The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Chr

[iris89]

The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Christianity Is NOT As Billed:

INTRODUCTION:

The Trinity is falsely billed as the central doctrine of Christianity, but is just false pagan doctrine. Now just what is this false pagan doctrine that many so called Christians have been mislead into accepting? For an answer, let’s look at what it is from an authoritarian source:

<<<” The Trinitarian dogma, The Cyclopoedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, New York 1871, by John M'Clintock and James Strong, Vol. II, page 560-561, states, "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 Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.....The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal...So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty...So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God...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 Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding...And in this Trinity none is afore or after other; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are coeternal together, and coequal. So that in all things, as is afore said, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity." [this is the Athanasian Creed quoted in the above mentioned Cyclopoedia]>>>.

WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY?

Jesus (Yeshua) Christ never believed in a Trinity as would be quite apparent to anyone who has read John 17:1-25 with an open mind without bias, and he was in the best position of anyone ever to know the truth, here presented with notes in double brackets:

“These things, spake Jesus, and, lifting up his eyes unto heaven, said:––Father! The hour is come! Glorify thy Son, that, the Son, may glorify, thee,––[[Prayer to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) – clearly showing two separate individuals, one subordinate to the other.]]
2 Even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that, as touching whatsoever thou hast given him, he might give unto them, life age–abiding.
3 And, this, is the age–abiding life, That they get to know thee, the only real God, and him whom thou didst send, Jesus Christ. ,––[[Prayer to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) – clearly showing two separate individuals, one subordinate to the other; with the Father having sent his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), who was the first of creation per Revelation 3:14, “And, unto the messenger of the assembly, in Laodicea, write:––These things, saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God:”]]
4 I, glorified thee on the earth, The work, finishing, which thou hast given me that I should do.
5 And, now, glorify me––thou, Father! with thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world’s existence, with thee.[[Asking his Father, as the superior one, for the glory he once had before in Heaven for a second time.]]
6 I manifested thy name, unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: Thine, they were, and, to me, thou gavest them, and, thy word, have they kept:[]
7 Now, have they come to know, That, all things, as many as thou gavest me, are, from thee; :[[Another clear statement that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) gave him his followers, no clear distinction could be made that they were two distinct beings, one subordinate to the other who was given all things he had by the superior, his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) .]]
8 And, the declarations which thou gavest me, have I given them, and, they, received them, and came to know in truth, that, from thee, came I forth,––and they believed, that, thou, didst send me forth. :[[Yet another clear statement that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) gave him his followers, no clear distinction could be made that they were two distinct beings, one subordinate to the other who was given all things he had by the superior, his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) .]]
9 I, concerning them, make request: not, concerning the world, do I make request, but concerning them whom thou hast given me, because, thine, they are,––
10 And, all my possessions, are, thine, and, thy possessions, mine, and I have been glorified in them.
11 And, no longer, am I in the world, and, they, are, in the world,––and, I, unto thee, am coming. Holy Father! Keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, as, we.
12 When I was with them, I, kept them in thy name which thou hast given me,––And I kept watch, and, none from among them, went the destruction,––save the son of destruction, that, the Scripture, might be fulfilled.[[Jesus (Yeshua) Christ kept what his Father gave to him in his Father’s, Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) name; once more showing a subordinate, the receiver, and a superior, who was giving him things.]]
13 But, now, unto thee, am I coming; and, these things, am I speaking in the world, that they may have my own joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I, have given them thy word, and, the world, hated them, because they are not of the world––even as, I, am not of the world.[[He, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, acknowledged that he gave his followers, not his words, but the words of his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), a superior.]]
15 I request not, that thou wouldst take them out of the world, but that thou wouldst keep them out of the evil:[[Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, as a subordinate, made a request to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), the superior one.]]
16 Of the world, they are not, even as, I, am not of the world.
17 Hallow them in the truth: Thine own word, is, truth:[[Showing that his, Jesus (Yeshua), Father’s words were the truth.]]
18 Even as thou didst send me forth into the world, I also, send them forth into the world;[[He followed his Father,s, Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) example, and sent out his followers to do his Father’s, Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) work – clearly showing once more a subordinate to a superior relationship between Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, and his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), a superior one.]]
19 And, on their behalf, I, hallow myself, that, they also, may have become hallowed in truth.
20 Not however concerning these alone, do I make request, but, concerning them also who believe, through their word, on me:
21 That they, all, may be, one,––even as, thou, Father, in me, and, I, in thee,––that, they also, in us, may be; ––that, the world, may believe that, thou, didst send me forth.[[Showing he was one in purpose with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), just as his followers were one in purpose with him.]]
22 And, I, the glory which thou hast given to me, have given to them, that they may be one, even as, we, are, one.–– .[[Showing he was one in purpose with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), just as his followers were one in purpose with him.]]
23 I, in them and, thou, in me; That they may have been perfected into, one,––That the world may get to know, that, thou, didst send me forth, and didst love them even as thou didst love, me. [[Asking his Father, as the superior one, for the glory he once had before in Heaven for a second time.]]
24 Father! As touching that which thou hast given me, I desire––That, where, I, am, they also, may be, with me, that they may behold my own glory which thou hast given me,––because thou lovedst me, before the foundation of the world. .[[Showing he was one in purpose with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), just as his followers were one in purpose with him.]]
25 Righteous Father! And so, the world, came not to know thee; but, I, came to know thee, and, these, came to know that, thou, didst send me forth: “.[[Showing he was one in purpose with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), just as his followers were one in purpose with him.]]
(Rotherham Bible of 1902; RB).

A second example of this subordinate to superior relation as found at 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 follows:

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.[[Authority only for a time and then he would deliver the kingdom up to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).]]
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.[[How long will Jesus (Yeshua) Christ reign of authority be? Till he has put down all of his and his Father’s enemies.]]
26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.[[Christ will abolish death – think of that.]]
27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.[[Look, his authority does NOT extend to having authority over his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), so it is NOT absolute.]]
28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.[[After all is brought into Jesus (Yeshua) authority, he will subject himself to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH); hence, no trinity is possible as it requires three equals and here we have a subordinate, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, and a superior, his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).]] (American Standard Version; ASV).

A SERIES OF BIBLICAL PROOFS OF THIS SUBORDINATE TO SUPERIOR RELATIONSHIP:

Now let’s look at a series from the Bible showing the validity very clearly of this subordinate to superior relationship between Jesus (Yeshua) Christ and his Father, Almighty God (YHWH):

Now lets see what the Bible (King James Bible; KJB):

First, it says at many places the following:

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Matthew 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Second, the Bible explicitly says:

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 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. [Col. 1:12-18 AV – KJB]

We see here that Jesus is God’s (YHWH) dear son and that Jesus is the firstborn of every creature; whereas, God clearly had no beginning as you all well know. Once again the Trinity is shown as impossible of being true, thus it is false dogma.

Third, The Bible explicitly shows Jesus (Yeshua) asking his father, Almighty God (YHWH) to glorify him in a prayer as follows:

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. [John 17.5 AV]

Here Jesus is clearly praying to his Father as a more powerful one and not to another part of himself as would be required by false Trinitarian Theology.

Fourth, the Bible clearly says “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” This scripture clearly shows Jesus (Yeshua) to be an obedient Son to his Father (YHWH).

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Phil. 2:1-11 AV]

And verse 11 clearly shows hierarchy of power in Heaven since it says we should confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God. Showing that recognizing Jesus as the Son of God brings glory to his Father (YHWH). Clearly, therefore, Trinitarian theology can not be true, hence it is therefore FALSE.

Fifth, as we all know the giver and the receiver can not be the same, the Bible shows that Jesus (Yeshua) was given power by his Father (YHWH).

49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. [John 8:49-59 AV].

Once more Jesus (Yeshua) says, “Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.” Clearly showing his Father (YHWH) was a distinct entity and that Jesus (Yeshua) was doing works to honor his Father (YHWH). Once more it is explicitly shown that the Trinity doctrine is false and a messed up belief.

Sixth, Jesus (Yeshua) clearly said he could do nothing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father (YHWH) doing:

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. [John 5:19 AV]

Clearly, Jesus (Yeshua) is obedient to his Father (YHWH) a superior one and by being obedient brings honour to his Father (YHWH). Also, in this situation, Jesus (Yeshua) once more is shown to be the receivee and his Father the giver. This would be impossible under Trinitarian Theology as it maintains they are one Godhead so either the Bible is wrong or Trinitarian Theology is wrong. I am as a true follower of Jesus (Yeshau) taking the Bible, God's written word for our guidance, as correct; whereas, many wrongly take the false doctrine of the Trinity as correct. Now stand up and show whether you are for the Bible or for the Trinity.

Seventh, now the Bible explicitly shows the chain-of-command; from Almighty God (YHWH) on down as follows:

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (1 Corinthians 11:3 AV)

This scripture clearly shows that the 'head of Christ is God' so the Trinity is once more shown to be false and the Bible shown to be true.

As we can now all see we should stand up for the Bible and not the false doctrine of the Trinity.

See Part Two:

[iris89]

Part Two of The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Christianity Is NOT As Billed:

HISTORICAL NOTES SHOWING THE TRINITY AS FALSE DOCTRINE:

[1] <<<”There arose several controversies in that age, especially with those Jews who had been converted to Christianity. Some of these are treated of in the Epistles. But it is very observable, that amongst the questions which thus arose and required explanations from the Apostles, there is no record of any question or controversy respecting the Object of worship. And yet, if the new religion was adding two new objects of worship ["Jesus" and "Holy Spirit"] to that of the old ["Jehovah God" alone], this would have been, to a Jew, by far the most important, most interesting, and most perplexing of all the peculiarities of the gospel. No such doctrine could have been added to the ancient faith of the Jews, with whom the Unity of God was the proud and distinguishing tenet [Deuteronomy 6:4], without its occasioning some controversy, between those who received and those who persecuted the new birth. Yet not such controversy took place; neither is there the slightest appearance in the New Testament, that any objection, difficulty, or doubt arose in any quarter upon this ground. Is it not impossible, then, that any such doctrine should have been taught? “[source - Ware, Henry, Jr. (b.1794-d.1843) – “Outline of the Testimony of Scripture Against the Trinity. "This Tract is taken from an Address delivered in 1827 before the Unitarian Association of York County, Maine." (Boston, Massachusetts: Gray and Bowen, 1832). Now contained within the First Series, Numbers 50-61 of: Tracts of the American Unitarian Association. (Boston, Massachusetts: The Association, Series 1–, vol. 1–, 1827–), Number 58, pp. 211- 232. Scattered issues only in Miscellaneous Pamphlet Collection (AC901.M5) and in YA Pamphlet Collection. BX9813 .A5 / 46028939]>>>.

[2] <<<” We nowhere find either in the Acts or the Epistles any trace of the controversy and questionings which the direct announcement of such a doctrine [of the Trinity] must have excited. The one aim of the early apostolic preaching was to convince first the Jews, and then the Gentiles, that Jesus, whose life and teaching were so wonderful, whom God had raised from the dead, was the Messiah, exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour. To acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, or Jesus as Lord, which is essentially the same thing, was the one fundamental article of the Christian faith. Much, indeed, was involved in this confession; but it is now, I suppose, fully established and generally admitted that the Jews in the time of Christ had no expectation that the coming Messiah would be an incarnation of Jehovah, and no acquaintance with the mystery of the Trinity. [source - Abbot, Ezra (b.1819-d.1884), D.D, LL.D. "On the Construction of Romans ix [9]. 5." Article appearing within: Journal of Biblical Literature. (Boston, Massachusetts: Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis, vol. 1–, 1881–), vol. 1 (1881). BS410 .J47 / 01-009638]>>>.

[3] <<<” …[The Trinity] is not clearly or explicitly taught anywhere in Scripture, yet it is widely regarded as a central doctrine, indispensable to the Christian faith. In this regard, it goes contrary to what is virtually an axiom of biblical doctrine, namely, that there is a direct correlation between the scriptural clarity of a doctrine and its cruciality to the faith and life of the church….There is another, more general objection against the doctrine of the Trinity. It is essentially an argument from the apparent silence of the Bible on this important subject. This contention notes that there really is no explicit statement of the doctrine of the Trinity in the Bible, particularly since the revelation by textual criticism of the spurious nature of 1 John 5:7b. Other passages have, in many cases, been seen on closer study to be applicable only under the greatest strain. There are, to be sure, still a number of passages intimating something that contributes to the formulation of the doctrine. The question, however, is this. It is claimed that the doctrine of the Trinity is a very important, crucial, and even basic doctrine. If that is indeed the case, should it not be somewhere more clearly, directly, and explicitly stated in the Bible? If this is the doctrine that especially constitutes Christianity's uniqueness, as over against unitarian monotheism on the one hand [in particular, with respect to the Jewish belief about God], and polytheism on the other hand [referring to the Gentile/Pagan belief systems], how can it be only implied in the biblical revelation? In response to the complaint that a number of portions of the Bible are ambiguous or unclear, we often hear a statement something like, "It is the peripheral matters that are hazy, or on which there seem to be conflicting biblical materials. The core beliefs are clearly and unequivocally revealed." This argument would appear to fail us with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity, however. For here is a seemingly crucial matter where the Scriptures do not speak loudly and clearly.…Little direct response can be made to this charge. It is unlikely that any text of Scripture can be shown to teach the doctrine of the Trinity in a clear, direct and unmistakable fashion. [source - Erickson, Millard J. (b.?-d.?). God in Three Persons: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Trinity. 2nd Printing. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1996), pp. 11, 12, 108, 109 (respectively). BT111.2 .E75 1995 / 94-046191]>>>.

[4] <<<” [The Trinity] is not a biblical doctrine in the sense that any formulation of it can be found in the Bible.…What is amazing, however, is that this confession of God as One in Three took place without significant struggle and without controversy by a people [the Jews] indoctrinated for centuries in the faith of the one God, and that in entering the Christian church they were not conscious of any break with their ancient faith. [source - The Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Douglas, James Dixon (b.1922-d.2003), Editor. Hillyer, N. (b.?-d.?), Joint Editor. (Leicester, England; Sydney and Auckland, Australia: InterVarsity Press; Tyndale House Publishers; Hodder and Stoughton, 1980), pp. 1597, 1598. OCLC: 7285769]>>>.

[5] <<<” Why is it that whenever there was an occasion for discussing the identity of the one, true God, the authors and participants of Scripture always spoke of him as "the Father" and never as "the triune God"? Perhaps these facts do not decisively affect the validity of Trinitarian teaching (what Trinitarian apologists would ultimately have to contend), but who could rightfully deny the reasonableness and significance of the question? Why is it that every positively and deliberately-set-forth scriptural presentation of God's identity is always different from Trinitarianism's? In a considerable number of cases it can be pointed out (if we assume the Trinity to be biblical) that whenever opportunities arose to introduce or defend the Trinitarian concept (an entirely distinctive and revolutionary one from the Jewish perspective), not one of God's faithful servants in Scripture, including Jesus himself, ever made it a point to speak a word on its behalf. Instead, they always made expressions that – when considered in hindsight – leave one with the impression that the idea of a Deity whose most distinguishing and, perhaps, most fascinating characteristic, involved the idea of "one essence" being shared by three distinct "persons" had no place in their understanding of God's nature and identity after all. [source - Navas, Patrick (b.?-d.?). Divine Truth or Human Tradition? A Reconsideration of the Roman Catholic-Protestant Doctrine of the Trinity in Light of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. (Milton Keynes, United Kingdom [England]; Bloomington, Indiana: Authorhouse, 2007), p. 152. ? / 2006906613]>>>.

[6] <<<” Now if Jesus were the infinite God, would he be preached as Messiah? Messiah was to be only king of the Jews, not God. Would the apostles deliberately ignore the awful [meaning, great] assertion of the Deity of Jesus, and place all their emphasis on the comparatively trivial Messiahship? This is inconceivable. Peter preached Jesus as Messiah simply because it never entered his mind that Jesus was the Eternal. His language throughout proves this. Thus: "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you." [Acts 2:22] "This Jesus did God raise up." [Acts 2:32] "The God or our fathers has glorified his Servant Jesus." [Acts 3:13] And the prayer of the disciples in the fourth chapter: "Thy holy Servant Jesus whom thou didst anoint." [Acts 4:27] "Grant unto thy servants that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus." [Acts 4:29, 30]. Are there texts in the New Testament which directly express the Trinity by putting the three persons together, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? If the Trinity is a genuine element in the Christian faith, and if it was taught by Jesus, we should expect to find several such texts. We should further expect that the texts thus proclaiming what is called a fundamental truth should be authentic and sure beyond any likelihood of doubt. What we find, however, is not that at all. [source - Sullivan, William Laurence (b.1872-d.1935), D.D. From the Gospel to the Creeds; Studies in the Early History of the Christian Church. (Boston, Massachusetts: The Beacon Press, 1919), Chapter XVII [17], "The Apostolic Teaching," "1. What the First Apostolic Preachers Thought of Jesus," and "4. Does the Trinity- Formula Occur in the New Testament?", pp. 117, 118, 121 (respectively). BR162 .S8 / 20000187]>>>.

[7] <<<”The first teachers of Christianity were never charged by the Jews (who unquestionably believed in the strict unity of God), with introducing any new theory of the Godhead.5 Many foolish and false charges were made against Christ; but this was never alleged against him or any of his disciples. When this doctrine of three persons in one God was introduced into the Church, by new converts to Christianity, it cause immense excitement for many years.6 Referring to this, Mosheim writes, under the forth century, "The subject of this fatal controversy, which kindled such deplorable divisions throughout the Christian world, was the doctrine of the Three Persons in the Godhead; a doctrine which in the three preceding centuries had happily escaped the vain curiosity of human researches, and had been left undefined and undetermined by any particular set of ideas." Would there not have been some similar commotion among the Jewish people in the time of Christ, if such a view of the Godhead had been offered to their notice, and if they had been told that without belief in this they "would perish everlastingly"? Stannus' footnotes read: 5"Monotheism was the proud boast of the Jew". – Canon Farrar, "Early Days of Christianity", vol. i [1], p. 55. [Farrar, Frederic William (b.1831-d.1903). The Early Days of Christianity. (Boston, Massachusetts: DeWolfe, Fiske & Company, 1882). BS2361 .F3 1883a / 16-003273.] 6"In the Fourth Century", says Jortin, vol. ii [2], p. 60, "were held thirteen Councils against Arius, fifteen for him, and seventeen for the semi-Arians, – in all, forty-five". *Mention of "Jortin" [sources - Jortin, John (b.1698-d.1770). Remarks on Ecclesiastical History. 5 vols. (London, England: Printed for C. Davis, R. Manby, H. Shute Cox and J. Whiston, 1751-54, 1773). OCLC: 5340436. British Library: 680.d.5-9 and 212.b.15-19. / SN: 001903745. Taken from: Stannus, Hugh Hutton (b.1840-d.1908). A History of the Origin of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Christian Church, With an Introduction and Appendix by the Rev. R[obert] Spears [b.1825- d.1899]. (London, England: Christian Life Publishing Company, 1882), pp. 35, 36 (italics his). BT111 .S7 / 07-028755]>>>.

[8] <<<” So entirely do the Scriptures abstain from stating the Trinity, that when our opponents would insert it into their creeds and doxologies, they are compelled to leave the Bible, and to invent forms of words altogether unsanctioned by Scriptural phraseology. That a doctrine so strange, so liable to misapprehension, so fundamental as this is said to be, and requiring such careful exposition, should be left so undefined and unprotected, to be made out by inference, and to be hunted through distant and detached parts of Scripture, – this is a difficulty, which, we think, no ingenuity can explain.

We have another difficulty. Christianity, it must be remembered, was planted and grew up amidst sharp-sighted enemies, who overlooked no objectionable part of the system, and who must have fastened with great earnestness on a doctrine involving such apparent contradictions as the Trinity. We cannot conceive an opinion against which the Jews, who prided themselves on an adherence to God's unity, would have raised an equal clamor. Here's a good question Now, how happens it that in the apostolic writings, which relate so much to objections against Christianity, and to the controversies which grew out of this religion, not one word is said implying that objections were brought against the gospel from the doctrine of the Trinity, not one word is uttered in its defence and explanation, not a word to rescue it from reproach and mistake? Note-#3=OK, I-C This argument has almost the force of demonstration. We are persuaded that had three divine persons been announced by the first preachers of Christianity, all equal and all infinite, one of whom was the very Jesus who had lately died on the cross, this peculiarity of Christianity would have almost absorbed every other, and the great labor of the Apostles would have been to repel the continual assaults which it would have awakened. But the fact is, that not a whisper of objection to Christianity on that account reaches our ears from the apostolic age. In the Epistles we see not a trace of controversy called forth by the Trinity. [source - Channing, William Ellery (b.1780-d.1842). Unitarian Christianity; A Discourse on Some of the Distinguishing Opinions of Unitarians, Delivered at [the Ordination of Rev. Jared Sparks (b.1789- d.1866) in The First Independent Church of] Baltimore, May 5, 1819. Centenary Edition. "Introduction" signed by E.M.W. [Wilbur, Earl Morse (b.1866-d.1956)]. (Boston, Massachusetts: American Unitarian Association, 1919), heading II [2], subheading 1. Library of Congress: BX9843.C5 S55 1919 / 21-017181]>>>.

[9] <<<”This is true. …the unbelieving Jews, in the time of the Apostles, opposed Christianity with the utmost bitterness and passion. They sought on every side for objections to it. There was much in its character to which the believing Jews could hardly be reconciled. The Epistles are full of statements, explanations, and controversy, relating to questions having their origin in Jewish prejudices and passions. With regard however to this doctrine [the Trinity], which if it had ever been taught, the believing Jews must have received with the utmost difficulty, and to which the unbelieving Jews would have manifested the most determined opposition, – with regard to this doctrine, there is not trace of any controversy. Note:-#4 But, if it had ever been taught, it must have been the main point of attack and defense between those who assailed, and those who supported Christianity. There is nothing ever said in its explanation. But it must have required, far more than any other doctrine, to be explained, illustrated, and enforced; for it appears, not only irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Unity of God, but equally so with that of the humanity of our Saviour; and yet both these doctrines, it seems, were to be maintained in connexion with it. It must have been necessary, therefore, to state it as clearly as possible, to exhibit it in its relations, and carefully to guard against the misapprehensions to which it is so liable on every side. Especially must care have been taken to prevent the gross mistakes into which the Gentile converts from polytheism were likely to fall. Yet so far from any such clearness of statement and fulness of explanation, the whole language of the New Testament in relation to this subject is…a series of enigmas, upon the supposition of its truth. Great-Point-#5 The doctrine, then, is never defended in the New Testament, though unquestionably it would have been the main object of attack, and the main difficulty in the Christian system. It is never explained, though no doctrine could have been so much in need of explanation. On the contrary, upon the supposition of its truth, the Apostles express themselves in such a manner, that if it had been their purpose to darken and perplex the subject, they could not have done it more effectually. And still more, this doctrine is never insisted upon as a necessary article of faith; though it is now represented by its defenders as lying at the foundation of Christianity.” [source - Norton, Andrews (b.1786-d.1853). A Statement of Reasons For Not Believing The Doctrines of Trinitarians, Concerning The Nature of God and The Person of Christ. Abbot, Ezra (b.1819-d.1884), DD, LL.D., Editor. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Brown, Shattuck, and Company; Boston, Massachusetts: Hilliard, Gray, and Company, 1833), pp. 38, 39. BX9841 .N7 1833 / unk83-14874]>>>.

[10] <<<”This is indeed an interesting observation: It would have been utterly impossible that our Lord's contemporaries, his Apostles, his companions and disciples, or that the historians of his life, and miracles, and sufferings, should have written and spoken of him, have conversed with him, and behaved to him with all the familiarity which they always manifested, if they believed that Christ was in truth the very and eternal God. Note:-#6 Let us for a moment place ourselves in their situation; and we shall feel at once, that the instant the amazing truth was communicated to them, their faculties would be absorbed in terror and astonishment; – no more free conversation, no more asking of questions: no more attempts to impose upon him or to rebuke him: the greatest awe and distance would instantaneously take place, and all the endearing and familiar relations of master, instructor, companion and friend, would be absorbed in the overwhelming apprehension of their Maker and their God. OK, I agree:&-C-the reasoning-4-such questions as listed below: And what would be the style and manner of those who, under these impressions, should sit down to write the narrative of his life and his miracles, his discourses and his sufferings? Would three out of four of his historians completely forget the awful fact of his divine nature, and not drop a single hint of it from the beginning to the end of their histories? Would the rest of the sacred writers have insisted upon this circumstance only incidentally and obscurely? Would the most direct evidence of the divinity of Christ have been found chiefly in passages at least suspicious, if not notoriously spurious? Would the great discovery have been left to be spelled out from a text here and another there, which if put together by a profound scholar, and especially be one who was critically versed in the niceties of the Greek article, might to men, whose minds are fond of mystery, be made to convey some such dark and hidden meaning? Would it be necessary, in order to establish the astonishing doctrine of the proper deity of Christ, to collect twenty or thirty texts, which, some being rightly, and some wrongly translated, might appear to countenance it: and to repeat those texts over and over, so that ignorant and inattentive persons might imagine that they recurred in every page of the New Testament? Note-#7 If Matthew, and Mark, and Luke, and John, and Paul, and Peter, believed "that our Lord Jesus Christ is the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father," could they not have expressed the doctrine in language as plain as that of the learned Lecturer, or any other framer or supporter of creeds and articles whatever? And could they not with equal facility have lavished the charges of falsehood, impiety and blasphemy, against the impugners of the faith? I am confident that it is impossible for any person, who reflects calmly and seriously upon the subject, to doubt, that if the doctrine of their Lord's equality with God were true, and made known to the Apostles and first believers, their minds would have been so deeply and so powerfully impressed with the subject, that they would be able to think, and speak, and write of nothing else, and that this great and wonderful doctrine would be blazoned from one end of the New Testament to the other: it would flame in every chapter, it would shine in every page, it would dazzle in every line. I agree & can C-it 2-B-true That it does not so; that not only pages and chapters, but even whole books of the New Testament, yea, that professed histories of our Lord's life and character, and of the progress and success of his doctrine, of what he was and what he taught, and of what his disciples said and taught of him, should have passed over this great discovery in silence as deep and as total as the silence of the grave, is a demonstration as clear as light to every human being whose understanding is not veiled by the grossest prejudice, that these writers had never heard of the divinity of Christ, that it never entered into their conception that the Master whom they revered and loved, was the very and eternal God whom they adored and worshipped. All arguments and criticisms, however ingenious, however learned, however recondite [obscure], which can be produced in reply to considerations and facts like these, are as chaff before the whirlwind; and like Samson's cords, they fall asunder, as a thread of tow touched by the fire.” [source - Belsham, Thomas (b.1750-d.1829). The Bampton Lecturer Reproved: Being a Reply to Calumnious Charges of the Rev. C[harles] A [bel] Moysey [b.1779-d.1859]…In His Late Bampton Lectures Against the Unitarians, and Especially the Editors of the Improved Version [of the New Testament]; in Letters to a Friend. To Which is Annexed a Letter, in Reply to the Charges of the Very Reverend Dean [William] Magee [b.1766-d.1831], in…His Dissertations on Atonement and Sacrifice. (London, England: R. Hunter; Dean Eaton, 1819), Pamphlets on Protestant Christian Denominations, 28 vols., Part 2; 1819-1947, number 34. Library of Congress Collection Level Cataloging, Collection Management: BX4807 / 95127685]>>>.

To learn more, go to,

[go to] religioustruths.proboards59.com/

Your Friend in Christ Iris89