, secondary and inferior to God the Father.  He claimed Jesus was not Eternal, Not Devine and merely a creature.  Arius twisted many of the passages of the scriptures, such as John 4:6, 10:29, 14:28, Matthew 24:36, where it shows the human side of Christ.  He was confused and did not understand that the Bible teaches very clearly that Jesus was 100% God as well as 100% Man.  He ignored the very clear teaching of Philippians 2:5-8 regarding Christ nature. 

Arius heretical doctrines were confronted and dealt with by the early Church fathers, particularly during the counsel of Nicaea.  As a side note, Charles Taze Russel, the founder of Jehovah Witnesses cult has adopted the Arius false heresy in their theology and in their New World Translation.

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-    Conclusion

I admit Trinitarian Theology is not that easy to depict nor comprehend. But that should not be surprising, since we are describing the infinite, transcendent nature of our Creator. It is one thing for a Christian to say, I don’t understand Trinity.  But, it is quite a different thing when after clearly been shown and demonstrated through the scriptures that Bible teaches the One-ness and Three-ness of the Godhead, then to say, I reject it and oppose it; it’s pagan, etc.  If confusion leads to opposition, then that becomes alarming.  That could lead into other errors (as is so clear in the kingdom of the cults).  Faulty understanding and accepting the nature of our God could lead into other serious aberrational and heretical doctrines.

Our God is unique and His Nature cannot be fully comprehensible by our mind.  I submit that Christianity is the ONLY faith that although illustrates and explains the nature of God, it admits that it is not fully comprehensible.  This should not only grab the attention of the skeptics, but raise the awareness that as Christians we are humble enough and truthful enough to admit our limitations in terms of understanding the Nature of our God; which is One-Ness and Three-Ness at the SAME time.

We can apprehend that God is Triune based on the Scriptures, but we cannot fully comprehend that “how our Creator can be Father, Son and Holy Spirit at the same time”.  It’s impossible.

We believe in Trinity ONLY because it is Scriptural, and for no other reasons.

 

Final Advice to Christians:

For those that are searching: Be honest and open with your search and examination.  Without any pre-supposition, try to understand what One-ness and Three-ness mean?  What does One God and Three Persons of the Godhead Mean? Does the Bible teach the Persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit at any one instance to be distinct?  One instance of distinction is enough to prove that fact. That is part of the correct Christian Hermeneutics.  Carefully go over the passages and material in this article.  If something doesn’t make sense, don’t shove it under the rug; search for answers from trustworthy legitimate Christian sources (teachers, pastors, theologians, scholars).  Be careful what you read, or listen or watch on the internet.  Although internet is an excellent source for information, it is also an extremely dangerous place for false information by false and heretical teachers.  Satan has been utilizing the internet very heavily for his sick and perverted ways, to lead the innocent astray.  Pray and ask the Lord to show you about what you read.  God the Holy Spirit lives inside of you to lead you toward all the truth.  That is His role.  Lord promised if we ask for wisdom He will provide,

 

James 1:5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

 

For those that have understood:  Don’t try to force the definition or explanation of Trinity so it would be logically or rationally understood and so called solved.  Present the definition and description honestly and humbly as it is explained via scriptures (as we studied in the previous sections) and leave it at that; whether the person can understand it or not.  Submit to the will of the Holy Spirit as He draws people to Himself, and as such, opens their thinking and perception.  Our job as Christians is not to force solutions, but to be ready to give to every person an answer based on the Biblical scriptures and Truth with humility and gentleness; for all Truth is God’s Truth!  God the Holy Spirit is responsible to bring to light the truth about what He wrote.  That is His role, to make Christ and the truth of His scriptures known to people.  His role is to Glorify Christ and to illuminate the minds and hearts of every person with Love and the Truth of the Gospel.  As Christians, we are His workmanship, which need to be diligent in readiness by correctly studying and thus proving ourselves to be ready to present the gospel with love and truth.  But leave the job of illumination and understanding to God the Holy Spirit.

 

2 Timothy 2:15

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Titus 2:7-8

“in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

 

-    Further Study on Trinity

I recommend the following books that are excellent in representing Trinity in depth:

-         Why You should Believe in the Trinity:  An Answer to Jehovah’s Witnesses, by Robert M., Jr. Bowman

-         God in Three Persons, by E. Calvin Beisner

-         What Is The Trinity? (Crucial Questions, #10), by R.C. Sproul

-         The Forgotten Trinity (Paperback), by James R. White 

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